Balloons over Waikato
Encyclopedia
Balloons over Waikato is an annual hot air balloon festival held in Hamilton, New Zealand
. It is held over five days during autumn and attracts both local and overseas balloonists. The Festival is held primarily at Innes Common, at Hamilton Lake, which gets an estimated 100,000 visitors during the festival. The highlight of the festival, the "Night glow
" is held at the University of Waikato
where an estimated 80,000 people attend to watch the lighting of balloons putting on a spectacular glow to music.
Events in the festival include sunrise and sunset launches, a balloon basket parade, the "Night Glow" ,a morning "Key Grab" competition where balloonists must attempt to secure a key placed on a pole in Innes Common and a Dawn Patrol where a select number of balloons inflate and lift off at dawn creating a magical glow in the sky.
Day 1: The Mass Ascension, Afternoon Flight
Day 2: Dawn Patrol, School Hop
Day 3: Out and About, Parade
Day 4: Cash Grab, Nightglow
Day 5: Final Morning
Hamilton, New Zealand
Hamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland...
. It is held over five days during autumn and attracts both local and overseas balloonists. The Festival is held primarily at Innes Common, at Hamilton Lake, which gets an estimated 100,000 visitors during the festival. The highlight of the festival, the "Night glow
Night glow
A night glow is an event that is often held as a climax to a hot air balloon festival. The balloons are set up at sunset in the launch area, an open field, or a football stadium and are inflated as if they are going to take off. But instead of being allowed to ascend, they are held down by the...
" is held at the University of Waikato
University of Waikato
The University of Waikato is located in Hamilton and Tauranga, New Zealand, and was established in 1964. It has strengths across a broad range of subject areas, particularly its degrees in Computer Science and in Management...
where an estimated 80,000 people attend to watch the lighting of balloons putting on a spectacular glow to music.
Events in the festival include sunrise and sunset launches, a balloon basket parade, the "Night Glow" ,a morning "Key Grab" competition where balloonists must attempt to secure a key placed on a pole in Innes Common and a Dawn Patrol where a select number of balloons inflate and lift off at dawn creating a magical glow in the sky.
Day 1: The Mass Ascension, Afternoon Flight
Day 2: Dawn Patrol, School Hop
Day 3: Out and About, Parade
Day 4: Cash Grab, Nightglow
Day 5: Final Morning