Date: Tuesday 18 to Saturday 22 March 2025
Time: Various
Venue: Various

A week of family fun at New Zealand’s premier hot air ballooning festival. Join Balloons Over Waikato and enjoy the magic of Hot Air Ballooning, where balloons and pilots from around NZ and the World take to the Waikato Skies.

The Balloons Over Waikato programme features 5 mornings of competitive flying tasks which incorporate community events and local partnerships, including sponsor activations based at Innes Common, Hamilton Lake.

In 2025 we are once again planning for a balloons visit to a region in the greater Waikato community, as well as afternoon and evening activities around the city, such as the Walk Thru balloon in Garden Place and the BASE Basket Burn.

The week will conclude with the ZURU Nightglow, for the 3rd year at Claudelands Oval. The event consists of live entertainment on the One NZ stage, food vendors, carnival rides and the stunning balloon glow choreographed to music, finishing off with the Sky City fireworks extravaganza!