It has been confirmed that the five-day Wairarapa Balloon Festival will again take to the skies over Easter [March 28 – April 1, 2024], promising to blow away spectators with visual displays of New Zealand and international balloons in action.
Balloons will ascend over Masterton, Carterton, Greytown, and Martinborough, winding up with a mystery location on Easter Monday.
Ballooning Wairarapa president Dean O’Brien said it’s exciting to be able to provide an event that everyone can look forward to over Easter.
“The Wairarapa’s big, wide-open spaces, and settled weather make our region one of the best-suited and most popular ballooning regions in the country,” O’Brien said.
“We’re excited to be able to bring back this free part of our festival again next year, where families and friends come together to see the magic and beauty in the skies above. We encourage everyone to make the most of it, by having a picnic in their garden or in a nearby park and creating some great memories.”
The ticketed “Night Glow” event will not be running next year, although it is scheduled to return in 2025.
Spectators will also be given the chance to experience hot air balloon flights over the region, courtesy of Ballooning Canterbury.
Balloon competitions are expected to be a hit during the festival, with balloonists being put through their paces with a series of challenges testing their technical skills.
Destination Wairarapa general manager Anna Nielson said that the balloon festival is always a much-anticipated event on Wairarapa’s events calendar.
“The balloon festival is firmly linked in people’s memories to Wairarapa’s big open skies, and a wonderful drawcard for attracting visitors from surrounding regions. This festival, coupled with the other attractions we have to offer, make Wairarapa a perfect place for visitors over the extended long weekend,” Nielson said.
The full programme for 2024 will be announced in the New Year. For more information, visit www.nzballoons.co.nz
