Tens of thousands expected at balloon festival

The biggest and brightest Balloons Over Waikato festival lifts off tomorrow (March 26) with a Hamilton Mass Ascension at 7.30am from Innes Common, Hamilton Lake.

The first 2000 people at Innes Common will get a free breakfast courtesy of The Wel Energy Trust, Fonterra, Sanitarium, and Waikato Environment Centre.

At 5.30pm the same afternoon, the ‘Hamilton City Ascension’ is scheduled to take place when balloons will again inflate and lift off together from Innes Common, Hamilton Lake;  Claudelands Park, Claudelands;  Jansen Park, Silverdale; and Tauhara Park, Rototuna.

This year’s special balloons include The Hamilton 150th Birthday Balloon, The Resene Colourful Hummingbird, The Angry Birds Balloon, and the Rocketman.

Event assistant and administrator for the Balloons Over Waikato 2014 Kara McKerrow said  2014 is a special year for the balloonists. “This year we celebrate two of our strategic partners’ birthdays, with Hamilton turning 150 and the University of Waikato 50.

“The highlights will definitely be the Night Glow, and opening morning with the Hamilton Mass Ascension with all the birthday celebrations.

“This year we expect to have more than  130,000 people attend the event over the five days and a crowd of more than 80,000 at the Night Glow alone.”

One of the most popular events , the smash and grab, is on Saturday when balloonists attempt to remove $1000 from the top of a pole at Innes Common, Hamilton Lake.

The popular ASB Nightglow at Waikato University is scheduled  for Saturday evening from 4pm to 9pm.

Those attending can enjoy live music, the orchestrated Balloon Glow Show and a dramatic fireworks finale.

Entrance to all events within the festival is free.

To see whether balloons are flying and if events are cancelled, check out the homepage, http://www.balloonsoverwaikato.co.nz, the Balloons Over Waikato Facebook page or tune into Classic Hits 98.6 FM for up to date details.