Large turnout for Balloons over Waikato launch
The week-long Hamilton balloon festival is under way after the mass ascension in Hamilton this morning.
Balloons over Waikato is under way after a successful launch in front of hundreds at Innes Commons this morning.
Among the spectators was Mayor Andrew King, who arrived early at the launch.
“It’s just a magical excitement of balloons hanging in the sky,” said King.
“It’s almost fairy tale stuff.”
This year five more balloons have been added to the show, but King still has a firm favourite.
“The Hamilton balloon. Every morning when I see it up in the sky, I ring up and I just thank them for going up because it’s just such a good thing for Hamilton.”
Balloons over Waikato has been running for the past 17 years and King believes it is an important event for Hamilton.
From left: Micah Powell, Brittany Pizzuli, Spencer Graham
Photo: Ruby Nyika
“It brings people, even on the Saturday night it brings people down from Auckland and from all round the Waikato.”
Among those people on Wednesday morning were Americans Brittany Pizzuli and her two cousins Spencer Graham and Micah Powell.
Pizzuli said she liked the helicopter-shaped balloon. “At first I thought it was going to be Captain America but when I saw it I’m like, that doesn’t make sense,” said Pizzuli.
“It’s awesome I love it here. It’s weird though cause it’s like winter in Cleveland, there’s snow on the ground and here I’m wearing a tank top.
“At first I was underwhelmed because all I could see was the two balloons. And then once they started they were popping up everywhere and I was, wow there’s a lot more here than I thought.”
The Hamilton balloon festival concludes this Sunday after a week of events including the Night Glow on Saturday.
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