Join us and enjoy the magic of Hot Air Ballooning, where balloons and pilots from around NZ and the World take to the Waikato Skies.
Whether you join us for our morning flying events at Innes Common Hamilton, be amazed by The ZURU Nightglow at Claudelands Oval or just pop outside in your jammies each morning to wave as our balloons float by, this event is for you.
The ZURU Nightglow is a FREE ticketed event. Stay tuned for updated information.
Love the Centre Walk-Thru Balloon
Dates: Saturday 15 March
Time: 1-4pm
Location: Garden Place, Hamilton CBD
Cash koha, no ticket required.
Visit Garden Place for an amazing experience walking inside a real hot air balloon for a gold coin donation. There’ll be fun, music and entertainment helping kick off Balloons event week.
- Circus in the Centre.
Family-friendly sessions where kids and whānau can explore circus skills (1pm – 3.30pm) - Live Music
The Hamilton City Council Opening Fiesta
Dates: Tuesday 18 March
Time: 7am
Location: Innes Common, Hamilton Lake
FREE, no ticket required.
Make the most of this magical week by getting up early to join in the fun at Innes Common, Hamilton Lake. There is nowhere better to see the balloons up close, inflate and fly off and then enjoy the fun with our partners onsite each morning.
More details to come.
The Grassroots Trust Lift Off
Dates: Wednesday 19 March
Time: 7am
Location: Innes Common, Hamilton Lake
FREE, no ticket required.
Make the most of this magical week by getting up early to join in the fun at Innes Common, Hamilton Lake. There is nowhere better to see the balloons up close, inflate and fly off and then enjoy the fun with our partners onsite each morning.
More details to come.
WEL Energy Trust Muffins in the Morning
Dates: Thursday 20 March
Time: 7am
Location: Innes Common, Hamilton Lake
FREE, no ticket required.
Make the most of this magical week by getting up early to join in the fun at Innes Common, Hamilton Lake. There is nowhere better to see the balloons up close, inflate and fly off and then enjoy the fun with our partners onsite each morning.
More details to come.
Love the Centre Walk-Thru Balloon
Dates: Thursday 20 March
Time: 4-7pm
Location: Garden Place, Hamilton CBD
Cash koha, no ticket required.
Visit Garden Place for an amazing experience walking inside a real hot air balloon for a gold coin donation. There’ll be fun, music and entertainment helping kick off Balloons event week.
More details to come.
Balloons visit South Waikato
Dates: Thursday 20 March
Time: 5:30-9:30pm
Location: Tokoroa Memorial Sports Ground
FREE, no ticket required.
First Credit Union Fun Friday
Dates: Friday 21 March
Time: 7am
Location: Innes Common, Hamilton Lake
FREE, no ticket required.
Make the most of this magical week by getting up early to join in the fun at Innes Common, Hamilton Lake. There is nowhere better to see the balloons up close, inflate and fly off and then enjoy the fun with our partners onsite each morning.
More details to come.
The Base Basket Burn
Dates: Friday 21 March
Time: 6pm to 7:45pm
Location: The Base, Te Rapa, Hamilton. Opposite Mitre 10.
FREE, no ticket required.
The Base have teamed up with Balloons Over Waikato again to bring the Basket Burn to The Base.
What’s a ‘basket burn’ you ask? It’s a light show using hot air balloon gas burners choreographed to music! We’ll have food trucks onsite for family dinner, carnival rides to keep the kids entertained, and of course the fiery basket burn display with great live music from the Monroes worth a boogie to!
Balloons visit Waipa
Dates: Friday 21 March
Time: TBC
Location: TBC
More details to come.
Radius Care Cash Grab
Dates: Saturday 22 March
Time: 7am
Location: Innes Common, Hamilton Lake
FREE, no ticket required.
Join us at Innes Common, Hamilton Lake for the last morning event of the week! We’re firing up the grill with a Radius Care sausage sizzle—because nothing fuels balloon-watching like a good old snag. While you wait for the action, challenge your mates to Jenga or cornhole and soak up the atmosphere.
The main event? The Cash Grab. Watch as pilots put their skills to the test, navigating their balloons to snatch cash from a pole mid-flight.
Can they pull it off? Come see for yourself!
The ZURU Nightglow
Date: 22 March 2025
Time: 4pm
Location: Claudelands Oval, Claudelands Events Centre, Hamilton
Tickets: FREE, ballot opening 2pm 4 February.
Don’t miss Hamilton’s biggest night out – The ZURU Nightglow. Hours of live entertainment on the One NZ main stage, carnival rides and foodies, culminating in the spectacular balloon glow and the SkyCity Hamilton fireworks extravaganza!