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.

More details to come.

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.

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 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 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!

What’s the weather doing this week?