Wairarapa Balloon Festival 2025 in New Zealand

The Wairarapa Balloon Festival is one of New Zealand's most popular and eagerly anticipated ballooning events. It is held annually around Easter at the Solway Showgrounds. This five-day festival showcases stunning hot air balloons, with vibrant displays lighting up the Wairarapa skies every morning at sunrise. It also offers a wealth of family-friendly activities, making it a must-see event for visitors of all ages.

Hot Air Balloon Events

The Wairarapa Balloon Festival takes place in Solway, a southwestern suburb of Masterton, near the Waingawa River. Masterton, the main town in the Wairarapa Valley on New Zealand's North Island, serves as the backdrop for this spectacular event. Hot air balloons soar over Masterton, Carterton, Greytown, and Martinborough, offering breathtaking bird's-eye views of the Wairarapa Valley. The festival culminates in a mystery location on Easter Monday. Mass ascensions are weather-dependent, as high winds can make balloon flights dangerous.

The standout feature is the Saturday Night Glow, where tethered balloons light up the night like giant lanterns, mesmerizing onlookers. The event also typically includes a sports ballooning competition, with activities like dropping a weighted tag onto a marker.

Family Carnival (April 19, 2025)

The Family Carnival on 19 April offers five hours of action-packed entertainment at the beautiful Solway Showgrounds. Activities include air balloon walk-throughs, live music and performances, a bouncy castle for the kids, a Face Painting Zone, and animal balloons. To celebrate Easter, there will also be an Easter Egg Hunt. Other attractions include the Fonterra Barrel Train, a variety of art and craft stalls featuring Wairarapa artisans, and the magical evening balloon performance, where balloons are lit up to music. Delicious food and beverages can be purchased at Food Truck Heaven. Gates open at 3 pm, with entertainment starting at 3 pm, and parking available from 2 pm.

Tickets

Tickets for the 2025 Family Carnival are priced as follows: Family ticket - $70, Adult - $22.50, Child - $12.50, and Young Child (4 years and under) – free. For balloon flights, Adult tickets are $395, and Child tickets (12 years and under) are $250. There will also be a dedicated area for campervans, motorhomes, and self-contained caravans at Solway Showgrounds, Masterton. These non-powered sites are available for $10 per person per night.