CANOWINDRA BALLOON FESTIVAL
Stay tune for the 2023 dates!
The fabulous Balloon Nightglow will be held on
the evening of second Saturday of the festival week.
ABOUT THE CANOWINDRA BALLOON FESTIVAL
Canowindra Challenge Inc. is a community based organisation that hosts an annual balloon competition and festival in the second week of the NSW April school holidays, to benefit Canowindra and the greater region.
Visitors to the festival can wake up each morning to the visual spectacle of a mass launch and flight of a fleet of colourful hot air balloons, or take a flight themselves.
The event highlight is the night balloon glow, with wine, food and craft markets. Various support events are held around the village during the week.
Our history
Canowindra has a long association with the hot air ballooning playing host for many years to “Marti’s Balloon Fiesta”. This tradition ceased to operate in 2006, leaving a significant hole in the village’s annual event’s calendar and also in the hearts of many locals who took great pride in their unique event.
In 2010 local balloon operators Graham and Jan Kerr decided to take matters into their own hands and reinstate Canowindra’s claim as the “Ballooning Capital of Australia” by starting a new event called “The Canowindra Balloon Challenge”.
Following the success of this first event, Graham and Jan went back to the Canowindra community with a proposal to grow the event by setting up a community organisation to co-ordinate and ensure benefits flow to the communities of Canowindra and surrounding areas. Their gamble paid off and in 2011 Canowindra Challenge Incorporated (CCI) was formed.
Over the past 10 years the event has continued to grow and in 2011, 2013 and 2014 the Canowindra Balloon Challenge included the Australian National Balloon Championships sanctioned by the Australian Ballooning Federation.
In 2014 and 2015 the event was also granted the sanction for a Category 2 International Balloon Competition by the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI), the world sports aviation governing body.
This Event is now recognised as a stand alone event.
The Canowindra Balloon Challenge is held annually in April due to this time of year offering the most ideal weather conditions for flying hot air balloons. Historically this time of year provides calm wind currents, cool overnight temperatures and sunny days with a low chance of rain. It is a peak tourism period for Canowindra as there tends to be a movement of the caravan and motorhome market from south to north during this time of year – the annual migration to a warmer climate for the winter months.
Awards
NSW Tourism Awards – Silver 2013 and 2014, Bronze 2017 and 2018
Inland Tourism Awards – Gold 2014
Regional Tourism Awards – Bronze 2016, Silver 2018
Regional Achievement and Community Awards – Finalist 2012, 2013, 2014
Australia Day Awards- Community Group of the Year 2018
HOW TO BE A PART OF THE 2023 BALLOON FIESTA
The best way to view the hot air balloon festival is definitely as passengers on board one of the balloons that will take to the skies at sunrise each morning. You can book your space on one of our fiesta flights for the experience of a life time; the excitement begins just before dawn as around thirty hot air balloons are inflated in the launch field – make sure to have your camera ready, it’s quite the spectacle – then take off and drifting over the Hunter Valley vineyards for an hour in the company of a fleet of hot air balloons. Celebrations continue after the flight back at Peterson House Winery with live music, a gourmet breakfast and a champagne tasting to wrap up an exciting and fun-filled morning.
FIESTA FLIGHT INCLUSIONS
- 1 Hour (approx.) Sunrise Balloon Flight with around 20 – 30 other balloons
- A delicious Gourmet Breakfast at Peterson House Winery with live music
- Champagne Celebration and Sparkling wine tasting
- Discount at the cellar door for any purchases made on the day
- Participation in an exciting and unique Hunter Valley event with Australia’s most experienced Hot Air Ballooning team
2022 Schedule of Events.
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Saturday
5:45 am
Aerial Drone Light Show sponsored by Sandia Resort and Casino
6:00 am
Dawn Patrol Show presented by Route 66 Casino Hotel and RV Resort
SEE DETAILS
6:30 am
Krispy Kreme Morning Glow
6:45 am
Opening Ceremonies
2:00 pm
America's Challenge Gas Balloon Inflation
SEE DETAILS
5:00 pm
Team Fastrax Skydiving sponsored by the City of Las Vegas, NM.
6:00 pm
America's Challenge Gas Balloon Launch
SEE DETAILS
6:00 pm
Twilight Twinkle Glow™ presented by Albuquerque Journal
see details
7:30 pm
Team Fastrax Skydiving sponsored by the City of Las Vegas, NM
7:45 pm
Aerial Drone Light Show sponsored by Sandia Resort and Casino
8:00 pm
AfterGlow™ Fireworks Show
Sunday
5:45 am
Aerial Drone Light Show sponsored by Sandia Resort and Casino
6:00 am
Dawn Patrol Show presented by Route 66 Casino Hotel and RV Resort
see details
6:30 am
Krispy Kreme Morning Glow
9:00 am
Fiesta of Wheels Car Show, located on the north end of the Launch Field
SEE DETAILS
11:00 am
Balloon Fiesta Pin Trading located at the Group Tour Tent at the north end of Main Street
5:00 pm
Team Fastrax Skydiving sponsored by the City of Las Vegas, NM.
6:00 pm
Balloon Glow powered by ExxonMobil.
see details
7:30 pm
Team Fastrax Skydiving sponsored by the City of Las Vegas, NM.
7:45 pm
Aerial Drone Light Show sponsored by Sandia Resort and Casino
8:00 pm
AfterGlow™ Fireworks
Monday
Meta Day7:00 am
Ascension-Balloon Launch from Park
8:00 am
AIBF Chainsaw Carving Demonstration
See Details
Tuesday
Coca-Cola Day7:00 am
Ascension-Balloon Launch from Park
8:00 am
AIBF Chainsaw Carving Demonstration
See Details
Wednesday
6:00 am
Dawn Patrol Show presented by Route 66 Casino Hotel and RV Resort
SEE DETAILS
6:30 am
Krispy Kreme Morning Glow
7:00 am
Flight of the Nations Mass Ascension presented by New Mexico True
8:00 am
AIBF Chainsaw Carving Demonstration
See Details
Thursday
Kids' Day presented by KOB-TV5:00 pm
Team Fastrax Skydiving sponsored by the City of Las Vegas, NM.
7:30 pm
Team Fastrax Skydiving sponsored by the City of Las Vegas, NM.
7:45 pm
Aerial Drone Light Show sponsored by Sandia Resort and Casino
8:00 pm
AfterGlow™ Fireworks Show
Friday
5:00 pm
Team Fastrax Skydiving sponsored by the City of Las Vegas, NM.
7:30 pm
Team Fastrax Skydiving sponsored by the City of Las Vegas, NM.
7:45 pm
Aerial Drone Light Show sponsored by Sandia Resort and Casino
8:00 pm
AfterGlow™ Fireworks Show
Saturday
5:45 am
Aerial Drone Light Show sponsored by Sandia Resort and Casino
6:00 am
Dawn Patrol Show presented by Route 66 Casino Hotel and RV Resort
SEE DETAILS
6:30 am
Krispy Kreme Morning Glow
7:00 am
Mass Ascension powered by ExxonMobil.
SEE DETAILS
11:00 am
Balloon Fiesta Pin Trading (Group Tour Tent north end of Main Street)
5:00 pm
Team Fastrax Skydiving sponsored by the City of Las Vegas, NM.
6:00 pm
Night Magic™ Glow powered by ExxonMobil
see details
7:30 pm
Team Fastrax Skydiving sponsored by the City of Las Vegas, NM.
7:45 pm
Aerial Drone Light Show sponsored by Sandia Resort and Casino
8:00 pm
AfterGlow™ Fireworks Show
Sunday
5:45 am
Aerial Drone Light Show sponsored by Sandia Resort and Casino
6:00 am
Dawn Patrol Show presented by Route 66 Casino Hotel and RV Resort
SEE DETAILS
6:30 am
Krispy Kreme Morning Glow
7:00 am
Farewell Mass Ascension - presented by News Radio 770 KKOB
SEE DETAILS