All eyes will be on the skies above Northam, WA this August as the National Ballooning Championships returns to the iconic hot air ballooning town from 28 August to 4 September.
Returning to Northam for the fifth time, the National Ballooning Championships will see 20 to 30 hot air balloon pilots from across Australia descend on the Avon Valley for five days of competition with the highest ranking competitors selected to represent Australia in the World Ballooning Championships.
Shire of Northam President Cr Chris Antonio said, “Northam is one of Australia’s best hot air ballooning destinations and the home of hot air ballooning in Western Australia. It is an absolute credit to our talented ballooning community that the National Ballooning Championships is returning to Northam for the fifth time.
“The Championships present an opportunity to see Northam at its best, with the sky full of colour as more than 20 hot air balloons float majestically across the rolling hills. We look forward to hosting this colourful spectacle again and to showcasing Northam’s ballooning history, expertise and passion at a series of ballooning-themed activations and events held over the Championship week.”
Kicking off the week-long visual spectacle is the inaugural Elevate Festival on Saturday 28 August presented by Shire of Northam. The Festival, to be held at Northam Trotting Track, will include a number of ballooning themed displays, entertainment, markets and pop-ups, including the breathtaking ‘Balloon Glow’. The Balloon Glow (weather permitting) is a striking display of hot air balloons on the ground fired up to inflate and glow after dark while set to a musical soundtrack.
The National Ballooning Championships will then commence with two days of practice flights (Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 August), before five days of competition, where pilots will complete a range of challenges that test their skills at varying winds and altitudes.
Flying enthusiasts can catch the competition flights at sunrise and again in the late afternoon (weather permitting) from a number of vantage points as pilots compete over a course that spans 40km north to south and 30km east to west of Northam.
The final event (weather permitting), The Avon Valley Toyota Key Grab, (Saturday 4 September) will see pilots fly from point to point, collecting a foam ‘key’ from the end of a very tall pole. The key represents a key to a prize.
“We expect ballooning fever to take over the town during the Championships. This event appeals to a broad audience and based on the previous championships we’re expecting strong visitor numbers.
There are few sights as majestic as colourful hot air balloons floating across the skies Add in the idyllic backdrop of the Avon Valley and incredible displays of agility and it is an aerial spectacle that must be seen.
“Located just an hour east of Perth and with its heritage buildings, restaurants and bars, unique laneway art and ballooning culture, Northam is the ideal day trip or weekender destination. I’d encourage people to visit, see the balloons in action and explore all that Northam has to offer – it will be well worth the visit. “ added Cr Antonio.
Spectators planning on visiting Northam for a day trip or overnight are encouraged the check www.northam.wa.gov.au and the event’s web page www.northamballooningevents.com and Facebook page (Northam Ballooning Events) the nights before and on the mornings of competition days.
The 2021 National Ballooning Championships are proudly supported by Tourism WA and The Shire of Northam. The competition has previously been hosted in Northam in 2017, 2015, 1981 and 1984.
Event details:
What: National Ballooning Championships
When: 28 August – 4 September
Where: Northam, The Avon Valley, WA
Program/highlights:
28 Aug: Elevate Festival (afternoon)
28 & 29 Aug: Practice flights – sunrise and 4pm (weather dependent)
30 Aug – 3 Sep: Competition – sunrise and 4pm (weather dependent)
4 September: The Avon Valley Toyota Key Grab (weather dependent)
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