National Ballooning Championships: CANCELLED

All eyes will be on the skies in August when the Australian National Ballooning Championships returns to Northam in WA’s Avon Valley for a week of spectacular flying, hot air balloon displays and events.

From 28 August to 4 September, hot air balloon pilots from across Australia will descend on the town in the heart of the Avon Valley to test their skills and secure a spot in the World Championships.

The week-long visual spectacle commences with the Shire of Northam’s Elevate Festival on 28 August. The Festival will be held at the Northam Trotting Track and include a number of ballooning themed activities, food and beverage options, markets, music and entertainment for the entire family including a ‘Balloon Glow.’ The striking Balloon Glow will see balloon baskets sit together on the ground and fire up to inflate and glow in the night to a musical soundtrack (weather permitting).

Flying enthusiasts can catch practice flights over the weekend (28 & 29 August) at dawn and competition flights during the week (Monday 30 August – Friday 3 September) at sunrise and again in the late afternoons from a number of vantage points as pilots coast over the Avon Valley.

Event details:

Dates:
- Elevate Festival – 28 August
- Practice flights – 28 and 29 August
- Competition flights – 30 August – 5 September

Time: Competition flights - sunrise (6am) and afternoons (4-5pm) - weather permitting.

Location:
- Elevate Festival - Northam Trotting Track
- National Ballooning Championships - Northam, The Avon Valley, Western Australia. The course stretches 30 x 40km across the Avon Valley.

Tickets: The National Ballooning Championships are free to attend.