National Ballooning Championships (CANCELLED) (expired event)

All eyes to the sky as the hot air balloon spectacle returns to Northam.

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.