Wairarapa Balloon Festival 2025: Family Carnival

NZ's most anticipated Balloon Festival is returning to Wairarapa in Easter 2025, from Thursday 17th until Monday 21st April.

This magical five day festival promises to be fun for the whole family, with a vibrant display of balloons filling the Wairarapa skies. Balloons will take off from a different local town each morning, creating a magical experience. See them from the comfort of your own backyard, or head to one of the morning ascension spots for a close up slice of the action.

The pinnacle event is the Family Carnival, taking place on Saturday 19 April 2025. This revamped programme includes 5 hours of action-packed entertainment as part of the ticket price.

Choose from over 40 food trucks, or pack a picnic, find a spot on the grass, and enjoy the afternoon and evening of entertainment.

Tickets to the Family Carnival includes:
Live music and entertainment
Bouncy castle for the kids
Cold balloon walk throughs
Facepainting Zone and animal balloon artists
An Easter egg hunt for the kids
Selection of art and craft stalls from Wairarapa crafters
The magical Balloon glow performance - lit up to music
Delicious food and beverage options to purchase from over 40 street food vendors, at Food Truck Alley

The 2025 Family Carnival will be an unforgettable experience.

Gates Open 2pm. Entertainment starts at 4pm sharp. Parking opens at 2pm.
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Tickets, including family packages and campsites are on sale now.

For more information head to www.nzballoons.co.nz

Camping:
Campsites are limited, so make sure you book your tickets and campsite early to avoid disappointment.

There will be a dedicated area for campervans, motorhomes and self-contained caravans right in the centre of the action, at Solway Showgrounds, Masterton. These non-powered sites are $10 per person per night (or $7 per person per night for NZMCA members). Camping is for self-contained vehicles only. For more details and to book, head to https://mastertonshowgrounds.co.nz/

TICKET PRICES: Early Bird 2 – 31 December
Family - 2 adults up to 3 kids $60
Adult - $20
Child - $10
Young Child aged 4 years and under - FREE
Plus Eventfinda and credit card fees. Please note there are no gate sales.