Balloons over Waikato 2020 is out of this world
Expect a Carnival of Colour for Balloons over Waikato’s 21st year fiesta, Tuesday March 17 to Saturday March 21, with balloons from around the world colouring the skies in the region over five days.
Balloons over Waikato partner Mainfreight is this year bringing their own balloon to the festival — Mainfreight Cosmos 1.
“Mainfreight has teamed up with Balloons Over Waikato in a different space than usual,” Mainfreight Air and Ocean Hamilton branch manager Amber Woodward says.
“Not only do we have the responsibility of making sure all the balloons get to the event on time, but we are also part of the show. Mainfreight Cosmos 1 is an astronaut, complete with spacesuit, helmet, gloves and boots. He was built in 2012 in Brazil, weighing over 220kg and stands 32m tall.
Jerry and Cindy Holmes from Fort Worth, Texas, decided to build Cosmos due to a combined love of NASA and the joy of inspiring children, particularly in science and maths.
“Right after we got Cosmos, Cindy and I were at Fiesta in Albuquerque and a representative from NASA came up to us and asked a lot of questions,” Pilot Jerry Holmes says.
“He then spent a lot of time taking pictures of Cosmos 1. That was cool.”
Balloons over Waikato 2020 will be out of this world, thanks to Mainfreight’s Cosmos 1 , Resene’s Rainbow Unicorn and a special shape to be announced soon.
Rainbow Unicorn, the first special shape announced, was created by twin brothers Todd and Scott Monahan to encourage children into ballooning.
The unicorn was inspired by Scott’s four-year-old daughter Jade, who even helped with the final design.
It took two months to get the design and colour right and in January 2018 the pink and rainbow unicorn was manufactured in Brazil.
Resene Rainbow Unicorn comes from Lake George, New York, United States and is likely to be a fan favourite.
Balloons over Waikato’s Carnival of Colour lifts off from Innes Common Tuesday, March 17 and packs down after the Zuru Nightglow on Saturday March 21.