Easter Weekend in Wairarapa

Denise Landow from Destination Wairarapa

The Wairarapa Balloon Festival is happening over five days – with the spectacular main event of the Night Glow on Saturday night at Clareville Showgrounds, Carterton.

Please note – all ascension launch sites and flight paths will be weather dependent. Keep up to date with any changes or announcements through the Wairarapa Balloon Festival's Facebook page.

• Tonight (Thursday 6 April) from 5.30pm - 7.30pm - Burner Light Up in Masterton’s Queen Elizabeth Park.

• Friday 7 April – 20 balloons ascension at Carrington Park, Carterton, at 6.30am, just off Main Street.

• Saturday 8 April - The Meander over Martinborough ascension takes place from 6.30am from Martinborough Golf Course.

• Saturday 8 April - Night Glow at Clareville Showgrounds. Once darkness falls, the balloons will be inflated, and held on the ground, glowing like huge Chinese lanterns. This will be set to live music, providing a spectacular glow, and an impressive finale to the evening festivities. Live band, bouncy castle, food vendors, static displays.

• Sunday 9 April - Park to Paddock Challenge happens from 6.30am in Greytown’s Kuranui College grounds in East Street.

• Monday 10 April - Farewell Flight at 6.30am from a 'mystery location' to be announced on Wairarapa Balloon’s Facebook page on the previous morning of Sunday 9 April.

Greytown’s National Tweed Ride is in tippy-top shape for its nearly 200 trend-setting tweedsters for their unashamed showing off on Saturday afternoon. Watch the mad mob depart at 1pm from the Greytown Working Persons’ Club Carpark on West Street – opposite Fresh Choice supermarket.

Molewood Orchard, Greytown. It's harvest season and you're welcome to bring a bag or bucket, and pick your own apples for only $2 per kg! Saturday 8 - Monday 10 April. Why not bring along a picnic lunch as well and make a day of it. Sunscreen, sturdy footwear and hats are good ideas too!

Our wonderful staff at the Masterton and Martinborough i-SITES will be manning their stations over Easter and ever willing and ready to help. Please note - Masterton’s office will be closed on Sunday.