Balloon fiesta conquers rainstorm

STUNNING: Feedback on the Wairarapa Balloon Fiesta has been good, despite the Night Glow being cancelled. PHOTO/FILE

The rain came and a couple of events were called off - but for those taking part in the Wairarapa Balloon Fiesta, the weather did not dampen their enthusiasm.

Saturday's Night Glow the "jewel in the crown" of the fiesta, was cancelled due to rain, on advice from Niwa.

The Henley Lake Challenge scheduled for yesterday was also called off, due to wind.

Event organiser Tanya Katterns said it was disappointing the Night Glow did not go ahead - but the public spirit was not dampened, with spectators heading to social media to offer enthusiastic compliments.

"We had people on buses coming from Hawke's Bay and Wellington, so we would have loved to have put Night Glow on," said Ms Katterns. "But the feedback has been brilliant. Hundreds of people have commented on our Facebook page, saying things like 'shame about the weather but it was still amazing'."

Ms Katterns said the rest of the festival went off without a hitch, with the Mass Ascension, the Carterton and Greytown burner parades and the Magic Over Martinborough flight delighting spectators.

During each flight, pilots competed in various ballooning challenges, with Nelson pilot John Clifton and his Transwell balloon claiming first prize overall.

"It's the pilots' premier ballooning competition, so they get very competitive," said Ms Katterns.

Ms Katterns said the balloon fiesta attracted visitors from all over the country and that there was renewed enthusiasm for the event among Wairarapa people.

"There was a bigger sense of excitement this year.

"People in Wairarapa feel like it's actually our balloon festival," she said.

"The weather did not take away from how stunning the whole thing was."