Gallery - Canowindra International Balloon Challenge

canowindrachallenge

With some sporting winds from the South East, ball

With some sporting winds from the South East, balloons will be heading out to a property on George Russell Dr to launch back towards town. This is a private farm and the public is asked to not enter the property. Please be traffic aware when parked on/near the roads.

Yesterday we had the Canowindra Balloon Festival S

Yesterday we had the Canowindra Balloon Festival Sing hosted by Nerida Cuddy as well as the Canowindra Public School P & C's Trivia Night! 👏 There are so many wonderful events this week so make sure you check out the program. 🗓 📷 Noel Fisher. #canowindraballoonchallenge #canowindraballoonfestival #canowindra #BalloonWeek

A small number of balloons will be flying from the

A small number of balloons will be flying from the River flats, below the Caravan Park/Pool. Winds will take them to the east, landing before last light.

Two huge nights of entertainment coming up! 🎊

Two huge nights of entertainment coming up! 🎊 On Friday night, we have the Home Ground Sounds Canowindra concert featuring ARIA and Golden Guitar award winner Casey Barnes, Australia's favourite party band Furnace and the Fundamentals, rocking band Big Night Out and country singer/songwriter Nathan Lamont! 🎤 Tickets are available from Balloon HQ (84 Gaskill Street) or online at https://www.123tix.com.au/.../home-ground-sounds... or https://tickets.oztix.com.au/.../c8a769d7-32da-47ed-8d61... On Saturday night, we have the Cabonne Community Glow featuring AC/DC tribute band Thunderstruck, country singers Nathan Lamont and Zak Armstrong and of course the balloons! 🎼 Tickets are available from Balloon HQ or online at https://www.123tix.com.au/events/43847/2025-canowindra-balloon-challenge-cabonne-community-glow Make sure you grab your tickets for these amazing events! 🙌

Fun things to watch for with this morning’s flig

Fun things to watch for with this morning’s flight: VH-SPY has paired with a remote control balloon, where one pilot remains on the ground. Also keep an eye out for Adam Barrow in his flying Wheelie Bin 😃

Balloons will be operating in pairs with a streame

Balloons will be operating in pairs with a streamer between them. The pair of balloons that flies for the longest without breaking their streamer wins prizes from @bullacreekbrewing and @kubicekballoons. Launch will be from the old South Canowindra Rodeo Grounds, off Milton St Canowindra. Enjoy a coffee from Mumma Bears coffee while you watch them hun 🙂

After assessing the winds, afternoon flying has be

After assessing the winds, afternoon flying has been cancelled. We’ll look at it again tomorrow morning. Watch Instagram and Facebook around 6am for updates.

With the warmth of a very pleasant afternoon, the

With the warmth of a very pleasant afternoon, the winds are marginal for balloons. Pilots will be waiting until 4:30pm to reassess the winds as the afternoon cools into evening.

Tonight! Head down to the Canowindra Bowling Club

Tonight! Head down to the Canowindra Bowling Club and test your knowledge for this year's Canowindra Public School P & C's Trivia Night! ❔ Tickets are just $20 for this fundraising event and are available at https://www.123tix.com.au/events/47479/trivia-night

It’s calm on the ground, but decent SE winds abo

It’s calm on the ground, but decent SE winds above. The balloons are heading to the small town of Woodstock to launch, with the aim of flying back to Canowindra. It should be a great morning to watch them as they fly back to town 🙂

Balloon: Ivy. Pilot: Michael Toulson. One of the h

Balloon: Ivy. Pilot: Michael Toulson. One of the home-built balloons in attendance, Ivy is piloted by Michael, along with fellow Kiwis, Katie Pepper and Liam McGirr.

No Afternoon Flying Sunday. While the rain has pas

No Afternoon Flying Sunday. While the rain has passed, the wet ground, low cloud and significant winds aloft mean we have cancelled afternoon flying today. We’ll try again tomorrow, but as always in ballooning, we’ll wait and see (there’s a possibility of fog and low cloud).

Balloon: Frank The Tank. Pilot: Steve Campbell. Th

Balloon: Frank The Tank. Pilot: Steve Campbell. The ever dependable Frank The Tank is an immigrant from the UK and has trained numerous pilots to fly over the years.

Balloon: Hiawatha. Pilot Suze McKenzie. A well kno

Balloon: Hiawatha. Pilot Suze McKenzie. A well known sight around Cano over the years, Hiawatha stands out from the crowd!

Balloon: Black Magic. Pilots: Clan Turnbull. A fix

Balloon: Black Magic. Pilots: Clan Turnbull. A fixture in Australian ballooning, the always smiling Black Magic is piloted by three generations of Turnbulls.

Balloon: Shakespeare. Pilot: Dean Larkin. Dean is

Balloon: Shakespeare. Pilot: Dean Larkin. Dean is a Commercial pilot from Melbourne. His balloon is a more streamlined shape known as a racer, which has far greater rates of climb and descent than standard shapes.

Balloon: Moonraker. Pilot: Gretta Menzies. Gretta

Balloon: Moonraker. Pilot: Gretta Menzies. Gretta has been ballooning for many years, her striking balloon Moonraker is a regular feature around Canowindra.

Balloon: Zephyr. Pilot: Dave Hearne. Hailing from

Balloon: Zephyr. Pilot: Dave Hearne. Hailing from Tumut, Dave and his spectacular balloon Zephyr are newcomers to ballooning, with this being Dave’s first Canowindra Festival.

Balloon: Winnie. Pilot: Steve Campbell. Local lad

Balloon: Winnie. Pilot: Steve Campbell. Local lad and long time Ballonatic, Steve grew up in Canowindra chasing balloons across the countryside on his bicycle.

Sunday flying is cancelled. Due to the wet weather

Sunday flying is cancelled. Due to the wet weather balloons will not be flying this morning. We’ll try again tomorrow.

Red skies dawning, shepherds warning. While we enj

Red skies dawning, shepherds warning. While we enjoyed a great flight this morning, the old tale has turned true. With the possibility of continued showers, atmospheric instability and wet paddocks, we will not be flying Sunday morning, sorry. The rest of the week is looking good, but with all things ballooning, only dawn will tell…

Balloon Week 2025 is here! 🎊 There is so much

Balloon Week 2025 is here! 🎊 There is so much to do across this magical week, with the Street Party featuring the BBQ Masters competition, balloons flying daily, Flickerfest, a trivia night, open gardens, paint and sip, Home Ground Sounds Friday night concert, the Street Parade among many others, and of course the incredible Balloon Glow. ❤️ Check out the program and let us know what events you'll be heading to. 👇 Tickets and information are available from Balloon HQ at 84 Gaskill Street. 👏

And we are off for 2025! 🎉 Balloon Week starts

And we are off for 2025! 🎉 Balloon Week starts today with the Welcome to Canowindra Street Party featuring the Canowindra BBQ Masters Competition kicking off at 5pm. 🥳 Show us your BBQ skills and you could be Canowindra's next BBQ Master! Entry forms are available from Balloon HQ (84 Gaskill Street), the Canowindra Services Club and online at https://www.123tix.com.au/events/46896/canowindra-bbq-masters Soak up the atmosphere of the Street Party as we welcome balloonists and visitors to town. There'll be stalls, live music and a bar so head down and join the party! 🎊

At the going down of the sun and in the morning. W

At the going down of the sun and in the morning. We will remember them.

Are you the next BBQ Master? Time is running out t

Are you the next BBQ Master? Time is running out to enter! The Welcome to Canowindra Street Party is just two days away! Show us your BBQ skills and you could go home Canowindra's BBQ Master with bragging rights for the whole year! Entry forms are available at Balloon HQ (84 Gaskill Street), Canowindra Services Club and online at https://www.123tix.com.au/events/46896/canowindra-bbq-masters #canowindrainternationalballoonchallenge #centralwestnsw #canowindraballoonweek #livemusic #canowindra #balloonweek #bbqmaster #streetparty #welcometocanowindra

Balloon HQ is open for all your Balloon Week needs

Balloon HQ is open for all your Balloon Week needs! 👏 Balloon HQ is your one stop shop for info on the events taking place throughout the week, info on the balloons flying and the place to buy your tickets for events such as the Home Ground Sounds concert and the Balloon Glow! 🙌 Balloon HQ is located at 84 Gaskill Street, home of local paper Canowindra Phoenix and event company Roundbox Group. Call in and say hi! 👋

Fancy yourself a master of the BBQ? 🥩🍔 Put

Fancy yourself a master of the BBQ? 🥩🍔 Put your skills to the test to see if you are our second Canowindra BBQ Master! Meat and tools provided, you just need to bring your skills. 💪 Register at 123tix now and get BBQing! 🌭

Fun little flight to kick off Leeton! Not as epic

Fun little flight to kick off Leeton! Not as epic as some were to undertake, but when you see a manicured lawn to pack up on, you take it 😃

📣 Calling all stallholders! 📣 The Welcome t

📣 Calling all stallholders! 📣 The Welcome to Canowindra Street Party is on again, welcoming guests and balloonists to the town for Balloon Week. 👏 Register your stall at 123tix and join us in kicking off Balloon Week 2025! 🥳

Need accommodation for Balloon Week? The beautiful

Need accommodation for Balloon Week? The beautiful Marlow House is available from the 24th of April right through to the 4th of May! 🙌 This historic house was built in the early 1900's and has breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside. ⛰ Head over to https://www.marlowhouseaccommodation.com/ to snap up this amazing property before it's booked out!

The 2025 program is here! 🎊 It's your ultimate

The 2025 program is here! 🎊 It's your ultimate guide to this year's Balloon Challenge. Balloon Week is fast approaching, so Balloon HQ is now open! 👏 Balloon HQ at 84 Gaskill Street will be open from 9am Tuesday and Wednesday this week and then from Tuesday next week until May 4. 🙌

If you're in town for Balloon Week and looking to

If you're in town for Balloon Week and looking to vote early, Cowra and Orange are the closest early voting centres to Canowindra. ✍️ Cowra Uniting Church - 75A Darling Street, Cowra NSW, 2794 will open for early voting on Saturday 26th April, then from Monday 28 April - Friday 2 May. St Barnabas Parish Hall - 381 Summer Street, Orange, NSW 2800 and 24 Telopea Way, Orange, NSW 2800. Opening from Tuesday 22 April - Thursday 24 April, Saturday 26 April and Monday 28 April - Friday 2 May. All early voting centres will be closed on Easter Monday, 21 April, and Anzac Day, Friday 25 April.

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