Hot Air Balloon Championships take flight in Newcastle
The competition is set to take place from May 8 to May 11 at 5am and 3pm every day, weather permitting.
The annual Vulintaba National Hot Air Balloon Championship will be hosted in Newcastle for the first time in more than 15 years.
Previously, the championship was hosted by the Free State Government in towns like Parys and Bethlehem.
After much discussion, meetings and negotiation, hosts of the 2014 championships succeeded in attracting the event to the town and have opened the possibility of using Newcastle as the venue of choice over the next three years.
The Balloon and Airship Federation of South Africa (BAFSA) have also confirmed that it will support an International Shape Balloon Fiesta in Newcastle this year.
The Newcastle Municipality and Amajuba District Municipality have already pledged support to the success of this project due to its immense tourism potential, which will benefit local business. Newcastillians will also have the opportunity to showcase our beautiful town through national and international media.
Vulintaba Country Estate, a local lifestyle estate just 20 kilometres outside Newcastle on the hills of the Northern Drakensberg, has since grabbed the opportunity to become the proud title sponsor for the event. Vulintaba Country Estate will host two of the events from the estate, with the Drakensberg in the backdrop.
The lifestyle estate boasts a golf course layout that has been masterfully crafted by the DDV Design Group. This includes nine holes and 18 tee variations, which will be open for play at intervals when no ballooning events are taking place.
The competition will progress at different events in Newcastle.
The town is preparing to host more than 15 different balloons from May 7 until May 11.
The competition is set to take place from May 8 to May 11 at 5am and 3pm every day, weather permitting.
More than R400 000 worth of gas will be consumed during the Vulintaba National Hot Air Balloon Competition.
This event will just be one of the events where the event organisers will celebrate 150 years of heritage of Newcastle.
Work, Play, Stay – Newcastle has everything to offer.
