Up, up and away!

Spectacles of light: The hot air balloon inflations will captivate audiences on Friday.

Giant balloons and magnificent laser lights are set to illuminate the sky over Tauranga Racecourse this weekend, with the inaugural Ignite Hot Air Balloon Show.

Five hot air balloons will be inflated at sunset as an eye-catching display, before a Star Wars laser show will capture the imagination with music and sounds to accompany.

A cold inflation, for people to walk into, is also being set up by the Hamilton Hot Air Balloon Club.

Promotor Stephen Spargo says this is the first time the show has been put on for Tauranga and makes a great family night out.

'The cold inflation will be a treat for event goers,” says Stephen. 'It's quite interesting as you don't realise how big the envelope is until you are inside”.

Safety is paramount, so while attendees are unable to go up in the balloons, seeing them illuminated to sound will be a really exciting.

'It's a safety thing,” Stephen explains. 'It's about the lights and seeing the envelopes glowing at night, which is the impressive aspect.”

The event starts at 5.30pm, with food and coffee vendors on site and family fun carnival rides to enjoy before the balloon show at 7.40pm.

Tickets are $30 per car (you do not have to have a car to get in, as long as the one to five people are with the ticket when it gets scanned at the main entrance).

All tickets are available via www.hotairballoonshow.co.nz

This event is weather dependant. If the balloon club say it's too windy, they can do a burn without the inflation. If it is too wet or windy, the event will be postponed until Saturday, October 3.

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