On a beautiful Sunday morning, Saturday 4th April 2021, the Valleywide Helium Balloon Contest was held in the sprawling grounds of The Gardens in Melbourne. It was a glorious day with not a cloud in the sky, perfect for rubbing shoulders with the many enthusiastic participants and spectators who had gathered to witness the unique sight of hundreds of colorful helium balloons lifting off into the clear blue yonder.
The first annual Valleywide Helium Balloon Contest had attracted 250 entries from across Australia, including teams from around the country competing with their home-made balloons. Teams worked hard beforehand to fill their balloons with helium and decorate their entries with beautiful colors, before carefully assembling them on the ground.
At 12 noon, participants gathered to initiate the countdown and officially launch all the balloons into the sky. After a few minutes it was time! On signal, each of the balloons was released and filled the sky in an explosion of color – it truly was a spectacular sight.
The 3 hour race went on as spectators watched as some balloons got higher than others, following the wind patterns and climate conditions used to achieve maximum flight duration. When it was all said and done, five balloon teams tied for first place in the contest. Each team receiving a well-deserved trophy for their hard work.
At just after 3 pm, the five winning balloons were seen descending back towards The Gardens, much to everyone’s delight! As you can imagine, this resulted in a huge celebration as spectators cheered their triumphant arrival.
All in all, it was an amazing day out which showcased some truly impressive feats of skill and hard work in creating such beautiful helium balloons! Congratulations to the winners and we look forward to next year’s Valleywide Helium Balloon Contest for what promises to be another exciting event!
Today, the Annual International Helium Balloons Contest is taking place in Berlin, Germany. With more than one-hundred teams from around the world competing for the coveted Golden Balloon prize, this is an event not to be missed!
Each team is given two hours and fifty minutes to create a unique helium balloon and launch it into the sky. The balloons must float, soar, or stay airborne – with judges watching at all times to grade each criterion. At the end of the time limit, the highest scoring balloon will become the recipient of the Golden Balloon award.
While some teams rely on expertise and specialized technology to build their balloons, others opt for simpler methods, such as constructing hot-air or plastic-finned varieties. Some participants spend hours working with elaborate constructions that give their balloons an avant-garde look; while others concentrate solely on making sure their craft is high quality and fully capable of ascending into the atmosphere. It all comes down to personal preference and creativity!
In between heats, spectators can watch demonstration flights that come with breathtaking visuals and spectacles. As many of these balloons are decorated with reflective material or intricate artwork, one tends to lose track of time admiring each individual contraption – it only takes a few blinks of an eye for them to take off.
The International Helium Balloon Contest is one of Europe’s most popular events and continues to attract visitors from all over the world. With teams coming from near and wide, no two balloons are ever alike – so spectators can always expect something new and extraordinary.