A fire meets ice hot air balloon extravaganza will light up the skies around Methven in June just one night off the longest winter night.

Bookings for the event organised by Graeme and Michaela Church from Methven-based Adventure Balloons NZ are taking off.

They started off at a couple a day, but now Michaela says her phone is buzzing almost constantly with booking notifications.

She had initially thought to cap the event at about 2000. But with bookings topping 1500 already, she's now planning for up to 8000 people.

The couple have arranged 15 balloonists from around New Zealand for an hour-long tethered hot air balloon show, with laser lights co-ordinated to music.

Local live band, the Mavericks, will perform before and after the show and there will be 20-plus food trucks with everything from kebabs to mini doughnuts.

"June is a fantastic time to be doing it. We have crispy cold evenings and the winds are more stable," Michaela said.

Graeme, who has been flying hot air balloons for 45 years, wanted to bring a glow festival to Methven to promote ballooning and what the town has to offer.

"We love Methven and we want it to be on the tourist map," Michaela said.

The event has ballooned as plans progressed and now includes a glow-in-the-dark play area for children.

"It will be a really fun family night out."

The balloonists will be in town from Tuesday night and will fly every morning from Wednesday morning to Sunday morning for people who want to appreciate several hot air balloons flying at once, Michaela said.

Plans for the next event will depend on how the first festival goes. The initial plan had been to run it on alternate years to the bi-annual glow show in Hororata, but if the maiden flight is well supported, it could become an annual event.

Box: Balloon festival facts

Where: Methven A&P Showgrounds

When: June 22 from 4:30pm – 8:30pm

What: Gates open at 4.30pm. Live music kicks off at 5pm. The glow show will run from 6.30 - 7.30pm with the live band playing again after that until 8.30pm.

Box: Help from the local community board

The event is forecast to cost around $52,000. Sound and lighting are estimated to be $17,000 and travel and accommodation for the balloonists is around $10,000.

The Methven Community Board granted the event $5000. Any profits from the event will be used to fund future events and to support local Methven community projects.

The board also granted funds to three other applicants:

- Mt Hutt College received $3000 towards upgrading the indoor rock climbing wall

- The Methven Firefighters Support Group received $5,000 toward repainting their roof ahead of the brigade's centennial next year.

- The Methven Walking Festival also received $550. The festival will be run over the Easter break and has 10 different walks.

Sharon Davis