At the challenge launch on Tuesday, Chairman Graham Kerr, said he was looking forward to the growth of this year’s event.

“This year well see a number of changes to the event, the first and most obvious one is that we have moved from the sport ovals to the showground,” Mr Kerr said.

“It was a decision made because of the growing popularity of the event and the growing crowds, we felt we had outgrown the facilities at the sportsground”.

“We’ll see a propane refueling station installed to give us better refueling facilities for the balloons and as part of our future growth we have put in a significant Stronger Communities grant application to start a major redevelopment of these facilities,” he said.

Secretary Jan Kerr said both the Challenge and Glow would be bigger than ever. 

“We’ll have a lot more balloons in the glow this year, we have 36 balloon pilots registered, and some special treats we’ll keeping secret until the glow,” she said.

“It’s going to be a full program, but an enjoyable one for all the families.

“The competition will be really strong this year. We have the past director of the Albuquerque Fiesta, the biggest balloon event in the world, and competing we’ll have the world champion, the women’s world champion, the Australian champion and the French champion.

“We also have a group of guys from Melbourne, the Flying Lemmings, who will be getting in competition practice.

“What makes me really happy is that the Australian competition pilots have gotten right behind this event, it’s the only annual event they can get competition practice at in Australia, and they are so supportive of us,” she said.

Cabonne Councilor Cheryl Newsom, agreed the growth of the event was good for the region.

“It's fantastic for Cabonne and the greater region, it’s brings a lot of people to the region for the challenge, culminating in the glow at the end of the week,” she said.

“It’s become an iconic event on every ones calendar making Canowindra the hot air capital of Australia.

“Everyone gets involved from the schools to businesses, they all get benefits from the people visiting, and there’s nothing better then waking up and seeing to or twenty balloons flying over your house.”

This year there will be four special shapes in the Balloon Glow “Jewel” the hummingbird, “Kermie” the frog, Nudie and the Little Red Heart.