PierPop Waterfront Festival Draws Thousands to Ballard Pier in South Mumbai
The month-long PierPop waterfront festival at Ballard Pier in South Mumbai has drawn a steady stream of visitors since its launch on June 21, with weekly attendance expected to exceed 7,500 people. Developed by House of Hiranandani in partnership with The Ballard Pier Downtown Experience Centre, the event aims to transform the historic waterfront into a recurring destination for sports, food, shopping, and entertainment.
The festival, which runs until July 23, has attracted families, young professionals, fitness enthusiasts, and tourists over successive weekends despite the ongoing monsoon season.
Among the major attractions at the venue is NautiPickle, described as India's first indoor, air-conditioned pickleball arena featuring eight courts. The site also includes NautiTrax, a 295-metre indoor go-karting circuit.
For shopping and dining, the festival features the Nauti Baro Market, which hosts lifestyle and design brands from more than 25 cities, alongside Pier Pantry, a curated food market showcasing artisanal produce and local culinary offerings.
Visitors can also participate in children's activities, wellness sessions, remote-control motorsport demonstrations, creative workshops, reading sessions, and open-air movie screenings.
Prashin Jhobalia, Chief Marketing Officer of House of Hiranandani, stated that the objective was to create a public space where people could reconnect with Mumbai's waterfront. He added that great cities are defined as much by their public spaces as by their skylines.
Kanchan Rizvi, President and Terminal Head of The Ballard Pier Downtown Experience Centre, noted that the response since the launch reinforced the need for accessible waterfront experiences in Mumbai, showing a strong demand for recreational public spaces along the harbour.
The festival comes as Mumbai's eastern waterfront undergoes redevelopment initiatives aimed at improving public access and promoting tourism. Organisers plan to continue the programming with themed events and weekend performances.
