The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta is a free to attend, three-day event that celebrates the city and its heritage links to the remarkable world of hot air ballooning.
From Friday 9th to Sunday 11th August, the rolling hills of Ashton Court on the outskirts of the city of Bristol are home to a temporary playground of entertainment, and a stage set ready and waiting for over 100 hot air balloons to take flight.
This iconic event has been a steadfast in the UK’s event calendar for more than four decades. With the city of Bristol playing the best matched host as the birthplace of ballooning in Europe, and now the capital of the sport worldwide.
Over the years, the impact of the event has grown far beyond the initial ambitions of a group of friends in 1979. It is now a Bristol institution, and is a synonymous icon, representing the region around the world.
The morning hot air balloon lifts start early at 6am and they are the most magical part of the fiesta
It’s worth the early start to grab a coffee and a bacon sandwich from one of the lovely traders and watch the balloons inflate up close and float overhead as the sun rises.
Gather around the ballooning arena to watch the balloonists prepare for flight. Baskets are rigged; burners tested and envelopes filled with air - all followed by the noise and heat of the hot inflations. Watch the balloons joggle for position as their pilots ready themselves for flight.
Watch out for the green smoke when the flight director gives his signal that it is safe to launch any time after 6pm.
