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Home > Festival > Hot air balloons bring a warm glow to Bristol

Hot air balloons bring a warm glow to Bristol

By Caroline King - August 5, 2019Posted in : Festival

See more than 130 hot air balloons fill the sky over Bristol this weekend, as Europe’s largest ballooning event takes place.

Bristol Balloon Fiesta 2012 (Image ©Bristol International Balloon Fiesta Ltd)
Balloons of all shapes and sizes will be at the fiesta (Image: ©Bristol International Balloon Fiesta Ltd)

The 41st annual Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, will take place from Thursday 8th to Sunday 11th August, with balloons, rides, stalls and model making workshops.

The free family event will see more than 130 hot air balloons taking off from Ashton Court Estate, at dawn each day.

Bristol International Balloon Fiesta will feature four days of colourful hot-air balloon displays, with all shapes and sizes lifting off over the city. This year, expect to see balloons in the shape of ice lollies, lighthouses and Darth Vader!

Bristol International Balloon Fiesta 2014
Hot air balloons take to the sky

One of the main highlights of the fiesta will be the opportunity for visitors to watch the spectacular balloon ascents up close. Each morning at 6am visitors can enjoy breakfast and balloons, watching the hot air balloons take to the sky as the sun rises, with a morning coffee and food from one of the stalls. On the Friday and Sunday, there will also be mass evening events.

Another highlight will be the famous Nightglows, which will take place on the Thursday and Saturday. The Nightglow event sees some of the balloons become huge lightbulbs, glowing in time to a specially commissioned soundtrack, and ending with a fireworks display.

When: 8th – 11th August 2019
Where: Ashton Court Estate, Bristol
£: Free (tickets for parking need to be booked in advance)

More info: bristolballoonfiesta.co.uk

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Tagged With: Bristol events, Family events, Free events, South West

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