Bristol Balloon Fiesta

Bristol, England, UK

Dates: Usually the second weekend in August.

The 2006 Preliminary Bristol Balloon Fiesta Program:
* Thursday 10th August - 6.00 pm 'Special Shapes' launch and tether
* Friday 11th August - 6.00 am and 6.00 pm
* Saturday 12th August - 6.00 am and 6.00 pm
* Sunday 13th August - 6.00 am and 6.00 pm

Note: All balloon launches are subject to weather conditions.
The Bristol Balloon Fiesta is our local event on the door step of our pilots and crew. Set in the rolling parkland of Ashton Court Estate in Bristol, the Bristol Balloon Fiesta features mass hot air balloon launches of over 100 hot air balloons, plus a wealth of family entertainment.

Take-off is from the council owned Ashton Court, flying out over the city on the prevailing westerly winds. We have been flying from here for the past ten years, but would rate it as the most difficult event that we attend. Landowners near Bristol have long since become tired of their uninvited guest and problems, although not frequent, are regular.


Throw in the Severn Estuary to the west and expanding Bristol International Airport to the south west and a sprawling city to the east, flying is challenging at the best of times at the Bristol Balloon Fiesta. Minimum recency requirement is usually around the 15 hours mark in the last year. The event has also lost some of it charm from its early days as it has now grown to a major outdoor event attracting pop groups on Fridays and two Night glows.
2004 Verdict:

First time in ten years that we did not attend the Bristol Balloon Fiesta. Instead we sat in the grass and watched the Saturday mass launch.
2005 Verdict:

Three flights in total for us on Friday evening (to Lansdown Racecourse, Bath), Saturday morning (Whitfiled School) and Sunday evening (Pensford), which for a Bristol Balloon Fiesta was pretty good. Lots of flying on Friday morning as well for those not working.

The night glow of the Bristol Balloon Fiesta on Saturday had very windy weather but was a success none the less and the fireworks were very spectacular. A great event this year and no nonsense briefings by Clive Baily were a change from the usual "lets review the weather in 1 hour syndrome at other hot air balloon meets."