Nothing feels more Bristolian than looking up into the blue summer sky and seeing a wave of hot air balloons gliding through the horizons. The Bristol Balloon Fiesta is perhaps the epitome of this. Attracting 500,000 visitors from all over the world, with hundreds bringing their balloons to join the ascent, the Fiesta has become as much of an icon for Bristol as the likes of Brunel and Concorde.
Since its humble beginnings in 1979, the Fiesta has grown year after year, flourishing into what is now Europe’s largest annual hot air balloon fiesta. Nowadays, balloon ascents can feature over 100 balloons at a time which truly has to be seen to be believed.
Weather permitting, the Fiesta sees two mass ascents on each day: one in the morning at sunrise and one later in the day in the evening. The ascents are accompanied by an all-day programme of entertainment to suit the whole family, including live music and children’s area. The Fiesta will also feature the appearance of some of the city’s most celebrated traders, meaning getting your hands on some delicious food should be an easy task!