Bristol International Balloon FiestaDates: Friday 8 - Sunday 10 August 2025
Visit one of Europe’s largest gatherings of hot air balloons at Ashton Court Estate, Bristol with mass ascents, night glows, special shapes and much more. Started in 1979 by Don Cameron, founder of Cameron Balloons Ltd, the Bristol Balloon Fiesta attracts over 500,000 people to the city every August with up to 140 hot air balloons attending. Balloon teams travel from around the globe to attend with recent appearances from the USA’s wish cake and Darth Vader special shapes.
Gates open at noon on Thursday followed by an afternoon of tethering and the special shapes and ride balloon launch at 6pm weather permitting, where a range of character balloons will hopefully take to the skies and be on display. Mass ascents take place at 6am and 6pm from Friday to Sunday with arena tethering throughout. As darkness falls on Thursday and Saturday night balloons light up Ashton Court to a special soundtrack for Bristol’s famous night glow.
See below for a more detailed event schedule and hopefully see you at Ashton Court in August!
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Discover lots more about Bristol's International Balloon Fiesta right here on MJ Ballooning by clicking below.
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Event Schedule
See the schedule of hot air ballooning activity below. Timings may vary depending on weather.
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Friday:
06:00 - Pilot Briefing 06:00-08:00 - Mass Balloon Launch 08:00-10:00 - Balloon Tethering 12:30-14:00 - Lunchtime Balloon Tethering 18:00 - Pilot Briefing 18:15-20:00 - Mass Balloon Launch 20:30 - Gates Close |
Saturday:
06:00 - Pilot Briefing 06:00-08:00 - Mass Balloon Launch 08:00-10:00 - Balloon Tethering 18:00 - Pilot Briefing 18:15-20:00 - Mass Balloon Launch 21:00 - Night Glow 21:30 - Firework Finale 22:30 - Gates Close Sunday:
06:00 - Pilot Briefing 06:00-08:00 - Mass Balloon Launch 08:00-10:00 - Balloon Tethering 18:00 - Pilot briefing 18:15-20:00 - Mass Balloon Launch 20:30 - Gates Close |
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We will be posting photos of all the hot air ballooning activity in 2025 and our special shape balloons, but follow the official accounts for weather updates and launch confirmations.
