Bristol Balloon Fiesta - 2018 ArchiveVisit Europe's largest annual balloon festival and see 140 hot air balloons take to the skies of Bristol from Ashton Court! 500,000 people attend the fiesta each year, with the most popular event being the night glows where 30 balloons glow to music. In 2018 the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta celebrated its 40th anniversary, 40 years after the first event took place with a small gathering of 27 balloons in 1979. Some very special balloons attended last year's event and archived info can be seen below.
Gates open at 12:00 on the Thursday with tethering throughout the afternoon, followed by the special shape rodeo at 18:00. We need very light winds for the complex special shape balloons to take to the skies. This is a smaller ascent with around 35 balloons. The first night glow takes place on Thursday, starting at 21:15 and finishing with a spectacular firework display! The second night glow is on Saturday night. Mass launches are planned for 06:00 and 18:00 each day, but please remember that all ballooning activities are completely dependant on weather. |
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2019 Dates: Thursday 8th - Sunday 11th August, Ashton Court Estate
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This page will begin to be updated for 2019 in May / June
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ARCHIVED 2018 INFO BELOW
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The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2018, so to mark the occasion some very special balloons have been booked to attend. Balloons that attended the first ever 1979 fiesta will be coming back, displaying during the weekend. 40+ special shapes will also be attending! This includes old classics returning including Michelin Man, Chubb Fire Extinguisher, Bertie Bassetts and Mr Wonderfuel. The Superbike will be appearing with shapes making their Bristol debuts, such as the Birthday Cake and Owlbert Eyenstein from America.
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Special Shapes Booked to Attend - Click here
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Special Shapes that Appeared in 2018 - Click here
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2018 Charity Partner - St Peters Hospice
One of Bristol's biggest charities, St Peter's Hospice, has been chosen as the 2018 charity partner for the 2018 Bristol Balloon Fiesta. The chief executive said: "We're thrilled to be part of it. Both the balloon fiesta and ourselves are sharing a 40th anniversary this year and that's why we thought it was appropriate for us to be their chosen charity. The hospice and the fiesta are two great Bristol institutions and we're really looking forward to properly celebrating that at the balloon fiesta this year."
Bailey Balloons will be operating their hot air balloon, which some of you may recognise from past fiestas as the old EDF and Harvey Nichols balloon, G-CDIT. Look out for it flying from the press launch, and of course flying and tethering during the fiesta alongside the rest of Bailey Balloons' fleet.
Bailey Balloons will be operating their hot air balloon, which some of you may recognise from past fiestas as the old EDF and Harvey Nichols balloon, G-CDIT. Look out for it flying from the press launch, and of course flying and tethering during the fiesta alongside the rest of Bailey Balloons' fleet.
Press Launch 1st August 201821 balloons launched from Ashton Court bowl this morning for a warm up for next week's Bristol Balloon Fiesta, which celebrates its 40th anniversary. In 1979 the first ever fiesta took place from this exact same place.
The 4 sponsor balloons (Anana, Bristol Energy solar balloon, Thatchers and Tribute) were first to take off from the top of the bowl, followed by the others. Bailey Balloons' St Peters Hospice attracted lots of media attention this morning, as they flew across the suspension bridge and landed on the Durdham Downs. Some carried on flying though and reached Frampton Cotterell. |
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ARCHIVED 2018 INFO ABOVE
Relive the 2017 Fiesta on MJ Ballooning YouTube Channel!
Relive last year's Bristol Balloon Fiesta with our 12 YouTube videos of the whole event. Special shapes, night glows, mass ascents, maiden flights and much more! 1hr 20mins long altogether, enjoy!
Event Schedule
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Thursday:
12:00 - Gates Open 12:00-16:00 - Balloon Tethering 17:15 - Pilot Briefing for Special Shape + Ride Balloons 18:30-20:00 - Special Shapes Rodeo 21:00 - Night Glow Countdown 21:15-21:45 - Night Glow + Fireworks 22:30 - Gates Close Saturday:
06:00 - Pilot Briefing 06:00-08:00 - Mass Balloon Launch 12:00-17:00 - Arena Entertainment 18:00 - Pilot Briefing 18:00-20:00 - Mass Balloon Launch 21:00 - Night Glow Countdown 21:15-21:45 - Night Glow + Fireworks 22:30 - Gates Close |
Friday:
05:45 - Pilot Briefing 06:00-08:00 - Mass Balloon Launch 09:00-10:00 - Old Balloon Tether 14:00-15:00 - BBM&L Shape Tether 12:00-17:00 - Arena Entertainment 18:00 - Pilot Briefing 18:00-20:00 - Mass Balloon Launch 20:30 - Gates Close Sunday:
06:00 - Pilot Briefing 06:00-08:00 - Mass Balloon Launch 12:15-14:00 - Balloon Tethering 12:00-17:00 - Arena Entertainment (including inflation races) 18:00 - Pilot briefing 18:00-20:00 - Mass Balloon Launch 20:30 - Gates Close |
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News Archive Past Fiesta News from MJ Ballooning
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2017 News:
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2015 News: View Here
2014 News: View Here