Bristol Balloon Fiesta

The fiesta and kite festival pages cover the free major events that occur on the Ashton Court Estate.

Bristol Balloon Fiesta

Running each year from the 1st or 2nd Thursday in August to the following Sunday, the 4 days of the Bristol Balloon Fiesta are Ashton Courts biggest event by far.

With good weather and the Red Arrows there were almost 500,000 visitors on the last day of the 2009 event.

Dates & times for the 2010 fiesta

Thursday
12th Aug 2010
6:00pm special shapes
9:30pm night glow
Friday
13th Aug 2010
6:00am mass ascent
6:00pm mass ascent
Saturday
14th Aug 2010
6:00am mass ascent
12:00pm arena events start
3:45pm-4:00pm Black Cat
 Royal Navy Helicopter Team
6:00pm mass ascent
9:30pm night glow
Sunday
15th Aug 2010
6:00am mass ascent
12:00pm arena events start
3:45pm-4:00pm Black Cat
 Royal Navy Helicopter Team
4:30pm Red Arrows
6:00pm mass ascent

See the Balloon Fiesta website for full details of all events. There will be road closures too (not shown on Sat Navs), so check the event website if you intend to visit by car.

Note that while entry is free there are parking charges. You can support the Balloon Fiesta, which is a not for profit organisation by paying for official parking inside the estate.

Launches are subject to weather, the special shape balloons in particular like light winds. If its to windy to launch there may a tethered inflation like the one below in gusty 2006.


Gusty 2006!

A tethered inflation of the Special Shapes Rodeo.

To get a good idea of the flight path of any balloon launches see Wind Map Britain (external link).

Bertie Basset balloon
Bertie Basset.

The Red Arrows in 2008 & 2009.

The Red Arrows, click for photos and video clips

2009 photos

2009 Friday morning launch Friday morning mass launch 7th August 2009.

Jaguar car, I think the owner also owns and flies the Scottish Piper below.

Turtle BalloonChicken Balloon Turtle and chicken special shape balloons.


History and Neighbours

Links on the history of Ashton Court and to its neighbours: Leigh Woods, the Avon Gorge, Clifton Suspension Bridge ...


Next Page:
Bristol Kite Festival

2007 Bristol Balloon Fiesta pre launch 27 second clip of the special shapes, Thursday 9th August 2007.

External Links

Scottish Piper 2003 festia Scottish Piper from the 2003 Fiesta, there is a new version now.


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