Bristol International Balloon Fiesta 2022: Day Three
Here's everything you need to know as the weekend begins at Ashton Court
We're into the weekend at the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta and Saturday features the most action packed schedule yet.
As well as two mass ascents planned at 6am and 6pm, a motorbike display team will also perform in the main arena, while a traditional Fiesta Nightglow will end the day's proceedings, starting at 9pm.
Once again the weather forecast is hot with temperatures in the low 30's expected.
The Met Office has an amber warning in place for extreme heat meaning some people are likely to suffer from heat stroke.
People set to visit today are once again advised to use sun cream, wear a hat and take plenty of water.
The full schedule for today is as follows:
6am - Fourth mass ascent (featuring up to 100 balloons of different shapes and sizes)
10am - Great Western Air Ambulance Charity helicopter tours
11am - Model balloons in the main arena
11:30am - Broke FMX motorbike display team performance
12pm - Model planes take to the skies
1pm - Tethered balloons in the main arena
2pm - Hot air balloon teams inflation race
4pm - Sky dive
5pm - Broke FMX motorbike display team performance
6pm - Fifth mass ascent
9pm - Nightglow
Children's entertainers will again be performing on the Brizzle Kicks stage, this time from 11am-6pm, while the bandstand will feature live music from 12:30pm-6:30pm.
A fireworks display that was originally planned as part of the Nightglow has been cancelled because of the dry weather and the risk of fires.
The wind
As on Thursday and Friday the wind is forecast to be light, meaning both mass ascents could well go ahead.
However, a north easterly wind direction forecast this morning means the balloons could well not pass over Bristol.
Instead, it's likely they will be pushed away from the city and into North Somerset.
Later in the day the wind is due to become more easterly, meaning the evening mass ascent could see the balloons pushed more towards Avonmouth.
This is clearly all subject to change.
Visitor information
If you haven't already heard, you should be aware getting to Ashton Court this year could prove more of a problem than in previous years as a shuttle bus service will not be provided from across Bristol.
In a statement published in July organisers blamed a national shortage of bus drivers, while saying they would extend the availability of cheaper parking tickets until the end of that month.
Fiesta Operations Director Ben Hardy said at the time they had exhausted all possible alternatives and encouraged people to either walk or cycle to the venue instead.
For the first time, for pedestrian safety and to help with traffic flow, the A370 will be closed in both directions from Winterstoke Road to the South Bristol Link Road on Thursday and Saturday night after the nightglow finishes at 10pm, until midnight.
Meanwhile as already mentioned there is car parking on site, but at a cost.
On Saturday a space in the Fiesta's main "Red" car park will set you back £22 if you missed the initial release price, while motorbike parking is cheaper.
At time of writing the site's "Blue" car park has already sold out for today.
There is no campsite at the Fiesta this year, while caravans and motorhomes in the event car parks are banned.
To prevent parking on the roads around the site there will also be various road closures in place including on Kennel Lodge Road, in Leigh Woods and Long Ashton, with access only allowed for residents.
With the Nightglow planned this evening, the Clifton Suspension Bridge will shut to both pedestrians and traffic from 6pm until midnight.
You can find more information about the Fiesta on the event website here.