Everything you need to know about the 2024 Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
This year's Fiesta will feature competitive hot air ballooning for the first time
Tens of thousands of people will visit Ashton Court over the next three days because the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta is back for 2024.
One of the West Country's most eye catching events, this year's 46th edition is a day shorter than in 2023 and is due to feature six mass ascents; two each across Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
For the first time ever the Fiesta is also playing host to the British National Hot Air Balloon Championships, in which 15 teams will compete to complete various challenges like dropping a marker at a predetermined location, or flying as far as they can within a predefined airspace.
Ben Hardy, executive director of the Fiesta said: "It's (preparations) going really well.
"We've been here since Wednesday of last week, we've had to do a bit of work on the ground and everything is arriving as planned so yeah, (we're) ready to open up on Friday morning."
As always the event is free to attend but if you wanted to visit by car, official onsite parking does come at a cost.
Tickets can still be purchased via this link at a cost of up to £27 depending on your vehicle, or £100 if you're driving a coach.
Alternatively a shuttle bus service is offered between Bristol Temple Meads and Ashton Court.
Roads around the site are known to get busy during the event, in particular in the hours immediately before and after each of the mass ascents, while the Clifton Suspension Bridge will shut to all traffic including pedestrians from 6pm until midnight on both Friday and Saturday.
The weather
Every year with the Fiesta, the weather is the most significant factor in determining whether the event is a success or not, so reliant are the balloons on having the right conditions, to be able to fly.
The good news is all three days of the Fiesta are forecast to be largely dry, but also warm. Sunday in particular is expected to be cloudless with max temperatures in the high 20s.
However, the wind on Friday and Saturday is forecast to be strong, with gusts approaching 30 miles an hour currently expected at the time of Friday evening's mass ascent.
If the forecast is accurate, that would almost certainly be too strong for the balloons to take to the skies.
UV levels are also due to be high, so it's worth taking sun cream if you visit.
The Nationals
Known as "The Nationals", the Fiesta is hosting the British National Hot Air Balloon Championships this year, for the first time ever.
Weather depending it means there will be additional flights twice daily as part of the competition, featuring 15 ballooning teams.
For every competition flight the teams will be asked to complete various challenges including dropping markers at a pre-determined location, completing a move called a "donut", where the pilot attempts to fly the furthest possible distance in a predefined airspace, or completing an "elbow", when they try and complete a 180-degree turn using the wind.
In the mornings from Friday 9th to to Sunday 11th August, competing teams will be set the challenge of dropping physical markers into Ashton Court, meaning visitors will have the chance of seeing the balloons flying low over the site, dropping their markers and then flying off again.
Stephanie Hemmings, BBAC Competitions Club Chairman, said: “We’re very excited to host this year’s National Championships for the first time ever in Bristol alongside the Fiesta.”
“It will be a new challenge to fly over the city and will undoubtedly show the high levels of skill from teams both from the UK and across the world. We can’t wait to kick things off in August.”
The competition is open to teams from across the world, with the British winner of the Nationals picked to fly for Team GB Ballooning and compete in the World Championships
Charity
Every year the Fiesta teams up with a charity partner and this year it is Love Squared.
For 10 years Love Squared has worked in Bristol to help children and young people impacted by mental health challenges and special educational needs and disabilities.
As charity partner Love Squared will have a base in Ashton Court throughout the Fiesta, collecting donations but also hosting various activities, even offering people the chance to win a hot air balloon ride.
You can find out more about Love Squared on their website here.
Away from the balloons
A chance to see hot air balloons in the sky is by no means the only thing the Fiesta offers.
Food and drink stalls will surround the ballooning arena, as will various fairground rides that have previously included a ferris wheel and dodgems, while there is also a children's entertainment stage.
Meanwhile hospitality offerings include a VIP bar and seating area next to the arena, access to the launch area during the Fiesta's famous Nightglows and new for 2024, an arena side restaurant called Pasture, offering breakfast, lunch and dinner.
A full timetable of events for the Fiesta can be seen below.
Schedule
Friday
6\am – First morning mass ascent featuring up to 100 balloons
7\am – British National Hot Air Balloon Championship flights
8\am – Model balloons in the arena
8:45am – Historic balloons in the arena
11\am – Thatchers big apple race
12\pm – Brizzle Kicks children’s entertainment stage opens
12\pm – Motorbike stunt team performance
12\pm – Moon Stage opens
12:45pm – Historic balloons in the arena
1:45pm – Bristol Bears meet & greet
2:45pm – Balloon inflation race
3:30pm – Meet the pilots
4:15pm – Model planes in the arena
5\pm – Motorbike stunt team performance
6\pm – Second mass ascent featuring up to 100 balloons
7:30pm - Samba band performance
8\pm – Model balloons nightglow
9\pm - Nightglow
Saturday
6\am – Mass ascent featuring up to 100 balloons
7\am – British National Hot Air Balloon Champs
8\am – Model balloons in the arena
8:45am – Historic balloons in the arena
10\am – Thatchers big apple race
10:45am – Police dog display
12\pm – Brizzle Kicks children’s entertainment stage opens
12\pm – Moon stage opens
12\pm - Motorbike stunt team performance
12:45pm – Historic balloons in the arena
2:30pm – Inflation race
3:30pm – Meet the pilots
4:15pm – Model planes in the arena
5\pm – Motorbike stunt team performance
6\pm – Mass ascent featuring up to 100 balloons
7:30pm - Samba band performance
8\pm – Model balloons nightglow
9\pm – Nightglow
Sunday
6\am – Mass ascent featuring up to 100 balloons
7\am – British National Hot Air Balloon Champs
8\am – Model balloons in the arena
8:45am – Historic balloons in the arena
10\am – Thatchers big apple race
10:45am – Police dog display
12\pm – Brizzle Kicks children’s entertainment stage opens
12\pm – Moon stage opens
12\pm - Motorbike stunt team performance
12:45pm – Historic balloons in the arena
2:30pm – Inflation race
3:30pm – Meet the pilots
4:15pm – Model planes in the arena
5\pm – Motorbike stunt team performance
6\pm – Final mass ascent featuring up to 100 balloons