Elevate Your Adventure: Bristol Balloon Fiesta 2025 Takes Off

The Bristol Balloon Fiesta is an annual meeting and extravaganza of brilliant balloons flying high in the sky. Did you know this hot air balloon event has a rich history dating back to 1979?

It originally started out as a small gathering of local balloon enthusiasts, but has since evolved into a grand event attracting balloonists from all around the world! Today, it proudly holds the title of Europe’s biggest ballooning festival, enchanting spectators with its awe-inspiring displays.

Pretty impressive right?

You’ll find this fantastic fiesta in Bristol City at Ashton Court!

Prepare to have your breath taken away as you witness the magnificent balloon mass ascent. Picture this: a sky dotted with hundreds of colourful balloons of all shapes and sizes gracefully rising into the air. The Bristol Balloon Fiesta features multiple mass ascents throughout the event, showcasing the sheer beauty and skill of balloon pilots as they navigate their craft. This is undoubtedly the festival’s most iconic and captivating moment, so make sure you have your camera at the ready!

It’s also known as Europe’s largest free annual hot air balloon festival – so it’s truly a sight to behold. Especially when you witness over 100 hot air balloons take to the sky over the four-day event. These Bristol balloons are witnessed by over 500,000 spectators – talk about a crowd!

The four-day event starts off with a morning ascent, where around 6am the balloon experience begins with a variety of colourful and special shape balloons reaching for the sky as the sunset is on the horizon. The morning mass ascension is a magical spectacle that is clearly the best way to start any day! Grab some food and sit back on a deck chair as you crane your head upwards as the morning lift begins.

After an afternoon of balloon tethering, the evening falls and around 6pm another balloon experience will simply ‘wow’ you. Gather around the ballooning arena as the amazing balloonists take to the skies. With their baskets rigged, burners tested and envelopes filled with air – they’re nearly ready! With a big WHOOSH as the heat inflates the balloon, you’ll ogle at the skies as they soar high. There’s nothing like an evening ascent as the sky becomes a little more hazed with the setting sun.

When the sun sets, the Bristol Balloon Fiesta transforms into a magical wonderland. The night glows are a must-see spectacle that combines the grace of ballooning with a mesmerizing display of light. Around 25 balloons are inflated on the ground and their burners illuminate them from within, creating a breathtaking glow against the night sky. It’s a sight that will leave you in awe, so make sure to plan your visit accordingly to catch this enchanting display. Only available on Thursday and Saturday nights.

This annual balloon festival is simply the place to be. Especially if you’re on the hunt for magical memories filled with precious times with the family.

The Bristol Balloon Fiesta is not just about hot air balloons though! It’s a full-fledged family event packed with entertainment and activities for everyone to enjoy! With music performances on music stages, fun children’s entertainment, a bandstand with live music and plenty of ballooning activities!

There’s truly something for everyone, from fairground rides like helter skelters and Ferris wheels, to an array of food stalls! The festival truly offers a memorable ballooning experience for families and friends to enjoy together.

Whether you’re joining for the morning or evening balloons – there’s plenty of entertainment to keep you busy!

If you’ve ever dreamt of floating through the sky in a hot air balloon, the Bristol Balloon Fiesta can make that dream come true. During the festival, you can book a hot air balloon ride and experience the breathtaking views of Bristol and its surroundings from the air. Soar high above the city, drifting with the wind, and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Be sure to book your ride and balloon flight tickets in advance as spots fill up quickly! From Virgin Balloons and Fly Navy to Sky High and First Flight – all brilliant balloon crews and companies.

Roll up, roll up! This year, the Fiesta will be hosting the British National Hot Air Balloon Championships!

You’ll get to witness 15 teams compete in air space right over Bristol! The competition flights are due to take place twice a day from the 8th August until 10th August. They’ll have a series of tasks to complete to score some points!

During the Bristol Balloon Fiesta, every morning, the competing teams will fly over the event, float down low, drop a marker into the main arena and fly off again! You’ll get to witness, firsthand, these incredible skills from experienced pilots. It’s not one to miss!

To make the most of your Bristol Balloon Fiesta experience, here are some handy tips:

• Arrive early to secure a good viewing spot in advance for the mass ascents during the fiesta’s busiest times. Make the most of it and experience the morning launch and the night glows!
• Check the weather forecast beforehand, as balloon flights are weather-dependent.
• Bring a picnic blanket or folding chairs for comfortable seating during the events.
• Bring sunscreen and plenty of water in case of hot weather
• Don’t forget to bring a camera and extra batteries or charging cables.
• Consider using public transportation or carpooling as parking can be limited.