Multitudes of hot air balloons ascend into the skies over Bristol
The skies above Bristol were painted with vibrant colours and unique shapes as the annual Bristol International Balloon Fiesta returned for another spectacular three-day event. Held at Ashton Court Estate, the fiesta celebrated Bristol's rich heritage linked to hot air ballooning, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors and balloon teams from around the world.
This year's fiesta, running from Friday to Sunday, featured daily mass ascents of up to 140 hot air balloons, morning and evening launches, night glows, and special shaped balloons. Commercial balloon pilot Tom Hilditch, from Brighton, was among the pilots who praised the "idyllic conditions" for the flight.
On the first day, the winds were too variable for finding a landing spot, but the flight was otherwise perfect. Despite this, one balloon with a union flag led the way, followed by dozens of other brightly coloured balloons. The activity of hot air ballooning has been part of Bristol's culture for many years, with the first recorded flight in the city dating back to the 18th century.
In the evenings, night-glows took place, where dozens of tethered balloons lit up in sync to a special musical soundtrack. Special shape balloons, including the Up balloon, Thomas the Tank Engine, Sonic the Hedgehog, Astro the Alien, Rupert the Bear, Oggy the Friendly Dragon (from America), Wallace & Gromit Moon Rocket, Buster and Bella the Bulldogs, Slither the Snake, Snow White, an Ordnance Survey Map and BBC Globe, added variety and spectacle to the event.
Mr Hilditch, a commercial balloon pilot with 13 years of experience, expressed his excitement about the event. Next year, he plans to cycle around England, towing a hopper balloon, to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. Over 90 hot air balloons participated in the mass ascent at the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, with balloons scheduled to take off early morning and evening, though this is weather permitting.
The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta is renowned as one of the best balloon festivals in Europe. The opening ceremony of the fiesta started just after 6am, with pilot briefings, balloon tethering, and evening launches scheduled throughout the weekend. Numerous food vendors offered a variety of refreshments throughout the event, though with typical festival pricing and busy facilities.
As the sun sets on the 2021 Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, the anticipation for next year's event is already building. With its consistent structure and set of highlights, the fiesta promises another unforgettable display of hot air balloons, lighting up the skies above Bristol.
During the evening, tethered balloons were synchronized to a special music soundtrack, creating mesmerizing night-glows. Next year, commercial balloon pilot Tom Hilditch plans to embark on a cycling journey around England, towing a hopper balloon as part of his fundraising efforts for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust – merging travel, lifestyle, and home-and-garden (the trailer for his tour could perhaps be a model hot air balloon shaped like a moving house).
