Bristol International Balloon Fiesta to celebrate 40 years in 2018

The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta will return to Ashton Court Estate next summer to celebrate its 40th anniversary.

It will take place from Thursday 9 August to Sunday 12 August 2018 and is set to feature over 100 hot air balloons taking off at dawn.

There will also be the Night Glows, when the balloons light up the sky in time to music.

The four days of colourful hot air balloon displays is expected to attract hundreds of thousands of visitors to the city's estate.

Organisers say plans are underway to make it a "remarkable year".

Details of special balloons, displays and entertainment marking the anniversary will be announced in the New Year.

The Fiesta was first thought up in 1978 by Don Cameron, owner of the world’s largest balloon manufacturer, Cameron Balloons, and friends.

The following summer, on the 7th-9th September 1979, 27 hot air balloons took part in the very first Fiesta as Ashton Court Estate.

The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta is now Europe’s largest annual hot air balloon festival and one of the UK’s top five outdoor events.