Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
Tens of thousands more people are expected to attend the final two days of the
Bristol International Balloon Fiesta this weekend, as the warm weather is set to
continue , at least during Saturday.
Crowds who visited the event on Thursday and Friday were treated to some
wonderful spectacles. Thursday’s night glow, the traditional curtain raiser in
which balloons are lit up in time to music, had a definite patriotic feel with a
Union Jack balloon and the Jubilee beacon, which was lit by the Queen in London
in June.
The first mass ascent on Friday morning saw more than a hundred balloons take to the skies in near perfect conditions. Among them, a balloon flight with a difference – a tea party at 1,000 feet.
Reporter, Tanya Mercer, was one of the lucky guests at the tea party
Mass balloon ascents were planned for 6 am and 6 pm toady (Saturday) and Sunday.
Amongst the balloons taking off are some special shapes including a 61 foot smoke breathing dragon.
An extra feature of the fiesta this year was the Friday Night Illuminair – an acrobatics performance at dusk in which a pair of stunt planes perform a series of acrobatic manoeuvres whilst trailing sparkling fireworks and smoke fromtheir wings.
Saturday night sees the second night glow of the fiesta. This too is due to have a “British” twist and the organising team have promised a few extra surprises for the tens of thousands of people expected to attend. The night glow will be followed by a fireworks display. Visitors are warned that the Clifton Suspension Bridge will close to traffic, cyclists and pedestrians from 6pm on Saturday until 2am on Sunday morning.
On Sunday afternoon the fiesta will feature an aerobatic display from The Blades, a spectacular four-plane stunt team flown by some of the most experienced display pilots in the UK.
They will perform a fifteen minute show that will include a sequence of over thirty separate manoeuvres. It is the first time the team will have performed at the balloon fiesta. For the last four years, the Sunday afternoon display has been by the Red Arrows. But this year, they will be in Moscow.
You can find more information on events at the Bristol International BalloonFiesta and road closures at www.bristolballoonfiesta.co.uk