Bristol Balloon Fiesta 2019: Everything you need to know

Europe's largest annual hot air balloon festival sees hundreds of thousands of visitors flock to the grounds of Ashton Court Estate.

Here's everything you need to know for 2019:

GETTING THERE

  • The event itself is free but you'll have to pay if you want to park on site. To guarantee your parking space you must book in advance. Last entry to the on-site parking is 5.00pm.

  • Drivers are urged not to use SAT NAV devices and follow event road signage to the correct car park.

  • The closest train station is Bristol Temple Meads. From the station you can pick up the Fiesta Shuttle Bus service operated by First Bus to get to the event site.

  • For those who wish to cycle, 'Festival Way' is a traffic-free path taking you right to the festival in Ashton Court Estate.

  • A shuttle bus service will be running over the weekend every 10 minutes from Temple Meads station and the city centre.

  • For those on foot, there are two main routes into the site via Festival Way as detailed above or via the Clifton Suspension Bridge.

  • For the first time ever the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta now offers glamping if you fancy staying overnight.

Shuttle buses will be running throughout the weekend from two main locations to the Fiesta site. Credit: First Buses
An extra mass ascent took place on Thursday morning from the Ashton Court Estate. Credit: ITV News West Country

ROAD CLOSURES

In addition to the usual road closures for the balloon fiesta, further travel disruption is expected this year due to ongoing improvement works at Temple Gate around Temple Meads station.

Resurfacing work taking place during the fiesta weekend and beyond (28 July and 16 August) has resulted in a number of road and public transport diversions. Drivers are being warned that diversions "are likely to change on a daily basis."

The following road closures are also in place:

  • The Clifton Suspension Bridge - closed between 6.00pm until Midnight, Thursday 8th and Saturday 11th August.

  • Bower Ashton - Kennel Lodge Road, the southern end of Parklands Road, Bower Ashton, junction with Clanage Road and suspension of the one way, Parklands Road junction with Clanage Road to junction with Courtlands Road.

A mass ascent took place this year at Filton Airfield next to Aerospace Bristol. Credit: ITV News West Country

WHEN ARE THE NIGHT GLOWS?

At 9:00pm on Thursday 8 and Saturday 10 August. As dusk sets 25 hot air balloons turn into huge lights bulbs, glowing in time to a specially commissioned soundtrack. The evening finishes with a firework finale.

Thursday night's nightglow went ahead as a scaled back version. Credit: ITV News West Country
The night glows at the Fiesta are popular every year, providing spectacular views in Ashton Court Estate. Credit: PA

WHEN ARE THE MASS ASCENTS?

You can see the beautiful mass ascents on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 6pm - weather dependent. Check the latest weather forecast for the West Country here.

For early risers there are mass ascents on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 6am.

This year an additional Thursday mass ascent has been scheduled to celebrate the return of the Darth Vader balloon to Bristol and in anticipation of poor weather conditions across the weekend.

WHAT ELSE SHOULD I LOOK OUT FOR?

This year, organisers called on the people of Bristol to help bring a special shaped hot air balloon home to fly over the city for the very first time.

The Darth Vader balloon was built in the city by Cameron Balloons but has never flown over Bristol despite appearing around the world.

The fiesta will also be celebrating icons of Bristol and will honour two of the city's most famed creations, Concorde and Aardman Animations who are celebrating 30 years of Wallace and Gromit.

The fiesta will be celebrating ‘Icons of Bristol’. Credit: ITV News West Country

WHAT TIME DOES THE FIESTA CLOSE?

On Thursday and Saturday the event closes at 10.30pm. On Friday and Sunday it finishes at 8.30pm.

A balloon pilot checks the interior of a hot air balloon. Credit: PA images

WHAT ELSE IS THERE TO SEE AND DO AT THE FIESTA?

Alongside the hot air balloons, there are a large number of great trade stands, fairground rides and entertainment.

As part of the ‘Icons of Bristol’ theme there will also be Aardman model making workshops on Sunday 11th August at 1pm, 3pm and 5pm.

For more information, visit the Bristol Balloon Fiesta's website.

BEST PLACES TO WATCH

If you cannot get to the Ashton Court Estate, or would rather watch the hot air balloons take flight from further away, then you could catch a good view from one of the following places:

  • Bedminster Down

  • Clifton Downs

  • Perrett's Park

  • Dundry Hill

  • Clifton Observatory

  • Victoria Park

  • The Harbourside

  • Brandon Hill