The ultimate guide to Bristol Balloon Fiesta 2024 - including weather, parking, schedule and more

Bristol International Balloon Fiesta will run from Friday 9 August to Sunday 11 August this year.

If the weather plays ball, there will be mass ascents at 6am and 6pm each day. People can also enjoy two nightglows this year - at 9pm on the Friday and Saturday nights.

There will also be plenty of activities for people to enjoy throughout the weekend, including model balloon displays, special shapes, motorbike stunts, model planes and 'meet the pilot' sessions.

The Balloon Fiesta has called Ashton Court Estate its home since 1979 - and this year will be no different.

• By train: People are advised to get the train to Bristol Temple Meads and then catch the shuttle bus service to the site. Tickets for the shuttle bus can be bought on the balloon fiesta's website. Tickets are £5 per child, £7 per adult and £20 per group booking + booking fee.

• By bus: The M2 metrobus service runs from Long Ashton Park and Ride, which is a short walk from the event.

• By car: Directions to the site are signposted from all routes into the fiesta and are on people's car parking tickets. All car parking tickets must be purchased in advance. They are non-refundable even if balloons do not fly. There are various road closures in place during the fiesta, including at Clifton Suspension Bridge. The bridge will be closed to all vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists from 6pm until midnight on Friday and Saturday.

• By bike: There is an off-road cycle path - the National Cycling Route 33 - that connects Bristol city centre to Ashton Court estate. The route starts at Queens Square and heads out of the city via Cumberland Road before crossing the River Avon and joining Kennel Lodge Road as you enter Ashton Court.

• On foot: There are two main routes to the site from Bristol city centre - via Festival Way or Clifton Suspension Bridge. However, the suspension bridge will be closed to all vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists from 6pm until midnight on Friday and Saturday.

• By taxi: The Long Ashton Park and Ride, which is a short walk away from the site, is the designated drop-off point for taxis.

Entry to the Bristol Balloon Fiesta is free, but people do have to pay £10 to park. Tickets must be pre-booked via the fiesta's website.

The weather has a big impact on the fiesta, as conditions must be perfect for the balloons to fly.

In past years, heavy rain, high winds or even high temperatures have all seen organisers forced to cancel mass ascents at the last minute.

Here's the forecast for the weekend:

• Friday: Sunny intervals changing to partly cloudy by nighttime. Lows of 15C and highs of 21C. The wind will be blowing in a south west/west direction, reaching highs of 15mph.

• Saturday: Overcast changing to sunny intervals by late morning. Lows of 13C and highs of 23C. The wind will be blowing in a south west/west direction, reaching highs of 12mph.

• Sunday: Sunny. Lows of 17C and highs of 27C. A south/south-east wint reaching highs of 8mph.

Ashton Court is transfered into a festival site for the duration of the balloon fiesta. It is filled with entertainment, traders and - of course - plenty of balloons.

While balloons aim to take off at 6am and 6pm each day, there is plenty more to the fiesta than its mass ascents. The site is filled with traders, exhibitors, caterers and entertainment with enthusiasts showcasing the best of ballooning throughout the fiesta.

There are several hospitality areas including SkyLounge, which has a view of the launch site, and Pasture - a new fine dining restaurant with incredible views of the fiesta.

The fiesta is incredibly family-friendly, with a large children's area and plenty of things for kids to do. The Brizzle Kicks stage will offer children's entertainment from noon each day. There are also baby changing and feeding facilities.

Dogs are allowed at the fiesta site but due to large crowd numbers people are asked to keep them on the lead.

As always, owners are expected to pick up after thier dogs and organisers do advise caution as some dogs are scared of balloons.

The fiesta is set in the rolling hills of Ashton Court estate. While there are some tarmac paths, much of the site is grass and so wet weather can soften the ground and make it difficult to navigate in a wheelchair.

However, organisers install temporary pathways and have an accessible car park to make the experience positive for everyone.

There is also an accessible viewing area on site, at the bottom of the main arena. You must book a space on the festival's website.

The fiesta has also partnered with Advanced Mobility who are providing electric scooters and manual wheelchairs for use at the site. People can book it online or by calling 01274 297777.

There are accessible toilets at all of the toilet blocks on site and within hospitality areas. There is also a disabled toilet in the stables courtyard behind the main house.

A RevoLOOtion is also on site which has a hoist and is fully accessible.

Guide dogs are welcome on site.

• 6am: Mass ascent

• 7am: British Hot Air Balloon Championships

• 8am: Model Balloons

• 8.45am: Historic Balloons

• 11am: Thatchers Big Apple Race

• 12pm: Brizzle Kicks (children's entertainment stage) opens

• 12pm: Solent Stars Youth Motorbike Stunt Team

• 12pm: Moon Stage opens

• 12.45pm: Historic Balloons

• 1.45pm: Bristol Bears

• 2.45pm: Inflation Race

• 3.30pm: Meet The Pilot

• 4.15pm: Model Planes

• 5pm: Solent Stars Youth Motorbike Stunt Team

• 6pm: Mass ascent

• 7.30pm: Samba Band

• 8pm: Model Balloons Glow

• 9pm: Nightglow

• 6am: Mass ascent

• 7am: British Hot Air Balloon Championships

• 8am: Model Balloons

• 8.45am: Historic Balloons

• 11am: Thatchers Big Apple Race

• 12pm: Brizzle Kicks (children's entertainment stage) opens

• 12pm: Moon Stage opens

• 12pm: Solent Stars Youth Motorbike Stunt Team

• 12.45pm: Historic Balloons

• 2.30pm: Inflation Race

• 3.30pm: Meet The Pilot

• 4.15pm: Model Planes

• 5pm: Solent Stars Youth Motorbike Stunt Team

• 6pm: Mass ascent

• 7.30pm: Samba Band

• 8pm: Model Balloons Glow

• 9pm: Nightglow

• 6am: Mass ascent

• 7am: British Hot Air Balloon Championships

• 8am: Model Balloons

• 8.45am: Historic Balloons

• 11am: Thatchers Big Apple Race

• 12pm: Brizzle Kicks (children's entertainment stage) opens

• 12pm: Moon Stage opens

• 12pm: Solent Stars Youth Motorbike Stunt Team

• 12.45pm: Historic Balloons

• 2.30pm: Inflation Race

• 3.30pm: Meet The Pilot

• 4.15pm: Model Planes

• 5pm: Solent Stars Youth Motorbike Stunt Team

• 6pm: Mass ascent