5 min readBristol International Balloon Fiesta is one of the most popular and striking outdoor events on the calendar. This year, the world-renowned free Fiesta returns to Ashton Court between Friday 9 August and Sunday 11 August 2024.
Each morning and evening of the fiesta you can join one of the fiesta's balloon operators to take off from the festival site (weather depending). Book a balloon flight with Fly Away Ballooning, Virgin Balloon Flights or WonderDays or one of the other Balloon Ride providers.
Make the most of the weekend’s ballooning extravaganza with these top tips.
Image - The star of a morning ascent at Bristol International Balloon Fiesta - credit Adam Gasson
1. Book your shuttle bus or car parking in advance
Balloon enthusiasts are encouraged to pre-book their parking spots in advance.
Car park opening and closing times can be found on the booking site. All car park tickets are single entry only and non-refundable even in cases where the balloons do not fly. Tickets must be purchased in advance, there will be no tickets are available on the gate.
There will be a shuttle bus linking Bristol Temple Meads and the City Centre to the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta. All tickets should be booked in advance due to demand and are specific to the day booked. Please note the Clifton Suspension Bridge will be closed during the Bristol Balloon Fiesta Nighlows (Friday 9 August - Saturday 10 August) from 6pm until Midnight.
For more information on the best ways to get there, including cycling and walking routes, head to the official website.
For more travel information around the city and surrounding area, you can visit Travelwest or First Bus.
Image - Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, credit Paul Box
2. Catch the morning ascent
The 4am wake-up calls are most definitely worth it to watch in awe as the hot air balloons take off into the sky with nothing but the sound of the burners and the birds chirping in the background. The morning ascent is a beautifully calming spectacle to watch, so make sure you set those alarms, head on down to Ashton Court, grab yourself a warm drink and huddle up with the family as they set off.
It can be a tad cold for those early mornings, so wrap up with a couple of extra layers which you can easily remove throughout the day.
Image - Balloons in flight over Bristol
3. Experience the Sky Lounge
Want to get the best seats in the house to watch the morning and evening ascents throughout the four-day Fiesta?
The private Sky Lounge allows you to get up close to the ballooning action, offering the perfect space to watch the spectacular night glows and early morning flights. Those with Sky Lounge access can also benefit from a private bar, street food vendors private bar, dedicated WiFi, and toilets, meaning less queues and better views.
If you’re keen on exclusive access, be sure to book your Sky Lounge space in advance or enjoy a unique fine dining experience, at the onsite restaurant by Pasture on the arena’s edge. Food will be served in four sittings on Friday and Saturday and two sittings on Sunday. Tickets and reservations can be purchased on the Balloon Fiesta website.
4. Spot Special shapes and watch the British National Hot Air Balloon Championships
If you’re hoping to spot some special shapes at this year’s Fiesta, you won’t be disappointed! Fiesta fans can expect some incredible shapes from this year’s ballooning lineup, including beloved classics like Rupert the Bear, Thomas the Tank Engine, Action Man, Pipy the Scottish Piper, Buster and Bella the Bulldogs, Astro the Alien, and Wallace & Gromit’s Moon Rocket.
Keep an eye out for some brand new balloons making their first ever appearance, with regular announcements on the Balloon Fiesta's social media accounts.
New for this year is the British National Hot Air Balloon Championships which will see approximately 15 balloon teams compete twice daily (weather permitting) from the afternoon of Tuesday 6 August until the morning of Sunday 11 August. During the Fiesta, one task will be to fly over and drop markers into Ashton Court on the mornings of 9, 10 and 11 August at approximately 7am.
Image - Bristol International Balloon Fiesta. Credit Paul Box
5. On the ground family fun
Make the most of the hours between flights by soaking up the sun with children’s entertainment in the Brizzle Kicks area, live music at the bandstand, plus displays and ballooning activities in the main arena throughout the day…weather permitting!
Feeling peckish? Make sure to grab a bite to eat from one of the many street food vendors on offer - there are over one hundred trade stalls and food vendors to explore including food from local food vendors such as Bake My Day, I Scream Taco, Bishopston Bagels, Soul Bowl, Gopal’s Curry Shack, Indian Summer, and Afista Barista.
6. Experience the event’s infamous Nightglows
On Friday 9 and Saturday 10 August from 9 pm a collection of balloons will tether and light up in time to a soundtrack produced by BBC Radio Bristol, bringing a party atmosphere and the crowd to their feet. A spectacular sight!
Make sure to arrive early to the Nightglows, as it does get busy. Please ensure you take your time to leave Ashton Court as there can be queues when a large number of people are all trying to leave the event at the same time. The Clifton Suspension Bridge will be closed during the Nightglows from 6pm until midnight, and there will be some road closures around Ashton Court.
Image - Fiesta Nightglow, credit Plaster
Keep an eye on the Bristol International Fiesta website and social media feeds for all up-to-date information and news about the mass ascents.
Share your Fiesta snaps and videos us using #SummerInBristol on Instagram and TikTok too!
You might also like:
