Taking its usual early August slot, the 46th Bristol International Balloon Fiesta took place from the 9th to 11th August 2024. For this year, due to financial pressures encountered following an increase in raw costs of materials and services which has also affected many households, the world-renowned event was reduced to three days rather than the traditional four.
The fiesta is a free to enter event, held at the Ashton Court Estate just outside Bristol, and celebrates the city’s links with the world of hot air ballooning, with Cameron balloons being formed in the city and still having its factory in nearby Bedminster.
This year saw a community lead-up event in the week before the fiesta opened, with balloons due to launch from various locations around the city which were selected following suggestions from the general public. Hot air ballooning is reliant on the weather being dry with calm winds, which in the week leading up to the event was sadly not the case and ultimately the city launches were not able to take place as planned, with only one being made from Ashton Court. The weather forecast for the fiesta weekend was for some unsettled weather, with gusty winds on Friday but gradually easing through the weekend.
Despite this forecast the residents of Bristol and wider areas, together with many visitors from further afield, eagerly arrived at the Ashton Court site in the hope of seeing mass balloon launches. Unfortunately, this was not possible on the Friday morning and evening, although some balloons did attempt to tether in the arena during the day. Thankfully the winds had died down sufficiently into the evening for the famous nightglow to take place against a soundtrack created by BBC Bristol. As expected, this proved to be fantastic spectacle for all that attended, with 18 balloons taking part.
Saturday morning gave rise to a cloudy start but the wind speeds and direction saw the flying committee give the go ahead and release green smoke, which signifies a launch, to the waiting crowds. The delighted onlookers then saw 47 balloons launched into the Bristol skies and head across the city with many residents waiting all over the city in the hope that the balloons would be heading in their direction. O
Once the mass launch had taken place a number of historic balloons from MJ Ballooning and Bristol Balloon Collectors were tethered in the arena throughout the day, including special shape balloons such as Thomas the Tank Engine and Maxwell House coffee jar, alongside some normal round shape balloons.
The evening launch was also given the go-ahead for flying, again the wind direction would take the balloons across the city and around 50 balloons were able to rise up out of the arena.
After the mass balloon launch a second night glow was held to the same soundtrack as the previous evening, but with a different selection of participating balloons.
Sunday morning saw low cloud and drizzle in the air and despite the wind speed being very low, it had changed to be less favourable direction and would see balloons heading west towards the Bristol Channel. Despite these conditions the go-ahead was again given for a mass launch which this time saw over 50 balloons take to the air. In addition, a nearby ballooning competition was being held which saw a number of racer balloons approaching the fiesta site as one of the competition’s drop targets was in the event arena. Only one of these balloons managed to get near to drop a marker which sadly missed its target. We also witnessed a rare spectacle of a number of balloons, which launched from a site near Bath, landing into the arena to a big cheer from the attending crowds. This is something we have never seen before in all our years of attending the fiesta.
The weather deteriorated during the afternoon, with the wind gusts increasing, and although a number of balloons did attempt to tether for the public sadly this led to the evening mass balloon launch having to be cancelled.
All in all the British weather did its best to try and stop the balloon launches, but the determination of the flying committee, the pilots and their hard working ground crews ensured that as many launches as were safely possible were able to take place and made for a successful 2024 event.
We now look forward to the 2025 event which will take place on 8th to 10th August.
South West Aviation Photographers would like to thank all at the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta and AmbitiousPR for making this article possible.
Report by Gary Morris with images from Matt Sudol and Kev Slade.
© South West Aviation Photographers 2024