MORE than 100 hot air balloons are set to take to the air for the popular Bristol International Balloon Fiesta at Ashton Court from August 8-10.
Among the familiar special shapes at the free event will be the UP balloon with Cameron Balloons, Astro the Alien with Spirit Balloons, Rupert the Bear with Bristol Balloon Collectors and Slick the Dragon with MJ Ballooning.
A new arrival this year is the 143-foot tall Oggy the Friendly Dragon, being brought to Bristol by Indy Hot Air.
The fiesta site will host attractions old and new. Meet the Pilots is returning with extended sessions, and this year, visitors can have a hands-on tour of how a balloon is prepared for flight, jump into a real basket, try out a burner blast, and take the ulti-mate ballooning selfie with a balloon team.
In the Clouds is a new feature. Visitors can step inside a cold-inflated balloon for an immersive audio-visual experience, recreating the sensation of being in flight with a pilot’s-eye soundscape and video.
On the Saturday afternoon, Cameron Balloons will demonstrate the different shapes and styles of hot air balloons they manufacture in Bristol.
When the weather allows, the spectacular mass ascents are scheduled each morn-ing at approximately 6am and again at 6pm. As night falls on Friday and Saturday, the fiesta’s legendary Nightglows take centre stage, with dozens of tethered hot air balloons lighting up the arena with choreographed bursts of flame in sequence to a music soundtrack produced by BBC Radio Bristol.
While the event is free to attend, tickets must be purchased in advance to use the onsite car parks. For programme details and updates, visit www.bristolballoonfiesta.co.uk