It’s arguably the biggest date in the Bristol calendar and the biggest balloon event in the UK. But some even bigger changes are happening at the Bristol Balloon Fiesta in 2024. The usually four-day-long festival will be cut back to just three days because of rising costs.
Returning to Ashton Court from August 9 to 11, the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta will still offer much of the excitement you’ve come to expect from the free festival. The Fiesta will still include the legendary Night Glow events – on Friday and Saturday evenings – as well as the mass ascents of 100 hot air balloons (weather permitting) from the site.
More positive changes will affect celebrations in the lead-up to the festival. Citywide ballooning celebrations will take place from August 5 to 8, otherwise known as Fiesta Week. This will see smaller fleets of hot air balloons popping up all over the city. These local balloon launches will ensure communities all over Bristol can enjoy seeing the skies lit up.
“Run mainly by volunteers as a not-for-profit, the event has faced some financial challenges in recent years, but we’re making changes that will help the event soar to new heights and protect its future,” said a spokesperson, also adding: “The Bristol Balloon Fiesta will soar to new heights this summer with a revitalised vision to enable visitors to experience the magic of ballooning beyond scheduled ascents and Night Glows.”
Started by a group of friends in 1979, the first Bristol International Balloon Fiesta saw 27 different hot air balloons launch from Ashton Court. It’s gone on to turn Bristol into the ballooning capital of Europe and the huge free-to-attend it is today. Even with these changes, the 46th edition is bound to be the biggest Bristol event of the year.
Plenty more new elements will be revealed over the coming months, but in the meantime learn more about the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta here.