BRISTOL INTERNATIONAL BALLOON FIESTA ANNOUNCES FIRST WAVE OF SPECIAL SHAPES

The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta has announced an extraordinary line-up of special shaped hot air balloons, as Bristol’s much loved event returns to Ashton Court Estate from Thursday 8th-Sunday 11th August.

Organisers teased the incredible special shapes line-up with the announcement of the Darth Vader crowd funder last week. The Darth Vader balloon will hopefully be making its first Bristol appearance this summer, thanks to the continued support of the public. In celebration of the ‘Icons of Bristol’ theme, the crowd funder aims to bring the balloon home to the city it was built in to join some of the Fiesta favourites for the first time, whilst raising money for the iconic event.

The first wave of special shapes includes annual favourites such as Buster the Bulldog and Maxwell House, who will be gracing the Bristol skies once more, joining the Stowells’s Wine Box, Belvoir Balloon and the Cube and modern favourite Simbaloo the Longleat Lion is returning for its third year.

Fiesta fans will also get the chance to see an all new addition to the skies with the appearance of the Oh Bear, flying in from Taiwan for his first UK appearance.

There will also be some old faces to the Fiesta this year, with the iconic Paddy Power Pants and Snow White returning to the launch field for the first time since 2013, and joining them, family and fiesta favourite, Busbee the Queens Guard will once again return to tower over the crowd.

The announcement of these special shapes is just the start of what is to come as the full line-up is yet to be announced.

Over the years special shapes have played a huge part of the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, a free weekend of family-friendly fun, and the sight of these wonderfully designed balloons have captured the hearts and minds of balloon lovers since they were first introduced in 1997.

Now in its 41st year the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta is firmly established as Europe’s largest annual hot air balloon festival and one of the UK’s top 5 outdoor events. The iconic images of Bristol and balloons have become synonymous with the city and are seen around the world.

As ever, the Fiesta will open on Thursday at midday with hot air balloons tethering throughout the afternoon followed by the regular special shapes flight at 6pm.

Early mornings at the Fiesta are a truly spectacular sight with mass ascents taking place at 6am and 6pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. These truly magical moments will see over 100 hot air balloons from across the globe take to the skies of Bristol.

When darkness falls at the Fiesta on Thursday and Saturday, the stage is set for the world-famous Night Glow. Spectators can watch as the balloons light up like giant light bulbs in time to music, illuminating the night’s sky to a brand new specially commissioned soundtrack, before closing with a spectacular firework finale.

Donations to the crowd funder to bring home Darth Vader and support the Fiesta can be made at

https://www.fundsurfer.com/crowdfund/bristolinternationalballoonfiesta

To find out more about this year’s event follow @BristolBalloon on Instagram, Twitter, or visit https://www.facebook.com/bristolinternationalballoonfiesta or the official page

http://bristolballoonfiesta.co.uk/

To secure a parking spot, parking for the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta needs to be pre-booked on the website http://bristolballoonfiesta.co.uk/visitor-information/tickets-and-parking/