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The 2024 Bristol International Balloon Fiesta is coming to an end with unsafe wind conditions meaning the Sunday evening mass ascent has had to be cancelled. The weather had been ideal for hot air ballooning over the weekend and we had a lovely mass ascent this morning, Sunday, August 11, after two spectacular mass ascents on Saturday.
The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta saw 60 balloons flying and a fabulous Nightglow on Saturday, August 10, and the weather has, for once, been kind. See our live blog posts below for all the action, pictures and video from Sunday.
The fiesta opened its gates on Friday, August 9, at Ashton Court Estate for what is the 46th annual event, and crowds enjoyed a nightglow on Friday after it was deemed too windy to fly on Friday evening.
On Saturday, the weather was much kinder than Friday and the evening mass ascent got underway from around 6.30pm. Green smoke billowed across the site first thing this morning and again on Saturday evening, meaning spectators and the people of Bristol were treated to glorious sights. Fingers crossed Sunday will bring more hot air ballooning action.
Read more: Bristol International Balloon Fiesta 2024: Food prices and options
Read more: Bristol International Balloon Fiesta 2024: Everything you need to know
In addition to all of the ballooning fun and spectacle, visitors to this free family festival can enjoy motorbike stunts, model plane displays, a skate ramp hosting free skate jam and 'try it' sessions, live music, and much, much more.
The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, a staple of Bristol's events calendar, attracts some 100,000 people per day to Ashton Court Estate. And this year looks set to be no different. We'll be bringing you all the latest information and updates on whether balloons will fly, what the weather means for balloonists, and what you can expect if you're heading down over the weekend, in our live blog below.
Stay tuned and scroll down for more.
Key Events
Bristol Balloon Fiesta organisers' statement
No Sunday evening mass ascent
Will the balloons fly this evening? Here's the lowdown
Best pictures from Saturday's Nightglow
62 balloons took to the skies this morning
Tristan Cork
We have balloons upright!
They are not going to fly, but a couple of balloons are now inflated and tethering to show the crowds who've turned out to support the fiesta.
Tristan Cork
Bit blowy even for a tether...
To give you some idea of how blowy it is at the Bristol Balloon Fiesta right now, here's the @thatchers_cider balloon crew giving it a valiant go at inflating & tethering.
— Tristan Cork Post (@TristanCorkPost) August 11, 2024
No mass ascent this evening.
@PaulGillisphoto
Latest updates here:https://t.co/lRiTIoH4y5 pic.twitter.com/spw4ZUuyhM
KEY EVENT
Bristol Balloon Fiesta organisers' statement
"Unfortunately Bristol, we will not be able to take to the skies this evening," a spokesperson for the balloon fiesta said. "The wind has really picked up, and is heading towards Avonmouth."
"When the wind speeds were slow this morning, we could manage but with the speeds now it would take our balloonists into the Bristol Channel!" she added.
"We hope you agree that these incredible teams have put on an incredible show this weekend, so as some teams make their way into the arena to attempt to tether please greet them with a huge round of applause.
"And Bristol, we would also like to thank you for turning up, for the cheers, the support, the applause! It’s been quite the weekend!"
KEY EVENT
No Sunday evening mass ascent
We have red smoke, I'm afraid - there will be no mass ascent this evening.
The wind conditions - strength but mainly direction - are not safe to fly.
We kinda guessed this because none of the balloons are out in the main arena.
We'll bring you more of an official explanation when we get it, but scroll down for an explainer on why the conditions aren't great for flying a balloon from Ashton Court.
KEY EVENT
Will the balloons fly this evening? Here's the lowdown
We are just minutes away from finding out if the final mass ascent of this year's Balloon Fiesta will take place, and conditions are not as perfect as they were yesterday...
The current situation with the weather is as follows: It's hot for a start - about 28deg C at Ashton Court, so that's an issue.
But more importantly, the breeze is getting up... it's around ten knots at the moment, gusting as much as 19 knots. That's close to the limit of being too windy.
But more importantly than even that is the wind direction. Stick your finger in the air outside right now and you'll see that the wind direction is rather unusual. Almost all the time, the wind in Bristol blows from west to east - which blows the balloons across the city from Ashton Court to Keynsham or Kingswood.
This evening, the wind is blowing from the south east towards the north west - and that will mean the balloons will take off from Ashton Court, get above the tree line in that coombe where the arena is and be blown northwestwards towards Abbots Leigh, Pill, Portishead and Portbury Docks. That means there's not much land to land in before they get to the Bristol Channel.
So we're waiting for the final decision, but I'm not as confident as I was this time yesterday about last night's mass ascent...
Tristan Cork
The Michelin Man returns!!!
Here's a blast from the past for those of us who remember the Balloon Fiesta in the days when the top pop stars of the day would play at Ashton Court, and a lot of the balloons were 'shaped' ones.
The Michelin man balloon, which was always a favourite whenever it drifted over Bristol back in the 80s and 90s, was back - inflating and tethering in the arena, earlier.
KEY EVENT
Best pictures from Saturday's Nightglow
We've put together the best pictures from Saturday's Nightglow. See our picture gallery here.
KEY EVENT
62 balloons took to the skies this morning
62 balloons took flight this morning. 15 balloons from teams competing in the British Hot Air Balloon Championships flew over Ashton Court and now there are a few classics being tethered. There are still many things to see and do at Ashton Court and it's the last day of the Fiesta so make the most of it!
Oliver Astley
Rupert the Bear balloon takes to the sky
A giant Rupert the Bear balloon is heading skywards.
KEY EVENT
Watch how a hot air balloon deflates
Reporter Ellie Kendall talks us through how a hot air balloon deflates after landing.
Oliver Astley
Watch National Championship balloon arrive over Ashton Court
Oliver Astley
Help support the Fiesta!
We all love the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta which is free to attend. That said, a lot of people put a lot of time, effort and money into the event. You can help keep it going long into the future by donating. The organisers appreciate any donation, no matter how small. You can support the Fiesta by donating here.
Mary Stenson
View from Ashton Court
Mary Stenson
No BBQs allowed
An announcement has been made saying that no barbecues will be allowed at the Fiesta today due to the high temperatures being forecast.
Mary Stenson
Final competitor
The final competitor is being carried away by the wind so the landing X is being packed up.
Mary Stenson
A perfect landing
Video footage shows a perfect landing at the Balloon Fiesta this morning.
Mary Stenson
More photos from this morning
Balloons have been seen across Bristol this morning
Oliver Astley
British Hot Air Balloon Championships over Bristol
Oliver Astley
National Championship balloons are on their way
The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta will today see a first for the event, as the British National Hot Air Balloon Championships 2024 come to town. Undertaking a series of challenges, hot air balloon teams from up and down the country will be competing to be crowned best in the UK. Read the full story here.
Oliver Astley
Balloons as seen from Bedminster Down
Oliver Astley
More pictures from Ashton Court
Latest pictures from Ashton Court
Oliver Astley
Balloons are flying south
Bedminster Down is the best place to watch the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta if the balloons are heading south.
Oliver Astley
Up up and away!
The mass ascent as seen from Bedminster Down where lots of people have gathered.
Oliver Astley
Spectators gathering on Bridgwater Road
A large crowd has gathered on Bridgwater Road, near South Bristol Crematorium where it's very busy, according to our reporter at the scene.
Oliver Astley
First balloons taking to the skies
The westerly wind means that only experienced pilots are flying this morning.
Oliver Astley
Statement from Balloon Fiesta organisers
Wind speeds are calm but it is blowing to the west which means balloons are unlikely to fly over the city.
Oliver Astley
First balloons being inflated
The first balloons are being inflated at Ashton Court where thousands of people have gathered to view this morning's mass ascent.
Oliver Astley
Green smoke means we'll have a mass ascent!
Green smoke at Ashton Court means we're going to get a mass ascent.
Oliver Astley
Hopeful crowds are gathering
There is already a big, expectant and optimistic crowd at Ashton Court and the weather's looking good so far.
KEY EVENT
Good morning from Ashton Court
Our reporter is at Ashton Court and says it's "looking hopeful balloons will fly this morning". No official confirmation yet though.
