Ashton Court, Bristol, UK, 8-10th August 2025
The 43rd Bristol Balloon Festival 2025 got underway with a puff of green smoke and flurry of burners, then at 06:20 on Friday 8 August the first launch was G-CMTW floating into the air followed by a flock of balloon’s rising into the air and drifting over the City of Bristol.
Conditions were perfect allowing some of the special shapes to get into the air. G-OMIB the green alien was quickly followed by Wallace and Grommet in their moon ship, G-EDAM. Finally, G-FGGY the dragon N7143J, made his appearance and drifted off over the city into the rising sun with the other balloons.
Next in the arena it was the model balloons, these are working balloons in miniature, with a basket, envelope, burner and operate just like the larger versions.
Historic balloons next with G-OWOF tethered unfortunately G-BVWI tried to make it but didn’t quite have the energy to make it upright.
Plenty to do around the arena for kids of all ages including a funfair and other rides, amusement/food stalls etc. In the afternoon there are games on the stage and other activities to amuse the kids.
Next up in the arena was a Children’s Motorbike Display team with ages 5-17. Friday’s squad was 7-15 with the leader 11. They display around the country.
The wind was too strong for an evening mass assent. The wind died down for the night glow at 21:00. Approximately 22 balloons inflated slowly to the sounds by BBC Bristol, the balloon’s ignited their burners in time with the musical to provide a very picturesque and musical display.
Saturday started much the same as Friday, overcast but a gentle breeze. 69 ballon’s inflated with 66 departing on a more northerly route.
Two historic ballon’s stayed in the arena. Phillips Energiser, G-BVWI made it all the way up and was joined by Sonic the Hedgehog, G-SEGA.
The wind increased and prevented any inflation during the day but Hurricane LF363 from the Battle of Britain Memorial flight made a couple of fly pasts.
Again, the wind was not kind and prevented an evening launch, but the nightglow went ahead.
Sunday morning dawned to beautiful weather with not enough wind to move the flags and not a cloud in the sky. On arrival the arena was covered in balloon envelopes just waiting to be inflated and take to the skies; where they would go with so little wind was open for debate. The green smoke indicated it was a go and over 70 Balloons lifted in the next 40 minutes, once again drifting over the City of Bristol.
Twelve o’clock saw a spitfire flypast, TE311, again of the Memorial flight.
The wind stayed low, and in the afternoon, Special Shape Sunday. Thomas the Tank Engine and Sonic the Hedgehog are now unfit to fly but were tethered, Snow White made a brief appearance after being stored for many years. They were joined by LIPS, Wallace and Grommet and Netflix ‘Wednesday’ which was dwarfed by the Red Bull balloon.
For the evening the wind stayed calm, and the launch went ahead to the sound of the Bristol Pipes and Drums and Dave Cameron (son of founder Don Cameron) took to the air to finish the fiesta.
