Dozens of hot air balloons filled the skies above Bristol on Friday for the city’s annual fiesta. The mass ascent for the 48th Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, one of the largest in Europe, took place at the Grade I-listed Ashton Court Estate.
Festival Highlights
The free, three-day event that began on Friday celebrates the city of Bristol and its links to hot air ballooning. Balloons of all shapes and sizes took part, with imaginative designs a trademark of the festival.
Crews were seen pushing hot air balloons into position before lift-off, while pilots made final checks and prepared the burners. One pilot checked internal rigging inside a colourful balloon, and crews checked the crown of a patriotic hot air balloon.
Special Moments
Artist Emily Powell took to the skies to paint from a hot air balloon basket. An alien hot air balloon floated high above the ground, and a balloon was seen in the sky over Bristol’s Clifton Suspension Bridge.
