Iconic Balloons from Bristol Balloon Fiesta’s Past Set for 40th Anniversary Comeback

Source: Bristol Live – bristolpost.co.uk

By Alex Wood

Fan favorites’ including the Peanut Man, Michelin Man and the Superbike will be on display at this year’s festival.

Organizers of the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta will bring back some of the festival’s most iconic balloons to celebrate its 40th anniversary.

Modern favorites Simbaloo the Longleat Lion and the Belvoir Balloon will join Fiesta classics including the Peanut Man, Michelin Man, Owlbert Einstein and the Superbike when the event returns to Ashton Court next month.

Fans will also get the chance to see the ‘Bertie Bassett’ balloons in action once again, which have not been seen at the festival since 2003.

The Bertie Balloons will be returning to the festival this year for the first time since 2003.
Image: Karen Roe.

And to mark the Fiesta’s birthday in style, organizers have announced a giant balloon in the shape of a birthday cake will also join the line-up.

Don Cameron, founder and chairman of the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, said: “The 40th anniversary is a huge milestone so it’s only right that we bring something truly special to celebrate this – and there’s nothing the crowd loves more than special shapes.

“We have some of the most iconic shapes we’ve seen at the Fiesta over the years, the likes of Bertie Bassett, The Michelin Man and the Superbike have long been a favorite of the crowds and it will be wonderful to see them in the arena once again.”

Mr Cameron launched the balloon festival in 1979, after coming up with the novel idea of staging a small hot air balloon display in Bristol.

This giant birthday cake balloon will take to the skies to mark the festival’s 40th anniversary.
Image: Bristol Post.

In its first year, just 27 hot air balloons took part in the show – but it has since gone on to establish itself as Europe’s largest, annual hot air balloon festival and one of the UK’s top five outdoor events.

The four-day event, which will take place this year between August 9 and 12, is also estimated to bring a £15million boost to the local economy, with tourists and visitors spending on average £20 for every £1 spent at the festival.

As ever, the Fiesta will open on the Thursday (August 9) at midday with hot air balloons tethering throughout the afternoon followed by the regular special shapes flight at 6pm.

On the Thursday and Saturday nights, visitors can enjoy the famous ‘Night Glows’ as the hot air balloons morph into giant light bulbs – using their burners to illuminate themselves in sync with other balloons and music.

The four-day event, which will take place this year between August 9 and 12, is also estimated to bring a £15million boost to the local economy, with tourists and visitors spending on average £20 for every £1 spent at the festival.

As ever, the Fiesta will open on the Thursday (August 9) at midday with hot air balloons tethering throughout the afternoon followed by the regular special shapes flight at 6pm.

On the Thursday and Saturday nights, visitors can enjoy the famous ‘Night Glows’ as the hot air balloons morph into giant light bulbs – using their burners to illuminate themselves in sync with other balloons and music.

Simbaloo the Longleat Lion is back this year, too.
Image: Jess Siggers.

However the true magic of the Fiesta can be witnessed at the crack of dawn for the morning mass ascents.

From 6am on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the grounds of Ashton Court come alive with the
sounds of burners and the sights of hundreds of balloons taking to the skies.

For people planning on driving to the event, car parking must be booked in advance and runs on a tiered system – so the earlier it is booked, the cheaper the price and the closer the space is to the main showground.

The festival returns to Bristol in August.
Image: Bristol Post.

Source: Bristol Live – bristolpost.co.uk

Source: Bristol International Balloon Fiesta

Source: Bristol International Balloon Fiesta

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