News / bristol balloon fiesta
Balloons finally take to the sky
Saturday morning finally gave balloonatics across the city what they had been waiting for since Thursday as more than 100 hot air balloons took to the skies above Bristol.
Green smoke coming from a small chimney on one corner of the Bristol Balloon Fiesta site at Ashton Court soon after 6am signified that the balloons had been given the go-ahead to take off.
Some of the special shapes had already been preparing for the official confirmation that they could fly, which meant that within a few moments a fire extinguisher, owl and motorcyclist floated serenely up into the air.
is needed now More than ever
Many of the 108 balloons that took off at Ashton Court landed on the Downs, with some even skimming the trees on their way into land.
For freelance photographer Mitch, known as @antimitch on Instagram, it was one of the best balloon rides he has ever been on.
He told Bristol24/7: “We went up in the middle of the pack. The wind speed was slow enough that you could take it all in, look down at the Clifton Observatory, the Suspension Bridge and the Avon Gorge.
“It’s just the best feeling in the world. There’s nothing like it. It’s serene and exciting at the same time. It’s hard to explain in words.”
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Later on Saturday morning, two Bertie Bassett balloons were inflated in the middle of the arena – followed by a rendition of Happy Birthday as a birthday cake balloon was inflated; its first appearance in the 40 years of the Fiesta.
The twin Bertie Bassett balloons are both 150-feet high
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