The Festival

Every year in August, the city of Bristol hosts the International Balloon Fiesta. It’s one of the largest outdoor events in the UK, and it’s completely free to attend. More than one hundred hot air balloons of all shapes and sizes take off from a large park called Ashton Court. The best time to go is at six o’clock in the morning for the mass ascent, when all the balloons fly together into the sky. It’s a spectacular sight! There are also food stalls, live music, and fairground rides for children. However, visitors should check the weather forecast before they travel, because the balloons cannot fly if it is too windy or if there is heavy rain.