Bristol Balloon festival - still happening?

[YouKnowOneDayAtATime]

We have booked a hotel for Friday - Sunday and I’m wondering if it’s worth cancelling?

Why? Weather warnings?

Have the organisers said anything about cancelling?

Yes due to the severe weather warnings for wind and thunderstorms.

The organisers haven’t said anything yet but given that that concert was cancelled at the last minute that doesn’t mean much!

The festival is unlikely to be cancelled because of poor weather but the balloons ascents and nightglows might be.
They decide very last minute, we were due to go up in a balloon a few years ago and were just about to go when they cancelled.

Booo hope the night glow isn’t cancelled, it’s the best bit.

I'd imagine ascents would be cancelled but anything where they're tethered (nightglow etc) would be ok. Glad we've arranged to go tomorrow now!

I don't think there's a lot you can do. You can either cancel and do something else, presumably you're wanting to cancel now so you get your hotel money back, or you can not cancel and hope it goes ahead, or find other things to do in Bristol - museums etc?

If you have travel insurance, either an annual policy or through a bank account and it is cancelled, you could see if you were covered for the hotel money, but I'm not sure whether you would be, unless you could convince them that the balloon festival was your main reason for the weekend in Bristol, so no point going if there are no balloons.

It really is a shame when we have had such good weather up to now. Seeing all the balloons floating across Bristol is always one of the highlights of our summer. And the nightglows are very special. I don’t think they will cancel but the forecast isn’t good.

Unlikely that the festival will be cancelled, just that the balloons will probably not fly much. Forecast here (10 mins from the festival ground) suggests there will be ascents on Saturday and Sunday evening (6pm) so keep your fingers crossed!

Ah that’s a shame. For us, the balloons going up is the festival - we can sit in a field and drink warm wine while listening to music anywhere really! So yes just wanted to see the balloons flying. 🎈

Apparently there will be an additional mass ascent tomorrow morning, Thursday, at 6.00 a.m when they are hoping to get the special shapes off the ground, including the Darth Vader balloon, as the forecast looks promising.
The event will be open over the weekend, and the nightglows on Thursday and Saturday are scheduled to go ahead as planned.

Oh I hope so I've just paid for Saturday parking!

Balloons are up, this morning! 🎈🎈🎈

Despite the clouds

I've never known the balloon fiesta cancelled in the near 30 years I've been going - just some years when balloons haven't been able to take off for whatever reason (weather, and from memory in 2001 foot and mouth prevented them taking off)

We went last year and it was a disaster. We only saw one balloon up which was tethered. It was a huge disappointment as it was a big part of my childhood.

Is there much to do at the fiesta apart form watching the balloons?

I haven't been for years but used to be fairground rides, lots of stalls and a music stage.

I don't like it, too busy. The kite festival at the end of the month is way better IMO

In case anyone is still following this, there is no launch this evening but the balloon glow will go ahead.
The launches tomorrow have been cancelled.
Organisers are hopeful for some action later on in the weekend as the weather is due to improve. More info tomorrow.

Where's this info from? I was looking for an update earlier and could only find marketing hype rather than facts.

They've cancelled the night glow tonight and all flying Friday but Saturday and Sunday are looking better. There are far nicer things in the area tbh than Ashton Court............

But we went the year before last to the dawn ascent, and were horrified. The toilets were unusable, and who wants grotty fair rides @£5 a go each It's become very over commercialised. We parked up on Clifton downs last time and just hoped the balloons came that way.

@bristolballoon is the official twitter feed with updates.

The nightglow went ahead, but just with the burners, no balloons which was a shame but 9 month old DC enjoyed it after somehow staying awake until 9pm. They did the fireworks after too despite the rain

What a shame. I used to love watching the balloon ascents but haven't been for years. Tethering just isn't the same is it?

The ascent this morning went off well. The weather forecast for here has improved with the worst weather being overnight.

I usually see a number of balloons but didn't today as we were the wrong side of Bristol

Looks possible that balloons MIGHT go up on Sunday’s evening, but even that seems unlikely now. TBH the “fiesta” part is way too commercialised and there is no point going along without the balloons!

Taken from the fb page...

TEMPORARY SITE CLOSURE: Unfortunately the high winds we are currently experiencing include very strong gusts. Therefore the organising committee have taken the decision to temporarily close the site as the safety of our visitors, balloon crews and the event team is our priority.

We hope this will be for this afternoon only and we will review the situation late afternoon. We hope to be in a position to reopen the site in time for this evening’s Nightglow.

We are sorry for the disappointment this may cause and we appreciate your understanding at this challenging time.

The weather conditions are improving tonight and for tomorrow and we look forward to making the most of the better weather.