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Preview: Bristol Balloon Fiesta 2018
All eyes will be on the skies from 6pm on Thursday for the first mass ascent on the 40th anniversary outing of the Bristol Balloon Fiesta.
As usual (weather permitting of course), the inaugural mass ascent of dozens of hot air balloons will feature plenty special shapes – of which there will be 40 during the duration of the four-day event to commemorate its four decades.
The festival gates at Ashton Court open at midday on Thursday, with the first nightglow of 2018 – where tethered balloons put their burners on in time to music – due to take place at 9pm and the other nightglow at 9pm on Saturday.
Here is the full schedule:
Thursday, August 9
Midday: Fiesta opens with balloon tethering on the launch field
6pm: Special shapes mass ascent
9pm: Nightglow and firework finale
10.30pm: Fiesta closes
Friday, August 10
6am: Fiesta opens with mass ascent
8am: Model hot air balloon competitions
Midday: Hot air balloon tethering
6pm: Mass ascent
8.30pm: Fiesta closes
Saturday, August 11
6am: Fiesta opens with mass ascent
8am: Model hot air balloon competitions
Midday-5pm: Arena entertainment
6pm: Mass ascent
9pm: Nightglow and firework finale
10.30pm: Fiesta closes
Sunday, August 12
6am: Fiesta opens with mass ascent
8am: Model hot air balloon competitions
Midday-5.30pm: Arena entertainment
6pm: Mass ascent
8.30pm: Fiesta closes
For more information, visit www.bristolballoonfiesta.co.uk
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