Features / bristol balloon fiesta
Meet the man who collects special shape hot air balloons
As one of the world’s largest special shape hot air balloon businesses, some of the buoyant designs at this year’s Bristol International Balloon Fiesta will most likely have come from MJ Ballooning.
In anticipation of this year’s event, I met with owner Matt Joyce, 25, from Fishponds, who has helmed the brand for six years.
As a child, Matt was inspired by gazing at the balloon-filled Fiesta sky and envisaged one day contributing to its picturesque beauty.
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Matt said: “My first memory was at (the age of) three, seeing the Scottish piper setting off. I always wanted to own one.”
Matt founded M J Ballooning in 2014
As he got older, and his passion for special shapes grew, Matt would incessantly draw and research the designs he witnessed from his window.
He first set up his MJ Ballooning website, from his childhood bedroom for a 2014 school IT project.
The idea was to showcase awe-inspiring ballooning in Bristol.
A year after creating the site, Matt then launched a a YouTube channel channel under the same name which now has nearly 4,000 subscribers and has gained over three million views.
More than a decade on, and MJ Ballooning’s website is now comprehensive, with sections detailing the specifics of a myriad balloon styles and designs, an extensive blog chronicling the brand’s recent activities, live flight updates and an iridescent photo gallery.
Matt explained: “There is a certain magic to ballooning. I want to inspire people to get involved, both in flying and owning (balloons). Special shapes are particularly magical in the way that they fly.”
Matt first started collecting special shape balloons in 2021.
He now has a small team, all Bristol-based, who operate the 12 special shapes featured on the MJ Ballooning website.
Balloon Fiesta attendees can expect to see MJ Ballooning’s Orange this year
Matt’s favourite special shapes include ‘the Action Man’, Slick the Dragon and ‘the Choc Dip’.
A number of these designs will be found at this year’s Fiesta.
Matt explained: “I will always return to the Fiesta as this is where I got into it. Balloons and Bristol go hand-in-hand.”
Matt also regularly attends the Midlands Air Festival and Longleat’s ‘Icons of the Sky’.
But what can Fiesta attendees expect from MJ Ballooning this year?
Matt said the team has “a few new additions announced already. Notably Slick the Dragon alongside ‘the Orange’ and regulars, such as Joycam Lips. A few more announcements of popular characters are to come.”
All photos: MJ Ballooning
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