News / bristol international balloon fiesta

Everything you need to know about the Balloon Fiesta 2025

By Karen Johnson  Thursday Aug 7, 2025

The 47th edition of the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta returns to Ashton Court on Friday, with many new shapes on the lineup for 2025.

From Friday to Sunday, thousands of people are expected to attend the festival that includes mass ascents, model and historic balloon displays, yoga, music, food and special night glow shows.

While the festival is free to attend for everyone, there are hospitality and parking tickets that are sold separately for those interested.

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Scroll down for the full schedule for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Balloons are expected to fill the Bristol skyline, starting Friday

Friday, August 8

  • Scheduled mass ascent (weather permitting) 6am
  • ‘In The Clouds’ immersive experience opens 6am
  • Opening ceremony 6.20am
  • Family yoga (by Moon Stage) 7.30am
  • Model balloons 7.45am
  • Historic balloons 8.45am
  • Peter Powell’s stunt kite display 10.15am
  • The Rockets – Children’s motorcycle display team 11am
  • Fire engine engagement 11am
  • Brizzle Kicks (Children’s Entertainment Stage) opens 12pm
  • BIMM Moon Stage Opens 12pm
  • Bristol Bears: Strive 25, 16+ women session 12.00pm
  • Hot Air Balloon Tethering (weather permitting) 1pm
  • Bristol Bears: All Ages 2pm
  • Cookie Cartoonery workshops (Circus Tent) 2pm
  • Peter Powell’s stunt kite display 2.15pm
  • Meet the pilot 3pm
  • Model balloon display 3pm
  • Model balloons 3.15pm
  • The Rockets Children’s motorcycle display team 4.30pm
  • Cookie Cartoonery workshops (Circus Tent) 5pm
  • Schedule mass ascent (weather permitting) 6pm
  • Samba Band 7.30pm
  • Peter Powell’s Stunt Kite Display 7.30pm
  • Model Balloons Glow 8pm
  • Nightglow 9pm

Saturday, August 9

  • Scheduled mass ascent (weather permitting) 6am
  • ‘In The Clouds’ immersive experience opens 6am
  • Family yoga (by Moon Stage) 7.30am
  • Model balloons 7.45am
  • Historic balloons 8.45am
  • Peter Powell’s stunt kite display 10am
  • Avon & Somerset Police dog display 10.45am
  • Fire engine engagement 11am
  • Brizzle Kicks (Children’s Entertainment Stage) opens 12pm
  • BIMM Moon Stage opens 12pm
  • The Rockets Children’s motorcycle display team 12pm
  • Model planes 1:00 pm
  • Cookie Cartoonery workshops (Circus Tent) 2pm
  • Avon & Somerset Police dog display 2.15pm
  • Meet the pilot 3.15pm
  • Cameron balloons demonstration 3.15pm
  • Hawker Hurricane flypast 4.17pm
  • The Rockets Children’s motorcycle display team 4.45pm
  • Cookie Cartoonery workshops (Circus Tent) 5pm
  • Scheduled mass ascent (weather permitting) 6pm
  • Samba band 7.30pm
  • Peter Powell’s stunt kite display 7.30pm
  • Model balloons glow 8pm
  • Nightglow 9pm

Sunday, August 10

  • Scheduled mass ascent (weather permitting) 6am
  • ‘In The Clouds’ immersive experience opens 6am
  • Family yoga (by Moon Stage) 7.30am
  • Model balloons 8.15am
  • Model planes 9.15am
  • Peter Powell’s stunt kite display team 9.45am
  • Avon & Somerset Police dog display 10.30am
  • Fire engine engagement 11am
  • The Rockets Motorbike display team 11.45am
  • Hawker Hurricane flypast 11:55 am
  • Brizzle Kicks (Children’s Entertainment Stage) opens 12pm
  • BIMM Moon Stage opens 12pm
  • Special shapes Sunday 1pm
  • Meet the pilot 2pm
  • Cookie Cartoonery Workshops (Circus Tent) 2pm
  • Avon & Somerset Police dog display 3.30pm
  • The Rockets Motorcycle display team 4.30pm
  • Cookie Cartoonery workshops (Circus Tent) 5pm
  • Scheduled mass ascent (weather permitting) 6pm
  • Closing Ceremony 6pm
  • Special shapes at Balloon Fiesta 2025

Here’s the full list of special shapes that you can expect at the 2025 fiesta:

  • Wednesday (Inspired by the Netflix show)
  • UP (Inspired by the movie)
  • Buster & Bella the Bulldogs
  • Astro the Alien
  • Oggy the Friendly Dragon
  • Wera Screwdriver
  • Wallace & Gromit’s Moon Rocket
  • Slither the Snake
  • Lips
  • Daisy The Cow
  • Orange
  • Slick The Dragon
  • Ralph the Roziere (tether only)
  • Ordnance Survey Map (tether only)
  • Panasonic Battery (tether only)
  • BBC Globe (tether only)
  • Nivea Deodorant (tether only)
  • Thomas the Tank Engine (tether only)
  • Rupert the Bear (tether only)
  • Snow White (tether only)
  • Sonic the Hedgehog (tether only)

More details about the schedule for the fiesta can be found on the festival website: https://www.bristolballoonfiesta.co.uk/whats-on/timetable-programme

All photos: Alston D’souza

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