The Crow here for c4ocradio.com
Happy 40th birthday to the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta! Europe’s largest ballooning event celebrates its 40th anniversary in southwest England this weekend. A half-million people are expected to attend the free fiesta. This year’s four-day festival at the Ashton Court Estate runs from Thursday to Sunday, and features 140 balloonists from around the world. To mark its landmark birthday, some favorite balloon shapes are returning to fly ― including Rupert the Bear and the Michelin Man. Mass ascents are scheduled to take place each afternoon from 6 p.m. local time. They’ll also begin at 6 a.m. local time on Friday, Saturday and Sunday ― which, depending on the wind direction, may give balloonists an eagle’s-eye view of local landmarks such as the Clifton Suspension Bridge.
All activities are weather dependent, however, and could be postponed at a moment’s notice if it’s too windy or rainy. The mass ascent on Saturday morning did go ahead, but then Saturday afternoon and the one on Sunday morning canceled. Thursday afternoon, Friday morning and Friday afternoon’s mass ascents were also canceled, due to adverse weather. Check out these photographs from this years weekend event.
The Crow is a contributing writer for c4ocradio.com/listnlive
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