Bristol Balloon Fiesta hailed as best ever
This year’s Bristol International Balloon Fiesta has been hailed the best ever after attracting record numbers of people to the city.
Nearly 150,000 people headed for Ashton Court on Saturday – more than ever before – and the fiesta has been hailed a huge success.
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This year's Bristol Balloon Fiesta has been hailed as best ever
After a wash-out last year and this year’s soggy summer, the good weather made a welcome change, and event-goers were bathed in glorious sunshine all weekend.
The mass balloon launches spread out across Bristol in the early hours and in the evenings, delighting spectators across the city.
Thousands of families visited the event, which was sponsored by Harvey Nichols.
As well as the mass balloon launches, there were successful night glows, a fly-by from the Red Arrows and displays in the main arena from parachutists and several local organisations.
Fiesta director Susan Tanner said: “On Saturday the site was absolutely heaving. We have had such a big turnout. I think it is a combination of good weather, the promise of both morning and evening launches and night glows, and of course the Red Arrows.
“We have definitely had more people than in previous years. Yesterday sunday it was a bit quieter but it was quite a nice family day. We are very pleased with how things have gone this year. It just shows how much the fiesta is loved by people in Bristol and from further afield. We even had someone who had booked a parking space and flown over from Hong Kong.
“Apart from Thursday evening, when it was a bit windy, we have launched about 100 balloons in each launch.
“We changed the site layout this year and now we need to look at what has worked and what needs to be improved. We had unprecedented traffic on Saturday but overall I think people enjoyed themselves.
“After the awful weather we had last year, it was good to have the sun out. The weather has been much kinder to us this year.”
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by Alf, Bishopston
Tuesday, August 11 2009, 9:08PM
“"The many thousands of girls who'd no doubt like to go out with a swivel-eyed, car-hating, (but commutes to work in one), bicycling, homophobic, pavement riding, obsessive hypocrite like George should send a brief message and a colour photograph of yourself to George at the 'Borrowed Time Home for the Bewildered', Pavement Cyclist Street, What Do Red Traffic Lights Mean, Bristol, BS1
I thank you."
Room for another on that list?”
by Smudger, Horfield
Tuesday, August 11 2009, 7:01PM
“"Hey George, I was in a supermarket yesterday and the bloke in front of me had the saddest contents of any shopping basket I've seen. It contained a microwave roast dinner for one, a tin of HP Allday Breakfast, four cans of cheap lager and a copy of 'Razzle'. His mac didn't look too healthy either."
Come on George, it WAS you wasn't it?”
by George, Bristol
Tuesday, August 11 2009, 5:50PM
“oh, a cowardly clunge at that!”
by George, Bristol
Tuesday, August 11 2009, 5:47PM
“Rob or is it Dave or is it Stan - you're still a clunge!”
by Rob, Knowle
Tuesday, August 11 2009, 4:43PM
“Carefull Issac, that froth pouring from the corners of your mouth will damage your computer. (And your only friend). What will you do if you can't look at your 'Adult Art' websites later? Shares in 'Kleenex' will take a nosedive if you can't look at them!!!!”