Bristol Balloon Fiesta 2025: 100 hot air balloons take to the skies
The Bristol Balloon Fiesta 2025 saw 100 hot air balloons take to the skies, with the event attracting large crowds and featuring a spectacular display of colorful balloons.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta 2025 opened on Friday with near-perfect flying conditions, drawing large crowds and a spectacular display of more than 100 hot air balloons. The first morning ascent saw 87 balloons rise into clear blue skies, with many new special-shaped balloons making their debut, including a giant suitcase, a scarecrow, and a replica of the Orient Express. The scarecrow later landed in a school car park. The event, now in its 48th year, is Europe's largest ballooning festival and remains free to the public.
Among the highlights was a world record attempt by Jo Bailey, who was seriously ill last year and now lives with a stoma bag. She completed 68 ascents in a tethered balloon in one hour, beating the previous mark of 30. She said she never thought she would get back into a balloon. The fiesta also partnered with the charity Young Bristol, giving first-time participants hands-on experience of ballooning as part of a three-year partnership.
The weather stayed largely kind over the weekend, although a windier Sunday evening meant the final mass ascent was cancelled. Organisers described the conditions as "perfect ballooning weather" for most of the event. Night glows took place on Friday and Saturday, with around 25 balloons on the first night dancing to music. Crowds were huge, with all car parking spaces sold and tens of thousands of visitors attending.
The fiesta is expensive to stage, costing more than £850,000, with Bristol City Council providing Ashton Court free of charge. Organisers have insisted it will remain free for the public, despite the financial challenges. The event is set to continue, with the 50th anniversary planned in two years.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 | BBC News | BBC One | ITV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A hot air balloon fiesta featured multiple ascents over the weekend, with reported balloon numbers ranging from dozens to over 200. | · | · | ||
| Dozens of balloons (around 87) took part in the first morning ascent. | · | · | ||
| New balloons made their debut at the fiesta, including a suitcase and a scarecrow. | · | · | ||
| The Bristol Balloon Fiesta opened with hot air balloon launches in clear sunny weather. | · | · | ||
| The festival includes two night-time glow events scheduled for tonight and tomorrow. | · | · | ||
| A scarecrow balloon landed in a school car park. | · | · | · | |
| A woman with a stoma bag broke a world record for tethered balloon ascents in an hour. | · | · | · | |
| A world record attempt was made in a tethered balloon. | · | · | · | |
| All car parking spaces were sold out. | · | · | · | |
| Joe completed 68 balloon ascents in an hour as part of a world record attempt. | · | · | · | |
| More than 100 balloons were preparing for the evening ascent. | · | · | · | |
| More than 200 hot air balloons were seen at Clifton Suspension Bridge. | · | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
This was a brief, positive summary focusing on the start of the fiesta and the favourable weather. It highlighted the first ascent and the upcoming night glows, with no further details or interviews.
- “there were perfect conditions this morning as Bristol's balloon fiesta got underway.”
- “It's the first of a number of ascents over the weekend, with two night-time flights known as glows tonight and tomorrow.”
This channel gave the most detailed local coverage, focusing on human interest stories, the world record attempt, the artist painting from a balloon, and the involvement of Young Bristol. It also reported the exact number of balloons on the first morning and noted the scarecrow's landing.
- “87 balloons went up on the first morning of the bristol international balloon fiesta”
- “the scarecrow ended up in a school car park”
- “I've been flying for over 30 years and every flight is special”
This channel provided a national perspective, emphasising the festival's status as Europe's largest, the number of balloons (over 100 for the evening ascent), the variety of special shapes, and the fact that it is free. It included an interview with the executive director.
- “This is Europe's largest ballooning festival”
- “we've got well over 100 balloons about to take off for us.”
- “every single car parking space is sold”
This channel offered a reflective post-event interview with flight director Clive Bailey and his wife Jo, focusing on the success of the weekend, Jo's record-breaking achievement, the financial costs of staging the event, and the decision to keep it free.
- “It wasn't just nice weather it was absolute perfect ballooning weather”
- “I did a hopper a teller balloon hopper challenge and I went up and down as many times as I could in an hour to get a potential Guinness World Record”
- “it costs us just over 850,000 pounds to put the Fiesta on”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.