Green light for balloon fiesta's final mass ascent

A green dragon-shaped hot air balloon with a yellow belly hangs above Bristol in the pale morning sun. The dragon has a large red mouth smile on his face and is holding his thumb up, with his other hand on his hip. Behind him is a field, brown from the summer sun, dotted with mature trees on the edge of woodland.PA

Sunday evening's ascent will be the last of the 2025 festival

Maisie Lillywhite
BBC News, West of England

The final mass ascent of this year's Bristol Balloon Fiesta has been given the green light by organisers.

They said they made the "unusual decision" to confirm Sunday evening's ascent hours ahead of time because of the "beautifully calm conditions" forecast.

It means that colourful balloons, launched at Ashton Court Estate, will brighten the skies above Bristol from 18:00 BST on Sunday, the third and final day of the festival.

The unpredictability of the weather usually means take-off is not confirmed until the last moment.

The ascent follows Saturday's night glow event, which saw dozens of balloons illuminate the dark skies above Bristol, and the Sunday morning mass ascent.

Drone shot of dozens of balloons lifting off the ground in a field as a large crowd watches. The balloons are of all different shapes and colours, including bulldogs, a rocket ship, and a dragon. PA
The inside of a hot air balloon, which is all colours of the rainbow, as it is being inflated. A man can be seen walking inside it, towards the opening where the basket normally goes.PA

The blue skies were still as balloons rose above Bristol's horizon on Sunday morning.

Bulldogs, a dragon, a rocket ship, and an alien were all spotted lingering above the city.

Numerous hot air balloons of all colours fly above Bristol at sunrise. The sky is hazy but clear. Hills and the River Severn can be seen in the distance.PA

BBC Radio Bristol's Nicki Ledgard, who was in Buster, a bulldog balloon, said: "We went over Ashton Gate, we could see the Suspension Bridge, and then we went out over Knowle and Perrett's Park... and then we went up to Keynsham and landed in the rugby club."

A day before, many of the balloons that took off flew towards Yate.

Dozens of balloons of all shapes and colours rise into the pale, clear morning sky at sunrise. The main focal point is the large, green balloon in the shape of an alien with black eyes.PA

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