Summary

  • Watch the Bristol Balloon Fiesta night glow on demand - it's pinned to the top of the page

  • If you'd rather watch on your TV, open the iPlayer app and search for "night glow"

  • The night glow saw balloons lit up in the dark by burners in time to music

  • It's part of the fiesta event in Bristol which runs from Friday to Sunday

  • Organisers say conditions look more encouraging for flying over the weekend

  1. Watch it all over again!published at 22:11 British Summer Time 9 August

    That's it from us tonight - thank you for joining our live coverage of the night glow.

    There's plenty more to come from this year's Balloon Fiesta.

    We will be bringing you all the latest here on the website, on social media, on TV and on radio.

    You can watch the night glow in full now. We've pinned it to the top of this page. Or, on your TV search in the iPlayer for "night glow".

  2. The balloon citypublished at 21:50 British Summer Time 9 August

    Hot air balloons. They are tethered but inflated and lit up with fire.

    Hot air balloons are synonymous with Bristol - can you see why?

    It's been quite the sight this evening and if the weather plays ball and the balloons get up in the sky tomorrow there are spectacular views to be had as they float across the city.

  3. Picture perfectpublished at 21:42 British Summer Time 9 August

    Things are well under way over at Ashton Court, with great music, great company and great views.

    The crowd is watching and dancing along as the sky darkens, making the dancing flames look even more spectacular.

    It's a true highlight of the Bristol calendar.

    Hot air balloons. They are inflated but tethered to the ground. They are lit up with fire.
  4. Admiring the viewpublished at 21:36 British Summer Time 9 August

    Crowd of people sat watching the night glow. Hot air balloons can be seen in the distance, inflated on the ground, lit up with fire.

    Groups have picked their spot on the grass to get a good view of the night glow.

    The perfect way to spend a warm summer evening in Bristol - it doesn't get much better than this!

  5. Night glow under waypublished at 21:30 British Summer Time 9 August

    The moment we've all been waiting for...

    The music sounds great and the crowd are enjoying themselves watching this illuminating spectacle.

    Hot air balloons on the ground in Bristol. They are being lit with fire.
  6. Are you ready?published at 21:24 British Summer Time 9 August

    Hot air balloons laid out on the floor.

    The countdown is on and the night glow will be starting soon.

    Here we go...

    Click on the link at the top of the page to watch it live.

  7. Love is in the airpublished at 21:22 British Summer Time 9 August

    Congratulations are in order!

    Aaron Stone proposed to Carolyn Michele in front of thousands of people who are waiting to watch the night glow.

    The couple are one of the many ballooning teams at the Fiesta.

    What a lovely moment for them.

    Aaron Stone and Carolyn Michele. Aaron has glasses and short grey hair. He is smiling and hugging Carolyn. He is holding a ring box.
  8. There's a second night glow if you miss this onepublished at 21:20 British Summer Time 9 August

    BBC Radio Bristol banner in front of balloon, lit up in the dark

    Yes, you read that right - there's two night glows!

    If you miss this one you can catch a repeat performance on Saturday night at Ashton Court. The music for the night glow has been specially mixed by the team at BBC Radio Bristol.

    If you want to know the best ways to get there, then have a look at this article.

  9. What's the weather like for the rest of this weekend?published at 21:16 British Summer Time 9 August

    Ian Fergusson
    BBC weather forecaster

    Want to know when the weather is best this weekend? And a good point to visit the Balloon Fiesta? Ian has the forecast...

    Saturday sees a sequence of weak fronts moving-by just to our northwest, introducing more widespread cloud and perhaps some patchy light rain in parts of the region for a while - especially during the morning, but maybe some lingering into early afternoon. Cloud should then tend to break rather more readily later during the day, with an effectively dry evening to follow.

    An overall trend towards winds reducing through the weekend will become most noticeable by Sunday morning: high pressure dominates temporarily, centred out to our east and drawing-up very warm air from the near continent.

    As a result, a pretty hot and dry day will quickly develop. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see maximum temperatures widely reaching into the upper 20’s C by Sunday afternoon.

  10. Preparing for the night glowpublished at 21:07 British Summer Time 9 August

    Ashton Court. There is a field full of people, with a ferris wheel, canopies and hot air balloons which are not yet inflated.

    The sun is starting to set over Ashton Court as the night glow draws closer.

    Crowds are gathering whilst balloonists get ready for the show.

    The balloons are currently laid out on the ground and will soon be inflated and lit up against the night sky.

    Stick with us - we'll bring you all the best video, images and info from the event.

  11. The weather and the balloon fiesta: 'Years ago, I used to worry about it'published at 21:01 British Summer Time 9 August

    A balloon floats past the sunImage source, PA Media

    The Bristol Balloon Fiesta relies heavily on weather forecasts, but the people who run the event say they have learned to look on the bright side even if predictions are gloomy.

    Some years the directors have despaired at seemingly negative forecasts, only to wake up to perfect flying weather.

    "Years ago, I used to worry about it, but worrying doesn't change the forecast," said chairman of the flying committee, Pete Dalby.

    Read more about the weather and the Balloon Fiesta here.

  12. How do I get to the Balloon Fiesta?published at 20:53 British Summer Time 9 August

    Man stood inside a green and yellow balloon canopyImage source, PA Media

    Has all of this talk inspired you to try and watch some of the Balloon Fiesta this weekend?

    If you live in Bristol but are not heading to Ashton Court you might want to check out the first of our articles, listing good viewing points across the city.

    And the second article tells you the easiest ways to get to the venue itself.

  13. What's happened today so far?published at 20:45 British Summer Time 9 August

    There was supposed to be a mass ascent this morning but the weather got in the way.

    At each fiesta, dozens of balloons will take off at 6am and 6pm and float over the city. But, the wind was too strong.

    Instead, the balloons inflated but didn't take off - known as tethering.

    There was a visit from some aliens, too.

    Alien balloon and people in alien costumes stood in a field
  14. Welcome to our live coveragepublished at 20:37 British Summer Time 9 August

    Chris Kelly
    Digital Editor, BBC West

    Night glow at the balloon fiestaImage source, EPA

    Although the Bristol Balloon Fiesta has got off to a wet and slightly windy start, it won't stop the famous night glow from taking place.

    If you've never seen this event before let me explain what happens.

    In the darkness of the bowl of Ashton Court, just outside of Bristol, scores of balloons will inflate. Then, a musical soundtrack created by BBC Radio Bristol will play and the balloons will light up in time to the music.

    It's spectacular - and you can watch it live here from about 21.15 BST.