Bristol Balloon Fiesta: What is it and what can you see?

The annual Bristol International Balloon Fiesta starts on Friday and sees the skies above the Somerset city filled with colourful hot air balloons.

More than 100 balloons are due to be launched as part of the fiesta with lots of other activities celebrating Bristol's ballooning history.

The Bristol Balloon Fiesta - the biggest ballooning event in Europe - takes place over three days from Friday to Sunday, 8-10 August.

It's free to attend and there is loads going on. Read on to find out more.

What's happening at this year's fiesta?

Over 100 hot air balloons are due to take part in this year's fiesta.

The balloons are due to rise up in the early morning and early evening of each day of the festival.

On both Friday and Saturday evenings, the special Nightglow event takes place.

This is when dozens of balloons tethered to the ground light up in time to music.

Ian Martin, the choreographer and director of the Nightglow event, said:

"I always say that balloonists are showmen.

"We like to show off, we like to show the balloons, we like to entertain and we're proud of that.

"Nightglows are a great way for us to create a greater interest in ballooning and the fiesta itself."

The iconic Nightglow takes place on Friday and Saturday night

Special shaped balloons are always a big feature at the fiesta, and this year visitors can expect to see balloons in the shape of Thomas the Tank Engine, Sonic the Hedgehog, Astro the Alien, Rupert the Bear and Wallace & Gromit Moon Rocket.

A new addition to the festival is In The Clouds, an immersive attraction where visitors can walk inside a cold-inflated air balloon, while hearing a soundscape that replicates the experience of pilots in flight.

Also on the ground there will be live music performances, arts and crafts and the Rockets Children's Motorcycle Display Team who will perform stunts and tricks.

There's also model aircraft demonstrations, model hot air balloon parades and chats with hot air balloon pilots.

The free-to-attend event takes place at Ashton Court Estate in Bristol.

Bristol has a long history of hot air balloons - the first modern hot air balloon, the Bristol Belle, was created in the city.

The first Bristol International Balloon Fiesta took place in 1979.

Do like hot air balloons? Are you going to the Bristol Fiesta?

Let us know in the comments...