00:00The skies above Bristol are set to come alive once again. I'm here with the Balloon Fiesta
00:10team where final preparations are underway for one of the UK's most visually spectacular
00:17events, the 2025 Bristol International Balloon Fiesta. Over 100 balloons are expected to
00:23take to the skies from Friday the 8th to Sunday the 10th of August, drawing crowds from across
00:29the country.
00:31So the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta is actually 47 this year, amazing, we're still
00:35going. It's a completely free event for Bristol, that is its constitution, so stay free for
00:40the city and to promote the city on an international stage. So this year we're taking place on Friday
00:45the 8th to Sunday the 10th of August. We've got over 100 balloons registered to attend in
00:51our Master Sense, obviously weather permitting, and two nightglows on the Friday and Saturday.
00:55Beyond the colour and spectacle, this event is also a window into Bristol's deep roots
01:02in balloon manufacturing and aeronautics innovations. It's not just what happens in the air that's
01:10drawing attention this year. On the ground, organisers have introduced new ways for the
01:15public to engage with the world of ballooning. One of those is the giant walk-in balloon experience,
01:22simulating flight from the inside out.
01:24But this year we've also looked at how we can expand that programme and improve the visitor
01:29experience. You know, if balloons can't fly or throughout the day, how do we really pack
01:33that agenda out? So one of our new highlights is called In the Clouds. So essentially, I think
01:38we all take it for granted what it's like to be this close to our air balloon. But when they
01:43cold inflate, so when you see them on their side like this, a lot of the pilots will walk inside
01:47to check the rigging inside the balloon. So we're essentially rigging a balloon envelope
01:52inside a marquee to make it completely weatherproof. It will be cold inflated inside. And then there
01:58is a video and soundscape that go with it. So all visitors will be able to walk through
02:03and have their own immersive experience of what it's like to be inside a hot air balloon.
02:06Over here, visitors are getting hands-on with real burners, baskets and even pilot demonstrations.
02:12It's part of the wider push to bring more education and interactivity to the event that's become a staple
02:20in the city's calendar. With tens of thousands expected to attend across the weekend, organisers
02:27face the usual balancing act, ensuring the spectacle goes off safely while still managing
02:33cloud numbers, weathers, risks and environmental impact. While the event remains free to enter,
02:40parking is now ticketed in advance and visitors are being urged to use public transport where
02:47possible. This is the school's Tether Roadshow, which is our community programme as part of the
02:52Bristol International Balloon Fiesta. So every year we like to get out into the communities.
02:56This year we've decided we're coming out to schools.
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