Green light for Bristol Balloon Fiesta's final mass ascent

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyvvj8expjo

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

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.

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.

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.

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