Bristol Balloon Fiesta

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I wasn't sure if this was the right place to post, please move if incorrect.

Is anyone going to the fiesta this weekend? I want to go with my family but parking is sold out and were not really sure of alternative places that we can access the event from.

Does anyone know of a park and ride service or nearby car park that would be suitable to use?

Thanks in advance

[SkySailing]

Thanks for the info guys, hope you had a great day out if you went.

We've decided to go tomorrow instead, because parking was available, which makes things easier!

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jules_s said:

Utter chaos ATM

Don't bother driving in as it's totally gridlocked

Driving in is our only option

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Got in this morning with absolutely no traffic at all, very quiet here at the grounds.

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No not that early, and thank god. Dunno about you but it was the most boring event I've ever been to. Constant waiting around, average displays, nothing todo, too many food stalls.. Was extremely bored. Watched the balloons go and headed for car.

Took two hours to get out the car park but this meant we got to watch MotoGP so it wasn't all bad!

I won't be back next year, it was an utterly disappointing event for us, unfortunately.

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Blaster72 said:

We went on Saturday (well tried), spent the day in Bristol and followed it up with 2 hours stuck in gridlocked traffic before giving up and heading home.

Glad we did as they turned people away at 6.30 and we were still stuck in a jam 2 miles away then. Forget the bus too, they were stuck in the jams with us.

Real shame and lots of disappointment for the kids but I suspect the organisers were just overwhelmed with the numbers and did what they had to do to keep those already there safe.

Don't think I'll ever go again and at least we got to watch the mass ascent while we were stuck in the traffic.

Yeah, it was a shambles. They should really ticket these events, and hire better organisers because no one would seemed to know what they were doing!

This was my first and probably last time going, because I was simply fed up most of the day anyway.

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DoubleSix said:

Ah sorry I missed this!

Local's tip for next year:

A farmer on Begger Bush Lane opens his feilds up for parking.

Ignore signs saying 'No access to Balloon Fiesta'. Drive across bridge (before 18:00), park on farmers land, walk across golf course.

You'll find all us locals with hampers and champers enjoying a peaceful mass ascent away from the rabble and hotdogs down the bottom!

Why couldn't I have known this before D: haha

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Obiwonkeyblokey said:

Its still a fantastic event for which Bristol should be rightfully proud and anyone who says otherwise can get in the sea.

I have to agree with DoubleSix I'm afraid. The food stalls naff, and far too many, the attractions and things todo are few and far between. The entertainment during the day is okay, but okay at best, and once you've seen the same act three times, it gets a bit tedious.

The balloons themselves were awesome, it's just a shame I had to wait all day, bored out of my mind to see them, and then the heavens opened, which can't be helped.

Doubt I'll be going back anytime soon, but if I do I'll be sure to use the farmers field as getting out of the event was a nightmare.

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Here's some very average photos taken by me on the Sunday, due to all the rain coming in the quality isn't the greatest. Waited all day to take photos and then the heavens opened! Hmph!

Bristol Balloon Fiesta by N-K-Photography, on Flickr

Bristol Balloon Fiesta by N-K-Photography, on Flickr

Bristol Balloon Fiesta by N-K-Photography, on Flickr

Bristol Balloon Fiesta by N-K-Photography, on Flickr

Bristol Balloon Fiesta by N-K-Photography, on Flickr