In pictures: Up, up and away – Hot air balloons add colour to Bristol skyline
More than 100 hot air balloons have taken part in this year’s event.
Published
![](https://www.guernseypress.com/resizer/v2/N3OS2SCRAJHHBARVB3FCO3IAIY.jpg?auth=6743570c90624a915feefdf6628fa7cab5b1d54c04ce0f49385de3c55494bf1a&width=300&height=225)
Hot air balloons have been taking to the skies above Bristol for the past three days at the annual international fiesta.
First held in 1979, the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta celebrates the city’s links to hot air ballooning.
More than 100 hot air balloons have taken part in this year’s event, which is based in the hills of the Ashton Court area of the city.
![Hot air balloons flash the burners as they prepare to lift off](http://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/688cd261aba7cc0d42cba8185f66e7b7Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzIzNDUwNjY0/2.77126656.jpg?w=640)
![A balloon pilot checks the rigging during pre-flight inflation checks](http://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/b2bd1e1705ebf65b16e98ead61685025Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzIzNDUwODk2/2.68308272.jpg?w=640)
![Hot air balloons float above north Somerset](http://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/45406a210e1fd61122054586db1bdba4Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzIzNDUxMDMy/2.77126646.jpg?w=640)
![A hot air balloon floats above North Somerset at the 46th Bristol International Balloon Fiesta](http://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/9f8fb6310c85b0fbcc710a5316f37dd5Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzIzNDUxMTY5/2.77126645.jpg?w=640)
![Hot air balloons lift off at the 46th Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, an annual free festival of hot air ballooning](http://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/7d9980069ced7ba8ce5b1ee7eb4f7b9bY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzIzNDUxNDY3/2.77126653.jpg?w=640)