Estimated reading time 1 minute 1 Min

In Pictures: Sky's the limit as the Bristol Balloon Fiesta takes off

Take a look at some of the best entries in this year’s Bristol Balloon Festival in the UK.

August 12, 2022
By PA
12 August 2022

The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta lifted off in fine fashion after windy weather conditions delayed the first mass launch on Thursday.

More than 100 hot air balloons are expected to grace the skies during the four-day spectacle, which is taking place after the Covid pandemic halted the celebration for two years.

Bristol International Balloon Fiesta 2022
Hot air balloons begin to take off during the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta 2022 (Ben Birchall/PA)
Bristol International Balloon Fiesta 2022
A balloon is prepared for flying at Ashton Court, Bristol (Ben Birchall/PA)
Bristol International Balloon Fiesta 2022
Equipment is tested before the mass launch (Ben Birchall/PA)
Bristol International Balloon Fiesta 2022
A balloon flies over fields which have turned brown and dried out in the prolonged spell of dry weather (Ben Birchall/PA)
Bristol International Balloon Fiesta 2022
The fiesta is expected to see more than 100 balloons fly over the Bristol area (Ben Birchall/PA)
Bristol International Balloon Fiesta 2022
An extravagantly-designed hot air balloon takes off (Ben Birchall/PA)
Bristol International Balloon Fiesta 2022
The Royal Navy's hot air balloon (Ben Birchall/PA)
Bristol International Balloon Fiesta 2022
Balloons against an early morning Bristol skyline (Ben Birchall/PA)
Bristol International Balloon Fiesta 2022
Ready for take-off (Ben Birchall/PA)
Bristol International Balloon Fiesta 2022
A balloon casts a shadow over a farmer's field (Ben Birchall/PA)
Related Stories
More in Top Stories
Debt ceiling deal ready for Congress vote: Biden
No choice but to deploy nuclear arms: Belarus
Russia launched 'largest drone attack' on Ukrainian capital
Erdogan headed for victory in Turkey Early results suggest Turkey's president incumbent Tayyip Erdogan is on course for victory.
Erdogan claims victory in Turkey runoff
Venice waters turn fluorescent green The Venice canal near the Rialto Bridge has turned fluorescent green.
Venice waters turn fluorescent green near Rialto Bridge
North Korea tells neighboring Japan it plans to launch satellite in coming days
Debt ceiling agreement reached
Liz Cheney to give Colorado College graduation speech
China's 1st domestically made passenger plane completes maiden commercial flight
Building Collapse Iowa Seven people have been rescued and others evacuated from the apartment block in Davenport, Iowa.
US apartment block partly collapses, rescue under way
Nigeria's Tinubu to be sworn in as president amid hopes and scepticism
Senate US Mexico US Senator Lindsey Graham has reportedly been placed on a wanted list by Russia's interior ministry.
Russia puts US senator on wanted list: report
Max Verstappen wins Monaco F1 grand prix
Modi opponents boycott opening of new parliament building
President attends 2nd grandchild's graduation
New Greek parliament convenes, only to be dissolved as early as Monday
South Korean arrested for opening plane emergency exit door
Police arrest 1500 climate protesters in The Hague
"The Little Mermaid" makes box office splash with $95.5 million opening
Government tries to claw back money so Jan. 6 rioters don't profit from online appeals
Jewish groups and city officials plan protest against Roger Waters concert in Frankfurt
Migrants with children stuck at Poland's border wall; activists say Belarus won't let them turn back
Right-wing populist Javier Milei gains support in Argentina by blasting 'political caste'
In Nigeria's hard-hit north, families seek justice as armed groups seek control
US, Saudi Arabia call for warring sides in Sudan to extend 'imperfect' cease-fire
Indian official suspended after he drains reservoir to retrieve phone he dropped while taking selfie
Ukraine asks Germany for long-range missiles
Verstappen takes pole in Monaco
Biden says debt deal 'very close'
Pope Francis resumes regular appointments
Russia Putin Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly warned Russia will use all means to defend itself.
Don't lecture us on nuclear deployment
Turkey Election Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks at a campaign rally in Istanbul ahead of Sunday's vote
Turks to vote as Erdogan positioned to extend rule
Mass protests against Israeli government enter 21st week
Ukraine claims Russia is plotting 'a provocation' at nuclear plant, offers no evidence
Man who opened emergency door on flight felt suffocated
Ukraine drones target Russia oil pipeline installations
'Anatomy of a Fall' wins top Cannes gong .French director Justine Triet won the Cannes Film Festival's Palme d'Or
'Anatomy of a Fall' top wins prize at Cannes
UN 'shocked' by demands to remove envoy
Hong Kong democrats disband party amid China clampdown
As Elizabeth Holmes heads to prison for fraud, questions remain about her motives
Avalanche in northern Pakistan kills 11
Texas' GOP-held House set for impeachment against Attorney General Ken Paxton
Former US diplomat Henry Kissinger celebrates 100th birthday, still active in global affairs
China 'clean-up' deletes 1.4 million social media posts
Hong Kong denies knowledge about Uyghur student
Serbian border troops to maintain highest state of alert after ethnic clashes inside Kosovo
Britain Immigration Frustrated inbound passengers are reporting lengthy waits at London's Heathrow and Gatwick airports.
Major delays as UK airports hit by border system issue
Council of Europe Ukraine Aleksandar Vucic's second and last term as Serbia's President will expire in 2027.
Serbian president offers to resign as ruling party head
Britain Downing Street Collision A man was arrested and later released after a car crashed into the gates of Downing Street.
Downing Street crash accused faces separate charge
Nepal Politics Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal will hold talks with Narendra Modi in India.
Nepalese PM Dahal to visit India for talks with Modi