The fiesta launched a special ballooning event, named the ‘Fiesta Fortnight’ that saw many hot air balloons take off from multiple locations.
.jpg)
Emma Raducanu became the first British woman in 44 years to win a Grand Slam singles title.
The Fiesta featured the world’s first virtual indoor nightglow.
A statue of slave trader Edward Colston was toppled into the Bristol Harbour.
The Darth Vader Balloon returned to its home city to fly over Bristol for the first time.
Astronomers released the first-ever image of a black hole.
The Fiesta marked its 40th Anniversary with special shaped balloons returning to the Fiesta after decades, including the Scottish Piper Balloon and Rupert the Bear Balloon.
Twelve boys and their football coach were rescued from a flooded cave in Thailand after being trapped for two weeks.
The Bristol Belle, first flown 50 years earlier, was inflated on College Green in the run-up to the Fiesta.
For every £1 spent at the Balloon Fiesta, another £20 is spent in the local economy which means Bristol benefits to the tune of £15m.
Melissa Joan Hart, aka Sabrina the Teenage Witch, attended the Balloon Fiesta during a break in filming.
.jpg)
.jpg)
Brexit, Donald Trump and a new plastic £5 note
Marking Bristol’s status as European Green Capital, the maiden flight of a unique solar-powered hot air balloon was held.
In 2015, Balloon Fiesta regular Ashley Moore flew on Easter Day dressed as the Easter Bunny, and gave out eggs to local children when he landed.
Another record was broken, this time for the largest number of balloons landing in a single field – 90 landed at the site of the old Cadbury Factory in Keynsham.
.jpg)
.jpg)
In the history of aviation only three balloons have ever completed a round-the-world flight and all three were built in Bristol by Cameron Balloons.
Yet another record was broken when 74 balloons touched down in the same place on the Saturday.
Prince William and Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton welcomed a son, Prince George.
For the first time in the Fiesta’s history a Friday night IlluminAir programme saw aerobatics performances at dusk.
The London Olympics and the Queen’s 60 years on the throne saw UK-wide celebrations.
For the first time, visitors were able to see how a hot air balloon is made thanks to a display by Cameron Balloons.
Prince William married Catherine Middleton.
To mark the Golden Jubilee of ballooning, huge numbers of balloons took part.
Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to win Best Director at The Oscars.
The world-famous Red Arrows delighted the crowds by flying over the Fiesta.
TV explorer Ben Fogle visited the 2009 Fiesta.
BBC weather presenter Carol Kirkwood made her first of many live broadcasts from the Fiesta.
Barack Obama became United States President.
The 419 flights over the weekend saw the balloons cover a total of more than 3,211km.
Severe summer rains flooded much of the West Country.
The Discovery balloon was inflated with a very special guest on top – Ian Ashpole dressed as Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
A seven-tonne whale drew huge crowds when it swam up The Thames into central London.
The annual press launch took place in Queen Square, filling the historic space with balloons.
The Glastonbury Festival became a mudbath after torrential rain.
Clive Bailey and Mike Howard set up a tightrope stunt to take place at 4,000ft. A beam was tied between the SWEB and Ikea Ballons. Wearing a blindfold, Mike walked along the beam then parachuted down.
Thousands of veterans gathered in Normany to mark 60 years since D Day.
A pilot (who shall remain nameless) was offered £50 to allow a model to pose topless in a balloon for one of the tabloids.
Concorde, built in Bristol, made its last-ever flight.
A second Night Glow was introduced on Saturday night, attracting a crowd of 100,000.
The 20th Bond Film, Die Another Day, was released.
As the foot-and-mouth outbreak devastated the UK, the Fiesta worked with farming groups to lead the first mass launch of ballons that year after pilots had imposed a voluntary ban.
The Eden Project opens in Cornwall.
The Fiesta continued to break records with 132 balloons launched in 55 minutes, breaking the 1987 record.
Sir Steve Redgrave won a fifth Olympic gold medal.
To mark 20 years since the first Fiesta, eight of the original balloons took part in a special tethering, along with the Bristol Belle - the first modern hot air balloon in Europe and built by Cameron Ballloons.
The Blair Witch Project becomes the most profitable film of all time.
Special shapes were becoming a popular part of the event and Thomas the Tank Engine joined their ranks.
The Good Friday agreement brought peace to Northern Ireland.
The special shapes launch was introduced. The night glow also became part of the main event this year.
Scientists announced the birth of Dolly, the cloned sheep.
Celebrity TV chef Gary Rhodes flew from Ashton Court while filming for his new series Rhodes Around Britain.
Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker mooned the audience during a Michael Jackson performance at the Brit Awards
The long hot summer meant each pilot was given a bucket of water in case their burners ignited the dry grass while inflating.
Manchester United’s Eric Cantona attacked a fan during a game at Selhurst Park.
Skydiver Dave Morris stunned the crowds by leaping from the Orange Airship and triggering pyrotechnics in the main arena.
Shops in the UK were able to open for the first time on a Sunday.
During one mass ascent, the wind was so light the balloons took off but couldn’t leave Ashton Court.
The first Jurassic Park film was released.
The BBC Radio One Chris Evans show was broadcast live from the Fiesta.
A fire at Windsor Castle causes £50million worth of damage.
Bond girl Jane Seymour, who played Solitaire in Live and Let Die, was invited to the Fiesta for a flight by pilot and former Fiesta chairman Derek Maltby. Unfortunately, it was too windy for take off!
British scientist Tim Berners-Lee created the world wide web.
The first-ever nightglow took place. It was held on Durdham Down and was a huge success but it would be a few years before it was part of the main Fiesta.
After more than 27 years in prison, Nelson Mandela was released.
There was a royal visitor as HRH Prince Edward attended the Fiesta.
The Berlin wall came down as Communism collapsed in Eastern Europe.
The tenth anniversary was celebrated with the Fiesta once again sponsored by Halls Oxford & West Brewery Company Ltd.
Prince Charles narrowly avoided being killed in an avalanche in the Alps.
Pilots from nine overseas countries took part and a world record was broken as 129 balloons took off within 65 minutes on the Saturday.
Margaret Thatcher and President Francois Mitterand of France agree to build the Channel Tunnel.
In the early days of the event, pilots were given a goodie bag which contained badges, stickers and sew-on patches.
‘Freddie Starr ate my hamster’ was a headline in The Sun.
More than 90 balloons attended the Fiesta, helping set a post-war record for the number of balloons to appear together in the UK.
BT announced red telephone boxes were to be phased out.
Don Cameron had a very special passenger in his balloon this year - the one and only Sir David Attenborough.
The first Apple Mac computer went on sale, priced $2,500.
The name of the event was changed to Bristol International Balloon Fiesta 200 to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Montgolfier brother inventing the first hot air balloon
.jpg)
Sally K Ride became the first female astronaut.
During one flight 42 balloons took off, the largest number ever seen at one time over Bristol.
Michael Jackson released Thriller, which went on to be one of the best ever selling albums ever.
Bristol’s Cameron Balloons broke the records for duration and distance with their D-38 hot air airship.
.jpg)
Princes Charles and Lady Diana Spencer were married.
The Fiesta was a hit straight away with Bristol, as many more balloons flew and more than 50,000 people came to see them take off.
Margret Thatcher made her famous “The Lady’s not for turning” speech.
The first ever Bristol Balloon Fiesta took place in September 1979 after Don Cameron and others came up with the idea over a pint. Just 27 balloons took off.
Trevor Francis became the first ever £1m footballer in England.
