BRISTOL HOT AIR BALLOON FESTIVAL - no commentary, some soundbites from the pilots.

Decade: 1990

The largest ever gathering in Europe of novelty hot air balloons has wowed and audience of around 30, 000 on a breezy southwestern English hillside.

Around 150 weird and wonderful hot air balloons were being prepared on Thursday (August 6) to take part in the annual Balloon Fiesta near Bristol.

The Fiesta opened with a concert organised by Galaxy 101.

Light crowd numbers during the early part of the afternoon were swollen by the thousands as the ballooning events began.

All the unusual-shaped balloons, including a giant strawberry, an Actionman, an Ordnance Survey Map balloon, two vast Michelin men, an enormous pig, Bertie the liquorice Allsort and some floating drinks cans, took part... Read more The largest ever gathering in Europe of novelty hot air balloons has wowed and audience of around 30, 000 on a breezy southwestern English hillside.

Around 150 weird and wonderful hot air balloons were being prepared on Thursday (August 6) to take part in the annual Balloon Fiesta near Bristol.

The Fiesta opened with a concert organised by Galaxy 101.

Light crowd numbers during the early part of the afternoon were swollen by the thousands as the ballooning events began.

All the unusual-shaped balloons, including a giant strawberry, an Actionman, an Ordnance Survey Map balloon, two vast Michelin men, an enormous pig, Bertie the liquorice Allsort and some floating drinks cans, took part in the novelty rodeo. A magical array of giant figures entrance both young and old.

Also at the Fiesta was adventurous Candy Vaughan, the sixteen year old daughter of Ballooning parents, who next year plans to become the youngest ever balloon pilot by taking her test in the Antarctic and there by gaining an extra day.

The evening continued with the traditional curtain-raiser, the Night Glow; a series of round tethered balloons which glow in time to music. The theme to the hit movie and best selling novel "War of Worlds" added dramatic license to the already surreal event.