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IKEA
INTERNATIONAL BALLOON FIESTA
Ashton Court, Bristol
Thursday 12th – Sunday 15th August
2004
Night
Glow and Fireworks
NIGHT
GLOW AND FIREWORK SPECTACULARS
Thursday
12th and Saturday 14th August, 9.30pm
Click here for Photos
Thursday Night
Glow Report: By Julia Causton.
Burn, Burn, Burn, Flutter…
 For
three years I had been desperate to see the spectacular Bristol Balloon
Fiesta glow, from sitting in travel to arriving as the last firework
exploded, I had somehow managed to miss the phenomenon.
This year was going to
be different. With the closure of the Clifton Suspension Bridge at the
forefront of my mind I set out with at least five hours to spare in the
hope of witnessing an event that has now become as much a part of the
Bristol calendar as Christmas.
The fiesta, so
dependant on the weather, is a fond favourite among Bristolians who turn
out in their thousands for the free event which boasts many of the
‘biggest’among the ballooning fraternity.
The fiesta had gotten
underway (eventually defying the November-like weather) with a mass assent
from Eastville Park in Bristol earlier in the week.
The threatening clouds
and promise of showers failed to deter fiesta-goers, some of whom had been
camping out since 11am on Thursday morning in an effort to get the best
view of the main event – the glow.
By 6pm some of the more
interesting balloons were erected – with the Ikea heart-shaped balloon
firmly installing the event sponsor’s place at the heart of the fiesta.
The Churchill dog and Chubb fire extinguisher were also put up to give the
eager crowds a taste of things to come.
The balloons were not
the only attraction for fiesta goers on Thursday. Rachael Stevens
headlined a star-studded concert which also saw Peter Andre, Girls Aloud
and other pop-favourites descend on Bristol.
By 8pm a threatening
front line of 4x4s and balloon pilots were getting ready to manoeuvre into
position in the main arena. A Nowt2Do mole who managed to sit in on the
pilot briefing was able to reveal that despite the appearance of a
beautifully choreographed display the synchronisation to music had a lot
to do with luck – with each pilot following orders of burn, flutter, or
occasionally – freestyle to create the illusion.
With the sound of the
balloon fans the eager Ashton Court crowd began cheering – obviously
many of these fiesta goers had seen the display before. From the second
the burners began lighting-up the brightly-coloured balloons like giant
lanterns you couldn’t help but be mesmerised by their beauty.
These giant light bulbs
glowing, flickering and shining in time with a carefully selected mix of
music were a delight to see – and like nothing I have ever witnessed.
And I was not alone in my amazement – the audience were clearly
impressed by what they saw and as the tension built up to the firework
finale the spectators could hardly contain their excitement.
A fantastic display of
pyrotechnics echoing around south Bristol finished the display and firmly
set alight the 2004 Ikea Balloon Fiesta.
If
you weren't there you can check out our photo galleries by clicking
here.
Preview
The
ever-popular Night Glow shows regularly attract crowds of over 100,000 people who gather in the evening to witness up to 25 tethered hot air
balloons lighting up in time to music, followed by a huge firework
display.
The
shows take place on Thursday 12th and Saturday 14th
August at 9.30pm and finish at about 10.30pm.
At
dusk falls, specially selected balloon crews hurry back from their early
evening flights to prepare for the show. In the gathering gloom, they
unfurl their balloon ‘envelopes’ which are inflated with cold air and
the baskets are tethered to the ground with ropes attached to retrieve
vehicles. Arranged around the edge of the massive main arena in the shape
of a horseshoe, the balloons wave about eerily in the darkness.
As
the music begins, the balloons light up in a series of complex displays,
choreographed and conducted by veteran show master, Jim Howard. The pilots
receive their instructions via their radio headsets, waiting for the
signal to glow their balloon by blasting the huge flame of their gas
burners into the envelope.
The
shows finish with a breath-taking firework display courtesy of leading
specialists Skyburst Illuminations which has developed a huge repertoire
of different styles and effects through visiting some of the world’s
most sophisticated displays including Disney shows in Florida, UKS and the
famous annual fireworks fiesta “Las Fallas” in Valencia, Spain.
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