Hot air balloon fans will be able to get up close and personal to watch up to five launch from a 'little' park in South Bristol. The community balloon launch is set to take place in Redcatch Park this summer, for an evening ascent that people will be able to see for free.
The event on Saturday, June 24 will be an exciting taster ahead of Bristol’s International Balloon Fiesta taking place in August. During the annual event at Ashton Court, those living south of the city normally only get to see the balloons once they are up and in the air, floating across the skyline.
While the city’s main balloon fiesta sees families gathering in Perrett Park as the perfect viewing option, the flat football ground in Redcatch Park is also a “perfect launch pad” according to the Friends of Redcatch Park (FORP), who have organised the first community launch there. Sian Ellis-Thomas from FORP said she had seen an article about community balloon launches and by sheer coincidence, Phil Hooper from Sky High Ballooning happens to walk his dog in Redcatch Park.
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She said: "I thought how amazing it would be in Redcatch Park. I found Phil and when I realised he was from Knowle, we arranged to meet in the park and a plan was hatched.
“Here we are, less than a year later and we’ve managed to get not just one, but up to five balloons to launch from our little park. We are so grateful to Phil for making this happen,” she said.
Local balloonist Phil was keen to get on board, saying joining in with the community balloon launch was a ‘no brainer’. He said that FORP had spoken to him last summer about the possibility of doing a launch from the park.
He added: “I live in Knowle and use the park all the time to walk my dog and it’s a perfect space for launching a balloon. So it was a no brainer, I’m very happy to be supporting their efforts on the park”.
The event will be free and the public are invited to head out to the park for the launches, which will take place at approximately 7pm, weather and council permissions permitting. Redcatch Community Garden will be open with an array of food, cakes, coffee, cold drinks and ice-cream and there will be a free helium balloon from 3pm.
Also from FORP, Lesley Powell said it was their first official event since the group was relaunched last September. She thanked everyone who had helped to get the upcoming launch “off the ground”, adding that they have their fingers crossed for a clear day.
There will also be the chance to win a balloon flight over Bristol with Sky High Ballooning in a raffle, with tickets being sold online for £1 as a fundraiser for FORP, as well as lots of other prizes from some of South Bristol’s best eateries including Truffled of Totterdown and The Knowle pub.
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