Latest news with #GromitUnleashed3
Wales Online
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Amazing free event is happening this weekend and it's just an hour from Cardiff
Amazing free event is happening this weekend and it's just an hour from Cardiff All you need to know about the Bristol Balloon Fiesta 2025 including tickets, timings and travel Spend the weekend at a fun balloon fiesta just over the Prince of Wales Bridge (Image: Paul Gillis/Reach Plc) If you're at a loose end this weekend there's a massive event happening just over the River Severn that'll keep friends, family and kids entertained as well as being a huge visual spectacle. The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta returns for its 47th year and runs from Friday, August 8, until Sunday, August 9. While this event is not quite in Wales it's a top idea for a day out this summer holidays, if your list of ideas has run dry. If you're in Bristol already for a trip, you can try out the new Gromit trail - Gromit Unleashed 3 - details of this are, here. With the drive to the Balloon Fiesta venue typically taking around 55 minutes from Cardiff it could be the answer to your activity prayers this weekend. Public transport-wise, the journey will take slightly longer as you have to jump on a train to Bedminster (via Templemeads) and then catch a bus to the venue - there is a Fiesta shuttle bus, though, making that easier. Fancy a stop off on the way there/home? The Bristol Zoo Project is ideal for the animal-lover in your gang, and there's a We're Going on a Bear Hunt Trail, too. Click here for more on that. The Fiesta takes place at Ashton Court this weekend for three days of entertainment and, hopefully, an array of mass ascents, Night Glows, and other ballooning sights to enjoy. Organisers have also brought in some brand new attractions visitors can immerse themselves in this year - all focusing on Bristol's ballooning history and heritage and the wonderful world of the sport. To help you plan your day, here's a handy guide of everything, as reported by Bristol Live, you need to know about this year's event - from traffic, travel and parking, to mass ascent and Night Glow timings, special shapes, and what else you can see and do this year. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What's On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here When and where is the Bristol Balloon Fiesta taking place this year? The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta takes place at Ashton Court from Friday, August 8, to Sunday, August 10, this year. Each day, the site will be open well before 6am (car parks open from 5am) to allow for those hoping to enjoy the early morning mass ascents at 6am to arrive and find a spot. Mass ascents are due to take place at 6am and 6pm every day of the festival - but are of course weather dependent. And there are two night glows this year starting at 9pm on Friday and Saturday. Is it free to attend? Do I need a ticket? And where can I park? The Balloon Fiesta remains an unticketed free-to-attend event, meaning you can just come on in and enjoy yourself. However, if you are planning to drive and park on site, you'll need to purchase a car parking ticket in advance. Final release tickets as of Thursday, August 7, are priced between £20 and £27 for cars, £15 for motorbikes, and £75 for coaches. The event, being a not-for-profit organisation, charges for car parking to help cover its operational costs. By purchasing a car parking or hospitality package ticket, visitors are actually helping to protect the Fiesta. How to get there and official travel warnings Train travel For visitors coming from further afield, Fiesta-goers can travel by train with GWR. The closest train station to Ashton Court Estate is Bristol Temple Meads, which is served by the Fiesta Shuttle Bus to easily plan direct onward travel to the Fiesta. Shuttle buses In partnership with Stagecoach, a Fiesta Shuttle Bus will run between Bristol Temple Meads, Queen Square (Prince St, Stop Q2) and the Balloon Fiesta, to transport visitors directly to and from the event. The service will run on Friday from 10am until 9pm to the Fiesta, and from 10.30am until 11.30pm back to Bristol Temple Meads. On Saturday, the service will run from 10am until 9pm to the Fiesta, and run return journeys from 10.30am to 11.30pm. On Sunday, the service will run from 10am until 7pm to the Fiesta and return journeys will operate from 10.30am until 9.30pm. To ensure you secure your spot, it is strongly recommended you book your shuttle bus tickets in advance, which can now be booked via the Balloon Fiesta's official website. Car parking For those planning to drive, car parking, sponsored by GoSkippy, must be booked in advance. From those planning to attend a morning mass ascent, both the Blue and Red Car Parks open from 5am. The Blue Car Park is the closest car park to the Fiesta site, just a short walk from the main arena. The Red Car Park is the main public car park and there is a walk downhill to get to the Fiesta site, entering at the top of the arena. Disabled and motorbike parking is also available, accessed via Orange Gate. Last entry to all car parks is strictly 5pm. There will be various road closures and diversions in place to keep traffic moving around the site during the event, so drivers are urged to follow traffic signs, rather than sat navs. Taxi top tips Visitors arriving by taxi should ask their driver to follow the road signs to the designated drop-off/pick-up location at the Long Ashton Park and Ride point. This location is a short walk from the event site. This area is only operating as a drop-off/pick-up point during the Fiesta, and you will not be able to park your vehicle here. By bicycle Cyclists can take the 'Festival Way,' a traffic-free path connecting the city to Ashton Court Estate and beyond. Starting in Bristol, cyclists can use the National Cycling Route 33, which takes them on a traffic-free path from Queens Square out of the city via Cumberland Road. Upon crossing the River Avon, you join Kennel Lodge Road as you enter Ashton Court. Bike parking is available on-site by the Mansion House and the Fallow Deer Park. These routes are shared with pedestrians and can get busy so ensure you ride carefully and dismount as you arrive into the site. A walker's guide For those on foot, there are two main routes into the Fiesta site from Bristol City Centre: via Festival Way or the Clifton Suspension Bridge. Festival Way, Route 33 on the Cycle Route Network, offers a scenic walk from the city centre. These routes are shared with cyclists so take care during busy periods. Clifton Suspension Bridge closures As in previous years, the Clifton Suspension Bridge will be closed to all pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles between 6pm and midnight on Friday, August 8, and Saturday, August 9. Traffic warnings National Highways has warned that junction 19 on the M5 could be particularly busy during the event with southbound traffic using the junction to access the A369 and the event site. The M5 at junction 21 will also see increased traffic as northbound traffic uses the A370 to travel to the Fiesta, and traffic will also use the M32 to travel through Bristol to the event. For up-to-date traffic and travel for the Fiesta, visit our sister site, Bristol Live, for their live, daily traffic updates. Bristol International Balloon Fiesta press launch 2024 (Image: Inaz Hussein) What's new for this year? This year's balloon line-up (which has its own day dedicated to special shapes on Sunday) sees the ever popular special shape hot air balloons - like a massive 143ft dragon all the way from Indiana. Visitors will be able to take part in a plethora of interactive activities - this year will see the return of the Meet The Pilot event, which began last year and sees balloon crews allow members of the public to come into the arena, jump in a basket, have a go on the burners, take photos, and learn all about the world of ballooning. There will also be a brand new 'In The Clouds' exhibit, in which Fiesta goers will be able to walk inside a cold inflated hot air balloon envelope, take photos and listen to a soundscape of real flights from actual balloon teams. Plus, another new interactive exhibit has also recently been announced, called 'Flight Control'. Created with GWR, this interactive board will map out where every balloon lands after each mass ascent, so visitors can see how far they've travelled over the weekend. This year will also see the return of an official headline sponsor for the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta. Back in May, BristolLive reported that South West accountancy firm Albert Goodman had been named the Balloon Fiesta's official headline sponsor for the next three years, providing what organisers say will be 'crucial financial support' for the event. This will be the first headline partnership in almost 10 years for the Fiesta. And there will also be a military flypast or two over the weekend, as a Hawker Hurricane will say hi in the skies above the Fiesta site on Saturday, August 9, and Sunday, August 10, as part of the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. Flypasts will take place at 2.17pm on Saturday and 12pm on Sunday, with the exact Hurricane craft believed to either be the Hurricane Mk IIC LF363 or the Hurricane Mk IIC PZ865. Organisers say that the displays will be subject to aircraft serviceability and weather conditions on the day. What else can I see and do? When it comes to food and drink, Pasture will be returning with a pop-up restaurant on site for the second year running. Following its success, the popular Bristol restaurant will return to Ashton Court, this time with a further restaurant in the Sky Lounge VIP area, and also with a brand new BBQ service running throughout the day at their main pop-up onsite restaurant, under their new concept PRIME. Other popular things to do at the Fiesta this year include model balloon displays, chances to explore a real life fire engine, appearances and sessions with the Bristol Bears men and women's teams, stunt displays and demonstrations, live music, a fairground, and more. Article continues below There will also be a vast array of food traders to enjoy and, of course, the possibility of a total of six mass ascents across the weekend - two a day at 6am and 6pm respectively - as well as two Night Glow events, at 9pm on Friday and Saturday evening respectively.
BBC News
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Bristol in Pictures: Harbour Festival and Gromit Unleashed 3
As far as festivals go, this is one of the biggest weekends in the Harbour Festival has returned, bringing the usual ships, live music, water displays, food markets and Gromit Unleashed 3 trail continues to delight visitors and residents alike, and we are all feeling a little less hot under the collar now the heatwave is was also time for one more dance at Motion as the legendary club closed in its current location near Temple usual, this gallery celebrates award winners and interesting events in and around Bristol, which this week means penguins in a care home and motoring apprenticeships in Bedminster. They've bean busy: An array of colourful and unusual home-made crafts took part in Saturday's cardboard boat race as part of the Bristol Harbour Festival. Tracking them down: The 53 sculptures which are part of the Gromit Unleashed 3 trail are proving popular as both city residents and visitors try and spot them all. The trail will be with us until 31 August and the sculptures will then be auctioned off in aid of The Grand Appeal, Bristol Children's Hospital charity. One more time: Saturday was an emotional time for fans of legendary Bristol nightclub Motion as it held the last event in its current location. Some of the world's biggest DJs have played the venue over the past 20 years. Hot stuff: Can it really be only a week ago the city was sweltering in temperatures above 30C? The weather has been a bit less dramatic since then. Hottest ticket in town: Seats have remained hard to come by as Moulin Rouge continues its run at the Bristol Hippodrome, a run that comes to an end on 9 August. Pick up a penguin: Residents at Avon Valley Care Home had a memorable experience as penguins and monkeys were brought in for them to hold, feed and stroke. Coming soon: Bristol artist Alex Lucas has been hard at work creating a pond-inspired artwork which will be unveiled this week in Quaker's Friars in the city centre. The project, in collaboration with creative producers Bakehouse, will be finished just in time for the school holidays. Fast rise: Fairfield High School pupil Isla is making waves in the world of dance, scoring highly in the national freestyle competition held in Stoke-on-Trent recently, despite only taking up dancing in 2021. The kettle's on: Independent Bristol business the Double Puc Cafe has been chosen as the food and drink provider for Crescent, a new development in the heart of Bristol's Temple Quarter. Top of the class: Bedminster-based S&B Academy, which opened in 1972 and now offers apprenticeships in Bristol and nationwide, won training provider of the year at the Prestige Awards, which were held at Ashton Gate Stadium.
BBC News
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Bristol in Pictures: Bristol Sounds and Gromit Unleashed
While the eyes of the world may be on Glastonbury, the music has not stopped in our city, with Bristol Sounds welcoming large crowds to the harbourside this Unleashed 3 is almost here, and there is a glamorous new show at Bristol Old of music, there was a special Loyle Carner gig at the O2 academy on Wednesday night, and a Bristol orchestra has been given an award. Tuned in: Bristol Sounds has seen Supergrass, Kaiser Chiefs, Texas and Fratellis play on the harbourside. The annual week of concerts comes to an end with Olly Murs later. One more sleep: The 53 sculptures which will form the Gromit Unleashed 3 trail will be in place across the city on Monday. Aardman's Nick Park joined dozens of local school pupils to celebrate the imminent launch at an event on the Harbourside on Wednesday. "It's just going to light up Bristol for the summer," he said. Framed: Bristol Museum and Art Gallery staff took an empty frame up to the gorge to recreate the scene painted by JMW Turner when he was just 17 in 1792. A fundraising campaign is under way to raise the money needed to bring the artwork back to its home city. Midweek music: Loyle Carner performed a gig at the O2 Academy on Wednesday to O2 and Virgin Media customers. Here today, gone tomorrow: Bristol City Council says it will be removing the many "love locks" from Pero's Bridge before the harbour festival, saying they collectively weigh an estimated three tonnes. Sparkling: The family of Henry Cyril Paget, one of the world's wealthiest men, tried to destroy all traces of him after he died, erasing his diamond frocks, lilac-dyed poodles and unsuccessful plays from history. Luckily the show How to Win Against History, on at Bristol Old Vic until mid July, has revived his outrageous life story. Pilton pilgrims: Bristol feels the presence of the Glastonbury Festival, whether it be the many traders from the city who set up there, or the queue (above) to get the bus down to Pilton. Power of music: Bristol's own Dovetail Orchestra has been named the UK's first ever Orchestra of Sanctuary. The group was set up to be a welcoming place for asylum seekers and refugees, using music as a way of connecting people. Pretty in pink: Luke Jerram's latest eyecatching work saw the Bristol artist thread a 1km (0.6 miles) long piece of magenta ribbon around the exterior of the RWA for a piece called Negotiating Space. One team: Finance software company Xledger has announced it will once again support Bristol Bears Women as main and also front-of-shirt sponsor. It extends a relationship with Bristol Sport going back to 2019. Medical skills: A team of Ukrainian doctors has been visiting the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children this month, learning skills they can take back and use in their home country to help child victims of the ongoing conflict. Award winners: Bristol's St Peter's Hospice was named Outstanding Charity Retailer at the 2025 Charity Retail Association Awards. The hospice, which operates more than 40 shops across the city and wider area, was recognised for its strong community engagement and sustainable practices. It was all yellow: Pedestrians and cyclists have been celebrating as the crossing known as the Banana Bridge has reopened after more than £1.4m in repairs (and a nice new paint job).
North Wales Chronicle
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- North Wales Chronicle
Steam train brings Wallace & Gromit sculptures to Bristol for summer arts trail
The heritage train was loaded with a dozen unique character sculptures and driven by Wallace & Gromit creator Nick Park to mark the start of Gromit Unleashed 3. The sculpture trail is a joint initiative by The Grand Appeal, the Bristol Children's Hospital Charity, and multi-award winning independent studio Aardman. The harbour railway train was greeted by school children before one of the sculptures was lifted onto the harbour's heritage cranes and another sent off to its summer location onboard Bristol's former fire-boat, the Pyronaut. Over the coming days, all 53 sculptures will be delivered to their trail locations, throughout the city of Bristol and beyond ahead of next Monday's launch. Joining Park's two sculpture designs were creations by Sir Paul McCartney, Pixar, Lucasfilm, Richard Curtis, Jorge R Gutierrez and Peter Lord. 'It's amazing to see such imagination and originality from the artists taking part in our trail this summer,' Park said. 'I've had the privilege of watching the work of such talented creators coming together all in support of a great cause – The Grand Appeal. 'I look forward to a summer of Gromiteering around Bristol and beyond this summer.' The Gromit Unleashed 3 trail will run from June 30 to August 31. The trail will be followed by The Greatest Dog Show on Earth exhibition before all the sculptures are auctioned to raise money for The Grand Appeal. Nicola Masters, director of The Grand Appeal, added: 'It's a cracking day to unleash our 2025 sculptures today – setting the wheels in motion for a grand day out the whole city can enjoy. 'Each sculpture has been brought to life through the magic of film, fables, tales and folklore – a dazzling celebration of storytelling (and) imagination. 'A star-studded spectacle that brings glitz, glamour and a touch of movie magic to the trail.' Gromit Unleashed 3 is now the fourth sculpture trail by The Grand Appeal and Aardman Animations. It builds on the success of Gromit Unleashed, Shaun in the City, and Gromit Unleashed 2.
Leader Live
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Steam train brings Wallace & Gromit sculptures to Bristol for summer arts trail
The heritage train was loaded with a dozen unique character sculptures and driven by Wallace & Gromit creator Nick Park to mark the start of Gromit Unleashed 3. The sculpture trail is a joint initiative by The Grand Appeal, the Bristol Children's Hospital Charity, and multi-award winning independent studio Aardman. The harbour railway train was greeted by school children before one of the sculptures was lifted onto the harbour's heritage cranes and another sent off to its summer location onboard Bristol's former fire-boat, the Pyronaut. Over the coming days, all 53 sculptures will be delivered to their trail locations, throughout the city of Bristol and beyond ahead of next Monday's launch. Joining Park's two sculpture designs were creations by Sir Paul McCartney, Pixar, Lucasfilm, Richard Curtis, Jorge R Gutierrez and Peter Lord. 'It's amazing to see such imagination and originality from the artists taking part in our trail this summer,' Park said. 'I've had the privilege of watching the work of such talented creators coming together all in support of a great cause – The Grand Appeal. 'I look forward to a summer of Gromiteering around Bristol and beyond this summer.' The Gromit Unleashed 3 trail will run from June 30 to August 31. The trail will be followed by The Greatest Dog Show on Earth exhibition before all the sculptures are auctioned to raise money for The Grand Appeal. Nicola Masters, director of The Grand Appeal, added: 'It's a cracking day to unleash our 2025 sculptures today – setting the wheels in motion for a grand day out the whole city can enjoy. 'Each sculpture has been brought to life through the magic of film, fables, tales and folklore – a dazzling celebration of storytelling (and) imagination. 'A star-studded spectacle that brings glitz, glamour and a touch of movie magic to the trail.' Gromit Unleashed 3 is now the fourth sculpture trail by The Grand Appeal and Aardman Animations. It builds on the success of Gromit Unleashed, Shaun in the City, and Gromit Unleashed 2.
