Balloon Repair Station

Balloon Meets & Events

Updated 29.02.2024

There are a few European meets that are getting cancelled as a result of the global situation (buzzword from Cold War days), some at short notice so best check first. Additionally Middle Eastern Meets in and around the Israeli Conflict could affect meets in neighbouring countries. As yet all seem to be going ahead but worth checking nearer the time. The Exclusive Ballooning GP events all appear to be fully booked but and entries are closed but may be worth giving them a call.

 If you know of, or have, an event you want listed here, we’d be delighted to hear from you, doesn’t have to be just ballooning! If you do attend one of these meets it would be great to get some feedback along with some pictures if that is possible, thanks. Email chris@easyballoons.co.uk

The events and meets listed here are always subject to weather. Some of them are regional club meetings and events and although not ‘public events’ you will more often than not be able to see and get up close to the balloons, pilots and crews. If you want to get involved in ballooning these are the places to go. Where entry fees are posted then they refer to the balloon teams and are not necessarily an admission charge. If you wish to just go and spectate then you will be made most welcome and entry for spectators at most events is free but please take notice of any instructions that are given to you. They will be for your safety. Flights are generally early morning, shortly after sunrise, and late afternoon. If you want to get involved have a word with the organisers, pilot or crew or check out the British Balloon & Airship Club’s website www.bbac.org where a list of regional clubs can also be found. You will also find details and links to the Regional Clubs on our ‘Links’ page. Balloon pilots are always on the look out for willing crew!

Balloon Events and Meets

Worldwide list with links at http://www.balloonevents.org/
Free events guide: http://www.free-events.co.uk/

Dates for 2024

January-March Cross Channel 2024 Organised by Exclusive Ballooning. Details are hazy at the moment with the website just saying that ‘Application Coming Soon’ so……Launching from somewhere near the Channel and heading for France with the intention of breaking the record of 82 balloons set in 2017. Details will be found at www.BalloonsCrossChannel.com but you will need to check from time to time.

9 March BBAC Annual General Meeting & Member’s Day Venue to be confirmed! Open to all BBAC members. Trade stands possibly, Talks and discussion groups. Nominations for the six vacancies need to be with the bBAC Secretary by midnight 27 January 2024. Full details on the BBAC Website. Might be a lively meeting.

28 March-1 April NWBAC Easter Meet and Training Weekend. Balloon Meet with a difference. All levels catered for and new members very welcome. Just come along and see what is going on. This is run in conjunction with the Pennine Region. A very friendly lot. Full details and entry form on the North West Region Balloon Club website

29 March-1st April All Fool’s Meet Black Horse Pub, Great Missenden, Bucks. Our local meet. Come and see how HS2 are getting on trashing the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Enjoy random road closures and traffic lights. Seriously though, come and enjoy the re-opened Black Horse Pub andmeet up with old friends. Details from peter@bmss.biz

30-31 March Clocks go forward one hour. At last the clock in the pickup will be showing the right time! Might get a flight in after work from now on.

10-20 April AlUla Skies Festival AlUla, Saudia Arabia. Quite a few UK balloonists have been to this and reckon it is pretty good but sandy and dusty! Anyway details on www.experiencealula.com festival details at www.experiencealula.com/en/alula-moments/alula-skies-festival

23 April St George’s Day. Get out your sward and seek out a dragon. As its a Tuesday we will be closed and hopefully visiting an appropriate pub or venue.

27 April British Balloon Museum and Library Inflation Day. (With the kind permission of David Hopkins) Pidley, Huntingdon. The Old and Rusty Club’s Big Day Out. This is the 50th anniversary of the modern hot air balloon (apparently) so if you have something smelly and unloved in the shed built in 1974 you will probably be star of the show. I’ve got me pencil and I-spy book ready. All elderly balloons, pilots and crew are welcome. Details from Tim Turner at tjthafb@gmail.com

3-6 May NWBAC May Bank Holiday Meet, Kirkoswald, Penrith. Beautiful flying, friendly folk all in all one of the best. All welcome. Full details and entry form on the North West Region Balloon Club website

4-5 May Dorset Balloon Festival. Dorchester Showground, Dorset DT2 7SD. Balloons organised by Exclusive Ballooning as one of their GP Series events. This is GP1. Free entry, camping, gas, catering. Light-hearted competitions and fun prizes. Limited places. Live music. Event details at https://www.dorsetballoonfestival.com/ Entries appear to be closed but entry enquires via Exclusive Ballooning

9-12 May Han-Vol et Yous International Hot Air Balloon Meeting Han-sur-Lesse, Wallonia, Belgium. Contact han-vol@magicairevents.be phone Eric Lannoy: (+) 0476/790.387
 – Website www.magicairevents.be

10-12 May The White Horse Meet, Thirsk Racecourse. Seem to remember there is a prize of a white horseshoe for something. Lovely social event organised by the Pennine Region Balloon Association. All enquiries to http://prba.org.uk/entry.asp?meet_id=31

24-27 May NWBAC Spring Meet. The Cotton Arms, Wrenbury, Nantwich. Next door to the Llangollen canal so come by boat. The pub is dog friendly and sells a good selection of proper beer. Campsite and caravan park. Great venue. All welcome. Full details and entry form on the North West Region Balloon Club website http://www.nwbac.com/meets.asp?p_id=13

25-27 May Devon Balloon Festival, Umberleigh, North Devon. Balloons organised by Exclusive Ballooning as one of their GP Series events. This is GP2 and the BBAC Competitions Club will be joining the event. Free entry, camping, gas, catering. Light-hearted competitions and fun prizes. Limited places. Entries appear to be closed but entry enquiries via Exclusive Ballooning www.ukballoon.com

31st May – 2nd June 2024 Midlands Air Festival Ragley Hall, Alcester, Warwickshire. Really well established relaxed, lovely balloon meet that gets a huge amount of support. Not surprising really as the air display itself is something quite special as well. Balloonists package includes pretty much everything. This is a brilliant meet. There is a charge for spectators but it is always really worth it if you love everything aerial. First flight is Friday morning with the spectacular Nightfire event on Friday evening. Details from www.midlandsairfestival.com or email balloons@midlandairfestival.com

7-9 June Henge Hoppers Meet Canada Fields Caravan Park, Yalford, Northallerton N.Yorks. Another friendly Pennine Region Meet. Lovely site bags of room with the famous Thornborough Henges as a target. All three are now in the care of English Heritage and are pretty impressive. All enquiries to http://prba.org.uk/entry.asp?meet_id=31

21-22 June Worcester Balloon Festival Worcester Racecourse. First of the equine meets. Great flying area and venue. Further details soon. Now organised by Chris Freeman and Matt Rate. Contact events@vistaballoonflights.co.uk

21-23 June MWBAC Midsummer Madness Meet Edisford Bridge, Clitheroe. Stay up all night and enjoy flying the Ribble valley. Southerly to southwesterlies give brilliant flying. All welcome. Full details and entry form on the North West Region Balloon Club website http://prba.org.uk/entry.asp?meet_id=31

28-30 June Wales Balloon Festival The Showground, Carmarthen. Just off the A40.Nice place Carmarthan. Cripes another proper balloon meet with free everything. Food, propane, camping, and entry. Just what a balloon meet should be. Wonder if it includes free Lava rolls? Organised by Exclusive Ballooning drop them a note for an invitation to lisa@exclusiveballooning.co.uk or telephone 01453 511280.

7 July Lord Mayor’s Hot Air Balloon Regatta, London. Organised by Exclusive Ballooning this well established event annual is the opportunity to fly across the London skyline. This great event is spread over three standby dates to account for the fickle winds required. Great spectacle. Next dates; Sunday 21st and Sunday 28th July. For entry details contact lisa@exclusiveballooning.co.uk

13-14 July Northumberland Balloon Meet Corbridge Northumberland. Brilliant, dress as a Roman and take your English Heritage and National Trust cards. On top of that this is really another free propane, grub and entry maybe a free toga for later. For an invitation send a note to lisa@exclusiveballooning.co.uk or phone 01453 511280.

17 July-24 August Perseid Meteor Shower Comet Swift-Tuttle’s tail. Peaks on night of 12 August. Moon sets at midnight. Look towards the north-east. Find Cassiopeia, The five stars that form the distinctive ‘W’ and directly below is the constellation of Perseus which they appear to radiate from.

19-20 July Doncaster Balloon Festival. Doncaster Town Fields. Birthplace of the Flying Scotsman and formally a Roman Fort great place to hold a balloon festival. Another Freeman/Rate event. As Doncaster has a racecourse it could be part of the series. Gricers welcome. Contact Chris Freeman and Matt Rate. events@vistaballoonflights.co.uk

21 July Lord Mayor’s Hot Air Balloon Regatta, London. Organised by Exclusive Ballooning this well established event annual is the opportunity to fly across the London skyline. This great event is spread over three standby dates to account for the fickle winds required. Great spectacle. Next date 28th July. For entry details contact lisa@exclusiveballooning.co.uk

26 July-4 August Italian International Grand Prix Affectionally known in the UK as ‘Todi’ as that is where it is held, Todi, Italy. Lovely flying area, very relaxed, as in nearly horizontal, meet. Some pilots even try to fly home! Open to the first 100 balloons to register. Full details on their website www.sagrantinocup.it

28 July Lord Mayor’s Hot Air Balloon Regatta, London. Organised by Exclusive Ballooning this the last standby date for this well established event to fly across the London skyline. Great spectacle. For entry details contact lisa@exclusiveballooning.co.uk

8-11 August 2024 Bristol Balloon Fiesta Ashton Court, Bristol. Big annaul event starts off with a press day. Checking the wind direction and finding a spot away from the site to watch the balloons come over is a popular pastime for the locals. Usually get plenty of older special shapes turn up. https://www.bristolballoonfiesta.co.uk

9-10 August Ballonfestival Grave. Jan van Cuykdijk, Grave, Netherlands. Festival site close to the River Meuse. Flying over the beautiful Gelderland & Brabant countryside. Free entry and parking. Family fun! Website https://ballonfestival-grave.nl/

16-18 August Northampton Balloon Festival Northampton Racecourse which isn’t a racecourse anymore but it still ranks as giddyup meet number 3. Nice that this popular meet is back in the town. Details from Matt & Chris Enterprises Contact events@vistaballoonflights.co.uk

23-25 August Telford Balloon Festival, Telford Town Park, Telford. Great event. Spectators get free entry. Family event. Home of Virgin Balloons. Balloon entry details, registration and info Contact lorna@eventsbyspirit.com

23-25 August Strathaven Balloon Festival. Strathaven Park ML10 6LZ. Started in conjunction and support from Don Cameron this is the events 25th Anniversary! The Park is also the home to the Strathaven Miniature Railway which is celebrating its 75th Anniversary. Brilliant. www.strathavenballoonfestival.co.uk Contact info@strathavenballoonfestival.co.uk

7-8 September Hereford Racecourse. Now Exclusive Balloons are in the running with a gee-up Meet. Just fantastic as this is another free everything meet. Propane, food, camping, entry and presumably a marked up Mappa Mundi to fly with. Once again, for an invitation contact lisa@exclusiveballooning.co.uk or phone 01453 511280.

12-15 September Longleat Air Festival Change of organisers to the same jolly crowd who run The Midlands Air Festival, Slipstream Management. No jets at this one though on account of the animals! Trev and James reckon this will be a fun, relaxing weekend. Applications for both full size balloons and model balloons are now open! Although applications closed on 29th February 2024 be worth giving them a shout. Phone on 01489 860489 or email
: info@slipstreammanagement.co.uk

20-22 September Autumn Gold Meet Fishburn Airfiled Ferryhill Co.Durham DL17 9DY. Organised by the Pennine Region. Probably the last UK meet that stands half a chance. Very friendly farmers and a light-hearted competition or two, one in memory of Terry Chamberlain. A lovely fellow. Full details on their website

21 October Trafalgar Day Monday this year so technically as we don’t work Mondays anyway and don’t get a day in lieu might have to wait until next year when it will be a Tuesday. On the other hand may go in search of a canal boat and give it a broadside or just drink Broadside which is a splendid ale accompanied by a ship’s biscuit