Up, Up And Away In May With Telford Balloon Fiesta
Following the soaring success of the inaugural Telford Balloon Fiesta last year, the free event returns to Telford Town Park, bigger and better on Saturday 11 & Sunday 12 May, packed with family entertainment.
The 2018 event, which attracted over 30,000 visitors, was one of the highlights of the Telford 50 celebrations, featuring dozens of hot air balloons, Supercross stunt riders, kites and family entertainment.
For 2019, weather permitting, over 30 balloons from across the UK and Europe will fill the skies over Telford, with opportunities to watch the spectacular take-off parade throughout the weekend, including the spectacular Night Glow set to music on Saturday 11 May.
Swooping into the Arena with pinpoint accuracy will be the world-famous Red Devils Parachute Display team who will meet and greet the crowds on 11 May.
Virgin Balloon Flights and Oswestry-based Lindstrand Technologies will once again partner the event, along with event charity partner Severn Hospice and the Rotary Club, at what promises to be one of the biggest and best gatherings of hot air balloons in 2019.
Entertainment on the ground will be no less incredible as Telford Balloon Fiesta, in association with MKM Building Supplies, plays host to the finals of Wales’s Strongest Man on the Saturday afternoon and England’s Strongest Man the following day.
Twelve of the strongest athletes on the planet will battle it out over the two days for the glory of becoming National Champion as they pull, lift, carry and push their way over 5 world class disciplines designed and overseen by 5 times UK’s Strongest Man, Glenn Ross of Ultimate Strongman.
Telford Balloon Fiesta 2019 is free to enter and none of the events are ticketed. Visitors can come and go as they please and will have plenty of time to enjoy other attractions in Telford Town Park including; Sky Reach, Disc Golf, Adventure Golf, Waterplay, some beautiful walks, picnic spots galore and endless play areas for the young at heart.
Culture & Events Manager, Psyche Hudson, is delighted to have so much on offer. “It was always our ambition to bring balloons back to the Town Park and we did that in spectacular style last year. We are delighted to host this uplifting event once more. The programme promises to be bigger and better, with more balloons, plenty to entertain the whole family from stunt bikes to the incredible Red Devils, plus exceptional supporting content from the incredible UK Strongest Man competitors.”
Telford Balloon Fiesta 2019 takes place 11 & 12 May 2019 at Telford Town Park Arena.
For more details about the event visit www.discovertelford.co.uk/balloon or follow Telford Balloon Fiesta’s Facebook Event
Did you know?
• 2019 marks the 30th anniversary of the very first hot air balloon event when an estimated 80,000 turned out.
• Telford Park Arena, which plays host to Wales’s and England’s Strongest Man has a spectator capacity of 10,000, making it the largest venue for the two competitions in their history.
• One balloon flying at the festival will have come from as far away as Oman especially for the event.
• Ultimate Strongman have historic links with ballooning having staged the 2017 Ultimate Strongman U23 World Championships at the Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival in Canada.
• Lindstrand Technologies, partners in the 2019 Telford Balloon Fiesta is at the forefront of balloon and parachute technology having set distance and altitude records as well as working with NASA .
