Bristol Balloon Festival

[Tom A]

Thinking of going to the balloon festival this year and looking for somewhere to stay for 3 nights.
Avon MCC have a rally nearby but wondered if anyone has stayed on the festival site and if so what are your thoughts please?

 

[Riverbankannie]

Thinking of going to the balloon festival this year and looking for somewhere to stay for 3 nights.
Avon MCC have a rally nearby but wondered if anyone has stayed on the festival site and if so what are your thoughts please?

The festival site doesn’t have it’s own camping AFAIK.
We stayed on the C&AMC Avon centre rally site which is adjacent on the school playing fields and the main site is just a walk through the hedge. Most temporary sites around are walkable and give good views of balloon ascents.

 

[Sapper520]

Not camped at the Festival but live relatively close and have worked there.

Traffic and queuing traffic can be a big problem so try to factor that into your plans.

 

[busbuddy]

Stayed at the onsite camp a couple of years ago when it rained and blew a gale and they shut it down.
Entrance off the main road into campsite on the first day had a big dip between centre of road and gap in hedge you drove through, saw a motorhome rip a panel off and many caravans hit the hitch and rear legs.
Site is just grass area at top of the hill near miniature railway and golf area with toilet emptying and portaloos, nothing special but very busy.
We were crewing for a balloon at short notice and they booked us in and paid, unless its improved massively I wouldnt camp onsite again for the price.

That gate on left was the way into campsite, if you came from motorway you would be turning right to go in, the slopes are worse when you are there.
Also they wouldnt let campers in before 9 (I think it was 9) which meant you couldn't see the 6am flight on the first day which ended up being the only day balloons got in the air

 

[Jenben]

Like Riverbankannie we stayed on the c&mc rally site on the playing field which is handy for the festival and just general balloon take off watching .

We were lucky that the weather was good when we went and I loved watching the early morning balloon take off , it was memorable.

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[tonka]

MCC have had a space for donkeys years in a farmers field opposite the venue. Just walk across the road and your there.
The same farmer sets up public camping at the same place but it is all just general camping so not as organised as a club, gets busy and if your going i suggest get there on the Thursday. As said the traffic and crowds are manic...
Ambilkate took us back in 2015 for our first visit and had a fantastic weekend..

This is the area, back of the Angel pub,,

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[Caggsie1]

All the big clubs have a ths during this time. It’s a 3 day event, starting Thursday-sun. We’ve been most years for last 8, covid excepted. Have had our deposit roll over from the last two years, and luckily hadn’t booked during the bad weather where it got cancelled. We go now because of proximity to Bristol and cost in comparison to the CAMC site. Maybe go onto the show once during our stay. We, as Riverbank Annie, stay on Ashton school with the CAMC ths. Bristol is easily walkable from ths, or buses run,site outside of school gates, are free into town, as they assume you have paid to get there. Usually, unless end of show, are easily accessible, However, queues are very long from town to venue and usually get caught up in the horrendous traffic. we, if walk, or in my case, mobility scooter, cut across the park and end up at Baltic wharf where you can get the boat, or walk along the harbour. Very pleasant on a nice day.

 

[Ambilkate]

Hi Tom A .
Cannot comment on the festival site for camping.
We have always opted for Parsonage Farm . . MCC are usually down the bottom end of the field we only did that for a day , we moved upto top field nearer the road and entrance to the event which you pay the farmer for . Done that for several years . We have always had a great time especially at 6am if weather good you can watch them from your van . The entrance is just over the road so to us it's the closest place to camp.

Kate