Free showstopping performances from a host of acts are set to add music to the three day visual spectacular of balloons taking flight from York Racecourse this autumn, with the third annual York Balloon Fiesta from 27 – 29 September.
According to the show’s organiser, John Lowery of York-based Events & Attractions, there will be more for families to do than ever before at the largest free event hosted in York each year, with headline performances from Britain’s Got Talent finalists Twist & Pulse, Abba tribute act Arrival, Freddie Mercury tribute Gary Goodmaze, the Upbeat Beatles tribute and Dolly Parton tribute with a Kenny Rogers tribute on the main stage on Friday and Saturday evening. Younger children will love seeing CBeebies star Mr Bloom with his band on Sunday afternoon.
“We’re putting York’s Ultra Fibre Optic from TalkTalk’s sponsorship to great effect, working incredibly hard to make this one of the best family-friendly events York has ever seen,” says John. “Around 40,000 people are expected to visit over the three days and over 50 balloons have now signed up to participate in mass launches which will fill the city’s skies with colour. We’ve got more food outlets than ever before, the world’s largest inflatable assault course suitable for all ages, an arena featuring falconry displays and Jez Avery stunt shows, and the city’s largest funfair – you could spend the whole weekend here without getting bored!”
This year’s balloons are guaranteed to provide a memorable spectacle both on the ground, with two evenings of ‘Night Glows’ – when the balloons are tethered to the ground and lit by their burners in a display choreographed to music – as well as flights on Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday morning and afternoon, subject to good weather conditions. Hot air balloon designs coming to the Fiesta include a giant Cadbury’s Crème Egg, a recreation of the house lifted by 1000 balloons from the Disney Pixar movie, Up, and a spherical rainbow balloon from Selby.
A larger sound system will accommodate the large audiences expected for the Night Glows on Friday and Saturday evening, as well as the firework and laser show on Saturday night.
A huge amount of work has gone into traffic management for the 2019 event. Event partners First York will be offering a dedicated park and ride service from Askham Bar, which can be prebooked for £5 per car (up to five people) using the First Bus App. First York will also operate shuttles to and from York railway station for travellers coming from further afield, with prebookable return tickets for £3. Visitors will be able to prebook parking on each of the three days for £7.50 per car (£10 on the gate), with parking and traffic management co-ordinated by SEP Events, which manages traffic for key events at York Racecourse and other major events across the UK following detailed discussion with City of York Council’s Safety Advisory Group. Live traffic information throughout the festival will be shared in realtime through York Balloon Fiesta’s social media channels.
York’s Ultra Fibre Optic (UFO) from TalkTalk returns as headline sponsor for York Balloon Fiesta 2019 for the third time as it rolls out its full fibre connection across the city. York’s UFO from TalkTalk delivers speeds of more than 900 MB through Fibre-to-the-Premise technology and is sixteen times faster, more stable and reliable than other fibre products*.
“We are absolutely delighted to be supporting the York Balloon Fiesta again this year and we’re looking forward to enjoying the brilliant entertainment over the three days,” comments Helen Fletcher, marketing manager for York’s Ultra Fibre Optic (UFO) from TalkTalk. “The festival gives us a wonderful opportunity to meet and talk to residents as we continue to roll out our full fibre connection which will be available to 55,000 homes and businesses by 2020. It is fantastic to come together at such a unique event which helps to make York the best place to live in the country!”
More information about York Balloon Fiesta can be found online at www.yorkballoonfiesta.co.uk and through York Balloon Fiesta’s social media pages on Facebook and Twitter.