Ambitions revealed for expanding Yorkshire's biggest hot air balloon festival

And while today’s planned York festival launch may be postponed, there is hope yet that it could result in a more prestigious return come Spring.

For in the complex world of balloonists there is a strict timetable to keep, in avoiding clashes with distinguished global gatherings.

Hosting the York Balloon Fiesta’s return in May could herald a new window of opportunity, lighting up the skies in buoyant celebration.

“We hope we can come back better, and help to bring Yorkshire the biggest balloon fiesta we’ve seen,” said John Lowery, festival organiser. “It will hopefully put a smile on people’s faces once again.

“Usually, in September, many of the balloonists are already on their way to the world’s biggest convention in Albuquerque. We’re hoping the new date could mean bigger and better balloons.”

The Balloon Fiesta, bringing 50 hot air balloons to the city every year and 35,000 visitors, is already the biggest in Yorkshire and has grand ambitions.

Within 10 years, it aims to overtake Bristol as the nation’s biggest, though it is unlikely to match Mexico’s Albuquerque October gathering which sees 100,000 visitors each day.

Chief pilot Oliver Webb first launched the festival in 2017, as a commercial flyer with Yorkshire Balloon Flights.

As he took to the skies this week, he said he is hopeful that by moving the festival to the spring it could result in a greater celebration.

“When the balloons set off, against a backdrop of the Minster, it’s a wonderful sight,” he said. “It’s going to be really exciting.

"York is the perfect place for it, it’s such a beautiful city to fly in.”

Over recent years, York’s offering has grown in strength, though not without its challenges. In 2018 it was traffic delays that brought a dampener, while last year it was rain.

Not a single balloon was able to get airborne, as heavy winds blew, amid what Mr Lowery describes as the “worst weather in 70 years”.

New spring dates

Despite this, the sight of a vivid patchwork quilt of balloons has become an increasingly familiar sight in the skies above York over recent years.

And on the eve of what would have been this year’s fiesta’s opening night, Mr Lowery is optimistic about what the challenge of postponement and a new spring date could bring.

“People have always asked why we don’t do it a different time of year,” he said. “Last year we aimed for 50, now we are aiming to bring 100 balloons to York. We hope to be one of the first major events in the country.

“It is amazing when you see them in the sky, they look fantastic in the air.”

The new Bank Holiday dates ill be from May 28 to 31, with a four day festival at York Racecourse with fireworks and the ever-popular ‘Night Glow’ as the balloons are lit up in the dusk.

France saw the first untethered hot air flight carrying a human, in November 1783, when two men on a circular platform hand-fed a fire in a balloon made from paper and silk.

According to Iowa’s National Balloon Museum, they travelled five miles before landing after 25 minutes in fields surrounding Paris.

Legend has it that on their arrival the pilots gave out bottles of champagne to the startled farmers and peasants to calm their fears.

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James Mitchinson