New Years Celebrations & Fireworks

30/12/2017 Jo Bailey General, Hot Air Balloons at Events

There are plenty of places in Bristol, Bath & South Wales offering New Year’s Eve Celebrations, so whether you decide to dine the night away at a Gala Dinner or dance until the midnight countdown, remember to book your place early. If you are looking for a great atmosphere and something different why not spend New Year Eve skating in Cardiff at Winter Wonderland, there’s a special midnight skate and a spectacular fireworks display.

Are you celebrating the New Year with a new adventure? How about doing something different and visiting a balloon festival. So, we’ve put together a short list of winter hot air balloon festivals in Europe where you can begin to celebrate 2018 from a different perspective – in a hot air balloon gondola (basket) but also enjoy the festive atmosphere, hot air balloon night glows and festival fireworks.

Imagine soaring over the alpine meadows looking down on snow covered grasslands, shimmering turquoise mountain lakes, and the three-peaks of the Dolomites. From the 6^th to 14^th January you can fly alongside dozens of hot air balloons at the Dolomite Balloon Festival.
In Austria, drift over the high alpine ranges and small mountain villages at the 39^th Dopgas Balloon Throphy Week from the 13^th-20^th January and immediately after the Hanneshof Balloon Week from the 20^th to 27^th January. Don’t miss the opportunity to glide over Austria’s snow-capped mountains or watch the nightglow’s litht up the skies.
Sneak up silently on the peaks of the Swiss Alps from a hot air balloon at the annual Château-d’Oex Balloon festival, from the 27^th January to the 4^th February. On most flights from this region you can catch a glimpse of the famous Matterhorn and Mont Blanc and after the flight warm up with some Kafi Schnaps before heading out to see the Night Glow at the festival.

If you’ve attended the night glow at the Bristol Balloon Fiesta, Europe’s largest annual meeting of hot air balloons, just imagine what the balloon envelops look like illuminated against the backdrop of snow covered mountain peaks. If you prefer to stay in the U.K you can visit the 40^th International Bristol Balloon Fiesta in August, the festival itself is free but you can pre-book a balloon ride from £200pp – here. Remember to book your place early! take a look at our video from 2017’s Bristol Balloon Fiesta.