We were promised spectacle – and we certainly got it!
Photographs courtesy of James Drury Photography
The first York Balloon Fiesta has provided amazing sights on Knavesmire and over York, as our great photographs by James Drury show. And many of you captured magical images and videos too.
The first flights were on Friday afternoon. Then many people woke today (Saturday) to see the skies of York dotted with balloons after the early morning lift offs.
Poor weather cancelled the evening flights, but the night-glow went ahead as scheduled.
[arve url=”https://youtu.be/Kk_azHMlAg4″ title=”York Balloon Fiesta at high speed” /]
This great, high-speed video of the balloon flights is sure to put a smile on your face too.
Sunday update: The poor weather has forced the cancellations of both the morning and afternoon flights from York.
However the festival is still on: there’s a fly in scheduled by the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, a bird of prey show, live music, a fun fair, great food and good beer.
To find out what’s on when see our guide to the fiesta here.
And to check for updates and announcements, see the Facebook event here.
Your pictures and videos
Loved the @balloonfiesta tonight in #York #Balloon pic.twitter.com/odBmGnNzEB
— jo battson (@fitness_jo79) September 30, 2017
Beautiful balloon ? fiesta in york – what a great light show. pic.twitter.com/CPRbCdMY1E
— Maureen (@macushley) September 30, 2017
Certainly worth the wait for the @VisitYork Balloon Fiesta, and hopefully worthy of a #UKHousingPhotoClub entry! ??. pic.twitter.com/8VT67ntZDY
— Robert Lockwood (@Robert_Resource) September 30, 2017
#Balloons Over York Minster #York @York_Minster @PyperYork @samcampbell3105 @Bella_Astro @Welcome2Yorks #Yorkshire #Flights #HotAir #Balloon pic.twitter.com/F6iFf8SbuB
— CAG Photography??? (@MadCowFudge) September 30, 2017
Some photos from the #YorkBalloonFiesta #york #hotair #hotairballoons pic.twitter.com/STFJFUjDyh
— Shaun Conway (@shaunconway65) September 30, 2017
Final #YorkBalloonFiesta shot. More on Facebook for those interested. #YorkUK #balloonfestival pic.twitter.com/LwFAHXsge5
— Chris Kendall (@TheChrisKendall) September 30, 2017
A few pics from the #York #Balloon #Fiesta this weekend. @York_Minster #YorkBalloonFiesta @thetimes @dailytelegraph pic.twitter.com/hFnTNRSUz6
— Scott Bairstow (@scottbairstow) September 30, 2017
@BBCYork Saturday Morning at #yorkballoonfiesta pic.twitter.com/k0f6jtDWnS
— Rachel Silcock (@rachelsilcock99) September 30, 2017
Proud to be working at events like #YorkBalloonFiesta @minsterfm pic.twitter.com/tBorTOcWiz
— EBORACUM (@EboracumYork) September 30, 2017
Lovely balloon filled skies over #York this morning #YorkBalloonFiesta pic.twitter.com/LEp5wFBKXf
— Detox Project (@Detox_Project) September 30, 2017
Early morning launch from #YorkBalloonFiesta drifting past my house! pic.twitter.com/chOMTUpRqx
— David King (@KingHanley27) September 30, 2017
More Balloons @York360 @minsterfm @2xanders @Britanniacomms #Balloons #PintoFotografia #myfavpics #York #YorkBalloonFiesta pic.twitter.com/p3cMgN0CPx
— Lewis Outing (@LewisOuting) September 30, 2017
Interesting, if a rather early start at #yorkballoonfiesta #York. Over 40 years since Dad’s cameraman Sahara trip with @cameronballoons pic.twitter.com/yhZ5qUiHQf
— PennPix (@PennPix) September 30, 2017
Loved watching these take off this morning #hotairballoon #yorkballoonfiesta pic.twitter.com/rvE84Wk5kg
— Ruth Allardice (@RuthAllardice) September 30, 2017
#YorkBalloonFiesta @TalkTalk pic.twitter.com/zFTpK0bdd3
— Charley Wilkinson ? (@charlottelivvy) September 30, 2017
One more from this morning’s #YorkBalloonFiesta since this afternoon has been rained off.
?for tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/q9aud5HBrP
— Chris Kendall (@TheChrisKendall) September 30, 2017
York – 7.34 this morning @VisitYork @yorkshirepost @yorkpress @York_Minster @Welcome2Yorks #YorkBalloonFiesta #Yorkshire @Yorkshire_Life pic.twitter.com/oY7UKwErvS
— MJ Peakman (@Bru_Mog) September 30, 2017
Lovely morning #YorkBalloonFiesta pic.twitter.com/cmpmfxcIgS
— Mandy Silk (@VivaHair8) September 30, 2017
#YorkBalloonFiesta ?great way to start a Saturday morning… pic.twitter.com/diABN1yohs
— Kez Smith (@HR_Kez) September 30, 2017
Early start for #YorkBalloonFiesta this morning but well worth it to watch them go #upupandaway #yorkshire #york pic.twitter.com/07KMHM776I
— Glenys Garnett (@ggcimages) September 30, 2017
Another great flight this morning from York Balloon Fiesta. #York #hotairballoon #YorkBalloonFiesta pic.twitter.com/AVQ2u95748
— Neil Marshall (@neilwmarshall) September 30, 2017
The #York #Balloon Festival at @yorkracecourse this evening. @yorkpress more at https://t.co/uThNsk4R9N pic.twitter.com/4K7qlf3qhe
— Keith Handley (@Yorkfox35) September 29, 2017
Take off for #York balloon festival down on the Knavesmire! pic.twitter.com/qqrTcQ9ob1
— Jonny Crawshaw (@JonnyPolitics) September 29, 2017
A hot air balloon I saw from the #BalloonFiesta pic.twitter.com/ThEnJ2KXRK
— Michael A Scott (@Michael01961876) September 29, 2017
Great seeing all the balloons going off this evening #yorkballoonfestival2017 pic.twitter.com/2ED7SGIkwJ
— CJ_Colbourn (@CJ_Colbourn) September 29, 2017
Great views safely on the ground admiring those bravely in the sky – York Balloon Fiesta @VisitYork @littleknaves on till Sunday 1/10/17 pic.twitter.com/KLZnChHb69
— Ruth Harter-Jones (@ruthharterjones) September 29, 2017