One of York’s most spectacular events has moved dates – to the biggest weekend of the summer.
The Yorkshire Balloon Fiesta welcomes more than 35,000 people and transforms the skies above York with over 50 giant hot air balloons.
Organisers originally rescheduled the fiesta to take place in late September this year.
However, a change in the race meetings calendar meant it clashed with another event on Knavesmire that weekend.
As exclusively revealed on YorkMix Radio this morning, the Yorkshire Balloon Fiesta has moved to August bank holiday weekend Friday, 27 August to Monday 30 August, 2021.
These new dates are still in line with the government roadmap.
‘Party like it’s not 2020’
Event organiser John Lowery said. “Whilst we are disappointed to lose our September dates we intend to give people a real good family weekend.
“We want to party like it’s not 2020.”
The event site will be fenced off, allowing it to adhere to any government guidance related to the pandemic such as limited capacity, sanitising stations, and track and trace.
Ticket details
Tickets for this newly scheduled event will go on sale today (Friday 19 March) at 8.30am at the balloon fiesta website.
It’s £3 a day per person for anyone over 1m tall. £1 from each ticket goes to the fiesta charities: St Leonards Hospice, York Rescue Boat and Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
By pre-booking your tickets before the 1 May, you can get hold of a full four-day weekend ticket for only £10 per person.
There is also limited parking available to book through the Fiesta website for just £10 per day, or you can book the weekend for £25 (if booked before 1 May)
New for this year’s Fiesta will be a dazzling giant Firework, Laser and Drone Show finale which visitors can enjoy as part of the entry ticket on Monday evening.
And there will be the return of the popular and stunningly beautiful hot air balloon night glows on both Friday and Saturday evenings (weather permitting).
Lots of entertainment
Applications will be open shortly for teams to enter the Fiesta’s It’s a Knockout competition to win £2,000 in prize money.
Included in the ticket price there will be entertainment on the main stage.
Performing live on the main stage are headliners Phats and Small, The Lancashire Hotpots, and superb tribute bands Abba Arrival, The Dolly Parton Experience, Definitely Oasis, The Stones, The Upbeat Beatles, and the Talented Ibiza Clubland Saxophonist Sam Sax.
With more live acts to be announced soon. Moto Stunts International will also be performing their hair-raising motorcycle stunt displays in the arena across all four days of the event.
There will also be York’s largest funfair.