More than 120 balloons from around the world took to the skies of Bristol this morning for the 36th Annual Balloon Fiesta. The fleet of balloons took off from Ashton Court Estate, including a number of novelty shaped ballons. August 8 2014. In total, 156 hot air balloons are registered to attend this year, and pilots from as far away as the Seychelles will man them. And people travelled from across the UK to watch the spectacle, which has grown in fame since it started, 36 years ago. It is Europe's biggest hot air balloon event, attracting thousands of families every August.