Flying high with photos from Worcester balloon festival

James Connell

23 June 2024 at 1:00 pm·2-min read

IMPRESSIVE: Hot air balloons on Pitchcroft as part of Worcester Balloon Festival 2024 <i>(Image: Anil Patel)</i> — IMPRESSIVE: Hot air balloons on Pitchcroft as part of Worcester Balloon Festival 2024 *(Image: Anil Patel)*

HOT air balloons rising high over the skies of Worcester made for an impressive spectacle for the crowds as thousands attended the city's second ever balloon festival.

Worcester Balloon Festival proved a hit with the crowds as balloons floated over the city from the launch point at Pitchcroft in Worcester, building on the success of the inaugural event last summer.

People in the city received a treat on on Saturday morning as Worcester awoke to a host of hot air balloons floating over the rooftops.

LOW: A hot air balloon pictured over the rooftops of Rainbow Hill in Worcester on Saturday evening (Image: Nicholls family)

The spectacular sight more than made up for the delay from the previous evening caused by high winds.

With a further delay on Saturday for a 'pilot's briefing', balloons once again set off, some flying low over the rooftops of Rainbow Hill.

However, there was much more to the festival than hot air balloons from marauding Vikings and monster truck rides to a huge assortment of fairground rides - old-fashioned carousels, big wheels, games (including axe throwing) and festival food.

MASSIVE: Rob Cassell behind the wheel of the Extreme Express at Worcester Balloon Festival (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

The Arena on Pitchcroft became the go-to place to see the displays including Viking re-enactors fighting it out with axes, swords and bows. Other highlights included the Bolddog FMX, Stuntworld International and Paws for Thoughts dog agility.

A spokesperson for the event wrote on the festival website: "This year, we are bringing the festival back bigger and better than before. The festival promises to be a spectacular event that will see the sky filled with colourful hot air balloons of all shapes and sizes (subject to weather)."

APOCALYPTIC: Luke Deacon and his Mad Max Nissan D40 War Rig at Worcester Balloon Festival (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

Among those to enjoy the festival was Viking archer Nigel Tate of the Danelaw Vikings, based in Nottingham who has been involved in re-enacting since 1986.

Rob Cassell of Extreme Express was giving people rides was giving people rides in a monster truck while Luke Deacon was telling visitors about his Nissan D40 - a Mad Max War Rig used to promote the new film, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. The head-turning truck has a gun mounted on the top with some drivers slowing down to have a better look as he drove it to the festival.

Mr Deacon from Northampton said: "The kids love it. They love the man on the roof - Nux. In Mad Max he's a War Boy. They call it the apocalyptic style. The tyres are 40 inches tall."

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