What’s on for Kids at Bristol Balloon Fiesta 2016!

From Thursday 11th until Sunday 14th August, over 100 hot air balloons of different shapes and sizes will take off from Ashton Court Estate at dawn and dusk and light up the skies with evening balloon glows.

Yes, it’s the start of Bristol Balloon Fiesta 2016, four days of free fun for children and families!

And, as well as the beautiful balloons (see details of hot air balloon ascents and night glows here), from 12 – 5pm on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th August there will be a whole host of interactive activities especially for kids which will take place on the green outside Ashton Court Mansion.

From babies to teens there will be plenty of things to see and do, including performances, workshops, games and installations.

Here’s the full line-up of activities, including workshops, games, street shows and more:

WORKSHOPS:

Happymess – Zoo Animals
Happymess runs art, craft and messy play sessions for young children. Kids can make zoo animals using recycled materials – think loo roll lions, butterflies, parrots and penguins, kitchen roll snakes, egg carton owls and crocodiles, bubblewrap jelly fish and milk carton elephants.

Bocadalupa – Model balloons
Bocadalupa bring an imaginative and inspiring hot air balloon waorkshop and installation. Make a model balloon and fly off on an imaginary adventure around the interactive playscape suspended in the trees.

Circus Workshops
Fancy trying your hand at some circus skills? Drop-in workshops where kids can enjoy juggling, hula hoop and diablo – under the instruction of the experts… who knows what circus talent may be unleashed?

Creative Youth Network – memory makers
Creative Youth Network believes that the arts should be enjoyed by every young person. IN this youth-led workshop, they will help children and young people make a unique memory from recycled materials and make a sketch book, journal or scrapbook to keep or give to a loved one.

Litterarti
A hands-on workshop inviting everyone to help create a trash orchestra out of recycled materials. Come along and make musical instruments, add them to the orchestra and help make music in this inspirational, fun and educational workshop and installation.

STREET SHOWS:

Loz Because
Loz Because is a circus performer who loves having fun! Kids love to play and get involved with Loz’s show – it is an interactive mix of balloons, some puppet friends, plus exciting juggling and hulahooping!

Marky Jay
With his monkey assistant ‘Professor Steve Chimpington’, Marky Jay embarks on a mission to impress and amaze every child with magic tricks and juggling, which never seems to go completely to plan, with hilarious results.

Stickleback Plasticus – Cat Choir
Using comedy, puppetry, song and improvisation, these furry felines will bring catnip joy to all audiences.
From oversized rubbish bins, our mischievous cats reflect on their lives, food, and the death of Fat Bob in this irreverent and bizarre comedy street show.

GAMES:

Desperate Men – Water Balloon Toss
An exciting mass participation game of catch that gets more and more challenging and wet as the throwing distance increases and the game proceeds.

Everyone Active’s games for all
A range of sports activities including Football coaching from Bristol City and a sandpit for the younger ones.

Baby Racing Championships 2016!
Part two of the Bristol Baby Racing Championships, which went down a storm at Bristol Harbour Festival in July. Bring your little crawlers to compete for prizes in a high octane race to the finish line…

AND MORE…

Performances from Desperate Men’s silly and sculptural Rubbish Heads, Stilt walking Footballers and Binmen, Jump Bristol’s Balloon Modelling and Disco Dancing, Little Party Heaven’s Face Painting, Henna and Glitter Tattoos and Hair Feathers.