Adverse weather meant the planned hot air balloon launches and evening night glows could not go ahead, with conditions deemed unsuitable for flying. Organisers were able to inflate and tether a small number of balloons for short periods, allowing visitors to see some of the colourful displays from the ground.
Ahead of the weekend, organisers had warned that all ballooning activities were weather dependent and could be cancelled at short notice if wind or rain made conditions unsafe.
Although many festivalgoers had hoped to see dozens of balloons flying over Lydiard Park, there was still plenty of entertainment on offer throughout both days.
The main arena hosted stunt displays, Civil War re-enactments, the Spotty Boys Pony Show and circus workshops. Families also enjoyed dinosaur encounters, foam parties, a large funfair, food vendors, trade stalls and licensed bars.
Saturday evening’s fireworks display went ahead as planned, providing a colourful finale to the weekend.
Hot air ballooning is heavily dependent on the weather, with pilots requiring calm and stable conditions for safe take-off and landing. Even relatively low wind speeds can prevent flights from going ahead.
While the weather denied visitors the spectacle many had travelled to see, the festival still attracted large crowds, with entertainment continuing throughout the weekend.
Now firmly established as part of Swindon’s summer calendar, organisers will be hoping for more favourable conditions when the festival returns next year.
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