Aim:
Yorkshire Balloon Fiesta is held annually in Yorkshire, attracting more than 60,000 visitors. The aim of the event is to provide high-quality family entertainment at an affordable price. The event raises money for three local charities each year.
Challenge:
In 2021, the Yorkshire Balloon Fiesta had to be different from the previous year by providing more activities for more people and supporting more local suppliers, business and charities, while complying with all Covid-related health and safety legislation. The event had to deliver high-quality entertainment whilst maintaining an affordable ticket price for families.
Solution:
The team understood how important a family-orientated event in a safe environment would be for the local and wider community after an 18-month period of lockdowns and families not being able to socialize together.
We collaborated closely with safety advisory groups, local councillors, local businesses, charities and the wider community to discover how previous Balloon Fiestas could be improved upon and ensure that this event became a regular highlight of the Yorkshire events calendar.
We coordinated the build of the site over a period of seven days, which included various tent areas, stages, arenas, a giant funfair, catering, bar, charity stands, trade stands, toilets, medical facilities, trackway, lighting, entrance and ticketing staff and facilities, waste disposal and all arenas.
Our team created, hired and stage-managed all the Balloon Fiesta content and programme, including stage acts, parachute jumps, falconry displays, helicopter landings, balloon launches, night glows, fireworks and much more – ensuring the whole four days were dedicated to activities for the whole family.
Result:
Throughout the five build and four live days, our full team worked on site 24 hours a day to ensure the smooth running of the entire event. The four days of the Yorkshire Balloon Fiesta produced excitement, thrills, activities and memories for more than 60,000 people. Flawless production and site management maintained the wonderful atmosphere throughout the event.
The best Yorkshire Balloon Fiesta to date:
- Four mass balloon launches.
- 80 hot air balloons.
- Two nightglows.
- Parachute team landing.
- Yorkshire Air Ambulance drop-in.
- Full programme of stage and arena acts (including Andy and the Oddsocks).
- Giant funfair (including 32m-high giant observation wheel).
- Local bar, catering and trade stands.
- Grand firework, drone and laser finale.
- £60,000 raised for three local charities.
