THE premier balloon festival in the region takes to the skies on Saturday and Sunday of the August Bank Holiday weekend. The annual Westcountry Balloon Fiesta and Day at the Races at Tavistock College will see around 60 hot air balloons from all over the country. Now recognised as one of the premier hot air balloon fiestas in the country, last year?s event achieved more ascents than both the Bristol and Northampton fiestas due to good weather conditions. Retuning after enjoying last year so much will be the team from St. Dunstan?s, the national charity for blind ex-service men and women, with the balloon being flown by Jamie Weller, the partially sighted pilot, accompanied by a fully sighted colleague. Organised jointly by the Lions Club of Tavistock and Tavistock Round Table, the fiesta is sponsored this year by supermarket chain Somerfield with the cost and supply of the gas being supported by Texaco. The event starts at 2pm on Saturday August 25 with an action packed afternoon?s entertainment which will include two performances by the Kangaroos Gymnastic Display Team, recognised as the best of its kind in Europe. There will also be a display of hawks and owls by Westcountry Falconry as well as children?s entertainment from Emazdad, giant bouncy castles and slides, the Royal Signals free fall parachutist display team, a licensed bar and food outlets. One of last year?s most popular attractions were helicopter flights over Dartmoor and again Rise Aviation will be attending the event on both days. As usual, the Round Table will be staging their pantomime horse racing which is always popular with the children and on which parents can place a small wager at the betting tote. There will be a much increased number of trade stands this year, together with a tented charity bazaar with more than 15 local charities raising funds. The main balloon ascents start at 6.30pm on both the Saturday and Sunday and following this at dusk, on the Saturday only, will be the spectacular night glow where the balloonists inflate their balloon envelopes and keeping the balloons tethered to the ground, turn the gas burners on and off in time with music, making the balloons look like huge light bulbs glowing in the dark. There will also be early morning massed ascents at dawn on the Saturday and Sunday with the same afternoon programme on the Sunday. The fiesta was first organised by the Lions Club in 1992 and in 1999 they joined forces with Tavistock Round Table to incorporate their Day at the Races. The event has been running ever since with the exception of 2001 when it had to be cancelled due to the foot and mouth crisis and two years ago when there were health and safety issues with the supply of gas which were overcome in time for the following year. The fiesta is affectionately known by the balloonists as the ?Friendly Fiesta? due to their excellent relationship with volunteer organisers and local landowners and the fact that it is staged to raise money for local youth charities, including Crowndale Recreational Association. Entrance to the event will cost £5 for a car including up to 5 adults and parking, and £1 for anyone arriving on foot. People should note that no dogs will be allowed on site with the exception of registered guide dogs. More details of the fiesta can be found at the website http://www.westcountryballoons.com">www.westcountryballoons.com
