There’s never a more magical sight than blue skies popping with the colour of hundreds of hot air balloons. This upcoming August bank holiday weekend (August 22-24), you can bear witness to such wonder only a stone’s throw from Birmingham. The annual Telford Balloon Fiesta looks to brighten the sky over Shropshire—and you can visit for free!
Taking place once again in the heart of Telford Town Park’s QEII Arena, the Saturday and Sunday will start and end with spectacular balloon flights (6 am and 6 pm). In between (12–7 pm), you will discover an exciting line-up of flight-themed activities, including the Wings Parachute Team drops and gravity-defying displays from the Stanage Stunt Team.
Plus, there’ll be aerial displays, live music and a KidsZone—full of animatronic dinosaurs, an interactive circus, creative activities, crazy golf and more. And, if you swing by on Sunday, August 24 (12-4 pm), the QEII Arena is also playing host to Telford Community Carnival Day. Expect a mix of dance performances and drop-in workshops.
Of course, the big event at the Telford Balloon Fiesta is Friday’s iconic Night Glow, which will require a ticket. This incredibly popular event is bursting with stage shows, live acts, and the breathtaking glow of illuminated balloons set to music. Tickets are only £2.50 for an adult and £1.50 for a child, but they always sell out—ensuring Telford Balloon Fiesta starts with a bang!
How do I get to Telford?
You can get a direct train from Birmingham New Street to Telford Central that takes less than 40 minutes. From here, you can either walk to QEII Arena in 20 minutes or take hop in a short taxi. If you’d rather drive, it will take less than an hour, via the M54. Just follow the postcode: TF3 4EH.
To get your tickets to Telford Balloon Fiesta’s Night Glow event head here.