This weekend will see a host of hot air balloons filling the skies in and around Durham City.
The four-day Balloons InDurham festival will get underway tonight, with a mass launch of balloons from East Durham College’s Houghall Campus.
Another five mass launches will take place across the bank holiday weekend, with the launches occurring either in the morning between 6.30 and 7.30 am or in the evening between 6.30 and 7.30 pm.
On Saturday and Sunday afternoon, visitors to the festival will be able to see tethered balloons at Houghall College and at Palace Green.
Saturday evening will see a spectacular ‘balloon glow’. This will involve illuminated hot air balloons floating over Houghall College between 9.30 and 10.15 pm.
There will also be a chance to see illuminated balloons on Palace Green on Sunday evening from 8.30 to 10.00 pm. These illuminated balloons will be tethered.
#BalloonsInDurham car park will open at 5pm tonight. Need directions? Follow this link and click on Houghall Campus: https://t.co/D4sCkdNPRD pic.twitter.com/All3fQDhca
— Durham BID (@DurhamBID) May 26, 2017
We will, however, have to hope the weather holds, as certain weather conditions could affect some events.
Producer Scott Hillary, of AH Events, said, “If it’s raining or the wind picks up, it’s not safe for hot air balloons to inflate or fly.”
“That would mean that the balloon tethers, balloon glow and illuminated tethers would have to be cancelled.”
Adam Deathe, from festival organisers Durham Business Improvement District, said, “There’s a lot of buzz across the region as Balloons InDurham prepares to make its debut across Durham City. We’re looking forward to welcoming people from near and far to experience this must-see event.”
“The hotels across the city are already at capacity having been booked by balloonists and their families, not to mention the people travelling from all over the UK to come to Durham specifically for Balloons InDurham and the penultimate leg of the Cycle Tour.”
“It’s quite literally going to be a jam-packed weekend, and is a real opportunity to put Durham on the map.”
Balloons InDurham is free of charge, but there is a £5.00 fee for anyone wishing to park at Houghall College.
For more information, and for any changes to the events due to weather conditions, please go to www.durhambid.co.uk/balloons.
(Featured image courtesy of Amy, from Flickr Creative Commons)
