Nearly 20,000 tickets have been sold for this year's inaugural hot air balloon festival in Dorset.
There are now just two weeks left before the highly anticipated Dorset Hot Air Balloon Festival takes to the skies at the Dorchester Showground.
The event, which is the first of its kind in the county gets underway on Saturday, May 4 and concludes on Sunday, May 5.
Extreme Events Ltd have been organising the event which has had to overcome a few hurdles before getting underway after it was initially cancelled weeks after tickets went on sale.
Due to their social media account getting hacked, concerns were raised over its validity, and the organisers initially pulled out.
READ: Dorset Hot Air Balloon Festival back on as venue confirmed
However, after talks with the land owner at the showground, the festival was put back on the calendar and with just weeks to go, the organisers are now looking forward to welcoming visitors.
Event organiser David Rowland said: :We cannot wait to bring this exciting balloon and music festival to Dorset with the hope of making it an annual event, we would love the support this year to help us to return again for future events."
Visitors to the festival will be able to see selection of hot air balloons brought in by the Exclusive Ballooning team which has featured at Longleat Sky Safari and The Lord Mayors Hot Air Balloon Regatta.
Some of the balloons on display will include penguins, puddles, Splash & Tall Steve, Wes the Wolf and Slither the Snake
There will also be an appearance from Wallace & Gromit’s Moon Rocket hot air balloon fundraising for The Grand Appeal in partnership with Exclusive Ballooning and Aardman.
There will be rides on offer throughout both days, weather permitting, before the evning night glow show and firework display to round off the evening's events
An array of attractions for all ages will also be available throughout the two day festival, including monster truck rides, a funfair, and tribute acts from Lewis Capaldi, Ed Sheeran, Elvis and Cher.
There will also be a parachuting performance from a jump team on the Saturday as well as BMX & FMX stunt shows and wrestling shows too.
Local market traders have also been busy behind the scenes creating artisan treasures and gifts for the Traders Market and there will be a selection of fresh food stalls and bars for a cheeky tipple, or two.
Remaining day tickets are on sale for £25 for adults and £15 for children, a family ticket for two adults and two children costs £65 and it is £5 for parking.
For weekend tickets it will cost £40 per adult, £20 for a child and £100 for a family ticket.
Caravan and camper camping site has sold out.
To book tickets visit www.dorsetballoonfestival.com
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel