Bristol International Balloon Fiesta: why a giant Darth Vader head is floating over the city

Don't be alarmed if you spot the enlarged head of Darth Vader floating through the skies over Bristol in the coming days – the end of the world is not imminent, it's just the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta.

More than 130 balloons are expected to take to the skies over the British city over the next four days – as the annual event delights spectators assembled below. It ends on Sunday, August 11.

It's Europe's largest annual meeting of hot air balloons, and is a popular event for spectators, balloon enthusiasts and photographers alike.

The theme of this year's (the 41st event) fiesta is "Bristol icons". From where Darth Vader fits into that, we're not sure.

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