• Hot air balloons take to the skies as they participate in the mass ascent at sunrise on the first day of the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta in Bristol, England. Getty Images
    Hot air balloons take to the skies as they participate in the mass ascent at sunrise on the first day of the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta in Bristol, England. Getty Images
  • The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta is Europe's largest annual meeting of hot air balloons, attracting over 130 hot air balloons from across the globe. Getty Images
    The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta is Europe's largest annual meeting of hot air balloons, attracting over 130 hot air balloons from across the globe. Getty Images
  • A hot air balloon gets ready to take to the skies. Getty Images
    A hot air balloon gets ready to take to the skies. Getty Images
  • A pilot checks the rigging inside a balloon canopy as he prepares for the mass ascent. AP
    A pilot checks the rigging inside a balloon canopy as he prepares for the mass ascent. AP
  • A Darth Vader balloon gets ready for lift off. Getty Images
    A Darth Vader balloon gets ready for lift off. Getty Images
  • A balloon fills with hot air, ready to take off. Getty Images
    A balloon fills with hot air, ready to take off. Getty Images
  • Spectators watch the balloons take to the sky. Getty Images
    Spectators watch the balloons take to the sky. Getty Images
  • Balloons lift off during the mass ascent at Bristol International Balloon Fiesta. AP
    Balloons lift off during the mass ascent at Bristol International Balloon Fiesta. AP
  • Balloons lift off during the mass ascent. AP
    Balloons lift off during the mass ascent. AP
  • Balloons lift off during the mass ascent. Getty Images
    Balloons lift off during the mass ascent. Getty Images
  • Balloons lift off during the mass ascent. Getty Images
    Balloons lift off during the mass ascent. Getty Images
  • A balloon floats through the sky as sunrise breaks over Bristol. Getty Images
    A balloon floats through the sky as sunrise breaks over Bristol. Getty Images
  • The Darth Vader balloon above Clifton Suspension Bridge. Getty Images
    The Darth Vader balloon above Clifton Suspension Bridge. Getty Images
  • The balloons tend to take on interesting shapes and colours. Getty Images
    The balloons tend to take on interesting shapes and colours. Getty Images
  • ... such as this teddy bear balloon. Getty Images
    ... such as this teddy bear balloon. Getty Images
  • Or this bear balloon. Getty Images
    Or this bear balloon. Getty Images
  • Hot air balloons take to the skies on the first day of the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta. Getty Images
    Hot air balloons take to the skies on the first day of the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta. Getty Images
  • Hot air balloons take to the skies on the first day of the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta. Getty Images
    Hot air balloons take to the skies on the first day of the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta. Getty Images
  • Hot air balloons take to the skies on the first day of the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta. Getty Images
    Hot air balloons take to the skies on the first day of the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta. Getty Images

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


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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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