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Bristol in Pictures: Lighting up the weekend

Steve MellenBBC News, Bristol
BIBF Six hot air balloons are seen tethered on the ground at the Bristol Balloon Fiesta. The picture is taken at night during the nightglow event. There are people and vehicles between the balloons, which are firing their burnings to create light. In the background the crowd on the edge of the arena can be seenBIBF
The nightglows once again drew tens of thousands of people to the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta

There is only once place to start this weekend, with tens of thousands of people at Ashton Court and many more in and around the city being entertained by mass launches from the Bristol Balloon Fiesta.

Balloon fans were delighted to see a dry, sunny forecast for the weekend, meaning plenty of ascents took place.

But there wasn't just one show in town – a charity bike ride held in memory of a Bristol student finished in the city, and dozens of leather-clad bikers headed to the Bath Road for a talk.

PA Media Dozens of hot air balloons are seen taking off from the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta at Ashton Court. They are many different colours and some are in the air already but many are inflated but still on the ground. The trees and grassy areas of Ashton Court are also visible in the photo, which is taken from a balloon which has already taken off, along with hundreds of spectators. There is also a ferris wheel-style ride visiblePA Media
Ciara Hillyer Two hot air balloons, one bright yellow and one dark purple, are in the air close to the Clifton Suspension Bridge after a mass ascent at the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta. The River Avon is visible under the bridge, along with housing in Clifton.Ciara Hillyer
BIBF A young woman dressed all in black sprays a crowd of young people with water at the Bristol Balloon Fiesta. Most of the crowd have their hands in the air and many of them are laughingBIBF
Ciara Hillyer A wide view of Bristol harbourside and the houses of Clifton Down, with dozens of hot air balloons overhead, mostly dotted in the distance. The sky is mostly light grey.Ciara Hillyer

Look up: Is there anything more "Bristol" than the sound of hot air balloon burners and people stopping to gaze at the many colourful balloons passing over the city? Following a successful morning on Saturday, the International Balloon Fiesta continues into Sunday.

Fowlers/drop4gearphotography Dozens of people stand around motorbikes in the main car park at Fowlers Motorcycles in Bristol. Many of them are wearing biker leathers. In the background the side of activity centre Freedog is visible.Fowlers/drop4gearphotography

Weekend vibes: First Friday of the month evenings in the summer mean Bike Night at Fowlers Motorcycles on the Bath Road, where hundreds of bikers gather to talk all things two wheels.

Ashton Gate Stadium Bristol City manager Gerhard Struber smiles as he takes a selfie with young fans during the club's open day at Ashton Gate stadium. He is wearing a cap and a black training top, and the young fans are mostly boys wearing red football tops.Ashton Gate Stadium

The next generation: Bristol City manager Gerhard Struber met lots of young supporters when the club held its open day at Ashton Gate last weekend, ahead of the Championship season getting under way.

Dan Hickey Fund A large group of male and female cyclists, some 40 strong, line up for a group picture at the end of a charity bike ride. They are all wearing the same cycling kit of black shorts and white tops with red and green stripes across them. They are in an open grassy area and gathered under a large tree.Dan Hickey Fund

Heroes: About 30 Leicester University alumni completed a two-day cycle from the East Midlands city to Bristol to mark 10 years since the death of Dan Hickey, a Bristol resident who studied at the university. The ride finished at Bristol Saracens RFC, where an oak tree was planted in Dan's memory. A fund set up in his name supports young people in sport and arts in the Bristol area.

A large mural of a blue and purple tiger is seen on the side of a black house in Bedminster in Bristol. The tiger is looking back on itself and the design is worked around the doors and windows of the house.

Easy, tiger: Street art can be seen across Bristol, but it's in Bedminster and Southville that you feel you may come round any corner and see a stunning mural, like this one on Ruby Street.

UPH Pocket Park Three people, two women and a man, sit on a wooden bench under a mural of cobbles and grass. They are all smiling at the camera and wearing summery clothes.UPH Pocket Park

People power: Southville residents held a party to celebrate finishing their community garden and artwork on Upper Perry Hill, which features a mural by Bristol artist Andrew Burns Colwill.

Purplefish A group of five people, two men and five women, from the Bristol company Purplefish, stand in a line in a small street, wearing casual clothes, and facing the camera.Purplefish

Moving forward: Bristol PR and communications company Purplefish has joined the higher ranks of the 2,500 UK businesses classed as B Corps, a rating of organisations with high social and environmental standards.

PA Media A close shot of the head of a European lynx at Bristol Zoo Project. It has dark yellow eyes, brown and cream-coloured fur and white whiskers.PA Media

Close up: Visitors to the Bristol Zoo Project, if they look very carefully, are sometimes lucky enough to spot a European lynx. The species once roamed wild in England.

PA Media A multi-coloured hot air balloon, with yellow, red, orange, blue, green and purple panels on its canopy, flies over south Bristol. Many rows of terraced houses are visible below it, along with one tower block.PA Media

OK, just one more: Another shot of a balloon over the city during this weekend's fiesta. Can you see your house?

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