Oswestry Balloon Carnival returns to town centre today

The annual festival will be an opportunity for residents to enjoy “two days of entertainment, family attractions and community spirit” in order to raise money for Nightingale House Hospice.

Organised in association with the Hospice, Oswestry Town Council and Oswestry BID, the much-loved annual event promises to be one of the best ever as it kicks off this morning (August 22).

There's guaranteed fun for the whole family during the Oswestry Balloon Carnival (Image: Nightingale House Hospice)

“It will be a fun-filled family weekend,” said Nightingale House Events Manager, Bobbi Cockroft.

“We have got entertainment starting from 10.45am on both days. We have got magicians, we have got acrobats, we have got local dance troops, we have got sheepdogs – we have got it all going on.

“We have local businesses offering catering for everyone’s taste, we have a Nightingale house gift shop in our new gorgeous marquee and we have stalls.

Evening display at Oswestry Balloon Carnival 2025. (Image: Oswestry Balloon Carnival)

“We have our amazing raffle with some amazing prizes, including a hot air balloon flight donated by spirit balloons, we have got hotel stay, signed pair of sunglasses.

“We have got a long list of amazing things.”

One of the event's most anticipated highlights will take place on Saturday evening at 9pm with the spectacular Night Glow.

Weather permitting, tethered hot air balloons will illuminate the park in a stunning synchronised display set to a specially choreographed musical soundtrack.

Combining colour, light and music, the Night Glow transforms Cae Glas Park into an unforgettable outdoor spectacle and remains a firm favourite among visitors year after year.

All this will raise money for the hospice which looks after people in Shropshire, north Wales, going as far west as Barmouth.

Night-time flight at Oswestry Balloon Carnival 2025. (Image: Oswestry Balloon Carnival)

This is one of their “flagship” events for the year and they are once again hope to raise tens of thousands of pounds to help fund their services.

“Last year we raised over £38,000 for Nightingale House,” said Bobbi. “Events like these are crucial to what we do, they are not just a nice day out.

“The amount of money it raises helps patients, their families. It offers respite, wellbeing services, outpatient care, out bathing service, our physiotherapist service.

“We also offer child bereavement services, although we are not a children’s hospice, we are an adult’s hospice, children can access our service and they don’t have to have had a hospice loss.”

For anyone wishing to help out a bit more volunteers will be accepting donations on the gates which can be done by cash or card.

You can also help by visiting the hospice’s Gift Shop on site or by entering the raffle.

You can get involved in future events for Nightingale House’s events page.