HOT air balloons are coming to Tiverton this summer, at the Two Rivers Festival, also known as 2RivTiv.

Following the cancellation of The Tiverton Balloon Festival, 2RivTiv have taken up the balloon mantle and will be welcoming hot air balloons to the festival on Saturday July 9 and Sunday July 10.

This new weekend date is a result of the decision late last year from the organisers of the Tiverton Balloon and Music Festival to have a break from the popular event.

2RivTiv traditionally took place in the evenings in the lead up to the Balloon Festival, and is organised by the Tiverton Co-operative Learning Partnership, which consists of all of the primary schools in the town, as well as Tiverton High School, Petroc College, Tiverton Community Arts Theatre and Heathcoat Fabrics.

Mandy Slevin, development officer at Tiverton Co-Operative Learning Partnership, said: “This year 2RivTiv is bigger than ever, and is being hailed as ‘Tiverton’s Festival’. 

“This weekend is for the people of the town and the surrounding areas, everything has been sourced locally, from the bands playing on the Saturday, to the food retailers and the bar organisers.”

The festival is taking place on the Tiverton High School Grounds on the evenings of Friday 8th to Monday 11th July 2016.

The balloons are set to take flight on the Saturday and Sunday of the festival, and Jon Sowden, Partnership Director at THS said “As well as music, we are delighted to say that there will be Hot Air Balloons on site, who will do an evening ascent and a light up display to the stage music when the sun goes down.

“We have been working with the local balloonists to ensure that there is still participation from them over the weekend, as we felt the people of the town would really miss seeing them flying or taking part in the festival.

"It’s all weather dependant, but the balloons will do a mass ascent from the high school grounds on the morning and evening of Saturday 9th July, and a morning ascent on Sunday 10th July, so set your alarm clocks early as usual and look up!”

The weekend has something for everyone, including a performance by over 5,000 local children of Disney’s ‘The Little Mermaid’.

All money raised from tickets will stay in the town, with profits going to the ‘Tiverton Students’ Welfare Fund’ which is held by Tiverton High School to directly support students who need help, both at the high school at all the TCLP primaries. 

Tickets for 2RivTiv are available from The Busy Bee, Fore Street, Tiverton and Tiverton Tourist Information.  Tickets can also be purchased online from www.TCLP.org.uk.