Balloon Glow & Monster Show

The Balloon Glow & Monster Show comes to Mewstone Meadow in Plymouth on 29 and 30 August, a family day and night out that puts monster trucks and hot air balloons on the same site. It's a two-part thing: the monster trucks take the lead during the day, and the balloons take over as evening falls.

By day, the focus is on the monster trucks. These aren't just for looking at from behind a fence—you can actually climb aboard and get a ride. They're built with the usual monster truck specs: massive tyres, lifted suspension and a fair bit of horsepower under the bonnet. If you've got kids who spend half their time talking about big wheels and engines, this is the part they'll be after.

As the light fades, the site shifts over to the Sky Safari Night Glow. That's when the hot air balloons light up against the evening sky, one after another, so you get a line of glowing balloons rather than just one floating off on its own. It's a colourful, slow-moving sight that works best as the sun goes down, and it's the part that draws the crowd back once the trucks have finished for the day.

Between the two, there's a relaxed outdoor atmosphere with family entertainment and a range of food traders on site to keep you fed. It runs across the weekend of 29 and 30 August at Mewstone Meadow, Plymouth, PL9 0AX.