New Jersey Festival Of Ballooning 2023 Takes Flight: Photos, Video

READINGTON, NJ — Hot temperatures, who cares? Hot air balloons are taking flight from Friday through Sunday as part of the New Jersey Lottery Festival of Ballooning for 2023.

While extreme heat is expected, Russ Mensch a spokesman for the Balloon Festival told Patch that won't stop balloons from soaring over Somerset and Hunterdon Counties.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the largest hot air balloon and music festival in North America. It is held annually at Solberg Airport at 39 Thor Solberg Road in Readington.

The festival will feature 100 sport- and special-shaped hot air balloons from across the country flying twice each day over Central Jersey.

This year there are 10 special shaped hot air balloons including a 65-foot tall, 750-pound Lucky Pig from the New Jersey Lottery; a 70-foot takk First in Flight replica; an 80-foot tall old fashioned alarm clock with 30-foot wide hands; an 86-foot tall Darth Vader and 62-foot tall Yoda; 110-foot tall pair of bumblebees; 100-foot tall Snowbird Penguin; and an 80-foot-tall, 70-foot round, 807-pound Birthday Cake.

The festival kicks off on Friday, July 28 from 1 to 10 p.m. and will continue on Saturday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Mass hot air balloon inflation and ascensions will be held at 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. (wind and weather permitting).

Along with balloons, live music will be held.

On Friday, the first mass hot air balloon ascension is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. followed by a concert by Everclear and Lit beginning at 7:30 p.m. with the Dazzling Drone Light Show presented by Progressive scheduled for 9:15 p.m.

On Saturday, the evening mass hot air balloon ascension is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. followed by a concert by KC and the Sunshine Band at 8 p.m. in conjunction with a nighttime hot air balloon glow where balloons are inflated, tethered to the ground and lit up like giant lanterns, with the Dazzling Drone Light Show presented by Progressive scheduled for 9:15 p.m.

On Sunday, Multi-platinum artists Fitz and The Tantrums will perform at the Festival at 3 p.m.

There is also the “Trinity Solar Running with the Balloons 5K” taking place on Sunday at 8 a.m. Participants are able to run through the festival as up to 100 hot air balloons are inflating and flying overhead. Registration is open at balloonfestival.com/entertainment/balloons-5k.

Tickets for the festival:

• Adults: $32-$40
• Children age 4-12: $12-$15
• Children age 3 and under: Free
• VIP packages, reserved concert seating, hot air balloon rides available
• General admission includes lawn seating to concerts

For tickets and more information visit www.balloonfestival.com or 1-800-HOT-AIR9 or 973-882-5464.

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