NJ Festival Of Ballooning Could Be Canceled, Needs Sponsor

READINGTON, NJ — The highly popular and anticipated annual New Jersey Festival of Ballooning may not even leave the ground in 2020 if a sponsor is not found, festival officials say.

"We have six weeks left to salvage this event for 2020, otherwise we are looking for 2021," says Howard Freeman, executive producer of the festival.

For the past 27 years, QuickChek was the title sponsor of the event. This year they are going in a different "direction."

Freeman noted QuickChek has new marketing strategists this year that want to invest their money in their new stores and digital marketing instead. QuickChek did not respond to Patch for comment.

Without a title sponsor the festival is in jeopardy of not continuing in 2020, which would be the event's 37th year in operation.

Freeman says they need a sponsor or multiple sponsors to step up by Jan. 31 in order to start getting everything in motion. The event has a lot of moving parts that need time to set up including a live concert series; a fireworks display; balloons; children's amusement rides and age-appropriate entertainment; interactive exhibits and hundreds of crafters and food vendors.

"Because of the magnitude of the festival and the cost associated with paying rent at the airport and with the rising cost of talent, balloons, and rentals it is a seven-figure expense," Freeman said. "I don't expect any company to come close to covering everything. We need one or three companies to step up to at least make the risk associated with the event which is worthwhile."

Freeman noted that in the past the festival has generated $52.4 million for New Jersey and last year QuickChek gained about $918 million in publicity from the event.

Sponsors interested in the festival can contact Freeman at 973-882-5464, ext. 14 or hfreeman@balloonfestival.com. For more information on the festival visit balloonfestival.com.

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