BALLOON FESTIVAL CELEBRATES 30 YEARS THIS SUMMER,
NAMED THE # 1 THING TO DO IN NEW JERSEY IN 2012
READINGTON, NJ — The 30th annual Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning in Association with PNC Bank, the largest summertime hot air balloon and music festival in North America, takes off July 27-28-29, 2012.
TAKE A LOOK A THE VERY MANY PHOTOS UPLOADED WHICH HAVE BEEN TAKEN DURING PREVIOUS YEARS
The three day Festival at SolbergAirportin Readington in HunterdonCountyfeatures twice a day mass ascensions of more than 100 sport and special shaped hot air balloons from around the world, live concerts, and 39 hours of family entertainment and attractions. The largest event of its kind, the Festival attracts upwards of 165,000 people and has been named one of the Top 100 Events in North America five times by the ABAand the No. 1 Thing to Do in New Jerseyin 2012 by New Jersey Monthly magazine.
The Festival features early morning and evening mass ascensions of more than 100 hot air balloons taking to the skies; concerts from ‘70s rocker Eddie Money (“Two Tickets to Paradise,” “Take Me Home Tonight,” “Baby Hold On”); Motown legend and Grammy Lifetime Award winner Smokey Robinson (“Shop Around,” “Ooo Baby Baby,” “The Tracks of My Tears,” “I Second That Emotion”); rock and reality TV star Bret Michaels (“Talk Dirty to Me,” “Every Rose Has Its Thorn”); and teen sensations R5 featuring Ross Lynch from Disney Channel’s Austin & Ally; fireworks; a nighttime hot air balloon glow where balloons are inflated and lit up like lanterns; interactive exhibits from leading consumer brands; and hundreds of arts and crafters and food vendors.
Special shaped hot air balloons include a signature balloon from Quick Chek, which in the past has been a giant farm house or 135 foot tall eagle; the 5-story tall PNC American Flag, the world’s largest free-flying American Flag; an 86 foot tall replica of Darth Vader’s head from Star Wars; the 110 foot tall Unique Photo SnoBird tourist penguin; and a 110 foot tall Pepsi can. New special shapes include an 80 foot tall, bright pink elephant and a ferocious Tyrannosaurus Rex that’s the size of a 12-story building.
And no celebration would be complete without a cake: the Cake balloon is 80 feet tall, 71 feet round, with 12 foot high candles, five foot high flames and weighs a whopping 807 pounds!
The Festival also takes the 5K race to new heights with the 3rd annual Trinitas Regional Medical Center “Running with the Balloons” 5K race and Family Fun Run, in which runners race through the Festival grounds with balloons overhead on Sunday morning, July 29.
And yes you can go up, up and away in your beautiful balloon. Nearly 1,000 people will take a ride at the Festival this year, from adventurers to romantics alike ($200 per person morning, $225 per person evening, advance purchase suggested as rides sell out); please note that all balloon activity is wind and weather permitting.
The Festival offers a variety of advance ticket savings packages and special Kid’s Club tickets through midnight Thursday, July 26.
Tickets are available at all Quick Chek store locations starting June 1 or by calling 973-882-5464, 1-800-HOT-AIR9 or online at
www.balloonfestival.com.
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30th annual Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning in Association with PNC Bank
The largest summertime hot air balloon and music festival inNorth America
July 27-28-29, 2012
SolbergAirport
39 Thor Solberg Road
Readington,NJ08889
Adults: $17-$30; Children ages 4-12: $7-$15, Children ages 3 and under: free.
Volkswagen Blue Sky Club VIP: $50-$125
1-800-HOT-AIR9 or 973-882-5464
Mass Hot Air Balloon Ascensions:
Friday, July 27 – 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 28 – 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 29 – 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Concerts:
Friday, July 27 – Magic 98.3 presents Eddie Money, 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, July 28 – AT&T presents Smokey Robinson in association with NJ101.5, 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, July 29 – R5 featuring Disney Channel’s Ross Lynch in association with 1560 Radio Disney, 1:00 p.m.
Sunday, July 29 – PNC Bank presents Bret Michaels, 3:00 p.m.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Russ Mensch
Mensch & Company, Inc.
Public Relations & Event Marketing
phone: 201-797-2448