While a few balloon festivals managed to lift-off in a scaled-back way last summer, the largest balloon fest in NJ was pushed back to 2021 due to COVID concerns. Formerly known as the QuickChek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning, the New Jersey Lottery Festival of Ballooning in Readington is set to return on July 23-25, 2021 at the Solberg Airport.
The festival is bringing in some big music acts for the weekend. On Saturday, July 24 at 8 pm, the Canadian band Barenaked Ladies, best known for the infectious pop hit “One Week,” will be playing the festival. On Sunday, rock band Styx, known for the anthem “Come Sail Away” will be headlining the day at 3 pm. You can buy your tickets for the concerts now. Reserved VIP seating gives you a guaranteed spot for the performance, along with admission to the festival and access to air-conditioned VIP restrooms and concession stands, and admission to the VIP Blue Sky Club tent near the balloon launch field for prime balloon lift-off viewing. Get your concert tickets now.Â
You can visit to watch the balloon ascensions at 6:30 am and pm on Saturday and Sunday. While you’re there, the festival also has fireworks, crafts, local vendors, plenty of fair foods and more festival fun.
If you’re worried that the event might not happen and want to hold off buying your tickets, the venue is offering to refund or defer tickets that are purchased if the event is postponed. There are contingency plans in place to move the festival to late summer or early fall if necessary due to the pandemic.
The festival is planning to keep patrons safe in adherence with CDC COVID guidelines at the time of the event, and will use capacity limits determined by the state. Also, they will have hand sanitizer stations, attendants wiping down bathrooms and cashless/touchless payment systems.
Advance tickets are on sale now from $8/child and $26/per adult for general admission for early bird tickets. VIP packages, balloon rides, concert tickets and more are available at a premium.
