High-Flying Fun: The 2026 Warren County Hot Air Balloons, Arts & Crafts Festival Returns June 6 & 7
Get ready for a weekend of spectacular sights and family fun! The annual Warren County Hot Air Balloons, Arts & Crafts Festival returns from June 6–7, 2026, hosted at the scenic Warren Community College in Washington, New Jersey. (Rain dates are set for June 13–14).
From massive hot air balloons to cutting-edge drone tech, live music, and combat robots, this two-day event offers something unforgettable for all ages.
The festival’s main attractions take to the skies in the evenings. Weather permitting, visitors can experience a tethered balloon ride starting around 4:30–5:00 PM for a stunning aerial view of the campus.
– Tethered Ride Pricing: $30 for adults, $20 for kids (ages 4–12), and free for children 3 and under (with a paying adult, subject to pilot approval). Note: Rides are not available for infants or toddlers.
– Nighttime Glow: As darkness falls, look out for the massive birthday cake balloon lighting up the night sky to wish America a happy 250th birthday!
– Full Flights: Ready to check a full balloon flight off your bucket list? Book your flight in advance by calling 908-283-0721.
Warren Community College boasts one of the nation’s premier drone programs, and they are putting their tech on full display.Meet SPOT the robot dog, explore air, ground, and underwater unmanned vehicles, and check out live counter-drone technology demonstrations used by public safety agencies.
June Jumble Combat Robot Competition: Watch up to 40 combat robots smash, flip, and battle it out daily starting at noon until only one bot is left standing.
Contests, Cars, and Kids’ Activities:
– Car & Truck Show (Saturday): Admire a massive array of makes and models at the Hot Rides & Hot Air Balloons show, featuring driver- and spectator-voted trophies.
– Chalk Art Contest (Saturday): Watch youth and adult artists transform the campus walking trail into a vibrant gallery as they compete for cash prizes.
– Fascination Place: A dedicated zone where kids can enjoy free activities, including mini-golf and custom paper rocket construction and testing.
The festival grounds will be alive with non-stop entertainment across both days:
– Saturday Lineup: Enjoy patriotic vocals from the Pro Kids Holiday Vocal Troupe, Celtic melodies by Na’Nodach, strolling dulcimers, and circus tricks by Grins & Grins.
– Sunday Lineup: Relax to the StoneHearth Bluegrass band, catch the Road Less Traveled barbershop quartet, and rock out to the School of Rock Easton Bank Street Band closing out the event.
Take a stroll through the vibrant vendor area packed with unique craft artisans, community non-profits, and games. When hunger strikes, a diverse lineup of food trucks will be serving up both sweet and savory items across all price points.
Visitors are encouraged to bring blankets, lawn chairs, and lawn games (like corn hole or quoits) to relax on the massive college lawn. You can also take a stroll on the 1.2-mile walking trail and participate in a family-friendly STEAM scavenger hunt!
Save money and secure peace of mind by purchasing your tickets online by June 4.
For the full schedule, chalk contest registration, and advanced tickets, visit www.balloonfestnj.com. To plan local stops along your route, check out explorewarren.org.
