Warren County Hot Air Balloons, Arts & Crafts Festival Returns June 2 -4

Warren Community College, in Washington, is the site of the first balloon festival for the season in Warren County, NJ. The Warren County Hot Air Balloons, Arts & Crafts Festival runs from June 2 through June 4, 2023. This high-flying fun festival makes for a great day for families – with Hot Air Balloons, Drone Demos, Music, Entertainment, Food Trucks, Vendors and more!

Important information:
Dates: Friday, June 2 through Sunday, June 4 (Hurricane Date: Friday June 9 through June 11) 2 – 9 pm
Address: Warren Community College, 475 Route 57, Washington NJ
Ticket information: Purchase discounted tickets, including Friday Family Fun packs, online through June 1. Single ticket discount prices are $8 for adults, $4 for youth ages 4-12, children 3 and under are free of charge. Friday Family Fun Packs are $25 for up to 5 people in a car. Parking is $5. After June 1, admission prices are $10 for adults, $5 for youth ages 4-12 and parking remains at $5. (Online charges apply but the more you buy, the more you save. Cash only at the gate.)

The Warren County Hot Air Balloons, Arts & Crafts Festival kicks off on Friday at 2 pm. On Friday Family Fun Day, also save $5 on numerous activities. Tethered rides, normally $20 per adult and $15 per youth ages 4-12, rides will be $15 and $10 respectively. Try out your golf swing with DP Golf and PGA Golf Professional David Plarre. The SNAG® (Starting New At Golf) system is the easiest and most fun way to learn to play golf. Get your half price – $5 Bucket of Golf Balls. Try your luck at Games with Fun Affairs, like ax throwing (not real ones, so fun and safe for all ages) or try your skills at the Next Level Ninja obstacle course. Purchase tickets for these and other activities at the Balloon Ride tent.

If you have never attended a hot air balloon festival before, here is what to expect: Balloons are normally on display in the evenings, prior to the scheduled launch time. A tethered balloon will set up around 4:30- 5:00 pm for rides, should weather conditions allow. Take a short trip up and down for a nice view of the festivities from the air. Pricing is $20 for adults, $15 for ages 4-12, and 3 and under is free with a paying adult. Organizers anticipate up to 15 balloons in attendance, including the sponsor balloons of Alston Construction LLC and RE/MAX. Full flights are available for purchase by calling 908-283-0721 or emailing fly@balloonfestnj.com.

On Saturday and Sunday, experience the spectacular, one-of-a-kind Balloomination. Not just a traditional balloon glow, but a glow synchronized to familiar music. The show starts at 8:15, weather permitting, and will last around 45 minutes.

Did you know that Warren Community College has one of the top Drone programs in the nation? Learn how to build, repair or fly a drone with Warren UAS, covering – air, ground or even underwater uncrewed vehicles! There are a variety of professions that utilize uncrewed systems for efficiency, and you could be on the forefront of this fast growing field, with high paying jobs. Be sure to check out the Drone demonstrations on Saturday and Sunday, happening at the College’s Drone Port.

A variety of musical entertainment is planned. Enjoy the sounds of dulcimer musicians each day and a Barbershop Quartet on Sunday. In the evenings, from 6-8 pm, enjoy the Celtic fusion sound of Na’Bodach, on Friday night, the School of Rock House Band on Saturday night, and some Doo-wop by Jersey Sound on Sunday. Other entertainment includes a ventriloquist on Friday, and Balloons the Clown on Saturday and Sunday, from 3:30-6:30 pm.

Enjoy the Hot Rides & Hot Air Balloons Car & Truck Show, on Sunday, June 4. All makes and models welcome. Pre-registration is recommended for the car show, to ensure your spot. There will be awards for the Top 10 entries — people’s choice, and a Best of Show — judge.

Shop and explore at the Arts & Crafts and other exhibitor vendor booths. Find great festival food choices, from a variety of food trucks.

Other attractions include the June Jumble Combat Robot competition. Up to 80 combat robots will battle it out, starting at noon on Saturday, with the competitions picking up again on Sunday, until the last Bot in each category is standing. Visit RobotCombatevents.com to enter your Bot.

Enjoy some time in the country. The Warren Community College has a large lawn surrounding the balloon port. Feel free to bring blankets, lawn chairs, and small games like quoits or corn hole for your enjoyment. Pets, food and alcoholic beverages are prohibited (with the exception of snacks & beverages for small children).

Proceeds from the event support the Warren Community College Foundation, the Fred T. Grotenhuis Veterans Community Center project, and the Fred Grotenhuis scholarships (fredgscholarships.org).

Visit www.balloonfestnj.com for pricing on admission, parking, tethered and full balloon flight, and online tickets. Note, tethered rides are first come, first served and may not be reserved.

Purchase tickets here.

Supported in part by a grant from the NJ Department of State, Division of Travel and Tourism. VisitNJ.org. Entertainment made possible in part by the Warren County Cultural & Heritage Division of Land Preservation, www.warrenparks.com/wcchc