The Warren County Hot Air Balloons, Fun & Games Festival Returns September 19 & 20
The annual Warren County Hot Air Balloons, Fun & Games Festival returns to Warren Community College on September 19 and 20, bringing two days of family-friendly entertainment, vibrant hot air balloon launches, and interactive exhibits to the heart of Warren County.
Conveniently located on Route 57—less than 1.5 hours from both New York City and Philadelphia—the festival invites visitors to explore the scenic area as fall approaches.
Festival Highlights Include:
- Hot Air Balloon Flights & Glows: Evening mass launches take place daily between 5:15 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Tethered balloon rides are available for $30 per adult and $20 for children ages 4–12, benefiting local scholarship funds. Morning full-flight rides are also available at 6:30 a.m. Each evening concludes around 7:30 p.m. with a patriotic balloon glow, live DJ dance party, and trick-or-treating at select balloons.
- Car & Truck Show: Saturday features the Hot Rods & Hot Air Balloons Car & Truck Show from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., raising funds for the Fred Grotenhuis Memorial Scholarships.
- Games & Entertainment: Guests can enjoy food trucks, craft vendors, live music, juggling workshops, and interactive family zones. Activities range from free mini-golf and crafts to paid attractions like vintage video game arcades and soccer darts.
- Drone & AI Demos: Attendees can visit the WarrenUAS tent to explore Warren Community College’s nationally recognized Unmanned Systems program and learn about robotics, AI, and drone piloting.
Gates open daily at 1:00 p.m., and festivities run until 8:30 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets. Pets, alcohol, and outside food are prohibited (with exceptions for service animals and young children).
Save on advance tickets at www.balloonfestnj.com (handling fees apply).
- Adult: $10
- Youth ages 4–12: $4
- Ages 3 & under: Free
- Parking: $5 per car
- Family packs: $40 include parking and allow up to 5 people per car
At the Gate (cash or credit)
- Adult: $12
- Youth ages 4–12: $5
- Ages 3 & under: Free
- Parking: $6 per car
- Family packs: $50; includes parking and allows up to 5 people per car.
Warren Community College has plenty of lawn space to spread out and social distance. Pets, outside food, and alcoholic beverages are prohibited. Feel free to bring blankets, lawn chairs, and small games such as quoits and cornhole.
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)
For more details on how to become a sponsor or vendor, or to book a balloon ride, email fly@balloonfestnj.com . Additional information is available at www.balloonfestnj.com.
Funding was provided by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and Warren County Cultural & Heritage Affairs, a Division of the Department of Land
Preservation, with support from the Warren County Board of County Commissioners.
