Lady Rider Event - NJ Balloon Festival - Readington, NJ

 
Up and out to the Quick Chek Festival of Ballooning (click to to their website)! Watch the take off of over 125 hot air balloons at 6:30 am and 6:30 pm. This event is held at the Solberg Airport in Readington (GPS - Whitehouse Station).
 
This is also linked with the Ringing Rocks Ride later in the day. You can come to one or both. You decide!
 
The three-day Festival offers 39 hours of morning-through-night family entertainment including a fireworks extravaganza, a nighttime hot air balloon glow where balloons are lit like lanterns, live musical performances, children’s interactive exhibits, numerous attractions including the world famous Flying Wallendas death-defying high wire circus act, the Quick Chek Entertainment Tent, hundreds of arts and crafts and food vendors, and five scheduled mass hot air balloon ascensions with up to 125 balloons taking to the skies over the scenic Hunterdon County countryside.
 
Mass ascensions for are scheduled for Friday, July 24 at 6:30 p.m.; Saturday, July 25 at 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.; and Sunday, July 26 at 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Ascensions are wind and weather permitting.
 
Special shaped balloons include the return of the 86-foot-tall Darth Vader hot air balloon from Star Wars, and festival favorites the Quick Chek Farm Fresh farmhouse, a giant red barn complete with a 61-foot-tall silo, a 30-foot-tall farmer and friendly animals; and the 5-story tall PNC Bank American Flag, the largest free-flying flag ever produced.
 
New balloons include a 100-foot tall panda bear that weighs 675 pounds, a 110-foot-tall pirate, and a 110-foot-tall clown with a 30-foot-wide hat.
 
There is plenty of food at the festival so lunch should be no problem.
 
We will stay at the festival until approximately 12:00 noon at which time we will take a nice ride through the back roads of Hunderton County to Bucks County, Pa.
 
NOTE: There is a $25.00 entrance fee to the festival $17.00 if purchased in advance. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $17 for adults – an $8 savings over the gate price – and $7 for children ages 4-12 – a $3 savings; at all 120 Quick Chek stores in New Jersey and Orange County, NY beginning Monday, June 1. Children age 3 and under are admitted free. Tickets at the gate will be $25 for adults and $10 for children ages 4-12. General admission tickets include lawn seating for all concerts.
 
South group will be meeting at the scenic overlook north bound on Rt. 295 in Bordentown for a KSU 5:00 am. They'll will take Rt 295 North to Rt 31 North to Rt 202 North to Old York Rd in Whitehouse Station to meet up with the north folks.
North folks will be meeting at Solberg Airport 37 Thor Solberg Rd, Whitehouse Station, NJ at 6:15 am
 
For those that like to sleep in, you can meet the group at the festival any time prior to 12:00 noon. But you won't see the awesome take off.