(READINGTON, NJ) – Colorful balloons fill the sky. Concerts. Rides. Fireworks. Food. All in one place. At the 38th annual New Jersey Lottery Festival of Ballooning, the largest summer hot air balloon and music festival in North America and New Jersey’s premier family entertainment attraction, there’s plenty to see and do in a safe outdoor environment.

It’s also the perfect place to stay for families looking to stay close to home this summer when the Festival relaunches July 23-24-25, 2021 at Hunterdon County Solberg Airport in Readington, New Jersey.

With the awe-inspiring spectacle of sports and specially shaped hot air balloons taking off twice a day and a popular live concert series, the Festival was named New Jersey’s premier family entertainment attraction by the USA TODAY Network and the # 1 thing to do in New Jersey by New Jersey monthly magazine.

Hot air balloon inflations and ascents – what the Festival calls “hot air balloon magic” – take place in the early morning and early evening.

In between, the Festival offers hours of affordable family entertainment, including a series of live concerts; a firework; a nighttime balloon glow where balloons are inflated and lit up like giant lanterns; children’s rides and age-appropriate entertainment; human cannonball David “The Bullet” Smith; running with the 5 km balloons; exciting experiential attractions, samples and exhibits from major consumer brands; and hundreds of artisans and food vendors.

This year’s concert lineup includes successful children’s artists Laurie Berkner Friday, Barenaked Ladies Saturday and Styx Sunday. Tickets on the lawn for concerts are included in general admission tickets. The Festival also offers reserved seats for VIP concerts.

“We’re thrilled that people want to be outdoors, have fun and spend safe time with friends and family. The size and openness of Solberg Airport allows us to have a safe environment to host the Festival and produce the lifelong memories that people have come to enjoy, ”said Festival executive producer Howard Freeman. .

Freeman noted that the festival will follow guidelines and protocols that Governor Murphy, the CDC and local agencies put in place in July, while noting that the 744-acre airport offers a large open space for people to safely attend the festival.

This year, exciting new special shaped balloons include a colorful unicorn and a giant sloth. Favorite returning balloons include the 110ft tall Unique Photo panda with more special shapes to be announced closer to the Festival.

The return of the New Jersey Lottery Festival of Ballooning is great news for local communities and for New Jersey.

Since its inception in 1970, the New Jersey Lottery has paid more than $ 28 billion to the state, helping to strengthen the public employee pension system for teachers, police and firefighters and other public employees, as well as ” supporting New Jersey businesses and communities.

Giving back to its communities is also an important part of the Festival, which has raised more than $ 3 million to date for local charities, non-profits and specialty children’s hospitals.

Advance tickets offering great savings are available now at www.balloonfestival.com.