Memorial Day Weekend launches the beginning of summer … and it launches balloons, too.
Tickets for the 36 th annual QuickChek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning in Association with PNC Bank,
the largest summertime hot air balloon and music festival in North America, are on sale at all 156
QuickChek fresh convenience market store locations throughout New Jersey, the Hudson Valley and Long
Island.

The three-day festival has been named the “#1 Thing to Do in New Jersey” by “New Jersey
Monthly”magazine and the premier family entertainment attraction in the state by the USATODAY
Network.
This year’s festival features the awe-inspiring spectacle of twice a day mass ascensions of 100 hot air
balloons from around the world taking flight over the scenic Hunterdon County countryside and a hugely
popular live concert series featuring pop star Andy Grammer.
The festival takes off July 27-28-29 from Solberg Airport in Readington.
New special shaped hot air balloons include the 120-foot-tall QuickChek saxophone which recognizes the
festival’s position as the largest hot air balloon and music festival; an 85-foot-tall Queen’s Guard in honor
of the Royal Wedding; a 115-foot-tall puppy; a 75-foot-tall yellow bird and 75-foot-tall Rocket the Flying
Squirrel cartoon character balloons.
Returning favorites include the PNC American Flag, the world’s largest free-flying American flag; the 110-
foot-tall Unique Photo Panda; the 105-foot-tall Bimbo white bear; and an 80-foot-tall Pepsi football.
And making his big comeback, the 105-foot-tall Elvis special shaped balloon.
The Progressive Stage is home to this year’s live concert series. PNC Bank presents Andy Grammer in
association with Magic 98.3 FM on Friday, July 27. The New Jersey Lottery presents Lifehouse in
association with the Festival’s nighttime hot air balloon glow on Saturday, July 28. Creedence Clearwater
Revisited performs Sunday, July 29.
Best-selling children’s recording artist Laurier Berkner of Princeton opens the concerts on Friday
afternoon, July 27, presented by Hackensack Meridian Health.
Festival admission includes access to the daily mass hot air balloon ascensions; lawn seating for concerts;
a fireworks display; a nighttime hot air balloon glow; death-defying stunts by world record human
cannonball David “The Bullet” Smith; age-appropriate children’s entertainment and activities; exciting
interactive exhibits and hundreds of crafters and food vendors.