What an awesome, jam-packed, summer weekend! I am so thankful for this opportunity to collaborate with the the Largest Summertime Hot Air Balloon & Music Festival in North America, and to take you along for the adventure! The 37th annual QuickChek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning in Association with PNC Bank was this weekend, and boy was it a blast! The weather was nice and sunny, the vendors provided fun experiences, the food options were plentiful, and the hot air balloons were a wonderful sight.
Let’s start with a little clip from Friday to get started:
The festival began on Friday and ended on Sunday night. I attended all three days of this fun festival at Solberg Airport.
On Friday night, Thomas and I made it there around 5:30 PM. There were a variety of vendors from food and alcoholic drinks to clothing to jewelry and more! We really enjoyed sampling a variety of snacks and beverages. It was fun for us marketing nerds to learn about different brands and to see new products! Some brands really went above and beyond and provided cute creative photo spots!
At around 6:30/7:00 PM, the hot air balloons made their way into the sky. It was nice and sunny outside and the crowd was very excited to see this spectacular balloon accession. Lawn chairs and comfortable blankets filled the field. My personal favorite balloon was the 115-foot-tall QuickChek flying lighthouse! Which balloon is your favorite?
On Saturday, I had a bright and early start. I made it to the festival for the 6:30 am balloon accession. This festival is one you can attend alone or with a group. There was plenty to do and see, so solo adventurers do not be intimidated. I attended alone on Saturday and had a blast!
It was a beautiful summer morning; the temperature was cooler than the night before. At a nice 64 degrees, the morning accessions were great for those looking for a cooler temperature and a smaller crowd. With little winds, the balloons hung stagnant for a while making it optimal for photography!
I met up with some friends who purchased the VIP Breakfast Package; this may be something to look into if you want to secure optimal viewing, a tasty breakfast, and a stress-free morning. My friend and her husband really enjoyed it!
The warm sun became brighter in the sky and another day of the festival had begun!
The Beach Boys took the stage on Sunday for an afternoon of “good vibrations” and sunshine. What a fun show! The crowd was dancing and the band sounded great. It was a very fun way to wind down after a busy weekend. The Beach Boys played “Kokomo” so I was a VERY happy camper. That song is my favorite!
Hope you enjoyed this event recap; see you at the festival next year!
This post was written in collaboration with the 37th annual QuickChek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning in Association with PNC Bank.
Becsea 