Special Edition for Warren County Hot Air Balloons, Arts & Crafts Festival
For the past two decades, Warren County has been the home of an annual hot air balloon festival. This year, there are three, with the first of the trio coming your way this week!
The Warren County Hot Air Balloons, Arts & Crafts Festival is getting ready to launch this Thursday, June 3, and run through Sunday, June 6, 2021, at the Warren County Community College main campus in Washington, NJ. Explore Warren County Tourism Partnership is pleased to be a festival sponsor, and so we are sending you this special edition of Warren County Wanderings devoted to the festival. NOTE: Due to the rainy weather, Thursday's activities have been canceled and the festival will open on Friday, June 4.
Though this will be the first event of its kind at the College, this is not the first balloon festival held at the venue. Last year, when the Warren County Farmers’ Fair – an event that had hosted the balloons for 19 years – cancelled, long-time sponsor Warren County Community College and the balloon festival organizer, Giulia Grotenhuis, teamed up to bring the community some flying fun in August 2020. The plan was to return to the Farmers' Fair in 2021, but the festival based at the college proved so popular - with many traveling more than two hours to attend - that the team involved decided to give the people more!
This year the balloon festival organizers and Warren County Community College team up again for two more festivals at the College. For Warren County fairgoers, rest assured the balloons will return to the event that will run from Saturday, July 31 to Saturday August 7, at the Fairgrounds in Harmony Township, and the third festival will be held at the College in September.
The gates for the first event will open on Thursday, June 3 at 2pm, and the festival runs each day from 2-9pm. Each of the four days features music, activities for kids and adults alike, arts & crafts vendors and exhibitors, a variety of food trucks, and, of course, hot air balloons!
Weather permitting, the balloons will launch each evening at 6:30pm. Flights are available! You can book either a flight or a tethered balloon ride to get a bird's eye view of the festival.
The Warren County Community College campus, located at 475 Route 57, Washington, NJ, 07882, has plenty of lawn to spread out and social distance. Pets, food and alcoholic beverages are prohibited (with the exception of snacks & beverages for small children). Feel free to bring blankets, lawn chairs, small games like quoits and corn hole. Any Covid-19 rules issued by the State of New Jersey at the time of the event will be followed.
Proceeds from the event will support the Warren County Community College Foundation, as well as the Fred T. Grotenhuis Veterans Community Center project and the Fred Grotenhuis scholarships.
Here are the details on admission:
Advance Tickets: Click here to buy tickets in advance.
Adult: $9, plus tax & handling fee.
Youth ages 4-12: $4.5, plus tax & handling fee.
Ages 3 & Under: Free
Parking: $10/car
At the Gate:
Only available if Covid-19 rules allow for capacity.
Cash only. $10 Adult, $5 Children. Includes tax & handling fee.
Parking: $10/car
Visit www.balloonfestnj.com/more-festivals.html for all the details on admission, parking, tethered and full balloon flight, and for online tickets for admission and balloon rides.
Read on for more about balloon rides, entertainment, and other features of the Warren County Hot Air Balloons, Arts & Crafts Festival!
See you at the balloon festival. Happy Wanderings!