New Jersey’s Hot Air Balloon Festival is here

At Warren County Farmers' Fair July 26-Aug. 1

A two-for-one New Jersey event starts this weekend with the 9th Annual Hot Air Balloon Festival and the 72nd Annual Warren County Farmers' Fair kicking off on Sunday in Harmony Township.

Admission to the fair is $5 for adults and $3 for ages 5-12. Children 4 and under are admitted free. Parking is free as well. Monday through Friday admission special allows children 12 years and under in free of charge until 4:00 pm.

Included in the admission price to the Fair is the Hot Air Balloon Festival. This year the 9th Annual Hot Air Balloon Festival will feature mass hot air balloon launches every evening at 6:30 pm. The Balloon Festival runs in conjunction with the Fair and admission into the Fair allows spectators to view the balloons up close from the balloon port on Strykers Road.
This year the festival will be featuring a competition — "Megaphone Monday and Tuesday" — that will involve the children. Children will cheer on pilots in a race to inflate their balloon the fastest. The winning team wins prize money donated to the charity of their choice. Wednesday night, July 29, will be the 3rd annual Bicycle Balloon Race, with a rain date of Thursday, July 30. Bikers and Balloonists pair up for an exciting race where the biker rides in the balloon and the bike is strapped onto the basket. Proceeds from the race all go to local charity, the ADM Foundation.

Year after year, the Fair attracts youth of all ages to its 4-H and FFA exhibits and competitions, demolition derbies, craft and handwork displays, mud bogs, animal competitions, live entertainment, horse shows and more. Fair highlights also include tractor displays and pulls, the Kid's Corral, the popular Hot Air Balloon Festival and the Traditional Arts Expo. Opening Day starts with an Open Horse Show, Lawn Mower racing in the main arena that are free of charge to fairgoers, and mass hot air balloon launches each evening.

For families with small children the fair can keep them entertained for hours for free. Drop by the animal barns to see cows, pigs, horses, rabbits and more. Catch a clown show at the Kids' Corral, where everything is free of charge for fairgoers and their children.

While at the Kids' Corral participate in one of the contest from the Stick Pony races for little ones to Fear Factor Veggie Style for the more brave. Or participate in the Pie Eating, Bubble Gum Blowing or Hay Bale Rolling contest. Make some crafts, healthy snacks, make a quilt square for the Big Quilt Picture Project or do some coloring. There are plenty of activities from which to choose.

Ryan Pelton, Elvis Impersonator is back by popular demand. Grandstand seating is available for $10 per person. Pelton is one of the most popular Elvis impersonators performing today.

Some other highlights of the Fair include car shows, horse shows and Traditional Arts Expo. The Warren Hills FFA Alumni Association is again organizing their annual car show with corvettes, street rods, customs, diesels and more on display. Dirt Track Heroes is organized and presented by the Harmony Speedway Historical Society. Those who remember attending dirt track races in Harmony, Flemington and Nazareth, will delight in meeting stock car drivers from the 60's, who will be displaying their rebuilt winning cars, trophies and memorabilia. Current day drivers will be in attendance as well. Equestrian events include the Open Horse Show on opening day, 4-H Horse Drill Team, a Dressage Demonstration and Nine Pines Open Western and English Pleasure Show.

The 10th Annual Traditional Arts Expo invites guests to explore the talents of the area's artisans. The time-honored talents of the Evening Star Quilt Guild, the Hunterdon County Quilt Guild, the Warren County Needle Arts Guild, and the Lost Art Lacers of North Jersey will be showcased during daily exhibits and demonstrations. Be sure to vote for your favorite in the "Viewer's Choice" quilt contest at the Traditional Arts Building.

Source