They come from 22 states, three countries, and even a galaxy far, far away. Up to 125 hot air balloons in a rainbow of colors and fantastic shapes will take to the skies over Hunterdon County Friday through Sunday for the 27th Annual Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning.
Well, OK, it's not exactly intergalactic, but back by popular demand is the Darth Vader balloon, from its headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. ''We like to say 'let the flight be with you,' '' says festival executive producer Howard Freeman, who has run the event for 17 years. ''It's the largest summertime balloon festival in North America. We get upwards of 175,000 attendees.''
The 86-foot tall head of Darth Vader joins many festival favorites and some notable newcomers. Always popular are the Quick Chek Farm Fresh farmhouse balloon, complete with a 61-foot tall silo, and the 78-foot wide PNC Bank American Flag, the world's largest free-flying flag. The 166-tall bright pink Energizer Bunny -- the biggest hot air balloon in the world -- marks its 20th appearance.
New this year are four special shapes. Panda-Monium is a 100-foot high black and white panda bear from Kilgore, Texas. The Little Pirate from Knoxville, Tenn., is anything but little, standing 110 feet tall. Clown-N-Around is a 110 foot tall giant clown from Glen Falls, N.Y. And a giant golf ball from Columbia, Mo., is 52 feet in diameter and can hold over 52 million regulation-size golf balls.
There are mass balloon ascensions each evening at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday mornings at 6:30 a.m., times when the winds are the calmest. Balloon rides, both free-flight and tethered, are available. Don't miss the balloon glow at 8 p.m. Saturday.
There's also lots of music and other entertainment on the ground. Headlining music acts include former Beach Boy Al Jardine's Endless Summer Band (8 p.m. Friday), Kool and the Gang (8 p.m. Saturday), and former Doobie Brothers member Michael McDonald (3 p.m. Sunday). Disney's Meaghan Martin (3 p.m. Saturday) should be a big hit with the teens and tweens.
A major attraction is the appearance of the famous Flying Wallendas, who will perform their death-defying aerial act a number of times over the weekend. ''They are the patriarchs of high wire acts -- probably the most famous name in the circus,'' says Freeman. Tino Wallenda and his children will perform the family's three-person pyramid while balancing on a cable a mere half-inch thick and nearly 100 feet off the ground -- with no safety net.
Family entertainment includes juggler Al Grout, magic with Al Belmont, puppets by Ollie's Adventures, amusement rides and fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Friday.
The festival features hundreds of arts and crafts and food vendors, including Quick Chek's 2,700 square-foot food tent, which will premiere the fest's BQ Bourbon Angus burgers, among many other items. A tiki bar will offer light beers and soda. A Caribbean-themed area, complete with a steel drum band and live reggae music, will offer Jamaican Red Stripe beer, and an Irish Pub will feature many Irish brews.
-- Steve Siegel
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