Washington, NJ – The annual Hot Air Balloons, Arts & Crafts Festival returns this weekend at Warren Community College, located at 475 Route 57. The event runs Saturday and Sunday, with activities starting each day at 1 p.m.
The festival offers a variety of attractions including a car and truck show, chalk art contest, live music, arts and crafts vendors, and food trucks. Attendees can experience both full flight and tethered balloon rides throughout the weekend.
Highlights include June Jumble Combat Robots, rocket building and launches, and balloon sculptures designed for children. Musical acts will feature the Harmony Garage Band, Kudos Barbershop Quartet, Stevie Vicks acoustic duo, and the Easton School of Rock Bank Street Band. The weekend will also conclude with a dance party hosted by DJ Gold’N.
Each evening, hot air balloons will inflate and take off around 6:30 p.m. At 8 p.m., the special-shaped “Fred G Monster” balloon will make a special appearance at the festival.
For the full weekend schedule and ticket purchases, event-goers can visit the official festival website. In case of inclement weather, the festival’s rain date is set for June 14 and 15.
The festival has grown from its modest beginnings in 2001, when a small group of balloon pilots gathered at the Warren County Farmers’ Fair. It became a regular feature of the fair until 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced a scaled-down event at Warren Community College, which also showcased drone demonstrations as part of the college’s drone program.
