Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning

July 29 - July 31, 2011

Solberg Airport
37 Thor Solberg Rd
Readington, NJ United States 08889
July 29-31, 2011
Number of balloons: 125
Year began: 1982

In 1989, New Jersey entrepreneurs Howard Freeman and John Korff decided to put their extensive experience at organizing and promoting world class events to work for the state of New Jersey. Their goal was to develop a festival where New Jersey was the star attraction and would be showcased in a positive light.

In 1992, they met Bill Lewis of Stanton, New Jersey who had owned and organized the New Jersey Festival of Ballooning for nine years. In 1983, working with Malcolm Forbes and Tom Curley from USA Today, Mr. Lewis brought approximately ten hot air balloons to the Union 76 Truck Stop on Route 78 in New Jersey for his event. After two years they moved the festival to is current site at Solberg Airport in Readington, New Jersey where it grew to 40-50 balloons and 30,000-40,000 attendees. However, Lewis was looking to sell the festival to someone with the wherewithal to take it to the next level.

Korff and Freeman, whose only previous experience with balloons was watching the movie "The Wizard of Oz," decided to attend the Thunderbird Balloon Classic in Arizona to see what the "hot air" was all about. Both entrepreneurs were immediately impressed by the amount of traffic and the number of people who appeared "spellbound" by the sight of dozens of hot air balloons in the sky.

In 1993, Freeman and Korff acquired the New Jersey Festival of Ballooning and signed a long term deal with Solberg Airport. That same year also marked the beginning of a long running partnership with the sponsor Quick Chek that is now in its 18th year. In that time, Freeman and Korff have grown the festival not only into the largest event in New Jersey, but into the largest summertime balloon festival in North America. Now, backed by more than fifty corporate partners, including title sponsor Quick Chek Food Stores, the festival has grown in stature both nationally and internationally. Recently the festival was designated as one of the top one hundred events in North America by the American Bus Association and also was the recipient of the Governor's award for the Best Special Event in New Jersey.

In 2000, to keep with their philosophy of differentiating the festival from other balloon festival by promoting "more than just hot air," the two entrepeneurs introduced major concerts to the festival with their presentation of the legendary band, The Beach Boys. Each subsequent festival now includes three major concerts. Recent headliners include The Doobie Brothers, Hall & Oates, Styx, Foreigner, Jonas Brothers, KC & the Sunshine Band, and numerous others.

This year's 28th Annual Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning will attract more than 175,000 people from all over the United States. In fact, the festival is only 35 miles from New York City, Philadelphia and Bethlehem, PA; 30 miles from Newark and 25 miles from Trenton.

While the Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning is designed to offer fun for people of all ages, Freeman and Korff have also dedicated their efforts, through the festival, to helping the community. A portion of all proceeds from the festival are donated to the Children's Miracle Network, which funds three pediatric hospitals in New Jersey. Last year, more than $150,000 was raised by the festival for local charities bringing the total contribution for the 16 years of Freeman and Korff's management to over 1.5 million dollars returned to local and regional non-profits.

All told, The Festival Group has now produced fourty-five hot air balloon and music festivals including festivals in Columbus, Ohio; South Weymouth, MA; Brookhaven, NY; Burlington, VT; Syracuse, NY; Jersey City, NJ and Springfield, MA.

FROM THE NORTH:
Take Route 287 or the Garden State Parkway to Interstate 78. Take Interstate 78 West to Exit 26 (County Route 665). Turn left onto Rattlesnake Bridge Road (Route 665). Travel Rattlesnake Bridge Road South past Raritan Valley Community College. Turn left onto County Route 614. Turn right onto Readington Road/Raritan Valley College Drive (County Route 637). Cross Route 22. Travel approximately three (3) miles, and follow signs to Balloon Festival Parking.

FROM THE SOUTH:
Take Route 1, the Garden State Parkway or the New Jersey Turnpike to Route 287. Take Route 287 North to Route 22. Travel Route 22 West and follow directions below for traveling "From the East."
OR
Take Route 295 North past Exit 60 to Route 95. Travel Route 95 South and exit onto Route 31. Travel Route 31 North and exit onto Route 202. Take Route 202 North, past Flemington, to Old York Road. Turn left onto Old York Road. Travel Old York Road West and follow signs to Balloon Festival Parking.
OR
Take Route 1 North to Route 206. Take Route 206 North to the Somerville traffic circle. Take Route 202 South to Old York Road. Turn right onto Old York Road. Travel Old York Road West and follow signs to Balloon Festival Parking.
OR
Take County Route 523 North to East Dreahook Road (County Route 620). Turn right onto East Dreahook Road and follow signs to Balloon Festival Parking.

FROM THE EAST:
Take Route 22 West, past the Somerville area and Bridgewater Commons Mall. Enter into the Township of Branchburg, and exit at Readington Road/Raritan Valley College Drive. Turn left onto Readington Road (County Route 637). Travel Readington Road South, crossing Route 22. Travel approximately three (3) miles, and follow signs to Balloon Festival Parking.
OR
Take Interstate 78 West to Exit 26 (County Route 665). Turn left onto Rattlesnake Bridge Road (Route 665). Travel Rattlesnake Bridge Road South past Raritan Valley Community College. Turn left onto County Route 614. Turn right onto Readington Road/Raritan Valley College Drive (County Route 637). Cross Route 22. Travel approximately three (3) miles, and follow signs to Balloon Festival Parking.

FROM THE WEST:
Take Interstate 78 East to Exit 24 (County Route 523). Turn right onto Route 523 South. Take Route 523 South to Route 22. Turn left onto Route 22. Travel Route 22 East for four (4) miles, and exit at Raritan Valley College Drive/Readington Road. Turn right onto Readington Road (County Route 637). Cross Route 22. Travel approximately three (3) miles, and follow signs to Balloon Festival Parking.

Web Site: http://www.balloonfestival.com
Ken Staats
1-800-HOT-AIR 9
Email: information at balloonfestival dot com