tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524940496539908935.post9166561067827221163..comments2024-03-26T19:42:20.410-04:00Comments on The Jersey Momma: The New Jersey Lottery Festival of Ballooning: Reviews, Tips and Advice for AttendingTheJerseyMommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15250348786720873911noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524940496539908935.post-52308931108263374712023-03-12T07:50:55.863-04:002023-03-12T07:50:55.863-04:00We attended the festival and we bought tickets for...We attended the festival and we bought tickets for a ride. Tickets for balloon rides are not cheap! Our pilot never showed!! We sat there with another woman waiting while all the other balloons took off. And waited and waited and waited! Finally a pilot shows up that they called from home!! So we took off and flew for about 10 minutes and landed!! It was so beautiful and fun, but so so short when all the other balloons that left before us went sooo far!! I was very disappointed for what we paid!! I was glad to get the opportunity, but it was really ruined! There are so many other places to do this . Lancaster was wonderful. But please be careful here, we were royally screwed hereAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524940496539908935.post-35461857387042228662021-07-18T15:52:43.039-04:002021-07-18T15:52:43.039-04:00Any idea what is a good time to get to the festiva...Any idea what is a good time to get to the festival to watch the evening balloon launch?Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08407111707449982281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524940496539908935.post-8007313240802106052017-08-01T13:12:37.947-04:002017-08-01T13:12:37.947-04:00That sounds like exactly what happened to us when ...That sounds like exactly what happened to us when we visited a few years back, Peggy. I have never taken the shuttle so I can't vouch for it, but I do think the Sunday evening launch causes the biggest traffic problem afterwards. Sunday's launch is the last event for the whole festival- there are no concerts after it, and most of the stands are closing up shop, so EVERYONE visiting the festival is leaving at the same time. If you visit on a Friday or Saturday, guests can still stay after the launch for concerts, fireworks, etc. So that could be part of the problem, too! We live ten minutes away, maybe less, and we had to sit in that two hour traffic, too. It was so frustrating. TheJerseyMommahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15250348786720873911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524940496539908935.post-84241668498347179722017-07-31T09:42:25.170-04:002017-07-31T09:42:25.170-04:00Sunday evening 2017 festival was perfect in every ...Sunday evening 2017 festival was perfect in every way with the exception of the parking. Total nightmare! Almost 2 hours to just get out of the lot. How is it possible that after 35 years they have NO visible system of directing traffic? Just inexcusable!<br />IF and that's a giant IF we go again, we will be going via shuttle. Wondering if that has a system or if it is also run by amateurs. Anyone use it?<br />Will try to put that part out of memory because seeing those balloons (74 in the sky at once) was magical!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02479704181618299079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524940496539908935.post-2199061818186981152016-07-29T23:29:31.782-04:002016-07-29T23:29:31.782-04:00Hi Kevin- I have actually never been to the balloo...Hi Kevin- I have actually never been to the balloon launch at the Warren County Fair but I have heard good things! I've been to the fair itself, though, and it's very much a true county fair with tractor pulls and livestock and all that fun stuff! I can't imagine the traffic being as bad at the warren county one. Might be worth giving it a shot! TheJerseyMommahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15250348786720873911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524940496539908935.post-57321103165374242902016-07-29T15:08:55.462-04:002016-07-29T15:08:55.462-04:00Hi Mother66! Thanks for your comment. It all depen...Hi Mother66! Thanks for your comment. It all depends on which way the wind is blowing, because there is no one spot to park and clearly see them rise (not that I know of, anyway!). Some people have tried driving along Rt. 22 in Readington and Whitehouse (there is a walmart there where you can park and check which way the wind is blowing or check the festival Facebook page for updates on when/if the balloons are going up and which way they are going). Sometimes they fly in the opposite direction of rt. 22 (towards Rt. 202) and wind up going near White Oak Park in Branchburg. I will try to post updates on my own Facebook page which way they are headed!Police are very particular in town about parking on any of the incoming or outgoing roads to the festival, so they try to discourage you from doing that. I don't even think they would allow you to park at the closest school. Most local people try to see which way the wind is blowing and follow the balloons by car that way. Good luck!TheJerseyMommahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15250348786720873911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524940496539908935.post-75368811886598943182016-07-29T14:46:51.036-04:002016-07-29T14:46:51.036-04:00We will be passing through town in an RV. Can you...We will be passing through town in an RV. Can you recommend a parking lot of a store or school nearby where we can park just to catch a glimpse of the balloons?mother66https://www.blogger.com/profile/08724659118912375604noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524940496539908935.post-44904560443291320562016-07-29T09:59:19.962-04:002016-07-29T09:59:19.962-04:00Have you ever been to the Warrens County Farmers F...Have you ever been to the Warrens County Farmers Fair? Which seems to also host a hot air balloon festival at the same time? I thought they were the same one until realizing they had different addresses. Any advice on which is better?<br /><br />http://balloonfestnj.com/index.html<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00427807354002945926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524940496539908935.post-19414634077201050872016-07-29T09:56:13.389-04:002016-07-29T09:56:13.389-04:00Have you ever been to the Warrens County Farmers F...Have you ever been to the Warrens County Farmers Fair? Which seems to also host a hot air balloon festival at the same time? I thought they were the same one until realizing they had different addresses. Any advice on which is better?<br /><br />http://balloonfestnj.com/index.html<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00427807354002945926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524940496539908935.post-40997921243012059612016-07-25T18:28:11.217-04:002016-07-25T18:28:11.217-04:00That's what many people seem to say, unfortuna...That's what many people seem to say, unfortunately. And it's true that the balloons won't take off if it's windy, even if there's no rain (sometimes they won't inflate them at all). I also wish they could do something to make the heat more bearable for their patrons- maybe misters or more shaded tent areas? Thanks for your input and for commenting!TheJerseyMommahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15250348786720873911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524940496539908935.post-44756790353013568532016-07-25T09:34:30.439-04:002016-07-25T09:34:30.439-04:00We went last year (2015) - a very long day - very ...We went last year (2015) - a very long day - very hot! We got there early because my daughters wanted to see Sabrina Carpenter. Then we had to wait all day for the balloons to go up - and they almost didn't because it was too windy - no storms around - just windy. There are a lot of vendors there selling overpriced stuff and some lame entertainment. Yes, there are freebies - I guess that's exciting if you want a teeny tiny pack of potato chips or another tote bag. From now on we will only watch it from afar - not worth the price and heat! MommyDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06943121906357222569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524940496539908935.post-86551431855894397822015-07-08T17:56:50.465-04:002015-07-08T17:56:50.465-04:00It is a sight to see!It is a sight to see!TheJerseyMommahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15250348786720873911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524940496539908935.post-27951634018936157692015-07-08T17:55:58.584-04:002015-07-08T17:55:58.584-04:00Thanks, Rebecca! This is the ultimate in balloon ...Thanks, Rebecca! This is the ultimate in balloon watching!TheJerseyMommahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15250348786720873911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524940496539908935.post-66532443821550330382015-07-08T14:28:54.680-04:002015-07-08T14:28:54.680-04:00I love this! We have balloons floating over our h...I love this! We have balloons floating over our home quite often. But, this tops it!ThePoliteOnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02038027698610124522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524940496539908935.post-54891315586074672212015-07-06T21:17:40.503-04:002015-07-06T21:17:40.503-04:00How amazing!How amazing!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00870216096198779001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524940496539908935.post-52257372239626144492013-07-12T19:35:15.145-04:002013-07-12T19:35:15.145-04:00I know, but I hate to turn people away because of ...I know, but I hate to turn people away because of that! I don't know if that's the experience for everyone. I hope some other readers can chime in and let me know what their travels were like. I have heard good things about the shuttle, too. TheJerseyMommahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15250348786720873911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524940496539908935.post-65054556687681486802013-07-12T16:46:49.368-04:002013-07-12T16:46:49.368-04:00You had me right up until the "it took 2 hour...You had me right up until the "it took 2 hours to drive 10 minutes" part. It's like going to see fireworks all over again!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06882889973369909192noreply@blogger.com