READINGTON, NJ — The skies over Central Jersey will soon be filled with balloons, and there’s one guaranteed to outshine them all.
The QuickChek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning in Association with PNC Bank has announced that an 11-story tall flying lighthouse will be the signature special shaped balloon for this year’s festival, lighting the way for the largest summertime hot air balloon and music festival in North America. The three-day Festival takes off July 26-27-28, 2019 from Solberg Airport in Readington, NJ.
Tickets go on sale Monday, May 20 at all 159 QuickChek fresh convenience market locations throughout New Jersey, New York’s Hudson Valley and Long Island. The Whitehouse Station, NJ-based convenience chain is the festival’s exclusive retail ticket outlet.
“Lighthouses are a great representation of summer here in New Jersey and the QuickChek Flighthouse balloon will be a great representation for this year’s magic of ballooning,” said Festival Executive Producer Howard Freeman. “We have our greatest lineup of special shaped balloons and our best concert lineup ever, so as you head out for the holiday weekend, make QuickChek your Summer Sub, fresh brewed iced coffee and Festival ticket destination. You’ll enjoy great savings on all three!”
“People love and adore lighthouses, it’s a universal sign of security and like America, it’s always there to protect,” said hot air balloon pilot Barry DiLibero of Chester Springs, PA, who built the 11-story tall, red, white and blue balloon in 2006. “I had always wanted one and people just feel good about them. We’re looking forward to providing that warm feeling and experience for everyone at the festival.”
Complete with sea gulls near the “light” at the top, this special shaped hot air balloon is a majestic 115 feet tall, 53 feet wide at the bottom and weighs 440 pounds.
The QuickChek Flighthouse will be one of up to 100 sport and special shaped hot air balloons taking flight twice each day over the scenic Hunterdon County countryside. New special shaped hot air balloons include a pair of 86-foot-tall cop and robber balloons; a 100-foot-tall High Kitty Japanese cat of good fortune; and a 98-foot-tall Kermie The Frog.
Returning favorite balloons include the 5-story-tall PNC American Flag, the 92-foot-tall Simba the Lion, a 110-foot-tall panda from Unique Photo, a 105-foot-tall white bear from Bimbo Bakeries USA, and the 80-foot-tall Pepsi football.
The Beach Boys, who helped launch the Festival’s live concert series, head this year’s music lineup, which features country-pop superstars The Band Perry, ABBA The Concert, and Grammy Award winning children’s recording artist Dan Zanes + Claudia Eliaza.
Festival admission includes access to the daily mass hot air balloon ascensions; lawn seating for concerts, a fireworks display, a nighttime hot air balloon glow, Flippenout extreme trampoline show, age-appropriate children’s entertainment and activities, exciting interactive exhibits and hundreds of crafters and food vendors.
Festival-goers can now save up to $11 off the gate price at any QuickChek store with no fees. You can enjoy additional savings during QuickChek’s “Summer Sub Days” as select 6-inch sub sandwiches are just $3 and select 12-inch supreme sandwich baguettes are just $6.
Download the QuickChek mobile app to receive an additional $2 savings on Festival tickets through July 24. To locate the nearest QuickChek store visit www.quickchek.com; to learn more about this year’s Festival visit www.balloonfestival.com.
###
MEDIA CONTACT:
Russ Mensch
Mensch & Company, Inc.
Public Relations & Event Marketing
phone: 201-797-2448
email: [email protected]
