There’s a reason people circle this one on the calendar every year. The Warren County Farmers’ Fair & Hot Air Balloon Festival is back for its 88th run, taking over Phillipsburg from Saturday, July 25 through Saturday, August 1 with the mix of rodeo, rides, and rising balloons that’s made it a summer staple across the state.
A Festival That Has It All
The fairgrounds turn into a small city once the gates open. Dozens of hot air balloons lift off at sunrise, and the evening balloon glow—when the balloons light up in place after dark—tends to stop people in their tracks. Rodeo performers take over another corner of the grounds, cowboys and cowgirls competing in the kind of events you don’t see much of in New Jersey outside of this week.
Farming stays at the center of it all, too. Horse shows, livestock exhibitions, and agricultural competitions run throughout, a nod to the county’s roots that predate the balloons by decades. Tractor pulls draw their own crowd, engines roaring as drivers push their machines as far as they’ll go. And when it’s time for a break, the midway is right there—rides, games, and fair food, the kind you only let yourself have once a year.
Opening day runs Saturday, July 25, from noon to 10 p.m., with events continuing daily through August 1. The lineup shifts day to day, so it’s worth checking the daily schedule before heading out.
Before You Go
Location: North Gate, County Road 519, Phillipsburg, NJ
Dates: Saturday, July 25 – Saturday, August 1
Admission: Ticket pricing varies depending on the day and activities.
Click here for more information regarding pricing and events.
NJ Digest Tip
Bring your camera. Between the balloons, the fair scenes, and the Warren County countryside behind it all, this is one of the most photogenic events New Jersey puts on all summer. Get there early for the launches, stick around for the glow, and don’t skip the fair food on your way out.
Summer doesn’t last long. This is one of those traditions worth the drive while it’s here.
Antonietta LaVecchia has been a small business advocate for over two decades and has made it a mission to get communities to shop small and support local.