Darth Vader, Yoda and other sport- and specially-shaped hot air balloons will be the centerpiece of this weekend's annual QuickChek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning in Readingon Township, Hunterdon County. But the entertainment does not stop there.
The three-day festival opens Friday, July 24, at Solberg Airport, 39 Thor-Solberg Road, with a 8 p.m. headlining performance by former Eagles guitarist Don Felder. Teen pop singer/Girl Meets World star Sabrina Carpenter, a native of Bucks County, and classic rock band Kansas, are set for 1 and 8 p.m., respectively, Saturday, July 25. Students from the School of Rock Somerville (NJ) will open for Kansas.
Tedeschi Trucks Band -- which includes the husband and wife team of guitarists Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi -- and R&B singer Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings will close out the festival, starting 1:30 p.m., Sunday, July 26.
General admission tickets, which includes admission to the festival and lawn seating for the concerts, cost $20 in advance, $35 at the gate. VIP tickets are also available. Tickets can be purchased online through balloonfestival.com.
The mass ascension of more 100 hot air balloons will kick off the festivities 6:30 p.m. Friday, followed by a fireworks display at 9:30 p.m.
For more information on the festival, visit balloonfestival.com.