Weekend Fun for NJ Kids: Balloon Festivals, Duck Derby, Dawn Patrol, July 25-26

7/22/15 - By Laurie Rein

If you look up at the New Jersey sky this weekend, you may see hundreds of brilliant balloons filling the air. That’s because there are two amazing balloon festivals that you won’t want to miss-- Warren County Farmers' Fair & Hot Air Balloon Festival and the wildly popular QuickChek Festival of Ballooning. It’s also a great weekend for food-oriented fun at St. Ann’s Italian Festival and the Sweet Corn Festival at Oasis Family Farm.

Whatever you decide to do this weekend, we hope you enjoy it with family and friends. For even more activity options, check out our Event Calendar and our Summer Fun Guide.

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Warren County Farmers' Fair & Hot Air Balloon Festival (Phillipsburg, NJ)
This day trip-worthy festival features both hot air balloons and old-fashioned county fair fun. Balloon activities include launches, balloon rides and tethered rides, while the fairgrounds feature farm exhibitions, pony rides, food, entertainment and more.

St. Ann’s Italian Festival (Hoboken, NJ)
Delicious Italian food, rides, games and live entertainment are all part of this popular, and tasty, Hoboken tradition. The fair is held at St. Ann Church and runs through Sunday. FREE

Sweet Corn Festival (Robbinsville, NJ)
If you love corn on the cob, roasted corn and popcorn, this is the festival for you. Guests can indulge in fresh corn eats, while the kids will keep busy with wagon rides, crafts and a corn-eating contest. Held at Oasis Family Farm, reservations are encouraged. FREE

Dawn Patrol (Oceanport, NJ)
Get a behind-the-scenes look at the world of horse-racing. For more details, check out our full review on this exciting event, which runs weekends July and August. FREE

QuickChek Festival of Ballooning (Whitehouse Station, NJ)
More than 100 beautiful balloons take over the sky at the largest summertime hot air balloon festival in North America. The event, which takes place Friday through Sunday, also features music, fireworks, crafts and vendors.

Saturday, July 25th

Ducky Derby (Pennington, NJ)
Quack! Bring the family to Allaire Village and witness ducks race down the Mill Pond for prizes. While you’re there, be sure to check out all the activities Allaire State Park and Allaire Historic Village have to offer. FREE

Family Fair at Theater Square (Newark, NJ)
Head to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center for an entertaining outdoor festival, with crafts, treats, demonstrations and onstage entertainment. FREE

Sunday, July 26th

Somerset Patriots Baseball Game (Bridgewater, NJ)
Meet Sponge Bob's Patrick Star at TD Bank Ballpark, as the Patriots take on the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. Baseball caps will be distributed to the first 1500 fans, and jerseys will be auctioned off.

Family Fun Days (Oceanport, NJ)
Every Sunday is Family Fun Day at Monmouth Park. Kids can partake in pony rides, face painting, clowns, a bounce house and live music. Children 12 and under are FREE.

Check out our NJ GoList featuring our top picks for the entire month of July. And don't forget: We have additional activity listings in our Event Calendar.

And if you are heading into NYC for the weekend, make sure you check out the New York City Mommy Poppins Event Calendar to get the latest on all the fun to be had Big Apple-style.