Free Opportunity to Attend the QuickChek Balloon Festival Fri. 7/24

http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/2/a/1/e/600_390490782.jpeg

Hi folks! Just like last year, I thought I'd post this information as a Meetup even though it is unlike most meetups where people meet for a class, photowalk, etc. Instead, I wanted to let all members know that you can attend and take pictures at the QuickChek NJ Balloon Festival on the morning of Friday, 7/24/2015 for no cost and with no special pass/ticket (even parking is free). The launch is at about 6:30am, but I would arrive a bit earlier. There is a special parking lot set aside for pro and amateur photographers, as well as photo clubs, and I've copied and pasted the information below if you'd like to attend (copied in it's entirety from the Festival website at balloonfestival.com):

Freelance and amateur photographers and photo clubs wishing to take pictures at the Festival are invited to attend the scheduled pre-Festival media launch FREE of charge on Friday, July 24 at 6:30 a.m. No credentials or sign up needed. Parking for this preview will be available at the airport entrance of Forty Oaks Road and Solberg Road. Following the media launch a ticket purchase will be required for admission into the Festival, with parking available in the main lots all 3 days or at Raritan Valley Community College on Saturday and Sunday. Festival tickets are available by calling 1-800-HOT-AIR9, on the links on the web site, or at any QuickChek store location. Images taken are to be used solely for editorial purposes; images taken for commercial use is prohibited.

• See more at: http://balloonfestival.com/press/media/#sthash.UKLAU6tS.dpuf

Here is a link on Google Maps to the place where you can park:

https://goo.gl/maps/k8YSV

And here's a quick tip: WEAR WATERPROOF FOOTWEAR. The ground will probably be wet.

I also wrote this article about last year's Festival, which is similar to this year's festival. It's an amazing event: http://imagingbuffet.com/2014/07/24/the-quick-chek-new-jersey-festival-of-ballooning-returns-to-nj-july-25-27-2014/

If you'd like to attend the main festival after the media launch, tickets are required.

If you want to watch/listen to the music acts in the evenings, you don't need special tickets apart from your standard ticket to the festival. You can save 24% if you pay for tickets by July 23. Here is more information about tickets: http://www.balloonfestival.com/tickets/general/

If you see me walking around with a black photo vest and a few cameras, please say hi! This is what I will look like (shot with a GoPro last year).

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I hope to see you there!