The QuickChek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning and PNC Bank brought a 75-foot-tall hot air balloon for Princeton Nursery School Tuesday.
PRINCETON - 48 youngsters stepped into a whole new world on Tuesday.
The QuickChek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning and PNC Bank brought a hot air balloon to Princeton Nursery School students to play in and promote PNC's "Grow Up Great" school readiness program.
The children first lined up at Community Park to hear a brief talk from Howard Freeman, QuickChek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning's executive producer.
In his own entertaining style, Freeman engaged with the children, asked a few questions and got them prepared for a new experience.
All the while, behind him the 75-foot tall hot air balloon was inflated on its side with cold air and secured to the ground.
Children from Trenton YMCA play inside a 75-foot hot air balloon
When the balloon and its crew members were ready, the children were allowed in and encouraged to run wild and have fun.
Some were more outwardly enthusiastic than others, running, jumping, or getting rolled along the edge as the balloon walls moved in on them.
When the time inside was up, the students exited and were enlisted to help flatten out the balloon.
PNC's "Grow Up Great" program is a $350 million, multi-year initiative that began in 2004 to support school readiness.
The QuickChek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning in association with PNC Bank will be held July 29, 30 and 31, 2016 at Solberg Airport in Readington.
Michael Mancuso may be reached at mmancuso@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @michaelmancuso. Find NJ.com on Facebook.