Northeast Hot Air RV'ers Membership - canceled for 2024

We have been advised that construction has begun on the field and we will be unable to camp at the airport this year.

Unfortunately, we were unable to secure an alternate location.

All 2024 memberships are being refunded. Refunds may take 7-10 days to process.

We have already begun looking at options for 2025.

Membership

Please see below for membership information

Membership Requirements and Privileges

You must possess (own, rent, or borrow) a self-contained* RV unit with integrated holding tanks for fresh, black, and grey water, and agree to abide by the club rules and regulations in order to become a member.

Members are allowed to dry-camp in an open field* overlooking the Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport for the Adirondack Balloon Festival, and participate in various club-sponsored activities during the festival.

Membership is available on a first-come, first-served basis. We have a limited number of spots so we recommend that you register early.

* Please note: The RV parking area is not a "campground" - it is simply an open, unimproved field that Warren County generously allows us to use for one weekend a year during the Adirondack Balloon Festival. There are no hookups for water or sewer, all garbage must be brought home with you after the event, and there are no campfires or charcoal grills allowed.

The Northeast Hot Air RV'ers makes no claims as to the suitability of the site for RV parking and assumes no responsibility for your vehicle.

How does this work?

Here are the highlights:

Upon submitting your membership application and dues, you become a club member. Please read everything you are mailed.
You will receive a parking assignment for your RV. (They are usually mailed around Labor Day.)
RVs arrive at the field on Friday from 2 pm until 7:30/dark. Member volunteers direct RVs to their assigned parking area.
If you are coming with a group, you must arrive together to park together.
Once the RVs are parked, they are expected to remain parked for the duration of the gathering. Vehicles are not allowed to move in the field from sunset Friday until after the Sunday morning launch.
- There is a separate parking area for vehicles that can be used to come and go during the weekend. If you have a tow vehicle, you may detach it before 7:00 on Friday night and park it in the Towed Parking area.
The balloons are scheduled to launch Friday and Saturday evening and Saturday and Sunday morning.
There is a bus to transport members to and from the airport.
There are club activities throughout the weekend and a membership meeting at 2pm on Saturday.
Members are asked to volunteer for a 2-hour shift during the weekend if they are able.
Everyone packs up and leaves the field after the Sunday morning launch. RVs must be off the field by 10 am Sunday.

Parking

Field Assignment

Please see photo for parking sections.

Groups

Groups wishing to park together must arrive together.

Please choose the same parking area on your application and arrive together. We will do our best to park you with your group.

If you arrive in the area early, need to detach a tow, or need to meet with your group, you can stage at the Northbound I-87 rest area between exits 17 & 18, or Aviation Mall off exit 19.

Gates open for RV Parking 2pm Friday

RVs may arrive on Friday from 2 pm until 7 pm/dark. RVs cannot be parked after dark

Once the RVs are parked, they are expected to remain parked for the duration of the gathering.

Volunteers will direct RVs to their assigned parking area. It is VITAL that your parking assignment be affixed to your windshield when you come through the gate.

Please don't cause a back up

RVs that wish to detach their towed vehicle must do so before arriving at the gate!

We do not have a place for you to detach other than in the field.

Towed Parking Area

This is a separate parking area for vehicles that will come and go during the weekend. (No vehicles in the field may move after dark on Friday until Sunday's exit)

If you tow your RV and will need to go back out, you should detach your tow vehicle and park in the Towed Parking area on Friday before dark. Your vehicle will not be allowed back into the field until it is time to pack up on Sunday.

The circular parking decal is used for the cars that park in the Towed Parking Area. This decal must be affixed to your windshield at all times.

Club Activities

Check-In

Please visit the “Check-in” tent on Friday - closes at 7:30 pm, or Saturday from 8 am-12 pm only.

Pick up your membership packet.
Pick up your ticket to enter the drawing for the Hot Air Balloon Ride*
Pick up any pre-ordered merchandise.
Purchase tickets for the 50/50 raffle.
Various items may be offered for sale.

Membership Meeting

Saturday at 2pm

Our annual membership meeting will be held in the movie tent.

Please bring a chair and join us for a brief meeting.

Balloon ride* tickets, 50/50 raffle tickets, and door prizes will be drawn at this time – you must be present to win.

Please speak up prior to the drawing if you did not receive your door prize/ride ticket. One ticket per paid membership.

*The balloon ride is at the balloon pilot’s discretion, is weather permitting, and is only good at this year’s Festival. You are responsible for getting your ticket at the check-in tent. If you do not get a ticket, you will not be entered into the drawing.

Fun!

Due to the uncertainty surrounding our event, we are unsure which club activities will happen.

We will post updates as we get closer to the festival.

Assistance

If you need help, please ask.

If you need any assistance, please see one of the officers or committee members.

The “Host RV” at the beginning of each section will also be able to assist you.

Organizing Committee

The club is 100% volunteer-run.

The organizing committee is made up of a dozen or so dedicated volunteers, including the officers, who meet throughout the year to plan each year’s event. They put in countless hours designing and maintaining the website, preparing materials for mailings, processing applications, planning activities for the annual gathering, making phone calls, recruiting and organizing volunteers to work at the event, assigning parking spots, laying out the field, and generally running the event at the field.

We thank them for their outstanding efforts!

More committee members are always welcome. If you would like to join the organizing committee, please contact us for the meeting dates and location.

HELP WANTED:

We need volunteers to work during the festival for 2-hour shifts!

Gate Keepers at our access gate to make sure that vehicles entering have a parking permit. (Friday and Saturday - all hours)
Early birds to help at the coffee and donut tent (Saturday and Sunday early am)
Traffic Directors to stand in the field to direct the RVs to parking locations. (Friday only 1 - 8 pm)
Check-in table workers to check members in, sell 50/50 tickets, chicken dinner tickets, pins, club merchandise, etc. (Friday 1-8 pm and Saturday 8 am -12 pm)

Please sign-up online for a shift or contact us at volunteers@NEHARVers.org to schedule a shift to work.