Lucky Attendees Have the Chance to Win Up to $10,000 at New Jersey Lottery Festival of Ballooning   READINGTON, NJ — The New Jersey Lottery Festival of Ballooning is known for filling the sky with colorful flying objects.   This year they may fill it with a lot of green, as in lottery prize money.    David Smith, Jr. is the world’s most accomplished human cannonball. He holds six Guinness World Records, including the highest cannon shot (an altitude of 77 feet 6 inches) and the furthest distance being shot out of a cannon (195 feet).    Known as “The Bullet,” Smith has broken the world distance record multiple times and has blasted over incredible obstacles such as Ferris wheels, concert stages, even part of the Grand Canyon. He returns with a bang to the 39th annual New Jersey Lottery Festival of Ballooning from July 29-30-31, 2022 at Solberg Airport in Readington, NJ.    Festival-goers will have a vested interest in his performances: he’ll attempt to win up to $10,000 by scratching off a winning New Jersey Lottery BALLOONING BUCKS Scratch-Off ticket mid-flight during each of his nine shots out of the cannon, which he’ll split with a lucky, randomly-chosen attendee after each performance during the weekend.    David has taken a traditional circus act and transformed it into a world-wide thrill show. The Smith cannons have headlined a full spectrum of the world’s top events and shows. No stranger to danger, David “The Bullet” Smith has faced the unknown, fear, and injury, in his quest to find a place among the top of the world’s most spectacular stunt performers.   He has performed over 8,000 cannon shots in 15 countries.   He is familiar to TV viewers, having returned to NBC’s America’s Got Talent this past February, where he was shot out of a cannon through a ring of fire on AGT: Extreme edition.   “As wild as his performance was on TV, David is something you have to see in person to believe,” said Festival Executive Producer Howard Freeman. “We’re thrilled to have him back, and thrilled to offer something that attendees of all ages will enjoy.”   The son of a renowned human cannonballer, this remains a true family affair. David’s daughter, Chloe, is the person who preps the cannon to fire.    “It’s an indescribable amount of fun,” said Chloe. “It’s a very prideful feeling … there’s a lot of energy when it’s showtime. It’s something to be proud of because I’m doing it with someone who has broken records. Not only that, he’s my dad! Anything I can do to help. Just to be fortunate enough to live my life traveling, absolutely, it’s fun.”   Yes, this family business is a blast. David Smith Sr. literally ran away with the circus and became a renowned human cannonball. He and his wife raised seven children and each one has been fired from a cannon. David Jr.’s sister, Jennifer “The Cannon Lady” Smith, has been the most popular attraction in the Festival’s history.    “I’m thrilled to carry on this family tradition,” said David Jr. “When I was kid, I watched my dad get shot out of a cannon every day, it was just normal. I was 19 when I took my first cannon shot and I got hooked on the adrenaline and the roar of the crowd. We love performing at the festival, the crowds are huge and very enthusiastic.”   “My dad was the best of his generation and I want to be the best of my generation.”    In addition to his scheduled cannon shots, he’ll also serve as the starting gun for this year’s “Running with the Balloons 5K” race on Sunday, July 31.    Runners may have a hard time keeping up with him; he goes from 0 to 60 m.p.h. in less than a second. To learn more or to purchase tickets visit www.balloonfestival.com.