In North Brunswick, New Jersey, on the sunlit morning of August 23, 2025, a half-century of tradition came to life as the New Jersey Folk Festival celebrated its 50th anniversary. Set against the pastoral backdrop of Davidson’s Mill Pond Park, this milestone event unfolded with the warmth and vibrancy that have come to define the beloved cultural celebration. Postponed from its original spring date due to weather concerns, the golden jubilee arrived just in time to close out the summer with music, dance, food, and storytelling that drew attendees from across the Garden State and beyond.
This year’s festival, themed “50th Anniversary—Celebrating New Jersey,” served as both a tribute to the state’s rich folk traditions and a joyful gathering of community. As the longest-running folk festival in New Jersey, the event has grown from modest beginnings into a cornerstone of the state’s cultural calendar. For many, it represents not only a day of entertainment but a living archive of the region’s diverse heritage, capturing the voices, rhythms, and stories of New Jersey’s many communities.
The park buzzed with activity from the early hours. Stages set up around the grounds offered an eclectic lineup of musical acts, from bluegrass and old-time folk to jazz, roots rock, and traditional international sounds. Performers like Long Time Coming, McDermott’s Handy, Jackson Pines, and Tempo Alegre took turns stirring the crowd, while newer acts and student ensembles brought fresh energy to the historic occasion. One of the day’s highlights came from the New Brunswick Jazz Project, whose soulful arrangements paid homage to the city’s long musical lineage. Later, the Mike Montrey Band capped off the evening with a spirited set that kept audiences dancing until dusk.
But the New Jersey Folk Festival is far more than a music event. Throughout the park, artisan tents displayed handcrafted goods ranging from pottery and woodworking to textiles and metalwork. Visitors browsed stalls lined with locally made items while sampling regional foods that celebrated the state’s culinary diversity—from Polish pierogi and Caribbean jerk chicken to traditional Jersey-style sausage sandwiches and sweet corn. Children’s laughter echoed through the fairgrounds, where youth-oriented activities and tractor rides offered entertainment for the youngest festivalgoers.
At the heart of the festival’s mission is a commitment to folklife education. This year’s programming featured storytelling circles, guided nature walks, and historical presentations that explored the deep roots of New Jersey’s cultural landscape. A particularly moving moment came during a live discussion with Dr. Angus K. Gillespie, the festival’s founder and a Rutgers University professor, who reflected on the journey from the festival’s humble start in 1975 to its evolution into a major regional event. His retelling of how the festival began as a student-run project with a few tents on Douglass Campus resonated with those familiar with its enduring grassroots spirit.
Visitors also had the opportunity to tour the EARTH Center’s community gardens and sustainability exhibits, blending the themes of cultural heritage and environmental stewardship. Craftspeople demonstrated traditional techniques such as quilting, basket-weaving, and herbal remedy preparation, highlighting skills passed down through generations. Many of these artists shared personal stories about the importance of preserving cultural knowledge in an age of rapid change.
In recent years, the New Jersey Folk Festival has been integrated into Middlesex County’s broader FolkLIVE initiative—a summer-long series that showcases traditional arts, music, and storytelling throughout the region. This partnership has helped the festival grow in scope and visibility while preserving its original charm and educational purpose. It remains a space where local residents, students, scholars, and artists come together to celebrate the threads that connect New Jersey’s diverse communities.
For longtime attendees, the 50th anniversary was a moment of nostalgia and pride. Families returned year after year, some now in their third generation of participation. Newcomers were welcomed with open arms, invited to learn, dance, and share in the legacy. Festivalgoers described the day as both a celebration and a reunion—a place where strangers became neighbors through the shared experience of song, food, and story/
As the sun set over Davidson’s Mill Pond, casting a golden hue on the crowd, the 50th Annual New Jersey Folk Festival concluded with a sense of quiet triumph. The music faded, the vendors packed up their booths, but the spirit of the festival lingered—a powerful reminder that in honoring the past, communities can find strength, resilience, and inspiration for the future. The golden jubilee was more than just a festival; it was a living testament to the enduring value of folk traditions in modern life.
