On April 26, 2025, the New Jersey Folk Festival will celebrate its 50th Anniversary and WE NEED YOUR HELP!

The New Jersey Folk Festival (NJFF) is the oldest and largest continuously operating folk festival in New Jersey -- and one of the oldest in the entire country. Founded in 1975, the 2025 50-year milestone event will be organized and presented by New Jersey Folk Festival Inc., along with support from Rutgers University’s Collaborative Center for Community Engagement (CCCE). The 50th Anniversary will also serve as a celebration of our founder, Dr. Angus Kress Gillespie, in honor of his retirement from Rutgers University after over 50 years of academic service.

However, due to the loss of financial support from several university departments, we are in a significant financial deficit. We need your help to give the NJFF and Dr. Gillespie the 50th Anniversary that they both deserve. Your support will help the organizing team bring back many of your favorite NJFF elements, including multiple stages of music, craft vendors, heritage area, speaker tent, children's activities, and a jam tent! It will also allow us to explore pathways to keep the NJFF going for years to come.

As a past coordinator, volunteer, performer, friend or fellow folk-enthusiast, we humbly invite you to help us with our $50 for 50 Years Campaign! We are grateful for a donation in any amount that you may be able to contribute. No donation is too small, but $50 (or more) for 50 years would be especially appreciated.

Our website will be continuously updated over the next few months so we encourage you to continue to check back and sign up for our newsletter on the site.

Questions or want to be involved? Email us at [email protected]!