Founded in 1975 on the campus of Rutgers University, the New Jersey Folk Festival (NJFF) is one of the nation's longest continuously running folk festivals and the largest in the state of New Jersey. This annual celebration of folk music, arts, and traditions brings together performers, artists, communities, organizations, and vendors to highlight the historical, modern, and diverse folklife and folk arts across the state. The NJFF is proudly FREE and open to the public, in thanks to public and private support.
The mission of the NJFF is to preserve and protect the music, culture, and arts of New Jersey. Therefore, the main focus of this festival is the traditional music, crafts, and foods of the diverse ethnic and cultural communities within the state and its surrounding region. The logo of the NJFF pays tribute to the legend of the Jersey Devil from the Pine Barrens region of the state, one of the most famous folklore icons in the United States.
This year's NJFF is being produced in partnership with the Arts Institute of Middlesex County as a part of the County's 2026 Folk Live series. Hosted at Middlesex County's Davidson's Mill Pond Park, the event will also incorporate aspects of the Rutgers Cooperative Extension's former Garden Arts & Music Festival to highlight New Jersey's rich agricultural heritage.
