Middlesex County will celebrate the 51st anniversary of the New Jersey Folk Festival on Saturday, Aug. 29, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Davidson’s Mill Pond Park in South Brunswick. The free, family-friendly event will showcase the state’s diverse folk traditions through music, dance, storytelling, arts and cultural activities.
Presented by the New Jersey Folk Festival in partnership with the Arts Institute of Middlesex County, the festival is part of the county’s 2026 FolkLIVE event series, which celebrates cultural traditions and local talent. As the state’s oldest and largest celebration of folk culture, the New Jersey Folk Festival brings together performers, artists, community organizations and vendors to highlight New Jersey’s historical and contemporary folk arts.
Visitors can enjoy live music and dance performances, a marketplace featuring artisans and crafters, folk and agricultural presentations, heritage demonstrations, children’s activities and local food. Park and garden activities and tours will be offered by Middlesex County 4-H, the Middlesex County EARTH Center and Rutgers Master Gardeners. Tractor rides also will be available.
Free parking will be available in designated grassy areas, with a limited number of ADA-accessible spaces in paved lots. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets, hats, sunglasses and sunscreen for a day outdoors.
Davidson’s Mill Pond Park is located on Riva Avenue in South Brunswick. The festival is open to the public and media. For more information about arts, history and cultural events in Middlesex County, visit MiddlesexCountyCulture.com.
The New Jersey Folk Festival is the latest event in the 2026 FolkLIVE series, a project of the Regional Folklife Center at the Arts Institute of Middlesex County, with support from the Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners.
