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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260711T120000
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UID:88605-1783771200-1783899000@explorenewjersey.org
SUMMARY:Maplewoodstock 2026: Lettuce\, Anders Osborne\, Slap Dragon\, Megan Jean’s Secret Family\, More
DESCRIPTION:Maplewoodstock 2026 Returns with Anders Osborne and Lettuce Headlining as New Jersey’s Premier Free Music Festival Enters Its Third Decade \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nNew Jersey’s summer festival circuit is once again preparing for one of its most defining cultural moments as Maplewoodstock 2026 takes shape\, reaffirming its position as one of the state’s most enduring and community-driven live music events. Set for July 11 and 12 in Maplewood\, the two-day festival will once again transform the township into a regional destination for music\, art\, and collective experience—anchored this year by headlining performances from Lettuce and Anders Osborne. \n\n\n\nWhat distinguishes Maplewoodstock is not simply its lineup\, but its structure and purpose. Since its founding in 2004\, the festival has operated as a fully independent\, volunteer-driven initiative—funded not by municipal tax dollars\, but through sponsorships\, vendors\, and grassroots support. That model has allowed it to grow organically while maintaining a clear identity: a festival built by the community\, for the community\, and sustained by the energy of those who return year after year. \n\n\n\nThe 2026 edition arrives with that same ethos intact\, but with a scale and programming depth that continues to elevate its profile across the state. More than 20 bands will perform across the weekend\, supported by over 50 art vendors\, 20 food vendors\, a curated beer garden\, and a dedicated Kid Zone\, creating a multi-dimensional environment that extends far beyond the stage. It is not simply a concert—it is a full-spectrum cultural event that reflects the diversity and creativity of New Jersey itself. \n\n\n\nSaturday night’s headlining performance by Lettuce brings one of the most dynamic live acts in contemporary funk to the Maplewood stage. Known for their genre-fluid approach that seamlessly blends funk\, soul\, jazz\, rock\, and hip-hop\, the band has built a reputation for high-energy performances that feel as much like communal celebrations as they do concerts. Their sound pays homage to foundational influences such as James Brown and the JB’s while pushing forward into a modern\, improvisational space that resonates with both longtime fans and new audiences. For Maplewoodstock\, their presence signals a commitment to delivering nationally recognized talent without compromising the festival’s accessible\, free-to-attend model. \n\n\n\nSunday’s closing performance by Anders Osborne offers a contrasting but equally compelling experience. A Swedish-born\, New Orleans–forged artist\, Osborne brings decades of songwriting and performance history to the stage\, with a sound rooted in blues\, folk\, rock\, and jazz. His guitar work\, often built around open-D tuning\, and his introspective lyrical approach have earned him a reputation as one of the most authentic voices in American roots music. His latest work continues to explore themes of resilience\, identity\, and connection—making him an ideal fit for a festival that thrives on authenticity and shared experience. \n\n\n\nBeyond the headliners\, Maplewoodstock 2026 places a strong emphasis on emerging and regional talent\, reinforcing its role as a platform for discovery. Featured acts such as Slap Dragon and Megan Jean’s Secret Family bring distinct sonic identities that expand the festival’s range. Slap Dragon’s fusion of bluegrass\, disco\, and R&B\, anchored by soulful vocals and acoustic instrumentation\, reflects a new generation of genre-blending artistry. Megan Jean’s Secret Family\, meanwhile\, channels the spirit of 1970s rock through a modern\, independent lens\, delivering vocal-driven\, high-energy performances that bridge multiple eras of American music. \n\n\n\nThe depth of the lineup extends throughout both days\, creating a continuous flow of performances that reflect the diversity of the region’s music scene. From Montclair-based rock collectives to Jersey City alt-rock acts\, from Indian Jazztronica innovators to reggae-infused ensembles\, the festival’s programming captures a wide spectrum of styles and influences. Each set contributes to a broader narrative—one that positions New Jersey not just as a stop on touring circuits\, but as a source of original\, evolving musical expression. \n\n\n\nThis commitment to inclusivity is not limited to the lineup. Maplewoodstock has long prioritized accessibility and community engagement\, ensuring that the event remains open and welcoming to all. Its designation as an inclusive festival underscores a broader philosophy that extends to every aspect of its operation—from programming and vendor selection to on-site experience and outreach. It is a model that aligns with the evolving expectations of modern audiences\, where cultural events are increasingly defined by their ability to create shared\, equitable spaces. \n\n\n\nWithin the broader context of New Jersey’s festival landscape\, Maplewoodstock holds a unique position. Coverage across Explore New Jersey’s festivals section continues to highlight the state’s expanding calendar of live music events\, from large-scale commercial festivals to niche\, genre-specific gatherings. Maplewoodstock bridges these worlds\, offering the scale and quality of a major event while retaining the intimacy and authenticity of a local celebration. \n\n\n\nIts longevity is a testament to that balance. As it moves into its third decade\, the festival has not only sustained its relevance—it has strengthened it. Each year builds on the last\, refining the experience while staying true to its core principles. The result is an event that feels both established and evolving\, rooted in tradition but responsive to the changing dynamics of music\, culture\, and community. \n\n\n\nFor attendees\, the appeal is immediate and multifaceted. It is an opportunity to experience nationally recognized artists without the barriers typically associated with large-scale concerts. It is a chance to discover new music\, support local vendors\, and engage with a creative ecosystem that reflects the best of New Jersey. And perhaps most importantly\, it is a reminder of what a festival can be when it is driven not by profit margins\, but by passion\, collaboration\, and a shared sense of purpose. \n\n\n\nAs July approaches\, Maplewoodstock 2026 stands poised to once again define the summer in New Jersey. With a lineup that spans genres and generations\, a structure that prioritizes accessibility\, and a community that continues to rally behind it\, the festival remains one of the state’s most compelling cultural experiences—an annual gathering that captures the sound\, spirit\, and collective energy of New Jersey at its best. \n\n\n\nSATURDAY\, JULY 11\, 2025 \n\n\n\n12:00 PM – BARDMontclair-based band blending poetic lyricism with a genre-crossing mix of rock\, funk\, and country. Original songs built to move you emotionally and physically.thebardband.com \n\n\n\n12:45 PM – A Band Called SundownHigh-energy psychedelic jams drawing from rock and jazz\, creating an expansive\, free-flowing sound.instagram.com/abandcalledsundown \n\n\n\n1:30 PM – The Brand New SteadysGroove-driven local act mixing rock\, funk\, and blues with a jam-band edge. Originals and covers designed to keep the crowd moving.instagram.com/thebrandnewsteadys \n\n\n\n2:15 PM – DhäräInstrumental progressive/post-rock project balancing technical precision with immersive\, atmospheric soundscapes.instagram.com/dharamusicny \n\n\n\n3:00 PM – VØYAGRBuffalo-based indie-folk/Americana group combining warm instrumentation\, layered harmonies\, and reflective songwriting.voyagrmusic.com \n\n\n\n3:45 PM – RiniNJ-based\, Chennai-born violinist blending Carnatic traditions with pop and jazz to create a distinct “Indian Jazztronica” sound.rinimusic.com \n\n\n\n4:30 PM – Royal BlushJersey City band channeling alt-rock nostalgia with modern grunge energy\, driven by powerful vocals and textured guitars.instagram.com/royalblushofficial \n\n\n\n5:15 PM – the dt’sA versatile duo moving between rock\, blues\, and power pop\, with a focus on harmony-rich songwriting and vintage influence.thedtsmusic.com \n\n\n\n6:00 PM – Waiting on MongoPsychedelic groove collective featuring driving guitars\, dynamic horns\, and deep organ tones for a fully immersive live experience.mongo.band \n\n\n\n7:15 PM – Slap Dragon (Featured Act)A vibrant fusion of soul\, bluegrass\, disco\, and R&B\, built around uplifting vocals and acoustic instrumentation.slapdragon.band \n\n\n\n8:30 PM – Lettuce (Saturday Headliner)Renowned funk collective blending soul\, jazz\, rock\, and hip-hop\, rooted in the traditions of James Brown and Tower of Power.lettucefunk.com \n\n\n\nWrap up the night\, head home safely\, recharge\, and get ready to do it all again on Sunday. \n\n\n\nSUNDAY\, JULY 12\, 2025 \n\n\n\n12:00 PM – little slicerIndie rock with melodic songwriting\, energetic grooves\, and sharp guitar work.instagram.com/littlelittleslicer \n\n\n\n12:45 PM – Mya Byrne BandBlues-driven folk-rock with a ’70s edge\, pairing raw storytelling with a voice that blends warmth and grit.instagram.com/myabyrne \n\n\n\n1:30 PM – The JistEight-piece party band delivering high-energy funk\, rock\, and soul with horns\, Latin percussion\, and nonstop dance momentum.instagram.com/thejistband \n\n\n\n2:15 PM – Similar KindAlt-pop group weaving lyrical depth with synth textures\, groove-based arrangements\, and sax-driven layers.similarkind.net \n\n\n\n3:00 PM – Heroes for GhostsA live tribute to Pink Floyd\, capturing the band’s emotional depth and theatrical psychedelic sound.heroesforghosts.com \n\n\n\n3:45 PM – TroublemanReggae-rock collective blending songwriting and musicianship into a cohesive\, rhythm-driven sound.instagram.com/troublemanband \n\n\n\n4:30 PM – Whiskey & SugarFull-band project delivering funk-infused takes on classic rock\, Americana\, and ‘90s alt hits—plus crowd-favorite singalongs.whiskeyandsugarnj.com \n\n\n\n5:15 PM – James “Biscuit” RouseA live-focused mix of funk\, jazz\, blues\, and soul with a straightforward\, performance-first approach.jamesbiscuitrouse.com \n\n\n\n6:00 PM – HestonA smooth blend of R&B\, soul\, and reggae infused with Caribbean influences and an effortless stage presence.hestontheartist.com \n\n\n\n6:45 PM – Megan Jean’s Secret Family (Featured Act)A cross-generational mix of rock\, soul\, country\, and jam\, centered on strong vocals and danceable originals.meganjeanband.com \n\n\n\n7:45 PM – Anders Osborne (Sunday Headliner)New Orleans-based singer-songwriter known for blending blues\, folk\, rock\, and jazz into deeply expressive performances.andersosborne.com
URL:https://explorenewjersey.org/event/maplewoodstock-2026-lettuce-anders-osborne-slap-dragon-megan-jeans-secret-family-more/
LOCATION:Maplewoodstock\, GPS to 580 Valley St\, Maplewood\, New Jersey\, 07040\, United States
CATEGORIES:Concerts,Festivals,Music
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ORGANIZER;CN="Maplewoodstock":MAILTO:maplewoodstock@gmail.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260815T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260815T235959
DTSTAMP:20260630T140437Z
CREATED:20260630T140325Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260630T140437Z
UID:98304-1786752000-1786838399@explorenewjersey.org
SUMMARY:Morristown Jazz and Blues Festival Featuring Grammy-Winner Christone "Kingfish" Ingram
DESCRIPTION:A Grammy-Winning Blues Prodigy Headlines Morristown’s Free Jazz and Blues Festival This August \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMayor Tim Dougherty and the organizers of the Morristown Jazz and Blues Festival have confirmed the full lineup and headliner for this year’s edition of one of New Jersey’s most beloved free outdoor music traditions\, with Grammy-winning blues guitarist and vocalist Christone “Kingfish” Ingram set to close out a ten-hour day of continuous live music on the historic Morristown Green this Saturday\, August 15th. The announcement\, made June 29th\, completes a bill that organizers had been building toward for months\, withholding the headliner’s name until contractual obligations cleared — a deliberate piece of festival suspense that has now resolved into one of the strongest single-day lineups in the event’s history. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIngram’s arrival in Morristown represents a significant booking for a free municipal festival\, and understanding why requires appreciating just how far the young guitarist’s career has traveled since he first picked up a guitar in Clarksdale\, Mississippi — the small Delta city whose blues lineage runs as deep as any place in American music history. Born in 1999 and raised in a family with deep roots in gospel music\, Ingram began performing publicly while still in middle school\, drawing the attention of serious blues figures almost immediately: by his early teenage years\, B.B. King’s longtime drummer Tony Coleman had already taken notice of his playing\, and by 2014\, at just fifteen years old\, Ingram performed at the White House for Michelle Obama as part of the Delta Blues Museum band. His professional trajectory accelerated from there with a speed rare even among prodigiously talented young musicians — collaborations and stage appearances with Buddy Guy\, Gary Clark Jr.\, Eric Gales\, and the Tedeschi Trucks Band\, a featured cameo performance in the second season of the Netflix series Luke Cage\, and an NPR Tiny Desk Concert appearance alongside hip-hop legend Rakim\, all before his debut studio album had even been released. \n\n\n\nThat debut album\, simply titled Kingfish\, arrived on Alligator Records in May 2019 and immediately confirmed that the attention Ingram had been attracting as a teenage prodigy was fully earned rather than novelty-driven. The album debuted at number one on Billboard’s Blues Chart\, earned a nomination for Best Traditional Blues Album at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards\, and drew the kind of critical reception that established artists rarely receive on a debut release — Billboard called him a blues prodigy outright\, while No Depression magazine described the record as a stunning debut from a young bluesman with an ancient soul and a large presence in the here-and-now. Rolling Stone would later go further\, declaring Ingram one of the most exciting young guitarists in years\, with a sound that draws comparisons spanning B.B. King\, Jimi Hendrix\, and Prince — an unusually broad range of reference points that captures something true about Ingram’s playing\, which moves fluidly between traditional Delta blues structure and the kind of expansive\, rock-inflected soloing that has made him compelling to audiences well beyond the blues genre’s traditional core listenership. \n\n\n\nThe Grammy recognition that organizers point to specifically in introducing Ingram to Morristown audiences arrived in 2022\, when his sophomore album\, 662 — its title a reference to the Mississippi area code that anchors his Delta roots — won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album. That victory\, combined with two additional Grammy nominations across his catalog and a perfect record of ten wins from ten nominations at the Blues Music Awards\, the genre’s most significant dedicated industry honors\, places Ingram in genuinely rarefied company among blues musicians of any generation\, let alone among artists who are still in their twenties. His most recent live album\, Live In London\, captured a sold-out\, standing-room-only performance at the legendary UK venue The Garage in June 2023\, delivering the kind of guitar-driven concert document that fans had been requesting since his earliest YouTube performances first began circulating years earlier. His most recent studio work\, Hard Road\, finds Ingram in a more introspective and ambitious register\, reflecting on the unusual arc of a career that has carried him from local Clarksdale prodigy to what critics and fellow musicians increasingly describe as a torchbearer for blues music’s next generation. \n\n\n\nIngram arrives in Morristown directly from another major New Jersey festival appearance\, having just co-headlined the Rock\, Ribs and Ridges Festival at the Sussex County Fairgrounds in Augusta\, giving New Jersey blues fans two substantial opportunities to see one of the genre’s most significant contemporary artists within the same summer season. His booking also continues a notable pattern in recent Morristown Jazz and Blues Festival programming: last year’s festival was headlined by Samantha Fish\, the celebrated guitarist with whom Ingram co-headlined the widely praised Gone Fishin’ Tour in 2025 — meaning Morristown’s festival has now featured both halves of one of the blues genre’s most acclaimed recent touring partnerships in consecutive years\, a continuity that speaks to the increasingly serious caliber of talent the festival’s organizers have been able to attract to a completely free\, municipally hosted event. \n\n\n\nThe full schedule organizers have released for August 15th reflects a deliberate curatorial arc designed to carry an audience across genres and energy levels through the entire ten-hour run rather than simply stacking acts without progression. The day opens at noon with the James Langton New York All-Star Big Band\, a premier swing ensemble featuring acclaimed clarinetist Dan Levinson and vocalist Molly Ryan\, performing original big-band arrangements drawn from the canon of Duke Ellington\, Benny Goodman\, Count Basie\, and Artie Shaw — a programming choice that grounds the festival’s opening hours in the kind of classic American big-band swing tradition that gives the event its jazz half its name and historical foundation. At 2 p.m.\, the lineup shifts into Richard Baratta’s Gotham City Latin/Jazz Septet\, bringing a Latin jazz dimension to the afternoon that broadens the day’s stylistic range considerably beyond straightforward swing repertoire. LaBamba and the Hubcaps take the stage at 4 p.m.\, followed at 6 p.m. by Dylan Triplett\, the young blues vocalist whose explosive four-and-a-half-octave range and 2023 Blues Award have made him one of the genre’s most closely watched rising talents — Triplett’s own résumé includes a notable stint on the 2024 Experience Hendrix Tour alongside Taj Mahal\, Kenny Wayne Shepherd\, Samantha Fish\, and Eric Johnson\, a tour that organizers have noted directly sparked the creative partnership between Triplett and Ingram that makes this year’s Morristown bill feel especially cohesive. Ingram closes the night at 8 p.m.\, bringing the full ten-hour progression to its culmination with the festival’s most significant headlining booking in recent memory. \n\n\n\nThe festival’s free\, no-ticket-required structure remains unchanged this year\, consistent with the event’s identity since its founding: admission carries no charge whatsoever\, and seating operates entirely on a first-come\, first-served basis across the open grass of the Morristown Green\, meaning attendees who want a comfortable spot for the full ten-hour run should plan to bring their own lawn chairs or blankets and arrive with some flexibility around timing if they have a particular viewing area in mind. The festival operates rain or shine\, a policy organizers have maintained consistently across the event’s history\, meaning attendees should plan for the genuine unpredictability of mid-August New Jersey weather by bringing both sunblock for the likely stretches of direct afternoon sun and a contingency plan for rain that does not depend on the event being cancelled or rescheduled. While attendees are welcome to bring their own coolers and refreshments\, the Morristown Green’s location at the literal center of downtown Morristown means the festival is surrounded by dozens of restaurants\, bars\, and cafes within easy walking distance\, giving attendees the option to step away between sets for a proper meal without needing to forfeit their spot on the lawn for the entire day. \n\n\n\nEach year’s festival also serves as a formal tribute to two of the event’s founding figures\, Linda Smith and Michael Fabrizio\, both of whom passed away in June 2021. That tribute element\, maintained consistently in every edition of the festival since their passing\, reflects the event’s identity as something more than a simple municipal concert series — it is an ongoing community institution built and sustained by specific people whose vision for what a free\, accessible\, genuinely high-caliber music festival could bring to downtown Morristown continues to shape the event’s programming and spirit years after their deaths. The 2026 festival is produced by Don Jay Smith of LKS Associates Inc.\, continuing the organizational stewardship that has carried the event forward and\, on the evidence of this year’s headliner announcement\, has continued to elevate the caliber of talent the festival is able to draw to downtown Morristown’s central green. \n\n\n\nFor New Jersey music fans\, the combination of a completely free admission policy\, a ten-hour\, multi-genre lineup spanning swing\, Latin jazz\, soul\, and blues\, and a headliner with Ingram’s specific level of contemporary critical and commercial standing makes the 2026 Morristown Jazz and Blues Festival one of the most substantial single-day live music opportunities the state will offer this summer\, at a price point — zero dollars — that few comparable bookings anywhere in the region can match. The Morristown Green\, easily accessible by NJ Transit rail service to the Morristown station and within walking distance of the town’s dense restaurant and retail district\, will host the full event from noon until 10 p.m. on August 15th\, rain or shine.
URL:https://explorenewjersey.org/event/morristown-jazz-and-blues-festival/
LOCATION:The Morristown Green\, 10 N Park Pl\, Morristown\, New Jersey\, 07960\, United States
CATEGORIES:Festivals,Music
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://explorenewjersey.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Morristown_Jazz_And_Blues_Festival.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260822T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260823T235959
DTSTAMP:20260626T141643Z
CREATED:20260626T141641Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260626T141643Z
UID:97779-1787356800-1787529599@explorenewjersey.org
SUMMARY:New Jersey Clearwater Festival
DESCRIPTION:New Jersey Clearwater Festival Returns to Asbury Park for Its 51st Year\, Celebrating the Lasting Legacy of Music\, Community\, and Environmental Stewardship \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFor more than half a century\, one New Jersey festival has demonstrated that live music can be far more than entertainment. It can educate communities\, inspire volunteerism\, strengthen environmental awareness\, and bring together thousands of people around a shared commitment to protecting the natural resources that define the Garden State. As many festivals have come and gone over the decades\, the New Jersey Friends of Clearwater Festival has remained remarkably true to the mission that inspired its founding\, growing into New Jersey’s oldest continuously operating music and environmental festival while preserving the grassroots spirit that has made it one of the state’s most unique annual traditions. \n\n\n\nThat tradition continues on Saturday\, August 22\, and Sunday\, August 23\, when the New Jersey Friends of Clearwater returns to Bradley Park in Asbury Park for its 51st Annual Festival. Located directly across from the iconic Convention Hall and the city’s historic boardwalk\, the two-day outdoor celebration once again promises an experience that blends outstanding live music\, environmental education\, family activities\, local artisans\, community organizations\, and volunteer engagement into one of the most distinctive events on New Jersey’s cultural calendar. \n\n\n\nUnlike many modern festivals built primarily around celebrity performers or commercial attractions\, the Clearwater Festival has always been driven by a much larger purpose. Since its founding\, the event has celebrated the idea that music possesses the unique ability to unite people from every background while creating meaningful conversations about environmental responsibility. Every performance\, educational exhibit\, nonprofit organization\, children’s activity\, artisan vendor\, and community conversation contributes to that larger mission of encouraging New Jersey residents to become active participants in protecting the state’s beaches\, rivers\, bays\, forests\, wetlands\, and open spaces. \n\n\n\nThe festival traces its origins to the environmental movement inspired by legendary folk musician Pete Seeger\, whose belief that music could become a catalyst for social and environmental change transformed communities throughout the Northeast. Seeger understood that songs could accomplish something that policy papers and scientific reports often could not—they could bring people together\, create lasting emotional connections\, and inspire ordinary citizens to become involved in protecting the places they loved. His creation of the historic 106-foot sloop Clearwater became an international symbol of grassroots environmental activism\, helping restore awareness of pollution affecting the Hudson River while inspiring similar efforts throughout the region. \n\n\n\nThe New Jersey Friends of Clearwater embraced that same philosophy more than five decades ago\, establishing an annual festival dedicated to combining music with environmental education in a way that continues to resonate today. What began as a gathering of musicians\, volunteers\, and environmental advocates has evolved into one of New Jersey’s longest-running nonprofit festivals while remaining firmly rooted in community participation rather than commercial entertainment. \n\n\n\nThis year’s festival once again transforms Bradley Park into a vibrant community gathering place where visitors can spend an entire weekend experiencing live performances\, exploring environmental exhibits\, meeting nonprofit organizations\, discovering local artisans\, enjoying diverse culinary offerings\, and participating in educational programs designed for every generation. Two music stages will showcase an impressive mix of rock\, folk\, acoustic performers\, singer-songwriters\, and regional musicians whose performances reflect the festival’s longstanding commitment to celebrating both established artists and emerging talent from throughout the region. \n\n\n\nMusic\, however\, represents only one part of the Clearwater experience. Throughout the festival grounds\, environmental organizations from across New Jersey will provide interactive exhibits highlighting conservation initiatives\, clean water advocacy\, sustainable living practices\, marine protection efforts\, recycling programs\, wildlife preservation\, renewable energy education\, and volunteer opportunities available throughout the state. Rather than presenting environmental issues as abstract policy discussions\, the festival encourages direct engagement between visitors and the organizations working every day to improve New Jersey’s environmental future. \n\n\n\nFamilies have long been at the center of the Clearwater Festival’s identity\, and the 51st edition continues that tradition with a broad range of activities designed to introduce younger generations to both music and environmental stewardship. Dedicated children’s programming includes educational activities\, interactive experiences\, pony rides\, a petting zoo\, and opportunities for young visitors to connect with nature through hands-on learning. These experiences reflect the festival’s belief that environmental awareness begins early and that educating children remains one of the most effective ways to inspire future conservation efforts. \n\n\n\nBeyond the music and educational programming\, visitors will discover an extensive marketplace featuring local artisans\, environmentally conscious vendors\, handcrafted products\, nonprofit organizations\, and businesses committed to sustainability. Food trucks representing a wide variety of culinary traditions will once again create a diverse dining experience that complements the festival’s welcoming community atmosphere. Together\, these elements transform the festival into far more than a concert or environmental fair; they create a complete cultural experience celebrating the creativity\, diversity\, and civic spirit that define communities throughout New Jersey. \n\n\n\nVolunteerism remains one of the festival’s defining characteristics and continues to play an essential role in its success. Organized by the New Jersey Friends of Clearwater\, the event depends upon dedicated volunteers who contribute countless hours before\, during\, and after the festival to ensure its continued operation. Community members sixteen years of age and older are encouraged to volunteer independently\, while younger participants may volunteer alongside an adult\, creating meaningful opportunities for families to work together in support of one of New Jersey’s most respected nonprofit traditions. Students seeking community service experience can also receive Community Service Certificates\, making the festival an opportunity not only to give back but to inspire future generations of civic engagement. \n\n\n\nThe continued success of the Clearwater Festival also reflects the strength of Asbury Park as one of New Jersey’s premier cultural destinations. Long recognized for its extraordinary musical heritage\, thriving arts community\, historic boardwalk\, and ongoing renaissance\, Asbury Park provides a fitting backdrop for a festival built around creativity\, public participation\, and community connection. Bradley Park’s location directly across from Convention Hall places visitors within walking distance of the Atlantic Ocean\, reinforcing the festival’s message that environmental stewardship begins with protecting the very landscapes and waterways that make New Jersey unique. \n\n\n\nOver the past fifty-one years\, the festival has witnessed dramatic changes throughout both the music industry and the environmental movement. Musical styles have evolved\, technology has transformed how audiences discover artists\, and environmental challenges have become increasingly complex. Yet the fundamental mission that inspired the festival has remained remarkably consistent. Bringing people together through music continues to create opportunities for education\, collaboration\, volunteerism\, and meaningful public dialogue that extends far beyond a single weekend each summer. \n\n\n\nPerhaps that longevity represents the festival’s greatest achievement. In an era when many events struggle to survive beyond a few years\, the New Jersey Clearwater Festival has continued serving multiple generations of residents while preserving the grassroots philosophy established by Pete Seeger and embraced by the New Jersey Friends of Clearwater. It remains a place where music and activism exist not as separate experiences but as complementary expressions of community\, reminding visitors that lasting change often begins with people gathering together around a common purpose. \n\n\n\nAs the festival enters its fifty-first year\, it stands not only as a celebration of outstanding live music but also as a testament to the enduring power of volunteerism\, environmental advocacy\, and community engagement. For longtime attendees\, it is the continuation of a cherished New Jersey tradition. For first-time visitors\, it offers an opportunity to experience one of the Garden State’s most meaningful cultural events while discovering how music\, education\, and civic participation can come together to strengthen both communities and the environment. \n\n\n\nMore than five decades after its founding\, the New Jersey Friends of Clearwater Festival continues to embody Pete Seeger’s enduring belief that when people gather to sing\, learn\, volunteer\, and work together\, they can accomplish far more than they ever could alone. That message remains every bit as relevant today as it was fifty-one years ago\, making the Clearwater Festival not simply one of New Jersey’s oldest festivals\, but one of its most enduring and inspiring traditions.
URL:https://explorenewjersey.org/event/new-jersey-clearwater-festival/
LOCATION:Bradley Beach\, 1108 Ocean Ave\, Bradley Beach\, New Jersey\, 07720\, United States
CATEGORIES:Concerts,Festivals,Music
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ORGANIZER;CN="New Jersey Friends of  Clearwater":MAILTO:info@njclearwater.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261105T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261108T170000
DTSTAMP:20251123T185339Z
CREATED:20250724T145943Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251123T185339Z
UID:47920-1793865600-1794157200@explorenewjersey.org
SUMMARY:Cape May Exit Zero Jazz Festival
DESCRIPTION:Discover the Cape May Exit Zero Jazz Festival\, a premier musical event showcasing world-class jazz in the charming seaside town of Cape May\, New Jersey. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nGet ready for an unforgettable experience: \n\n\n\n\nFall 2025: November 7-9\n\n\n\nSpring 2026: May 15-17\n\n\n\nFall 2026: November 5-8\n\n\n\n\nImmerse yourself in captivating performances\, explore the vibrant local scene\, and create lasting memories at this highly anticipated festival. Plan your visit to Cape May and elevate your jazz experience!
URL:https://explorenewjersey.org/event/cape-may-exit-zero-jazz-festival-2/
LOCATION:Cape May Convention Hall\, 643 Washington Street\, Cape May\, New Jersey\, 08204
CATEGORIES:Concerts,Festivals,Music
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://explorenewjersey.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025FALLLineup_2160x1080_rev5.jpg
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