December 2023
The New Jersey Folk Festival, led by faculty members and students in the Department of American Studies at Rutgers University, is embarking on a new chapter, implementing key operational changes on Rutgers Day, including shifting to a new performance venue located at the heart of Ag Field Day and revising its partnerships with vendors.
Location Change
The New Jersey Folk Festival main stage and artistic programs will move from the Eagleton Lawn to a new location in the Passion Puddle on Cook Campus.
Artists, Musicians, and Performers at the New Jersey Folk Festival
The Main Stage and our Cultural Heritage Area will continue at the new location. The festival theme for 2024 is “Garden State: Cultures of Cultivation”. The New Jersey Folk Festival is also growing its program beyond Rutgers Day, including a series of Artist Encounters in collaboration with Rutgers Student Affairs, the New Jersey Folk Podcast, available on Spotify and Apple podcasts, and exhibits and programs with local cultural partners.
Food Vendors at Rutgers Day
Food vendors interested in participating should submit their applications directly to Rutgers Day instead of the festival itself. The application is available at the Rutgers Day website.
The Rutgers Day portal for applications is currently open and will be accepting food vendor applications until February 16, 2024. Please review the guidelines before applying. Vendor spaces may be allocated across the Rutgers campuses. No vendors will be placed at the former festival site on the Eagleton lawn. Please note that new size restrictions and fees may apply. Rutgers Day will manage all food vendor applications, permitting, payment, and participation on the Rutgers campus. For questions, email: rutgersday@rutgers.edu
Food Vendors with previous involvement at the New Jersey Folk Festival are encouraged to specify their association with the the New Jersey Folk Festival in their application, especially if they prefer placement near the festival’s new location on the Cook Campus.
Craft Vendors at the New Jersey Folk Festival
The New Jersey Folk Festival’s move to a new location on campus will also change our relationships with our craft vendors. The Folk Festival’s team will carefully select a smaller pool of vendors whose arts and crafts closely align with the festival’s current or recent themes. Participation for craft vendors will be exclusively by invitation with a restricted number of 8-10 vendors.
Questions?
For the latest information about our programs, visit our website: www.njfolkfest.org, and follow our social media @njfolkfest on Facebook and Instagram. To contact us, please email njfolkfest@amerstudies.rutgers.edu
