Are you ready to experience the BEST Fest in New Jersey? Get ready for four days of non-stop excitement, entertainment, and unforgettable memories. Whether you’re a local resident or visiting from out of town, this event promises to be the highlight of your year. Here’s a sneak peek of what you can expect at the BEST Fest:

Friday: May 24, 2024 – Grand Opening Extravaganza

Location: Camp Sacajawea, Farmingdale, NJ, Monmouth County

The BEST Fest kicks off with a bang at Camp Sacajawea in Farmingdale. Join us for the Grand Opening, featuring live music, food trucks, and an awe-inspiring drum circle around the fire.

 Bring a camp chair or drum stool and enjoy a relaxing evening with your family and friends as we set the tone for an incredible festival weekend.

at Camp Sacajawea in Farmingdale, NJ, Monmouth County, 

BEST: Belonging, Emerging, Synergizing, Transforming

Touch Mother Earth non-profit returns with BEST Fest. May 24th – 27th 2024. (Renamed from Gathering of the … Festival & Positive Vibe).

How would it feel if you joined the community at Touch Mother Earth BEST Fest. May 24th – 27th 2024 held amidst the serene surroundings of Monmouth County Girl Scout Camp Sacajawea in Farmingdale (central NJ)? It’s a magical Weekend awaiting you, brimming with an array of captivating activities: workshops, live music, drum n dance classes and circles, yoga, Kirtan, massage, sound, and energy healing, ceremonial gatherings, hand-picked vendors, camping, hiking, healthy food, and new friends.

Can you imagine the enchanting experience of escaping the hustle and bustle of everyday life as you immerse yourself in the heart of the forest for a day or four? Picture a realm where you can indulge in sound healing, embrace the tranquility of forest bathing, revel in live music, dance to the rhythm of drums, practice yoga, participate in enlightening workshops, explore enticing vendor offerings, engage in activities for kids, and even opt for a camping adventure to truly unwind.

Best of all the BEST Fest brings together varied interests with villages like Music, Drum and Dance, Mind-Body-Spirit, Sacred Moon and Earth Camp all at Camp Sacajawea, nestled in the trees of Monmouth County, NJ (NOT SPARTA)

Saturday: May 25, 2024-  BEST Fest brings you Music Madness: the main stage will have continuous performances while yoga, healing workshops, dance classes, drum classes and nature walks take place in the forest setting. Roam the villages including the select vendors or sit at the food court and enjoy the music while conversing with new friends.

Saturday night the whole community comes together with special performances featuring drum and song artist Ubaka Hill  and The Mystical Kirtan of Mirabai Moon.

Then join us around the fire for a heightened drum circle. Stay tuned for the daytime music lineup and get ready to dance to your favorite bands!

Now is the time to reunite in community with all that we have learned and set into practice with unique workshops, new presenters, and performers mixed in with some favorites! We will blend live music and jam time on stage, offer even more yoga, have time in the woods, and offer dynamic workshops, plus spiritual connections. 

SUNDAY: May 26, 2024  – You might have noticed that this is Memorial Weekend – 4 days of vacation. Sunday brings us another full day of continuous entertainment! Additional music performances on Sunday evening feature favorites Tony and the Trees  and Gaia Raga .

Also performing over the weekend will be local favorites Tommy and Mommy, Swardas and Friends, Dennis McDoNoUgh, Sawmill Run Old Time Band, Scott Pehnke , Amanda Conti, and special guest: Bele Bele Rhythm Collective featuring Drumlady  Kristen Arant, with other artists TBA.

DRUM n DANCE CAMP

Mamoudou Konate Simbo &   Clyde Williams Jr will offer djembe classes to get your hands tingling and We will have a Middle-Eastern Doumbek class. 

African dance instructor Audrey Davis-Dunning with Victor Marshall will return with a new class!  

Our Drum n Dance program is sponsored by Hub City Drum n Dance of New Brunswick, NJ

Drum circles, hikes in the woods, yoga with Bharati Carla activities for kids, food vendors and plenty of shopping!

Immerse yourself in the magic of music, love, friendship, spirit, nature, and acceptance. Make new connections with the diverse, mindful culture of people, workshops, classes, and performances plus shopping found at the BEST Fest by Touch Mother Earth happening May 24th – 27th at Monmouth County Girl Scout Camp Sacajawea in Farmingdale (central NJ). Note, this is not up north- NOT Sparta ( NOT Sussex County).

PARKING is at the Program Activity Center 127 Yellow Brook Road, Farmingdale, NJ

The festival is not just a fun experience, not just a learning experience, it’s a bonding experience where your facilitators, teachers, leaders, vendors, and others are all together in the communal forest. You may to come for a day or camp, hang out in a village, learn together, share meals, and talk together in one place and all workshops are included!

Float from village to village.

Music Jam Stage

Sacred Moon Market

Drum N Dance Camp

Mind Body Spirit Zone

Mother Earth Village

‍ Touch Mother Earth Kids

Sacred Moon Market

Food vendors will be onsite or you can bring your own. We will have vegetarian/vegan food options also, drink, and snacks available! We have flush toilets, compost toilets, outdoor swimsuit showers, picnic tables, and pavilions onsite.  Weekend campers may use the onsite grills. We are a pack-in, pack-out camp so plan to take the general trash and recycling away.

GET TICKETS HERE

SHOP OVER 50 HAND-SELECTED VENDORS

Find unique gifts and treasures at the Sacred Moon Market, Drum and Dance Camp, and Mind Body Spirit Zone with custom silver, gold, wrapped jewelry, beads, homemade wellness products, room sprays, soaps, salves, tinctures, oils, crocheted items, tote bags, customized African jean jackets, scarves, and clothing, tie-dye items, and inspired fashions of Asia.

You will also find hand-blown glass, pottery, ceramics, crystals, gemstones, minerals, fossils, botanicals, teas, art, prints, African tapestries, wood carvings, flutes, drums, books, incense, smudge, candles, angel, tarot, and oracle cards, Runes, medallions, charms and pendants, readers, chair and Thai massage, Shiatsu, muscle testing, sound and energy healers, BioMat sessions, and more! 

Support your local artists and bring some cash .

Doors Open to the Public

 3 pm – 11 pm on Friday

10 am – 11 pm Saturday

10 am – 11 pm Sunday

9 am- 4 PM Monday

Create new memories this Spring Weekend filled with 4-days of workshops, live bands, hand-picked vendors, African drum n dance classes and performances, Belly dance classes, talking circles, yoga, Kirtan, massage, sound and energy healing, ceremonial gatherings, camping, hiking, healthy food, and new open-minded friends!

GRAB YOUR SPOT NOW! 

ALL WORKSHOPS INCLUDED! 

Kids program also!

 Friday evening, we let loose around the glowing fire with plenty of drumming and dancing with Ubaka Hill, Mamoudou Konate Simbo, Tommy Purple Hayes, Jim Dav, Clyde Williams Jr, and Dave Miller with Cheryl Miller Glover from 

EarthMovers Drum Collective. We have another drum circle on Saturday after the concert ends starting at 

11 pm for the campers.

 All dance classes are held at the Pavilion between the Drum n Dance camp and the lower Camper Parking Lot.