This Week in the New Jersey Skylands

August 10-17

Spread your wings and reach for the Skylands this and every week this summer. Don't wait; its over before you know it!

Under The Big Tent

Northwest New Jersey's premier summer music festival of occurs this weekend (Friday - Sunday, August 14-16) at the Skylands Music and Arts Festival. Over 40 musical acts will take the stage in the same location and on the same weekend as the former Knowlton Riverfest. Among the featured acts scheduled are Robben Ford, Brave Combo, Gandalf Murphy, Tony Vacca, Rowan Brothers, Swampadelica, Quimby Mountain Band, Hector Del Curto & Eternal Tango, The McDades, The Booglerizers, Magbana Dance & Drum and Professor Louie & The Cromatix. The Acoustic Tent showcases a line-up of regional talent, and a new addition, the "Exposed" Battle of the Bands, sounds off on Friday afternoon. There is a Kids Zone with fun stuff for children, a Vendor Village, and an International food-way with a diverse assortment of affordable foods and beverages.

Hosted by Knowlton Township, the festival is presented by Heineken and Anheuser Busch. Three-day passes, as well as single day tickets, are now available online. $20/ $10 student; 3-day pass: $50/ $25 student. Under 12, free. Hunters Lodge Field, Rt. 46, 2mi east I-80 Exit 4.

Jersey Peach

It seems that despite the swampy conditions during most of this summer, peaches have held their own. Get your fruit on Saturday (8/15) at Windy Brow Farms annual Peach Festival! Several varieties of peaches, seasonal fruits, tastings, desserts, ice cream, cute farm animals, and free drawings. 10am - 4pm. Free admission. 359 Ridge Road (Rt 519). Newton; 973/579-9657

You can also get fresh picked peaches at Brook Hollow Farm in Columbia. There is no special event, but it's a beautiful spot, right around the corner from the SkyFest event this weekend. Rt. 94 to Frog Pond Road, 908-496-4577

A recent hail storm wiped out much of the plum and nectarine crop at Peaceful Valley Orchards in Pittstown. In order to prevent the spread of disease from fruit rot, the farm has opened the orchard so that you can pick your own hail-damaged fruit, still perfect for making preserves, freezing, pies, and baking. The cost is $.99lb or $20 for a ½ bushel basket. 150 Pittstown Rd, 908-713-1705

Farmer's Markets in the Skylands.

On The Trail

Stokes Forest. Photo by John F. Hark

Take a hike through New Jersey's big woods, Stokes State Forest. No wonder Stokes comes first to most people's minds when somebody says "New Jersey State Park." It's really an amazing place, and a visit in the next few weeks will afford you coolness beneath the tall trees.

The famous notch that characterizes Warren County's western skyline is where the Kittatinny Mountains have given way to eons of gentle persuasion by the Delaware River, creating one of the most majestic of New Jersey's natural features between Mount Tammany and Mount Minsi in Pennsylvania. The Delaware Water Gap hiking trails are among the most beautiful in the state.

Or begin to explore the Highlands Trail network along a broad band of foothill and watershed systems linking the Hudson River from north of Bear Mountain, southwest across Sussex and Morris Counties to the Delaware River in Warren and Hunterdon Counties.

A fabulous morning to be alive. Breakfast with a view over Warren County.

For those of us who have neither the time nor the inclination for a six-month ridge run from Georgia to Maine, the 42-mile New Jersey stretch on the Applachian Trail offers some very exciting possibilities. The entire stretch in Jersey is intersected by country lanes or Park roads every 5 to 10 miles. This means that, with a little planning and a map or two, the Jersey section can be conquered one day at a time in seven modest day-hikes.

Or all at once!

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Northwest New Jersey and destinations just beyond those borders, in Pennsylvania and New York, are equally intriguing and convenient offer colorful ways to get out and enjoy the pleasures of the season. Keep an eye on our calendar for great things to do all the time! And we've got a crop of new stories to help you on your way.

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