Free Clearwater Festival happening in Asbury Park this weekend

ASBURY PARK ? The New Jersey Friends of Clearwater Festival, featuring live music, food, vendors and information about ways to protect the environment, takes place this Saturday and Sunday in Sunset Park.

The free event runs from 1 to 8 p.m. on Aug. 31, and noon to 6 p.m. on Sept. 1 in the park, and is marking its 49th anniversary. Clearwater was founded in 1966 by folk music legend and activist Pete Seeger and his wife, Toshi, to raise money and awareness for environmental concerns, including protecting the Hudson River.

Chrissie Goedkoop of Howell, president of the New Jersey Friends of Clearwater, noted that the New Jersey festival was formed by former Little Silver resident Bob Killian in the 1970s. The initial festivals were held at Sandy Hook before being shifted to Asbury Park.

This year's event, sponsored by New Jersey Natural Gas, will feature a Circle of Song folksingers, hosted by Ingrid Heldt with co-hosts Dale Lakota and Sister Isis Ra. Past members of Pete Seeger's Sloop Singers will also be performing, and Econological Systems is donating solar energy to power the Circle of Song stage.

Asbury Park’s Green Team and its Shade Tree Commission, along with the state Department of Environmental Protection will be at the festival along with other environmental organizations. A children's area will offer face painting, sand art and rock painting. Sign language interpreters will be on hand as the performers sing.

Musicians performing include The Wag, Southpaw, Spook Handy, Colie Brice, Sawmill Run Oldtime String Band, Kevin Hill and Secret Sound and The Chuck Lambert Band. Spook Handy will also offer a guitar clinic during the festival.

Jean Mikle: @jeanmikle, [email protected]

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Clearwater Festival brings music, environmental awareness to Asbury