The Sourland Mountain Festival marked its 20th year this weekend, drawing crowds to Unionville Vineyards for a day of music, food, family activities — and a reminder of why the forested Sourland region remains one of New Jersey’s most vital landscapes.
The festival benefits the Sourland Conservancy, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting the 90-square-mile region that spans Somerset, Hunterdon, and Mercer counties. Known as the largest contiguous forest in Central New Jersey, the Sourlands are home to 57 state-listed threatened and endangered species, supply drinking water to more than 800,000 residents, and provide critical ecological services from carbon sequestration to flood reduction.
“This forest is working hard every day to reduce flooding, filter water, produce oxygen, sequester carbon, and provide habitat,” said Laurie Cleveland, executive director of the Conservancy, in remarks to the crowd. “We all rely on the forest to keep us healthy — and now the forest needs our help.”
A Milestone for Music and Advocacy
The festival, launched more than two decades ago, has grown into both a fundraiser and what trustees call a “friend-raiser” — an annual touchpoint for volunteers, donors, and newcomers to the mountain.
“It was about raising awareness of the Sourlands but also raising awareness of the Conservancy and what we were doing,” said Jennifer Bryson, a trustee emeritus who served on the board for 20 years. “Now it’s one of our most important fundraisers and friend-raisers. It’s amazing to see people who have volunteered here for 20 years.”
Board President Cliff Wilson said the event has always been about blending enjoyment with advocacy. “We can have an event where people come and enjoy themselves and contribute to this cause at the same time,” he said. Calling the Sourlands “the canary in the coal mine” for eastern forests, Wilson warned of the challenges posed by invasive insects and deer overpopulation. “We’ve lost a million trees to the emerald ash borer,” he said, noting that the Conservancy plants about 10,000 trees annually to help replace what has been lost.
Headliners and Homegrown Sounds
The 20th anniversary lineup showcased both local roots and regional talent.
- Dave Butler & Friends, featuring guitarist Jon LaDeau, opened with a warm blend of Americana, blues, and folk. Butler, a Hopewell Borough resident, has toured internationally with the rock band Guster.
- Festival regulars James Popik & Supernova returned with their genre-bending “festival jazz,” a fusion of jazz, funk, and jam grooves.
- BetterDucks, led by German-born guitarist Dirk Externest, kept the energy up with tight rhythms and soulful vocals.
- Headliner Charles Laurita & The Mischief, a Hamilton-based funk powerhouse, closed the night with high-octane funk energy that had people up and dancing.
For Laurita, who is based in Pennington and owns Mischief Studios, performing at the festival carried special meaning. “It means the world because that’s all we ever wanted — to play for the most people we can and share what we do,” he said. “To be invited here, in our own backyard, makes it that much more special”. Laurita added that he is committed to the festival’s environmental mission: “We have to take care of the planet and protect the environment. It’s a good message — we live here, and it’s a very big deal.”
Community Spirit and Festival Flavor
Beyond the music, the festival embraced its role as a community celebration. Just past the iconic red barn of Unionville Vineyards people could find llamas from Spruce Run Llama Farm, and meet people from other local businesses and nonprofits including NJ Fish and Wildlife, My Backyard at Nectars, Tabby’s Place, Raritan Headwaters, and the Sourland Conservancy team.
Food and drink were plentiful, with offerings from AMA Pizza, Cas’ Pierogi, and Olsson’s Fine Foods alongside local craft beers from Lone Eagle Brewing. The Ryland Inn returned with its signature VIP tasting, led by chef Daniel Brunina.
Cleveland reminded festivalgoers that much of the Conservancy’s work is powered by volunteers — more than 70 helped stage this year’s event — and that the nonprofit’s small staff of four relies on that dedication year-round.
As the Conservancy approaches its 40th anniversary in 2026, leaders said the festival remains a cornerstone event. For Wilson, the fight to save the Sourlands is urgent: “If we can’t keep this forest alive … what’s next? So, we fight for this forest.”
For the hundreds gathered, the 20th festival was both a celebration and a call to action: a chance to dance, eat, and enjoy the music — while helping ensure the future of the forest.
The Conservancy’s next major opportunity to explore the Sourlands will be the Sourland Spectacular, a bicycle ride through the region scheduled for September 13. More information is available at sourlandspectacular.com.
