#staytunedfor2020

MAY 4, 2019 – 12-6 PM

Bring on the folklore and fables! From the Pine Barrens of New Jersey to the Black Forest of Germany, we have all been raised on the tales of the dark dark forest! Join us as we explore those tales, the myth and reality in a good old fashioned festival! We will summon the Jersey Devil if we can, meet the Hexenbrut for Walpergisnacht and dance around rthe May Pole as the darkness of winter is replaced by the newness of spring! Walpurgisnacht is the second Halloween! Come dressed in you spooky and creepy Brothers Grimm best to ward of the last of the ghouls and goblins of the year!

The Jersey Devil is Nj’s favorite son. Long held as America’s oldest “monster” this creature haunts the Pinelands of NJ. The Pine Barrens is a huge area that occupies portions of seven counties of New Jersey. It is wild and unbroken and was home to the ancestors of the Lenape Indians as long as 10,000 years ago. In the 17th century the Dutch and other westerners came to the land and tried to settle it. Ghost towns still remain, the remnants of villages that stayed for a while and then vanished as the Barrens reclaimed the land from the settlers.

The Devil of the Pines is still heard from time to time..his legend is strong and so is his history!

But what of other Fables and stories? Well, where there is a devil, there is likely a witch! The Witch of the Pines, Peggy Clevenger is also spoken of to this day..but she is not the only witch we know of, is she? Witches and Goblins and all manner of sprites and spirits populate our stories and folklore and that is what makes up the Jersey Devil & Fable Festival!

All of these stories are part of the celebration of Walpurgisnacht! The traditional celebration of the return of spring, when the spirits of the earth and forest have their last hurrah and the seasons change to light again! Want to learn the Hexenbrut? Join us for free lessons! Sundays leading up to the festival!

12 PM

Market opens
Lectures in The Salon at Paranormal Tower

1 PM

The Secret History of the Jersey Devil – How Quakers, Hucksters, and Benjamin Franklin Created a Monster
Dr. Brian Regal Author (Kean University)

2 PM

Witches & Their Uses – Witches in Literature
Dr. Lisa Vetere (Monmouth University)

3 PM

Cryptids & The Fossil Record
Dr. Dana Ehret, NJ State Museum

4 PM

Tales of the Jersey Devil
A 45 minute walk through the tales of NJ’s Favorite son!

4:45 PM

Hansel & Gretel Stories of the Black Forest
Join us on a walk of dark tales and mysterious happenings n our way to the Hexenbrut! Dress as a witch or a goblin or whatever manner of magical creature you wish! The walk begins at Paranormal Books! Bring your BROOM

Please remember to register for speakers & tours!!
Remember to come dressed as the magical creature you are!!