Written and photographed by: Jasmine Bowens
Beard Fest?
A festival celebrating the unique beard culture of our great city, Philadelphia? Yes, please. Sign me up! That’s exactly what ran through my mind when That Mag’s editor, Killian O’Neil, asked if I wanted to cover it. A quick Google search of “Beard Fest Philadelphia” only confirmed my excitement.
It wasn’t until Thursday, June 26, when all the details were finalized and media passes secured, that I finally dug deeper. BeardFest, a weekend-long music festival created by Beardspace, an eco-friendly progressive rock band from South Jersey and Philly, has been hosting BeardFest at a campground in NJ since 2014. That’s 11 years of creative vision, logistics, and stamina. Homegrown festivals, whether they’ve matured over the years or not, are often the best, so I was excited to see what this one had in store.
After connecting with the organizers, I quickly learned my original plan to attend from Saturday through Monday was a no-go. Why? Because a “Special Guest” was scheduled to arrive around 9:30 PM Friday night, and I definitely didn’t want to miss that.
Cue the scramble.
I had to drive down to Baltimore to grab my camping gear, find someone with a free weekend starting Friday night, and convince them to take a 45-minute road trip over the Benjamin Franklin Bridge into southern New Jersey. Our destination? A little town called Hammonton, home to Paradise Lakes Campground, tucked away just off of a little body of water called the Albertson Brook.
Friday arrived. The camping gear had been gathered across state lines, a begrudging friend was secured, and it was time to head out and make it just in time for the special guest’s performance. I took a moment to glance at the schedule before hitting the road, but was confused. If the guest was “special,” why was their name listed on the schedule? The artist was Zion Marley, slated for 9:30 PM on the Beach Stage.
I didn’t think much of it. I just knew I had to make it before the performance started. We arrived in no time. After driving through a dark forest clearing and reaching the campground, we rechecked the schedule and made it just in time to check in, park, and head to Zion Marley’s set. Campsite setup could wait.
Walking to the stage, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Sure, I’ve been to plenty of music festivals before, but never to one this late and surprisingly never one in New Jersey. So I was open to the adventure.
When we arrived, Beardspace was finishing their set before the next changeover. (BTW, check out their latest album Like Moths to a Flame.) While the crowd waited, I explored the art installations, fire spinners, and the brook. Vendors were set up and the whole space was beautifully lit. I noticed a large number of families in attendance too, which is very much the norm in today’s festival scene. After circling the grounds, Zion took the stage and began his set.
Naturally, I figured Zion was the special guest. There are so many Marleys that having any one of them perform is a big deal! So we swayed and rocked as he played some of his classics. Toward the end of the set, hunger and exhaustion set in, so we headed out to Wawa. We had rushed to the site so fast I didn’t even pack a cooler like I’d originally planned, so Wawa was our best bet.
Once back at the campsite, we made our way to the Rustic Car Camping area to finally set up. As we pitched our tent, an angelic voice floated over from the Beach Stage. It definitely wasn’t Zion. We couldn’t place it, but setup had to take priority.
After the tent was up, I checked the schedule again. Was it Couch or Consider the Source on the Forest Stage? I couldn’t identify the voice or songs, but sleep took over, and we were out within minutes.
Saturday Morning
I woke up ready to meet people, find some food, and check out a workshop or two after a much-needed shower. On Saturday alone, each of the four classroom spaces had seven classes scheduled between 8:30 AM and 5:30 PM. After some coffee, I made my way to the Fermentation Creation Station with the enthusiastic Michael Green. He provided a variety of vegetables to chop, jar, and ferment while teaching us the many ways to prepare and use fermented foods. Take a look at my creation:
After the insightful class, it was time to explore the grounds, check out vendors, and find some shade on that scorching day. While browsing one vendor’s wares, we started chatting about the “special guest.”
“Do you know who Zion Marley is related to?” someone asked.
I didn’t.
The beautiful, amazing voice I heard the night before? It was none other than Lauryn Hill. Yes, Lauryn Hill! The semi-reclusive musical genius people rarely get to see live! Yet I had the opportunity to see her for free—and I slept instead?! I nearly fainted. Disappointed would be an understatement.
As I moped back to my tent, fermented veggies in hand, I couldn’t shake the shock. But I knew I wouldn’t let that ruin the rest of the festival. I still had a full Saturday, plus Sunday and Monday ahead.
Camp Loop Magic
After a short break, I crossed the brook to explore more musical guests and art installations. That’s when I discovered the Theme Camp Loop. These camps are organized by people who pre-apply to camp together and provide enriching experiences for others.
We came upon the Free Wears Camp, which we’d unknowingly visited earlier. My friend, in all the rush the night before, forgot to pack shorts. Thankfully, he found a pair there. We snapped photos of their donation info to send money later (mental note: remind him to do that now).
As we continued through the loop, we met a theme camp participant who invited us into their shaded oasis. I wish I’d gotten her name, but we talked about the performances from yesterday and how my friend and I missed Lauryn Hill. After I mentioned that I was writing an article, she excitedly told me her friend, Gimar Herrand, who had an amazing view of the stage, actually recorded Lauryn’s set. What?! Ms. Herrand appeared like a fairy and provided me her contact info so she could share the footage with me. I was so thankful. A piece of history—secured!
As another camp came by to deliver a fun message, we let them be and continued wandering. Soon after, we settled down to enjoy Law Abiding Citizens, and even chatted with the guitarist Shane’s dad, who was helping manage their recording gear. You really can’t beat live music under the sun.
An Unexpected Goodbye
Unfortunately, around 5 PM, I received a call from my mom: my great-aunt, Darlene Coleman, had passed away. After a brief cry, I packed up my gear and drove back to Philly to be with family.
Although I wasn’t even at the festival for a full 24 hours, the experiences I had were unforgettable—and I’ll definitely be back next year.
So take it from me: mark your calendars now for BeardFest 2026. Don’t be like me—pack ahead, stay for all the sets, choose some fun friends to enjoy the vibes with, and dive headfirst into the art, music, food, and joy that is BeardFest.
BeardFest
