Experience the Beauty of Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque Music
Upcoming Events
Medieval Fest 2026
Saturday, August 29 - 11am-5pm
(rain date Sunday, August 30)
Montclair Art Museum, 3 South Mountain Avenue, Montclair
Huzzah! Join non-profit Montclair Early Music (MEM) for Medieval Fest 2026 on Saturday, August 29, from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm at the Montclair Art Museum.
New this year: If inclement weather forces a postponement, the event will be held on Sunday, August 30, from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Step back in time as armored knights clash in thrilling demonstrations, browse handcrafted treasures from talented artisans, and enjoy a variety of delicious food and refreshments. Experience live music from the Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque periods featuring our guest musicians, The Musettes, Montclair Early Music, New Jersey Early Music, Charlie Rutan (bagpipes), and special guest ALBA Consort. Also featuring bellydancer extraordinaire Nabila.
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Costumes are encouraged!
Purchase your tickets today! Proceeds support Montclair Early Music's concerts, community events, and free and low-cost music education programs for children, seniors, and the wider community.
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Schedule
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11:00 am: Festival Opens — enter the village grounds and explore the market and craft stations.
11:20 am: The Musettes — opening musical harmonies to set the stage.
11:40 am: Charlie Rutan — master bagpiper.
12:00 pm: Montclair Early Music — immersive historical ensemble performance.
12:50 pm: Nabila bellydance — accompanied by the MEM Consort.
12:00–1:00 pm: Kids’ Archery (session 1) — outdoor target practice for young adventurers.
1:00 pm: Knights of Acre — witness armored combat.
1:25 pm: Nabila bellydance — accompanied by Charlie Rutan, Denise, Luis.
2:00 pm: ALBA Consort — enchanting early music tracing ancient Mediterranean, Iberian, and Middle Eastern melodies on period instruments.
2:30–3:30 pm: Kids’ Archery (session 2) — second chance for youth to try their hand at the bow.
3:00 pm: New Jersey Early Music — a vibrant showcase of early musical traditions.
4:00 pm: Costume Contest & “Fight-a-Knight” — show off thy medieval finery and test thy mettle against the Knights of Acre.
5:00 pm: End of Festival — farewell until next year’s revelry.​
News & Updates
We have rebranded. The new logo displays a lighter, contemporary feel, while still conveying a link to period music (medieval, renaissance, baroque, early american) through the chosen font and sculpted “E” letterform.
The new letterform “M” was updated to a contemporary look, while still keeping a connection to the previous letterform, with its rounded top shoulders, and bottom-right curved descender.
The new colors lapis lazuli (blue) and madder lake (crimson), are inspired by colors from the Renaissance period (roughly 1400–1600).
Employment and Volunteer Opportunities
Visit our LinkedIn site to view available positions
$500
DJSC LLC
Milt Horowitz
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$250
Salt Float Center
The General Store at
Cornerstone Montclair
Just Kidding Around
Pineapple Express Barbecue
Deb Ellis & Hal Strelnick​
$100
Mercado Cafe & Kitchen
Egan & Sons
Glen Ridge Taekwon-do
Falafel Hut NJ
Arthur Murray Dance Studio
Tierney's Bar & Grill
Red Eye Cafe
Holsten's
Christina Gillham & Lee Siegel
Kimberly Latortue
Bowden Group Bookkeeping
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$50
Planta Organic Juice Bar
Houss Freya
Montclair Bikery
Barbara Eclectic
Dana Hawkins-Simons & John Simons
Maria Afsharian Real Estate/Christie's
Pernicious Anaemia Society
Sharron Allen
Sponsors and Donors
About us
Montclair Early Music (MEM) is an early music ensemble that brings to life the beauty and complexity of early music to audiences.
With a focus on historically informed performance, the ensemble strives to recreate the sound and spirit of music from the Middle Ages, Renaissance, Baroque periods, and international early music. Our music transports listeners to another time and place, evoking the pageantry and majesty of courtly life, the solemnity and mystery of religious rites, and the joy and humor of popular entertainment.
MEM also offers low-cost recorder lessons to children and seniors, with an opportunity to perform with the corresponding ensembles, DragonBards, and The Musettes.
Please contact info@montclairearlymusic.org for more info.
