First-ever Tiny House Festival comes to New Jersey this weekend

The first-ever New Jersey Tiny House Festival is coming to the Sussex County Fairgrounds this weekend.

Among the featured guest speakers will be HGTV’s Derek Diedrickson and New Jersey’s own state Sen. Raymond Lesniak.

Lesniak (D-Union) introduced legislation last year that would create a pilot program to assist thestate’s homeless population, drawing inspiration from the growing tiny house movement – a combination social and architectural trend which advocates a simplified lifestyle in a small (under 500 square foot) space.

Festivalgoers will get the chance to tour over 30 different tiny homes on display, including builder models, DIY structures, converted school buses, mini-campers, yurts and more.

Other special guests (there are 16 total) include keynote speakers, Lora Horton Higgins and localmicro-living celeb Kari “Yurt Grrl” Cooper.

There will also be workshops on solar power, composting toilets, and other alternative energy, plus film screenings of “Living Tiny Legally: Parts 1 and 2” and “Destiny’s Bridge”.

The family-friendly event will also have plenty of activities for kids, food trucks and an evening concert and fire performances.

Leashed pets are welcome. The shaded “pet zone” will have water bowls and a drawing for a chance to win a tiny dog house in wheels. Onsite pet adoptions will be offered as well.

Admission is free to the public on Friday evening only, from 4-8 p.m.

One day tickets cost $20 and two-day tickets cost $35, for ages 13 and older. Children under age 12 enter free, as do law enforcement, first responders and active military personnel.

A special home school free entry is available on Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for students, teachers and their families.

Onsite camping reservations for individual tents and RVs or trailers are also available.

Friday, Jun 16 through Sunday, Jun 18, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. — 37 Plains Rd., Augusta NJ.