FLORIDA FOLK FESTIVAL

By  Mike Miller May 24, 2024

The Florida Folk Festival is a huge event that is a must see for Florida history and music lovers.

It takes place every May on Memorial Day Weekend at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park on the Suwannee River near White Springs in North Florida.

Florida Folk Festival Poster

The 2024 festival is the 72nd, so it's been around longer than most Florida events.

You will see exhibits about how Florida pioneers lived and survived in the harsh Florida environment that existed in the days before mosquito control and air conditioning.

Okeefenokee Joe

All kinds of craft vendors and artists have their Florida themed wares on display, and the park setting is an attraction in and of itself and hosts other Florida events during the year.

It is a three day event, and you will hear storytellers and famous and not so famous Florida musicians.

Wander around to your heart's content.

Cross Creek Cloggers

There are Irish fiddle tunes and other music brought to Florida by the many generations of immigrants that have made our state their home.

All told, there are usually about 300 different musical performances over the three day weekend.

Some years the festival focuses on the old pioneers who first came here; other years the attention is paid to the newer cultural communities in the state.

Bill Monroe, the Father of Bluegrass

Plenty of good food is for sale all around the park.

You can enjoy collard greens, cornbread, chicken perloo, shrimp gumbo, hoppin john, various barbecues and curries and gyros.

If you want to spend the weekend up there, you can find campgrounds and motels in nearby White Springs, Lake City, Jasper, Jennings and Live Oak.