Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
Folk music is center stage this weekend in White Springs, but there's plenty of other family-friendly attractions, too.
By Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published May 24, 2001
WHITE SPRINGS -- For almost half a century in this North Florida community, Memorial Day weekend has meant a celebration of Florida's rich folk history and music of all sorts.
A dozen stages are scattered around the 850-acre Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park in White Springs, north of Lake City. About 30,000 people are expected to spend the weekend listening to everything from blues to gospel to folk to flamenco.
The music starts at 10 a.m. daily and continues until at least 10 p.m.
Some of the acts are well-recognized names both in the state and nationally: Florida natives the Bellamy Brothers, celebrating 25 years in the music business; Seminole chief Jim Billie; master fiddler Vassar Clements, a staple of the bluegrass scene; blues saxophonist Noble "Thin Man" Watts; bluegrass guitarist Tony Rice and folk singer-songwriter Rod MacDonald.
Others among the more than 80 performers are better know regionally.
The festival isn't just about music. There also will be dancing (Irish, clogging, square dancing, swing, Cajun, Latin), storytelling, arts and crafts and cultural folk areas.
Each year, the Seminole nation brings palmetto-thatched chickees to set up its Family Camp. Exhibits and demonstrations include cypress canoe carving, beadwork, doll-making, cow-roping and other skills.
The Florida Folklife area this year will focus on the Space Coast area with its Daytona car and motorcycle traditions, its Cape Canaveral space community, inland ranchers, and fishing, surfing and sailing.
The Florida Folk Festival, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park, White Springs. Tickets: $20 adult daily, $40 weekend pass. Children (3-15) $4 daily. Family $45 daily. Family weekend pass $55. For information, call (904) 397-2733 or (904) 397-2192 or www.flheritage.com/folkfest.