Fest Season in Full Spring Swing

Jonesin' for jams after returning from the glorious Wanee Festival at Spirit of the Suwanee Music Park last weekend? I hear ya!

You can keep the magic going without going too very far these next few months while the southern weather's still tolerable. Here, then, is a little update on some festies around the corner...

The Gamble Rogers Folk Festival happens in St. Augustine April 29-May 1. Folk singers Richard Thompson, Sam Pacetti, Pierce Pettis, and bluesman Bill Wharton "The Sauce Boss" headline. Tickets are $66.50 advance. This is not a camping festival, and shows take place at a variety of venues in downtown St. Augustine. You will have to find accommodations in St. Augustine or camp across the bridge at the wonderful Anastasia State Park or in one of the private campgrounds.

The String Break music festival happens April 29-May 1 at the Sertoma Youth Ranch in Dade City, Fla. (About a half-hour north of Tampa, near Brooksville.)  This little camping fest features Roots Rock, Alt Country, Newgrass & Bluegrass. Performers include Paul Thorn (Miss.), The Greencards (Nashville), The Chapmans , Rockin Acoustic Circus(AZ), Bearfoot (Alaska). This event has a very organized youth program and is a family friendly event. Tickets are $85 advance, $95 at the gate. Tickets for kids (up to 17!) are $20. They have great vendors, and the venue is small and intimate. You can buy electric camping upgrades.


The Purple Hatter's Ball happens at Spirit of the Suwanee May 13-15. Tickets are $45 advance, and $60 at the gate. This is a camping festival with vendors. The park is offering a deal for a golf cart and a cabin that can sleep 4 people for $400.

The Hangout Festival happens in Orange Beach, Alabama (near Pensacola) May 22-24 with a stellar lineup including Paul Simon, The Flaming Lips, The Black Keys, Widespread  Panic, and more. No camping on site, you have to book accommodations at Orange Beach. A 3-day pass is $174 advance. There are all sorts of extra ticket options, including shuttles, late-night shows, and lodging deals.

The jammy  Orange Blossom Jamboree happens at the wonderful Sertoma Youth Ranch near Brooksville, Fla. on May 21-23. Tickets are just $45, and that includes primitive camping. An electric site is an extra $40 but there's no limit on how many folks you can have on your site, as long as you can fit 'em all.

festgrrl fave the Acoustic Cafe happens Memorial Day weekend north of Birmingham, Alabama May 27-28. Check out one of my previous posts on this gem of a fest from last year. This is a bit of a drive for us Floridians, but you will not be disappointed if you dig string music and mind-bending interpretations of bluegrass. Marcia Ball joins the pickers this year, along with Dread Clampitt and lots of others. Tickets are $50 advance, $60 at the gate. This fest is family friendly camping festival and very intimate. Not a lot of vendors, so bring a stocked cooler.


The state-run Florida Folk Festival happens  May 27-May 29 at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park along the Suwannee River in White Springs, Fl. No camping here, unless you are an official volunteer who has signed up beforehand. A weekend pass is $40 and kids (up to age 16!) cost just $4.

The kinda-monthly Farm To Family Full Moon Festival  takes place June 10-12 outside Gainesville near  beautiful Ginnie Springs. The price is right -- $20 advance, $25 at the gate. Family friendly, small, with a single stage and super kind folks.

And, of course, there's the big daddy fest of them of 'em all, The  New Orleans Jazz  and Heritage Festival, April 29-May 8, with Everyone In The World playing. This is not a camping festival. Advance tickets are $45 a weekend, $60 at the gate. Kids under 10 are $5. No lineup (or food choices) anywhere compares, but be prepared for heat and big, big crowds.