Get Your Folk On - Florida Folk Fest This Weekend

JJ Grey and his band Mofro headline Saturday

The Florida Folk Festival happens this weekend (May 23-25) in White Springs, Florida, along the Suwannee River.

This fest is 61 years old, and these days, it is run by the state. There's a lot of interesting folk dancing, home-grown food, crafts, storytellers and demonstrations at the Folk Fest, and lots of musical acts all day on various stages. It's a great place to bring kids.

Clog dancers kickin' it old-style

Advanced weekend tickets are $50; $60 at the gate. Single-day tickets are $25 advanced; $30 at the gate. Kids under 6 are free, Kids aged 6-16 are $5 for the whole weekend -- yes!! The only way you can camp onsite is if you are a performer or have signed up beforehand as a volunteer. There are, however, campgrounds and motels nearby. 

Seminole sewing traditional clothing

Friday's headliners include two shows by talented blues guitarists --  Albert Castiglia and Ben Prestage.

On Saturday night, it's Star Time, when the great swamp rock/blues performer JJ Grey and and his band Mofro -- out of Jacksonville, but touring all over the world -- headline. Also playing Saturday -- fiddler Mark Johnson and mandolinist Emory Lester, blues man Willie Green, country music singer Billy Dean, and Tallahassee up-and-coming Americana act Belle and The Band.

Talented guitarist/singer Sam Pacetti from St Augustine headlines Sunday, as well as Florida folk troubadour Frank Thomas. Longtime folk festival guitarist-singer Doug Gauss and his folk-singing gals, "The Enablers,"  also perform.

Don't miss the Seminole fry bread and the amazing Church-lady suppers lovingly prepared at the fest, it's all Southern cooking at its finest, for sure.

A luthier building instruments

And, don't forget, up Alabama way this weekend, is another excellent little fest called The Acoustic Cafe, read all about it in my previous festgrrl post.