62ND ANNUAL FLORIDA FOLK FESTIVAL SCHEDULED FOR MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

Florida DEP Banner

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 21, 2014

CONTACT: Andrea Thomas, 386.397.4478, Andrea.Thomas@dep.state.fl.us

62nd ANNUAL FLORIDA FOLK FESTIVAL SCHEDULED FOR MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

~The best of Florida music, arts & culture~

JJ Grey

JJ Grey will perform at the 62nd Annual Florida Folk Festival.

WHITE SPRINGS –The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park invites you to the 62nd Annual Florida Folk Festival this Memorial Day Weekend, May 23-25, on the banks of the Suwannee River. The festival has once again been named a “Top 20 Event” in the Southeast. With the best of Florida’s music, arts and culture, there is something for everyone. Gates open 8 a.m., daily.

Since 1953, folk artists have come together for this event. One of the oldest state folk festivals in America will continue a grand tradition of celebrating Florida’s land, food, people and diverse cultural heritage. With more than 300 performances by Florida’s greatest folk and roots artists, including national recording artists, songwriters and musicians of swing, folk, blues, gospel, country, Latin, jazz, bluegrass, Caribbean and zydeco music, it is truly an event not to be missed.

This Florida Folk Festival features performances by more than 150 groups with connections to all parts of Florida, including these:

JJ Grey & Mofro Whitehouse, Fla.; Southern swamp-funk; visit www.jjgrey.com

Albert Castiglia Miami, Fla.; Classic Blues Guitar; visit www.albertcastiglia.net

Frank Thomas Lake Wales, Fla.; Legendary Florida Folk

Ben Prestage Everglades region; One Man Blues Band; visit benprestagemusic.com

Sam Pacetti St. Augustine, Fla.; Skilled guitar pyrotechnics; visit sampacetti.com

Willie Green Ocala, Fla.; Authentic rural blues with storytelling; visit williegreenblues.com

Laney Jones Mount Dora, Fla.; Folk Singer-Songwriter; visit www.laney-jones.com

Gypsy Star Tampa Bay area; acoustic rock / world music fusion; visit www.gypsystarband.com

Belle and the Band Tallahassee, Fla.; Bluegrass, folk, blues and jazz; visit belleandtheband.com

Michael Jordan St. Augustine, Fla.; Acoustafunkadelatastic one man band

Mark Johnson & Emory Lester Dunnellon, Fla.; Claw-grass Banjo; visit markandemory.com

Jeanie Fitchen Orlando, Fla.; Traditional and original ballads, Florida history; visit jfitchen.com.

In addition to a full schedule of performances, you’ll find plenty to amuse and educate. The 2014 Folklife Area, coordinated by the Florida Department of State Folklife Program, celebrates the diverse cultures of the upper St. Johns River area.

For more information on performance schedules, please call 1-877-6FL-FOLK (1-877-635-3655) or visit www.floridastateparks.org/stephenfoster or www.FloridaFolkFestival.com.

Tickets on Sale now! Buy in advance and save!

Advance tickets for the Florida Folk Festival are $25 per day or $50 for the weekend for adults and $30 per day or $60 for the weekend at the gate. Children under six are admitted free. Ticket prices for children between the ages of six and 16 for the entire weekend are $5. Call Elevate Ticketing at 877-569-7767 or visit www.FloridaFolkFestival.com for tickets!

The Florida Folk Festival is a rain or shine event! Camping is not offered during the festival. There are plenty of places to camp in the area, including Suwannee River State Park, O’Leno State Park, Ocean Pond and Spirit of the Suwannee. For a comprehensive list of local public and private campgrounds (27), cabins and motels (53) in Suwanee County, nearby Columbia County (Lake City) and Hamilton County (White Springs and Jasper), visit SuwanneeValley.org.

Pets are not allowed at the Florida Folk Festival. Personal golf carts are not allowed at the Florida Folk Festival.

WHAT:    Florida Folk Festival

WHEN:   Friday, May 23 through Sunday, May 25.

               Gates open daily at 8 a.m.

WHERE: Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park

               11016 Lillian Saunders Drive/Highway 41

               White Springs, Florida 32096