The 72nd Florida Folk Festival: Celebrating music, culture, arts, and diversity

The Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park has been the home of the Florida Folk Festival since 1953, making it one of the oldest folk festivals in the country. Roots music of all kinds, from blues to bluegrass, from traditional folk to dance music, world music, swing and old-time, are on display. And although for some reason it’s become a negative term, this festival celebrates the diversity of the state, with international music and traditional dances and instruments from Floridians who came from across the globe: Ireland, Peru, Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, Cuba, and Greece. And as the home of the Sacred Steel Summit, it’s the place where you can explore the rich history of this Afro-gospel-based genre of music featuring the best steel players in the world. While Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi didn’t make a surprise appearance (they did last year), the Summit drew a great crowd over the three days of the festival.

Traditional Florida arts and crafts, from pottery to instrument making, are on display. There are special children’s areas that keep little ones occupied. There is one tent area just for jamming… old time, swing, blues.. there’s something for everyone who wants to participate (click on photos for full screen view).

And then there are the workshops. For anyone interested in picking up new skills, some the workshops this year included the usual banjo, fiddle, mandolin, and guitar workshops but also included sessions on swing, slide guitar, shape note singing, songwriting, Irish shanty songs, and drum circles.

Nashville Numbering System workshop 📸: Rick Davidson

The amphitheater stage this year featured some great performances. Two sacred steel performers, the Fox Family and the renowned Lee Boys were there, and there was a showcase featuring some of the newer sacred steel players. Multi-instrumentalist Ben Prestage brought his unique stylings to the main stage. There was some great harmony singing from one of my favorite bands, The Currys, along with the wonderful trio from the Tallahassee area, The Little Mercies. Bluesman Walter Parks, Cuban band Cortadito, and nationally-known singer/songwriter Jim Stafford played Sunday night, along with the up-and-coming Hadley Parrish-Cotton.

Hadley Parrish-Cotton and Eddy Cotton 📸: Rick Davidson

There are 15 venues and tents, and with literally hundreds of possibilities, the major problem is trying to figure out where to go. But if you’re looking for some diverse experiences over a Memorial Day weekend, you won’t find more options than the Florida Folk Festival.