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• Stephen Foster Quilt Show & Sale

  • Start
    October 20, 2023
  •  
    9:00 AM (EDT)
  • End
    October 22, 2023
  •  
    4:00 PM (EDT)
  • Location
    Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park

  You’re invited to join us at the 32^nd Annual Stephen Foster Quilt Show and Sale October 20-22, 2023 at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park in White Springs, FL. Quilts of all shapes and sizes using both traditional and modern techniques will be on display!

  There will be vendors, demonstrations, workshops, and more! On Saturday, October 21, we will have two events happening! The Quilt Show and our I Heart Art Craft Show.

  Quilting supply vendors and handmade textile artists will be available all weekend long. 

  This year’s show theme is ‘Remember When…’

  We are looking for quilts and fabric art to display and would love to have yours! Don’t want your quilt professionally judged? That’s okay – just mark the box on the registration form for entry into the “People’s Choice Award Only.”

  Register your quilt here!

  Enter the Block Contest here!

  If you are interested in being a vendor or demonstrator, please contact us at (386) 397-7009 for more information.

  Admission to the Quilt Show is $5 per person

  
  

  When: October 20-22, 2023 (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

  Where: Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park

  11016 Lillian Saunders Drive

  White Springs, FL 32096

  Information: (386) 397-7009

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• I Heart Art Craft Show

  • When
    October 21, 2023
  •  
    10:00 AM - 3:00 PM (EDT)
  • Location
    Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park

  CRAFT VENDORS, CRAFT CABINS, DEMONSTRATIONS

  Saturday October 21st in the Craft Square. We will have 2 events in one! The 32nd Annual Quilt Show and Sale and our I Heart Art event!

  If you are interested in becoming a vendor please contact Carol at artinmypark@yahoo.com
  

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• Rural Folklife Days

  • When
    November 02, 2023
  •  
    9:00 AM - 2:30 PM (EDT)
  • Location
    Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park

  Register

  Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park is happy to announce the return of Rural Folklife Days, November 2, 2023.

  Demonstrators will be on hand showcasing Florida traditions of yesterday and today during this event.

  Rural Folklife Days celebrates the region’s rural past with demonstrations and hands-on learning activities.  Visitors can taste jellies, play traditional games, churn butter, sing songs, square dancing, quilt on a frame, assist a blacksmith, learn about lye soap, watch demonstrations and learn to fish!  

  This event is a long-standing tradition at the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park, for decades’ students have enjoyed field trips to the park to experience this event.  Schools and home school groups are encouraged to attend this event and pre-register! Contact the park for more information. Groups that do pre-register get into the Florida Folk Festival Education Day in May free! Teacher and bus driver admitted free with pre-registration.

  Everyone is welcome!

  
  

  Admission is $5 per person. 

  
  

  Please remember to subtract your teacher and your bus driver from the total number of adults in your shopping cart before you check out! Homeschools: Please subtract your main educator.

  For more information, please call 386-397-7005

  
  

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• Stephen Foster Dulcimer Retreat

  • Start
    November 10, 2023
  •  
    11:00 AM (EST)
  • End
    November 12, 2023
  •  
    11:00 PM (EST)
  • Location
    Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park
  • Spaces left
    76

  Register

  Come enjoy a weekend of music and fun at the Stephen Foster Dulcimer Retreat with Bing Futch and Laurie Alsobrook on November 10 & 11, 2023 at the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park in historic White Springs, Florida. The weekend offers workshop sessions taught by foremost mountain & hammer dulcimer instructors from throughout the United States. 

  2023 Instructors include Retreat Director, Bing Futch, and Co-Director, Laurie Alsobrook, Tina Bergmann, Sally Anderson, and Jessica Comeau. Visit the Stephen Foster Dulcimer Retreat website or the Stephen Foster Dulcimer Retreat Facebook page for more information about the retreat and our 2023 instructors!

  Concerts on Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:00 pm that will feature your favorite musicians and workshop instructors. The entire retreat costs $110, which includes entrance to both Friday and Saturday concerts & workshops. 

  Beginning November 1, a $15.00 late registration fee will apply.

  For more information on the Stephen Foster State Park Dulcimer Retreat call 386-397-7009.

  
  

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• Festival of Lights 2023

  • Start
    December 08, 2023
  •  
    5:00 PM (EST)
  • End
    December 24, 2023
  •  
    9:00 PM (EST)
  • Location
    Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park

  The 2023 Festival of Lights will begin on Friday December 8 and end Sunday December 24.

  December 8 through the 23 will be all Holiday Magic Nights!  Complimentary popcorn, hot cocoa, marshmallows by the bonfire, Santa, food and craft vendors, kids crafts and more. 

  The lights come on at dusk and the last ticket sold nightly will be at 8:30 pm. Festival Entrance Gates close at 8:30 pm and the park will close at 9 pm.

  December 24th will be our only Silent Night.
  

  The cost is $4.00 per person and children under 3 are free.

  
  

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• Stephen Foster Day

  • When
    January 14, 2024
  •  
    2:00 PM (EST)
  • Location
    11016 Lillian Saunders Drive

  Join us for a National Stephen Foster Day celebration. Music and light refreshments in the Carillon Tower starting at 2 pm on Sunday, January 14

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• Antique Tractor and Engine Show

  • Start
    April 04, 2024
  •  
    9:00 AM (EDT)
  • End
    April 06, 2024
  •  
    5:00 PM (EDT)
  • Location
    11016 Lillian Saunders Drive

  Register

  34th ANNUAL ANTIQUE TRACTOR & ENGINE SHOW

  Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park will host the 34th Annual Antique Tractor and Engine Show April 4-6, 2024. Antique tractors and farming equipment reflecting 200 years of rural American history will be on display.

  Compete in the tractor pulls and watch demonstrations of shingle milling, corn grinding, home canning and more. Unusual engines for everyday purposes with exhibits and collections of flywheels, hit and miss engines, water pumps, vintage pedal tractors, antique cars, and farm equipment.

  On Saturday morning, an antique tractor parade will feature everything from customized lawn tractors to restored farm machinery. Try your luck at our raffle prizes, shop and eat with our vendors.  We have tons of family fun activities and a kid's area on Saturday!

  Admission to the public is $5 per vehicle with up to eight passengers.

  If you would like to participate, please contact Andrea at (386) 397-4478. 

  For more information, call (877) 635-3655 

  Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park

  11016 Lillian Saunders Drive

  White Springs, FL 32096

   (Located on US 41, three miles from I-75 and nine miles from I-10)

  (386) 397-2733

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• Florida Folk Festival

  • Start
    May 24, 2024
  •  
    8:00 AM (EDT)
  • End
    May 26, 2024
  •  
    11:00 PM (EDT)
  • Location
    Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park

  Visit Florida Folk Festival for details

  72nd ANNUAL FLORIDA FOLK FESTIVAL

  ~ The Best of Florida Music, Arts & Culture ~

  WHITE SPRINGS –The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park invite you come celebrate the diverse culture, food, music and arts - everything that makes Florida unique! The 72nd Annual Florida Folk Festival, happening along the banks of the historic Suwannee River in White Springs Florida.  The festival will be held on Memorial Day weekend, May 24– 26. Gates open at 8 a.m., Stages open at 10 a.m., and opening ceremonies will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, May 24^th.

  Named a “Top 20 Event” in the Southeast, this festival has activities for everyone. In addition to a full schedule of performances, visitors may also participate in jam sessions, take workshops, enjoy local eats, see educational exhibits, visit with various vendors, take a dance lesson, and hear stories from all over the state.

  Folk artists have come together for this event since 1953. There will be more than 300 performances by Florida’s greatest artists, including national recording artists, songwriters, and musicians of folk, blues, gospel, country, Latin, jazz, bluegrass, Caribbean, and zydeco music.

  The Department of State’s Folklife Area will be celebrating the Elements and this year’s element will be Earth. Visit the Folklife Stage to experience food  ways, demonstrations, traditions, superstitions and weather lore.

  Advance tickets for the Florida Folk Festival are $35.00 per day or $70.00 for the weekend for adults. On the day of the event tickets will be $40.00 per day or $80.00 for the weekend at the gate. Children under six years of age are admitted free of charge. Ticket prices for children between the ages of six and 16 for the entire weekend $5.00.

  Camping is not offered on the festival grounds but do not worry there are plenty of places to camp in the area. Camping and lodging are also available at Suwannee River State Park, O’Leno State Park, Ocean Pond, Jennings K.O.A. and Spirit of the Suwannee to name a few. For a listing of local public and private campgrounds, cabins and motels in Hamilton County, nearby Columbia County, and Suwannee County visit LakeCityFL.com

  The Florida Folk Festival is a rain or shine event.

  Pets are not allowed at the Florida Folk Festival.

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

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

  
  

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