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• Stephen Foster Old-Time Music Weekend

  • Start
    September 12, 2025
  •  
    11:00 AM
  • End
    September 14, 2025
  •  
    1:00 PM
  • Location
    Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park

  Register

  
  

  Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park will host the 17th Annual Stephen Foster Old-Time Music Weekend on September 12-14, 2025, on the banks of the historic Suwannee River. 

  This three-day event offers participants in-depth instruction in old time music techniques on the banjo, guitar, and fiddle for all levels. 

  
  

  Instructors include Paul Brown, Ashlee Watkins, Andrew Small, Beverly Smith, Buz Sibley, Michael Godwin, Phil Levy, Sarah Carleton, Kevin Moran, Mary Allgire, and Chuck Levy. 

  
  

  Meals will not be provided this year. Please plan accordingly. 

  
  

  Registration for the three-day event is $210.00 (add $15 after August 31) which includes all workshops, jam sessions, discussion groups, and concerts.  For more information and instructions for registration and camping reservations, please call Kim at the park (386) 397-1920.

  
  

  Lodging Information: lakecityfl.com

  CAMPING: This year we reserved a limited number of campsites for participants. Please call Kim (386) 397-1920 after you register to reserve your site.

  On-Site Camping costs $36.67 (includes tax and fees) per day.  The purchase of concert tickets alone does not meet the eligibility requirements for the use of the reserved campsites.

  *No Refunds

  
  

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• 75th Anniversary Gala

  • When
    October 04, 2025
  •  
    6:30 PM
  • Location
    Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park

  Register

  Join us in celebrating 75 years of music, memory, and culture at the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park—where the legacy of composer Stephen Foster lives on along the banks of the legendary Suwannee River.

  Founded in 1950 through the vision of Josiah K. Lilly and the dedication of the Florida Federation of Music Clubs, the park honors the man behind “Old Folks at Home”, Florida’s state song. Since then, it has become a hub of Florida heritage, most notably as home to the nation’s longest-running state folk festival.

  From paddle steamers to world-renowned folk artists, this park has seen it all—and we want you to be part of its future.

  
  

  
  

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• Stephen Foster Quilt Show & Sale

  • Start
    October 17, 2025
  •  
    9:00 AM
  • End
    October 19, 2025
  •  
    4:00 PM
  • Location
    Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park

  You’re invited to join us at the 34th Annual Stephen Foster Quilt Show and Sale October 17-19, 2025 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!

  We are looking for vendors and demonstrators! If interested, please contact Andrea at (386) 397-4478 or andrea.thomas@floridadep.gov

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

  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.”

  Entry fee is $3 per quilt. 

  REGISTER YOUR QUILT HERE

  ENTER THE BLOCK CONTEST

  
  

  When: October 17-19, 2025 (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

  Where: Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park

  11016 Lillian Saunders Drive

  White Springs, FL 32096

  Information: (386) 397-4478

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• Rural Folklife Days

  • When
    October 30, 2025
  •  
    9:00 AM - 2:30 PM
  • Location
    Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park

  Register

  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.  

  
  

  Under "Guests registrations" at the bottom of the registration form, you will enter the total number of tickets you are purchasing ("guests") minus 1.  Please also remember to subtract your teacher(s) and your bus driver(s) from the total number of guests in your shopping cart before you check out or request  to be invoiced! One teacher and one bus driver per class admitted free.  Homeschools: Please subtract your main educator.

  For more information, please call 386-397-7005

  
  

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• Stephen Foster Dulcimer Retreat

  • Start
    November 07, 2025
  •  
    11:00 AM
  • End
    November 08, 2025
  •  
    11:00 PM
  • Location
    Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park
  • Spaces left
    87

  Register

  Come enjoy a weekend of music and fun at the Stephen Foster Dulcimer Retreat with Bing Futch and Laurie Alsobrook on November 7 & 8, 2025 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. 

  Visit the Stephen Foster Dulcimer Retreat website or the Stephen Foster Dulcimer Retreat Facebook page for more information.

  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 October 25, a $15.00 late registration fee will apply.

  For more information on the Stephen Foster State Park Dulcimer Retreat call 386-397-4478.

  Lodging Information: lakecityfl.com

  CAMPING: This year we reserved a limited number of campsites for participants. Please call Andrea (386) 397-4478 after you register to reserve your site.

  On-Site Camping costs $36.67 (includes tax and fees) per day. Cabins are also available at the park for $114.00 per day (includes tax and fees). The purchase of concert tickets alone does not meet the eligibility requirements for the use of the reserved campsites.

  *No Refunds

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• Festival of Lights

  • Start
    December 05, 2025
  •  
    5:00 PM
  • End
    December 24, 2025
  •  
    9:00 PM
  • Location
    Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park

  The 2025 Festival of Lights will begin on Friday December 5 and end December 24.

  December 5 through the 23 will be all Holiday Magic Nights!  Complimentary popcorn, hot cocoa, marshmallows by the bonfire, Santa, food and craft vendors, kid's 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.

  If you are interested in volunteering or creating a light display, please contact the park at 386-397-7009

  APPLY TO BE A CRAFT VENDOR

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• Florida Folk Festival

  • Start
    May 22, 2026
  •  
    9:30 AM
  • End
    May 24, 2026
  •  
    11:00 PM
  • Location
    Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park

  Visit Florida Folk Festival for details

  
  

  Big News, Folk Fam!
  Applications are officially LIVE!

  We couldn't wait another second to share the excitement — the website is still getting a fresh coat of paint, but the apps are ready to roll!

  Jump in, spread the word, and tag your crew — let’s make some magic happen for the 2026 Florida Folk Festival!

  APPLY NOW & SHARE WILDLY!

  2026 Florida Folk Festival Performer Application Deadline for Performers: October 15

  2026 Florida Folk Festival Food Vendor Application Deadline for Food Vendors: December 15

  2026 Florida Folk Festival Vendor, Demonstrator, Exhibitor Application: Deadline for Vendors, Demonstrators, Exhibitor: January 30

  2026 Florida Folk Festival Volunteer Application Deadline for Volunteers: February 15

  
  

  74th 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 to come celebrate the diverse culture, food, music and arts - everything that makes Florida unique! The 74th 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 22– 24. Gates open at 9:30 a.m., Stages open at 10 a.m., and opening ceremonies will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, May 22.

  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.

  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. Purchase Tickets Here!

  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 www.FloridaFolkFestival.com.

  
  

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