Stephen Foster CSO upcoming events

Stephen Foster Old-Time Music Weekend (September 11, 2026)

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park will host the 18th Annual Stephen Foster Old-Time Music Weekend on September 11-13, 2026, 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 Andrew Larson, Michael Klug, Seth Shumate, Aaron Stephens, Russel Mofsky, Anna Strickland, David Strickland, Jim Strickland, Chuck Levy, Michael Godwin, and Mary Allgire.

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 Lindsay at the park (386) 397-7009.

Lodging Information: lakecityfl.com

CAMPING: This year we reserved a limited number of campsites for participants. Please call (386) 397-7009 or email Lindsay.Sigler@FloridaDEP.gov after you register to reserve your site.

On-Site Camping cost for 2 nights is $66.64 (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

Stephen Foster Quilt Show & Sale (October 16, 2026)

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 13:00:00 GMT

You’re invited to join us at the 35th Annual Stephen Foster Quilt Show and Sale October 16-17, 2026, at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park in White Springs, FL. Liberty in Stitches, celebrating America's 250 years through quilting.

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 Savannah at (386) 397-4478 or Savannah.Lord@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!

Entry fee is $5 per quilt.

When: October 16-17, 2026 (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

Rural Folklife Days (October 29, 2026)

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 13:00:00 GMT

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 dance, 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 386-397-7009 or email Lindsay.Sigler@FloridaDEP.gov

Stephen Foster Dulcimer Retreat (November 13, 2026)

Fri, 13 Nov 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Come enjoy a weekend of music and fun at the Stephen Foster Dulcimer Retreat with Bing Futch and Laurie Alsobrook on November 13 & 14, 2026 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 November 1st, 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 Savannah (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

Festival of Lights (December 04, 2026)

Fri, 04 Dec 2026 22:00:00 GMT

The 2026 Festival of Lights will begin on Friday, December 4 and end Thursday, December 24.

December 4 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 or Lindsay.Sigler@FloridaDEP.gov

If you are interested in becoming a vendor, please contact the park at 386-397-4478 or Savannah.Lord@FloridaDEP.gov and fill out the Craft Vendor application: APPLY TO BE A CRAFT VENDOR

Stephen Foster Day (January 17, 2027)

Sun, 17 Jan 2027 18:00:00 GMT

Join us for a lovely afternoon at the Tower, celebrating National Stephen Foster Day. Music, food, beverages and keynote speakers!

Antique Tractor and Engine Show (April 01, 2027)

Thu, 01 Apr 2027 13:00:00 GMT

37th ANNUAL ANTIQUE TRACTOR & ENGINE SHOW

Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park will host the 37th Annual Antique Tractor and Engine Show April 1-3, 2027. 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. There will be a special exhibit on the History of White Springs in the Auditorium.

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 Savannah (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

Florida Folk Festival (May 28, 2027)

Fri, 28 May 2027 13:30:00 GMT

75th 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 75th 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 28– 30. 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 28.

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.