Three days of music and tradition on the Suwannee

Make White Springs your Memorial Day weekend base for folk music, craft demos, workshops, and plenty of festival food beside the Suwannee River.

Start date

22 May, 2026

End date

24 May, 2026 11:00 PM

Event details

The Florida Folk Festival turns Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park in White Springs into a focused showcase of the state’s cultural heritage. Along the banks of the Suwannee River, you spend the weekend moving between musicians, storytellers, and craftspeople sharing traditions that have shaped North Florida for generations. Expect fiddle-driven sets, gospel harmonies, and hands-on workshops where masters teach skills such as mandolin playing and palmetto weaving.

The mood is communal and grounded, with 300-plus performances across multiple stages. You will catch everything from square calling to contemporary movement, plus the Folklife Area for historical demonstrations and heritage skills in action. When you break for food, vendors cover the regional essentials: collard greens, cornbread, chicken pilau, and shrimp gumbo. After sunset, the park shifts to concerts by moonlight and dancing at the Heritage Stage.

Plan for a full day on your feet. Arrive when gates open at 9:00 AM to join morning workshops and jam sessions before the biggest crowds. Buy ahead if you can: tickets typically run $35 per day or $70 for the full weekend in advance, with gate pricing closer to $40 per day. Bring a folding chair or blanket for lawn seating, wear comfortable shoes for the park trails, and pack a reusable water bottle plus high SPF sunscreen. If rain rolls in, programming generally continues since most activities are under cover.

Good to know: this is family-oriented, with kids ages 6 to 16 admitted for $5 for the entire weekend and children under 6 free; leashed dogs are welcome. The park is at 11016 Lillian Saunders Drive in White Springs, and opening ceremonies begin at 6:30 PM on the first Friday. Tickets are generally non-refundable, so check the forecast before you commit. For easy logistics, stay in White Springs or Lake City, or look to Live Oak, Jasper, or Jennings for motels and campgrounds within about 30 minutes; Lake.com can help you compare nearby vacation rentals when you want a quieter reset after the music.