71st Annual Florida Folk Festival Program

ANN OPGENORTH

Ann Opgenorth (1942-2022) received a B.A. at Marycrest College and an MFA at Notre Dame University. She taught junior high art and then became an assistant professor of Art at Marycrest College and opened Ivy Ridge Studio, with Donna Marihart, in 1964.

Ann relocated to Florida in 1990. Ann specialized in welded and brazed metal sculptures in steel and copper, both full round and wall pieces. She was also a talented painter; who loved plein-air painting and painting what she saw while horseback riding.

Ann’s quilted art is unique, with colorful compositions and flowing lines that draw you into the scene. The 2023 Florida Folk Festival featured art is one of her quilts depicting Water birds. Her pieces center mostly around natural themes, but she also creates spectacular snapshots of people from Florida’s past.

Ann’s artwork is internationally known and displayed in Germany and Korea. In the United States, her work is in several State Capitals and churches, including the Risen Christ at Epiphany Parish in Lake City. She was a member of the Guild of Religious Architects; she won many awards, including the National Sculpture Society, recognition from the American Institute of Architects, and was listed as one of the “Outstanding Young Women of America.” Ann continued working with metalwork sculptures, quilting, and oil paintings until her death.

Ann was a talented artist, an avid gardener, an animal lover, and a spirited and wonderful friend who will be deeply missed.

Ann’s quilt of Water Birds is the 2023 Featured Art for the Festival

Thank You

To our 71st Annual Florida Folk Festival Sponsors

2023 Contributing Angels

Dr. Paul Sullivan

Jim & Sally Moses

Ralph & Debra Reid

Jay Smith

Pam Hyde & Bebe Willis

David & Christine Moor

Johnny Bullard

Liz Connell

Beverly Hopkins

Alyssa Rose

In Memory of Barbara Beauchamp

Howard & Carolyn Pardue

Theodore & Gertrude Winsberg

Dudley & Gail Matthews

Danny Hales & Sheila Hiss

SE Environmental Geology

Walter & Merri McKenzie

Candler, Moses & Associates

Jerry Lawrence & Amanda Bullard

Karan & Charles Stevens

Cathy Everett

Joel Kelly

Margaret Henry

Del Suggs

Mary Lou Bullard

Rhett Bullard

Robert Calhoun

Eric Calhoun

Beverly Dayton

Peter Kerwin

Friends of Florida History, Inc.

Frank Owens, Dan Tyack, Reggie Footie, Del Ray Grace

"Seeking

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Along the banks of the historic Suwannee River in White Springs, Florida, folk artists have gathered to celebrate Florida’s land, people, and diverse cultural heritage. Since its humble beginning in 1953, the Florida Folk Festival has not only grown to become Florida’s most prestigious affair, but also named “Florida’s Best Cultural Event.” The festival has recently been recognized by the Southeast Tourism Society as a “Top 20 Event” in the southeastern United States. Get ready for a fun and entertaining weekend for the entire family! Our feature performers are listed below with the evening of their amphitheater performance. Many will be performing or teaching workshops some other time throughout the weekend along with our special guest artists. You can even dance the night away each evening with a variety of dances; and don’t miss dancing with Papaloko & Loray Mistik Sunday evening on the Heritage and Dance Stage. Check out our full schedule of events for specific times and stages.

Jim Stafford

(Sunday Evening)

Winter Haven native; Jim Stafford is a comedian, singer, songwriter, and entertainer extraordinaire. He wrote and recorded his first chart making song, “The Swamp Witch”, produced by his boyhood friend

Kent LaVoie aka Lobo in 1974. He followed with a gold single, “Spiders and Snakes”, which stayed on the American pop charts for 26 weeks. The hits just kept coming and included “My Girl Bill”, “Wildwood Weed”, and the wonderfully satirical “Cow Patti”, written for the Clint Eastwood movie, Any Which Way You Can, in which Jim appeared.

For over 20 years the Jim Stafford show is always named a favorite by audiences and critics alike. The singer, songwriter, comic genius, and entertainer extraordinaire is self-taught on guitar, fiddle, piano, banjo, organ, harmonica and the human brain--he might bring any of them into play at any moment. 417 Magazine, the Springfield News Leader and the Branson Entertainment Awards have voted Jim Best Entertainer, Best Personality and Best Comedy Show. Mayflower Tours has named Jim’s Show as one of their top ten suppliers in North America. Jim wrote many of the songs for which he is famous and has brought his inimitable style to several movie soundtracks. He received a gold record for his work in the Disney movie The Fox and The Hound and writes for many other popular artists.

Jim launched his television career with The Jim Stafford Show on ABC in 1975. His numerous television appearances included music specials, variety shows, and talk shows. He co-hosted the popular prime time show Those Amazing Animals with Burgess Meredith and

Pricilla Presley. Jim also hosted 56 episodes of Nashville on the Road and made 26 appearances on the Tonight Show. In 1987 & 1988, Jim was a regular performer and head writer/ producer for the Emmy-nominated Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.

Jim’s first love has always been live performance. During his show Jim combines hysterical comedy with masterful performances on the classical guitar as well as with heartwarming stories of the human spirit. Critically acclaimed as the “Victor Borge of the Guitar”, Jim creates hilarious antics from everyday life taking laughter to a new art form.  He’ll share his secrets for creating stage presence.

John McEuen & The Circle Band

(Saturday Evening)

Multi-instrumentalist John McEuen, one of the founding members of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band has introduced his music and creative talents through various formats and forums throughout his signature career. He’s produced television specials, live concerts and music videos; scored music for indie films; he’s made special guest appearances on multiple studio recordings, and he is a syndicated radio show host and book author. In September of 2017, Florida resident McEuen was inducted into the American Banjo Museum Hall of Fame.

The music he performs is a reflection of early inspirations from his native Southern California (Lightning Hopkins, Earl

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Scruggs, The Carter Family and The Dillards). He notably pays homage to his influences (Don Reno, Doc Watson, Merle Travis, Earl Scruggs, Ligntnin’ Hopkins and Bill Monroe) in each and every performance with an added touch of personalized eclectic tunings. McEuen’s countless jams include street performers to Phish, Earl Scruggs, Levon Helm… and even on Sesame Street with a herd of goats and a cow! Arguably, McEuen’s most important legacy may be his initiating what Rolling Stone called “The most important record to come out of Nashville” and what the 2004 ZAGAT survey called “the most important record in country music” - Will the Circle Be Unbroken...

McEuen has assembled a unique cast for a special night to share the music and memories of the landmark Will the Circle Be Unbroken platinum album and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s incredible career. Joining John McEuen are the incredible String Wizards consisting of Les Thompson, an original NGDB founding member, John Cable, a NGDG member and John’s music partner for 25 years, Matt Cartsonis.

When the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band recorded Will the Circle Be Unbroken, initiated by founding member John McEuen, the icons of Bluegrass, Country and West coast country rock convened: Roy Acuff, Doc Watson, Merle Travis, Jimmy Martin, Earl Scruggs, Vassar Clements and Maybelle Carter. Six hot August 1971 days leading to a magic time when three generations came together to produce the benchmark record relevant to this day. Still an Amazon top 20, Will the Circle Be Unbroken is in the Grammy Hall of Fame. The Library of Congress inducted the multi-platinum ‘Circle’ as one of the most important American recordings.

Billy Dean

(Sunday Evening)

Festival favorite, Billy Dean, a native of Quincy, Florida, is known by his peers as the “James Taylor of country music.” By the age of 10, he was playing in his dad’s country band. He was raised appreciating the value of music and has had many musical influences.

After attending college on a basketball scholarship, Billy moved to Nashville in 1983 and by 1990 had recorded his first Top 5 Hit “Only Here for A Little While.” Since then,

Billy has transcended genres with his unique repertoire earning numerous awards, including: The Academy of Country Music’s Song of the Year for “Somewhere in My Broken Heart”, ACM New Male Vocalist of The Year, BMI Pop Awards, BMI Song Awards, BMI Million Air Plays Award, Country Music Television Rising Star Award, NSAI Song of The Year, and a Grammy for a “Country Tribute: Amazing Grace.” In 2017, Billy was inducted into the Florida Artist Hall of Fame, the highest honor bestowed by the state.

Billy’s appeal reaches beyond the music world. He has appeared on numerous television shows as well as made-for TV movies, including: Blue Valley Songbird, A Face to Kill For, Lois & Clark, One Life to Live, Diagnosis Murder, Good Morning America, The Tonight Show, The Montel Show, and many others. He is currently on tour across the US.

After thirteen albums and eleven Top 10 singles spanning over a period of eighteen years, Billy founded the publishing company BDMG (Billy Dean Music Group). Billy continues to make contributions to the country music world by building brands with music and empowering children as a spokesperson for Averitt Cares for Kids, and Sunkist’s Take a Stand Program. His latest album “Billy Dean Live” was released in 2017. It features personal anecdotes and an array of his most beloved songs. Billy’s illustrious career has been recognized with a proclamation from the State of Tennessee House of Representatives.

The Lee Boys

(Saturday Evening)

The Lee Boys are one of America’s finest AfricanAmerican sacred steel ensembles. This family group consists of three brothers, Alvin Lee (guitar), Derrick Lee and Keith Lee (vocals) along with their three nephews,

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Roosevelt Collier (pedal steel guitar), Alvin Cordy, Jr. (7-string bass) and Earl Walker (drums). Each member began making music at the ages of 7 and 8 in the House of God church they attended in Perrine, FL. Born and raised in Miami, each of The Lee Boys grew up in the church where their father and grandfather, Rev. Robert E. Lee, was the pastor and a steel player himself.

“Sacred steel” is a type of music described as an inspired, unique form of Gospel music with a hard-driving, bluesbased beat. The musical genre is rooted in Gospel, but infused with rhythm and blues, jazz, rock, funk, hip-hop, country and ideas from other nations. Influenced by the Hawaiian steel guitar fad of the 1930’s, brothers Willie and Troman Eason brought the electric lap steel guitar into the worship services of the House of God church in Jacksonville, FL. The Pentecostal congregation embraced the soulful sound, and over time this unique sound became the hallmark of the church. The Lee Boys are part of the fourth generation of musicians in this faith.

When The Lee Boys bring their joyous spiritual sound to the stage, audiences instantly recognize that this is not “sitting and listening” music: dancing, shouting out, and having fun are considered essential parts of their tradition. Founder and bandleader Alvin Lee explains, “the inspiration and feeling that comes along with our music is the reason that people feel good. It is like the new music on the block and it’s just getting ready to explode!” It’s mostly original material, with a few standards and hymns the group “blueses up a little.” In 2008-09 alone they performed for more than 250,000 music fans at festivals throughout the United States. In the process, their unique sound has attracted musical artists such as Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead, The Allman Brothers Band, The Black Crowes, Los Lobos, Gov’t Mule, Umphrey’s McGee, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk and The Travelin’ McCourys- all of whom have played with the Lee Boys and/or invited them to tour with them.

They’ve performed throughout the United States, Canada and Europe and will continue influencing audiences worldwide with their “sacred steel”. Their tour calendar includes over 100 major festival performances, including headline stops at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Memphis in May, Bonnaroo, Austin City Limits, MerleFest, DelFest, Wanee and All Good Festival. In December 2008, the band debuted on national television with a rousing performance on NBC’s Late Night with Conan O’Brien that had the host jumping out of his chair and raving about the band.

The Lee Boys have been in the studio with The Travelin’ McCourys have completed a joint album entitled “Meetin’ In The Middle” which illustrates their amazing bluegrass/ sacred steel festival shows and adds to their growing discography.

Ben Prestage (Saturday Evening)

Ben Prestage has music in his blood. His greatgrandmother was a professional musician who toured the American vaudeville circuit opening shows for Al Jolson. His grandmother was a Boogie-Woogie pianist. For years, Folk Festival fans have flocked to the stages where Ben Prestage appears. Growing up in a swampy area of rural central Florida, Ben has created his own signature sound, “Deep South Swamp Music,” by melding Juke Joint Blues, Delta Blues, and blazing Piedmont Blues, with award-winning finger-style guitar and soaring steel-guitar work. After a stint as a busker on historic Beale Street in Memphis, Ben emerged as one the nation’s top one-man-bands and earned acclaimed accolades including: the Lyon/ Pitchford Award for “Best Diddley Bow Player” and “Most Unique Performer” at the Songwriters’ Showcase of America. He also finished 4th, 3rd, and 2nd place at the International Blues Challenge. Ben is one of the only artists to be nominated for both a Blues Music Award and an Independent Music Award. These accomplishments and uniquely powerful live performances have earned Ben invitations to perform at prominent blues, jazz, and folk festivals across North America, Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.

Karibbean Groove (Friday Evening)

Lead by Judes Albert, Karibbean Groove is a dynamic dance band that performs a variety of Caribbean styles often performed in clubs or for important cultural celebrations like Haitian Flag Day and weddings. In addition to reggae, they play konpa, a meringue style Haitian dance music with roots in Africa, and zouk, a fast-paced carnival beat that originated in Guadeloupe and Martinique. The

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band members were born in Haiti, but met at church in Immokalee where their families worked as farmworkers. This versatile and high energy group stays true to the Haitian tradition of socially conscious music while also exploring new genres and expanding their fan base. They have performed at the Cape Coral Reggae Festival, several local festivals and cultural celebrations, charity fundraisers, and appeared at Radio-Tele Pacific in Haiti.

Lili Forbes & The Funky Taters

(Sunday Evening)

Expect to hear original music by Lili Forbes and Michael Lewis when Lili Forbes & The Funky ‘Taters take the stage at the Florida Folk Fest.  Forbes, along with her twin sister from St. Maarten, have been singing together since they were 12 years old.  Growing up with the folk musical traditions of the Caribbean, they soon became expert in many Caribbean rhythms, including gospel, and toured the islands as teenagers.  Today they have their own separate musical careers but still compose songs together.  The ‘Taters have existed in different mutations since their formation in 2013.  Today, they are a nine-piece band with horns that plays danceable funk, jazz, and blues, with an emphasis on New Orleans rhythms.  They are led by Michael Lewis, who first began composing songs in 1990.  Forbes, who now lives in Tallahassee, and Lewis, from Tallahassee, first came together for a performance at the International Jazz Plaza Festival in Havana, Cuba, in 2019, where they played their originals as well as jazz and pop covers.  They have been playing together ever since for special occasions, such as the 70th and 71st Annual Florida Folk Festivals.  So put on your dancin’ shoes!

The Lubben Brothers (Friday Night)

Triplets and high-energy acoustic musicians, The Lubben Brothers specialize in tight vocal harmonies and an eclectic blend of folk instruments. Diving into classical music at a young age, their modern songwriting style merges folk roots with complex pop ideas. The Brothers have performed at venues such as the Meyer Amphitheater, the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, the Florida Folk Festival, Norton Museum of Art, and others. Their music has aired on radio stations across the country, while they have developed a committed, grassroots following in Florida; as one reviewer put it: “The Lubben Brothers are to Florida as the Lumineers are to Denver, Colorado’’ (Maritza Cosano, West Palm Beach Magazine). Music by the Lubben Brothers was chosen as an encore for NPR’s “Live from Here” with ChrisThile, and featured in Netflix’s premiere film of the 2021 Christmas season, “Love Hard.” Composers as well as musicians, The Lubben Brother’s new musical Prodigals, heralded by the concept album “Prodigal Songs” and co-written with acclaimed actor and director Bruce Linser, promises to be the culmination of the brothers’ artistic journey through their roots in folk music, classical exploration, and storytelling.

Grant Peeples (Saturday evening)

A self-described “tree-hugger that watches NASCAR,” Grant Peeples is known for his axesharp socio-political tunes, raucous humor and heartgigging ballads.

Grant tours coast to coast, and has been a repeat performer at The Woody Guthrie Folk Festival, the 30A Songwriters Festival, the Will McLean Music Festival, GambleFest, and of course here at The Florida, Folk Festival. January 2019 marked a second tour in The Netherlands, where FolkForum.nl described him “…a pure storyteller, in the best American folk tradition…” and his show “…one of those gems that you will remember for a long time…”

A Weekend of Entertainment, Participation and Exhibits

Bullard Brothers and Friends

(Saturday evening)

The Bullard Brothers and Friends are a fivepiece folk and bluegrass group hailing from White Springs, Florida. The group includes brothers Jerry Lawrence Bullard (vocals, guitar) Johnny Bullard (vocals), Kerry Waldron (upright bass, vocals), Clint Dockery (mandolin), and Jason Baker (fiddle). The group combines traditional southern gospel songs with Florida folk and bluegrass tunes. The group’s dynamic live performances enjoyed by audiences across North Florida have made them a beloved fixture of the Florida folk scene, including at the annual Florida Folk Festival where they have been performing for over 50 years. Be sure to catch their set for a good, down-home time.

Allen Shadd

(Saturday evening)

Allen Shadd is a three-time National Flatpicking champion, as well as a past winner of the Merlefest guitar competition, Rocky Grass, the Wayne Henderson guitar competition, and many more. He has taught at a number of prestigious music camps including Steve Kaufman’s Kamps, The Alabama Folk School, and the Swannanoa Gathering.  Allen has performed or recorded with artists that has included Tom T. Hall, Claire Lynch, Jimmy Fortune, Norman Blake, Mark Johnson, Darin and Brooke Aldridge, John Cowan, and many more. He also performed as a member of the Charlotte based WBT Briarhoppers from 2019- 2021 including their induction ceremony into the NC Music Hall of Fame in 2020. In 20212022 he performed as a duo with Kristen Holloway. His latest album is “Miles From the Hard Road”, it includes original tunes as well as contest favorites.

Allen grew up in Florida and lived here for over 40 years before moving to the Carolinas where he has resided since 2005.

Shana Smith

(Friday Evening)

Many across the state know her as “Shana Banana” -- a multi award-winning children’s entertainer performing at major festivals, schools, libraries, and theaters across the United States. Her voice delves into blues, jazz, folk, and spiritual music as well, and she has composed over one hundred songs, many of which reflect her great love of Florida’s ecology, history, and culture. Her music has taken her to the White House, Seattle’s Whirligig, Merlefest, Seminole Tribe Indian Reservations, the Bluebird in Nashville, numerous performing arts centers. and various jazz, Americana and blues events across the country, as well as to yoga studios, spiritual centers, and holistic festivals for her “Chanting to the Open Heart” kirtan circles for adults and children.

Shana has stayed close to her love of the environment and her home state of Florida by writing songs and programs for both children and adults, featuring mostly original music. Shana continues her mission to effect global change by endorsing the Earth Charter and serving on its Board of Directors. She initiated an Earth Champs Chapter in Gainesville and St. Petersburg, Florida, and wrote a song for the Earth Champs entitled “Heartbeat of the Earth.” She especially loves to use music to celebrate our natural love of Life, Earth and the deep connections we have to each other. Recently, she became a novelist, having released a historical fiction book about the Rosewood and Cedar Key entitled “Islands of Cedars” in time for the 100-year anniversary of the Rosewood Massacre. As a result of this book, she received the 2022 Ensley Developing Writer Award from the Florida Book Awards. She also serves as Music Director for Unity of St. Petersburg. Her decadeslong Zen and yoga practices infuse her shows with love, vitality, and kindness.

A Weekend of Entertainment, Participation and Exhibits

Remedy Tree

(Friday evening)

Remedy Tree is Florida’s hard driving modern bluegrass band. Hailing from St Augustine, the outfit was established in 2015 by Gabriel Acevedo, 2018 Florida State Fiddle Champion and Singer Songwriter. Remedy Tree has been developing their sound blending bluegrass, folk and Old-time music with new influences to create a truly unique Americana sensation. Remedy Tree has shared the stage with major talent such as The Steeldrivers, Rhonda Vincent, Town Mountain, Chris Henry, Kenny and Amanda Smith, The Grascals and more, as they continue to make a name for themselves in Florida and abroad. With 3 Studio projects under their belt, Remedy Tree is known for keeping their audiences dancing with their high energy shows and inspiring through profound lyric-driven songs. They currently tour Florida from coast to coast often across state lines playing Bluegrass and Folk festivals listening rooms, bars and clubs promoting their new album, Love The Journey that features Mark Johnson on banjo.

Grant Livingston

(Sunday evening)

Singer/Songwriter Grant Livingston makes his thirty-fifth appearance at the Florida Folk Festival this year.  He tells stories in song about armadillos, barnacles, the invasion of the Everglades by Melaleuca trees and pythons, and how to tell the difference between an alligator and a crocodile.   And if you ask him Grant will reveal, in song of course, the reason he always wears a hat.

The Broward-Palm Beach New Times named Grant one of the “Ten Greatest South Florida Folksingers of All Time” and has called him “a cross between Jimmy Buffett and Sesame Street.”.

Grant was Artist-in-Residence at Everglades National Park in 2019, and appears nationwide with Ranger Gary Bremen as half of “Songs and Stories of Our National Parks”.  He has taught Songwriting at Miami-Dade College

and is a coordinator of the South Florida chapter of the Nashville Songwriters Association International.  Grant appears at theaters, state parks, folk festivals, restaurants, coffeehouses and schools throughout the state of Florida.

Jeanie Fitchen

(Sunday evening)

Jeanie Fitchen has come a long way since her first appearance at the Florida Folk Festival in 1966. Since then, she has traveled to nearly every part of Florida, as well as to Tennessee, New York, Alaska, and points in between, earning for herself a bevy of accolades and awards for her performances, songwriting, and recordings focusing not only upon the culture, history, and environment of Florida, but also the basic human dignity of all people and their right to live in freedom with justice and equal opportunity.

As a young teenager Jeanie found her niche in the simple beauty and artistic style of traditional music from around the world. Throughout the years, however, she began to write and record her own songs earning a 1999 Grammy nomination for her CD, Roads, in the category of Best New Folk Album. For her long-standing contributions to the folk cultural resources of the state, Jeanie received a Florida Folk Heritage Award in 2001. For the songs she has written and sung in praise and defense of Florida’s natural and cultural heritage, Jeanie was honored with The Fellow Man and Mother Earth Award by The Stetson Kennedy Foundation in 2010. And In recognition of her legacy of performances as a Florida singer-songwriter and for her contributions to the Florida Folk Festival, Jeanie was inducted into the 2016 Florida Folk Festival’s Legends and Legacy Hall of Fame.

When asked why people should care about folk music, Fitchen says, “I think it allows people to reflect, and sometimes it compels people to make changes in their life or world around them. There will never be another form of music like this.” And there will never be another Jeanie Fitchen, a truly unique performer devoted to Florida Folk music steeped in the tradition of past folk icons and Florida’s diverse cultural history.

Legends and Legacies

Legends and Legacies is a lifetime achievement award given to recognize those individuals who have been instrumental towards the success of the Florida Folk Festival. The Stephen Foster Citizen Support Organization (CSO) developed the idea as a project to bring awareness to the history of the festival and to celebrate all those folks who have contributed to its legacy as being the longest continuously running folk festival in the country.

The names and recognitions of all the award recipients are in a specially designated area by the bell tower. The goal of the CSO is to recognize new honorees each year during the Festival.

Lloyd Baldwin

Lloyd has been playing and singing old time Southern music for decades. He specializes in fiddle tunes from the deep South, particularly Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. He has collected many rare and seldom-heard pieces from older fiddlers. He has performed tunes learned from the playing of Florida fiddler Arthur “Cush” Holston at the Florida Folk Festival many times. In addition to the fiddle, he plays banjo in the old clawhammer style and has been known to pick out a tune or two on the guitar. In 1976, Lloyd was a founding member of the Bucksnort Barndance Band, which was based in Gainesville, Florida, for many years. Lloyd has won fiddle contests at the Pioneer Florida Old Time Music Championships and the State of Florida contest at the Florida Folk Festival in both Rustic and Twin fiddle categories. He has been the Guest of Honor at the Pioneer Florida Championships and has judged many contests. He has served as president and vice president of the Florida State Fiddlers Association and is currently serving on the board of the revived Florida Old Time Music Championships.

Lloyd and his band performed for the first time at the Florida Folk Festival in 1977 and played several times over the following years. He has participated every year since 1990 under the name Lloyd Baldwin and Friends. He has frequently played for other events at Stephen Foster State Folk Culture Center in White Springs as a volunteer and as a paid performer. Most recently, he has conducted workshops at Rural

Folklife Days, and served as an instructor at the Suwannee Old Time Camp at the park.

During the 1990’s, Lloyd hosted an Old Timers’ Showcase at the annual Florida State Fiddlers Association annual convention. The Showcases featured several senior fiddlers from around the State of Florida. Many of the performances were captured on digital media, and he is in the process of preparing the recordings to be placed in the state archives.

Lloyd is a regular at festivals around Florida, such as the Spring and Fall Frolics at Barberville, and the Florida State Fiddlers Association annual convention. He coordinated and hosted the annual Old-Fashioned River Party at Manatee Springs State Park from 2014 until 2019. Over the years, he has played for dances through-out Florida, and in Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. He currently plays with the Fish Camp Cutups along with longtime associate Marion Lasley on guitar.

Lloyd’s brother Brent, also a founding member of the Bucksnort Barndance Band, and Brent’s wife Inslee recently started playing music again after a lapse of 25 years. The trio now plays as “The Baldwins” with Lloyd on fiddle, Brent on banjo, and Inslee on guitar. Lloyd received the second Tom Staley Award in 2019 from the Florida State Fiddlers Association to recognize his dedication to supporting and

Legends and Legacies

preserving old time music in Florida. He has been an invaluable asset to the Florida Folk Festival for many years.

reliable and insightful.

After the Bureau of Florida Folklife was reorganized and transferred from White Springs to Tallahassee, Wayne served on the Department of State Florida Folklife Council. On that Council he helped advise and guide the Department with its Festival responsibilities. After another reorganization in which the Festival was transferred to Florida State Parks in 2002, Wayne continued to support the Park Service by reviewing performer applications and supporting State Park staff on Festival matters. In addition to his festival performances, he continues his long years of service as Saturday night Festival emcee.

Wayne Martin

“I’ve loved and supported the Florida Folk Festival in every way that I could since the first year I attended it in 1978. The Festival is a wonderful celebration of folklife, heritage and music for all of Florida. It brings us all together.” Wayne Martin of Blountstown is a traditional musician and folklife advocate. His roots as a Festival performer with others like the legendary Don Grooms, Doug Gauss, Will McLean and Southwind strengthened his commitment to the Florida Folk Festival as a community and as a significant national event.

A highly regarded fiddler, he studied with renowned Florida fiddler George Custer. Wayne helped establish the Florida State Fiddlers Association and was instrumental in the designation of the Festival’s Annual Fiddle Contest as the official state contest. Over the years he has served as board member or advisor to key folk music organizations, including the Will McLean Foundation and the new Florida Old Time Music Championships. In these ways he has developed a network of relationships and knowledge that makes his advice to the Festival

In addition, his many decades of Festival and related service, in Calhoun County, Wayne has been active in historical preservation projects, including the Pioneer Panhandle Settlement. He collects traditional and historical stories about Calhoun County and, if you are lucky enough to catch it…. he is an exceptional storyteller. For his music and folklife advocacy statewide and local work, in 2005 Wayne was awarded the Florida Folk Heritage Award by the Department of State.

2014

• Barbara Beauchamp

• Cousin Thelma Boltin

• Sara Gertrude Knott

• J. L. McMullen

• Jeanie Fitchen

• Lillian Saunders

• Nancy Morgan

• Ruby Shaw

• James Billie

• Frank Thomas

2016 2017 2018 2019

• Dale Crider

• Marie Norris

• Grant and Gail Simons

• Aunt Peggy and Jay Smith

2022

• JU Lee

• Dr. Peggy A. Bulger

• Whitey Markle

• Merri McKenzie

• Bobby Hicks

The 2023 inductees join an esteemed group of iconic Florida Folk Festival Legends and Legacies.

The FLORIDA FOLK FESTIVAL is grateful to be assisted by The Florida Conservation Corps (FLCC) AmeriCorps Members & Staff!

The FLORIDA FOLK FESTIVAL is grateful to be assisted by The Florida Conservation Corps (FLCC) AmeriCorps Members & Staff!

FLCC Mission: Develop natural and cultural resource leaders by connecting them to areas of critical need in conservation, preservation, Interpretation, and resource based recreation

FLCC Mission: Develop natural and cultural resource leaders by connecting them to areas of critical need in conservation, preservation, Interpretation, and resource based recreation

What is the FLCC?

What is the FLCC?

The Florida Conservation Corps (FLCC) is an AmeriCorps State/National Service Program that operates within the Florida Park Service. Our members meet critical needs in Florida State Parks and are offered hands-on service learning opportunities designed to develop them into leaders of natural resource management, volunteer recruitment, outreach, and trail management.

The Florida Conservation Corps (FLCC) is an AmeriCorps State/National Service Program that operates within the Florida Park Service. Our members meet critical needs in Florida State Parks and are offered hands-on service learning opportunities designed to develop them into leaders of natural resource management, volunteer recruitment, outreach, and trail management.

Project Areas:

Project Areas:

Project A.N.T. AmeriCorps Non-native plant Terminators Focus on the treatment of invasive plant species in Florida state parks

Project A.N.T. —AmeriCorps Non-native plant Terminators Focus on the treatment of invasive plant species in Florida state parks

Project R.O.A.R.—Regional Outreach & Awareness Recruiters focus on interpretation and recruiting volunteers for the Florida State Parks.

Project R.O.A.R.—Regional Outreach & Awareness Recruiters focus on interpretation and recruiting volunteers for the Florida State Parks.

Project T.R.E.C.—Trail Restoration & Enhancement Corps is a traveling team that focus on creating, restoring and enhancing Florida State Park trails for visitors.

Project T.R.E.C. Trail Restoration & Enhancement Corps is a traveling team that focus on creating, restoring and enhancing Florida State Park trails for visitors.

Participating FLCC AmeriCorps Members in the Festival :

Participating FLCC AmeriCorps Members in the Festival :

2nd Year Members:

2nd Year Members:

Samantha Rider

Samantha Rider

Hannah Wilson

Hannah Wilson

Gianna Tarquinio

Gianna Tarquinio

Gretchen Boyle

Gretchen Boyle

Justin Franks

Justin Franks

1st Year Members:

1st Year Members:

AnnErice Heerema

AnnErice Heerema

Carmen Ocasio

Carmen Ocasio

David Laplante

David Laplante

Emanuela Torres Marquis

Emanuela Torres Marquis

Cameron Becker

Cameron Becker

Gunther Naylor Susana Sandino

Gunther Naylor Susana Sandino

Jacob Askin Zeke Greenwood

Jacob Askin Zeke Greenwood

John Antonson Mya Webb

John Antonson Mya Webb

Jessica Puente

Jessica Puente

Monica Perez

Monica Perez

Thank You to All of the AmeriCorps Members assisting with the festival!!

Thank You to All of the AmeriCorps Members assisting with the festival!!

FLCC Program Staff:

FLCC Program Coordinator: Adriana Betancourt

FLCC Program Staff:

FLCC Assistant Coordinator: Lauren Natwick

FLCC Program Coordinator: Adriana Betancourt

FLCC Assistant Coordinator: Carissa Stepp

FLCC Assistant Coordinator: Lauren Natwick

FLCC Program Assistant: Megan Greene

FLCC Assistant Coordinator: Carissa Stepp

FLCC Program Assistant: Philip Daly

FLCC Program Assistant: Megan Greene

FLCC Program Assistant: Brian Clark

FLCC Program Assistant: Philip Daly

FLCC Program Assistant: Brian Clark

The Elements: Fire

The Elements: Fire

Based on survey fieldwork conducted in 2022, the theme of this year’s Folklife Area is Fire.

The Elements: Fire Introduction

Introduction

The term folklife refers to the living traditions currently practiced and passed down within groups by word of mouth, imitation or observation. Folklife is a mirror that reflects community values, challenges and successes. Florida folklife is shaped by the state’s tremendous diversity and growth, creating a rich cultural landscape.

The term folklife refers to the living traditions currently practiced and passed down within groups by word of mouth, imitation or observation. Folklife is a mirror that reflects community values, challenges and successes. Florida folklife is shaped by the state’s tremendous diversity and growth, creating a rich cultural landscape.

What’s New at Florida Folklife?

For more than 40 years the Florida Folklife Program has documented, presented, and preserved Florida’s vibrant folklife and traditional culture. State folklorist Dr. Dominick Tartaglia has just completed his first full year in the position, and the some of the artists on the stage are from his very first Florida Fieldwork Survey on Fire Traditions in the state of Florida. Apart from the fieldwork survey and last year’s festival, Dom presided over the nominations of the 2023 Folk Heritage Awards (come see the Heritage Awards presentation at 9:45pm Saturday at the Amphitheater stage), booked the musical guests at the State of Florida’s Black History Arts & Culture Festival, coordinated the 2022 Artist Residency (Myriam Eli and Joe Zeytoonian), and coordinated the 2022-23 Apprenticeship program (all three teams will perform on the Folklife Stage).

What’s New at Florida Folklife?

For more than 40 years the Florida Folklife Program has documented, presented, and preserved Florida’s vibrant folklife and traditional culture. State folklorist Dr. Dominick Tartaglia has just completed his first full year in the position, and the some of the artists on the stage are from his very first Florida Fieldwork Survey on Fire Traditions in the state of Florida. Apart from the fieldwork survey and last year’s festival, Dom presided over the nominations of the 2023 Folk Heritage Awards (come see the Heritage Awards presentation at 9:45pm Saturday at the Amphitheater stage), booked the musical guests at the State of Florida’s Black History Arts & Culture Festival, coordinated the 2022 Artist Residency (Myriam Eli and Joe Zeytoonian), and coordinated the 2022-23 Apprenticeship program (all three teams will perform on the Folklife Stage).

Dom very excited to be here, and you will see him around the folklife area all weekend, along with the doctoral students from Florida State University’s “Making the Festival” class.

Dom very excited to be here, and you will see him around the folklife area all weekend, along with the doctoral students from Florida State University’s “Making the Festival” class.

Fire

For the next four years at the Folk Festival, the Folklife Area will be covering how the elements influence traditions in the state of Florida.

Fire

For the next four years at the Folk Festival, the Folklife Area will be covering how the elements influence traditions in the state of Florida.

Based on survey fieldwork conducted in 2022, the theme of this year’s Folklife Area is Fire

In comparison with many other regions of the country, Florida is new and constantly changing. While some can trace a long family lineage here, most Floridians have arrived within the last 50 years. In 2012 (the most recent year for which I could find information) only 36% of the population were born in the state. Even Florida’s Native Americans are new. The native peoples who inhabited the region at European contact were displaced by the Seminoles and Miccosukees who did not coalesce as distinct peoples until the late eighteenth century. Florida in many ways is like fire: dynamic, sustaining, enticing, and exciting. Florida grows and changes like the flames themselves, and understanding the role fire plays in Florida folk traditions means understanding the ways in which Florida’s folk groups have grown and changed.

In comparison with many other regions of the country, Florida is new and constantly changing. While some can trace a long family lineage here, most Floridians have arrived within the last 50 years. In 2012 (the most recent year for which I could find information) only 36% of the population were born in the state. Even Florida’s Native Americans are new. The native peoples who inhabited the region at European contact were displaced by the Seminoles and Miccosukees who did not coalesce as distinct peoples until the late eighteenth century. Florida in many ways is like fire: dynamic, sustaining, enticing, and exciting. Florida grows and changes like the flames themselves, and understanding the role fire plays in Florida folk traditions means understanding the ways in which Florida’s folk groups have grown and changed.

The tradition bearers on the Folklife Stage come from all across our state, from the Big Bend to the 305, Cracker Country to the Gulf Coast, Orlando, and many more. This year, the stage brings you six fire tradition bearers, three teams from the Apprenticeship Program, two Heritage Award winners, and six traditional musicians returning to the stage.

Invited Artists:

The tradition bearers on the Folklife Stage come from all across our state, from the Big Bend to the 305, Cracker Country to the Gulf Coast, Orlando, and many more. This year, the stage brings you six fire tradition bearers, three teams from the Apprenticeship Program, two Heritage Award winners, and six traditional musicians returning to the stage.

Tallahassee is a hotbed of Florida blacksmiths. This is in part due to the many cultural institutions which teach the art, such as the Tallahassee Museum and Mission San Luis. The other institution which promotes the infrastructure, organization, and networking of blacksmiths is the Florida Artist Blacksmith Association (FABAA), the organization dedicated to teaching and preserving blacksmithing in Florida. It’s Northwest (Tallahassee) chapter is led by veteran blacksmith John Pfund. Born in the Keys, he made his way to Tallahassee when he was a welder. He discovered his love of blacksmithing and apprenticed at Mission San Luis. John is the Northwest Chapter president, a founding member of the Gainesville chapter, an artist in residence in Blountsville, and a mentor and

Invited Artists:

Tallahassee is a hotbed of Florida blacksmiths. This is in part due to the many cultural institutions which teach the art, such as the Tallahassee Museum and Mission San Luis. The other institution which promotes the infrastructure, organization, and networking of blacksmiths is the Florida Artist Blacksmith Association (FABAA), the organization dedicated to teaching and preserving blacksmithing in Florida. It’s Northwest (Tallahassee) chapter is led by veteran blacksmith John Pfund. Born in the Keys, he made his way to Tallahassee when he was a welder. He discovered his love of blacksmithing and apprenticed at Mission San Luis. John is the Northwest Chapter president, a founding member of the Gainesville chapter, an artist in residence in Blountsville, and a mentor and

The Elements: Fire

teacher to numerous smiths. He prides himself on his teaching ability, and you can find him teaching smithing essentials to kids and adults alike on most weekends. John will be in the park’s blacksmith workshop all weekend doing his trademark “Blacksmith Challenge”, where he will start with iron and a heat source on Friday morning and build every tool in a blacksmith’s kit by the end of the festival. During John’s timeslots on the Folklife Stage, State Folklorist Dom is going to walk all interested participants to John’s workshop for a live demo.

Nels Parson, a fourth-generation Floridian, has spent his 45-year career working for land management agencies that use prescribed fire in their natural resource management. He has participated in or bossed over 350 prescribed burns and participated in over 150 wildfire suppression. He will be speaking on fire suppression and safety as occupational folklore on the Folklife Stage.

Folk Heritage Award winner, Buddy Mills of Okeechobee, learned the traditional skills required of a Florida cowboy from his father which he will demonstrate at the Folklife Stage Buddy is a longtime favorite of both the Folk Festival and the Florida State fair in Tampa, where you can find him at the Cracker Country Living History Museum. Stop by to see Buddy fixing a pot of Swamp Cabbage, the Florida Cracker term for sautéed hearts of Sabal Palm, the state tree of Florida.

John Pfund

Nels Parson

Buddy Mills

The Elements: Fire

Heritage Award winning Afro-Cuban dancer

Neri Torres was born in Havana, Cuba to a very musical family. Neri and her brother Ezequiel both became passionate about music and dance from a young age. They were particularly influenced by Orisha music and dances of the Santería religion. In 1991, Neri arrived in the United States to establish a career in dance. She founded IFÉ ILÉ in 1996, a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation, promotion and cultivation of Afro-Cuban culture and folklore. Neri has also served as the principal dancer and choreographer for Gloria Estefan. At the Folklife Stage, she will be performing an Orisha dance related to fire, along with providing commentary on the art form on display.

the Weedon Island Cultural and Natural History Center.

2023 Folk Heritage Award winner Concepción

Poou Coy Tharin is a master weaver in the traditional indigenous Guatemalan style known as pikb’l. Ms. Tharin grew up in a village in the Alta Verapaz region in the central highlands of Guatemala, speaking only the indigenous Q’eqchi’ language. Now living in Tarpon Springs, Florida, she demonstrates and teaches classes in this traditional Mayan technique. She has demonstrated, lectured, exhibited, or had residencies at numerous institutions across Florida and the United States, including the Dunedin Fine Arts Center, New College of Florida, Polk State College, the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology at the University of New Mexico, the James Museum in St. Petersburg, the Nelson Poynter Memorial Library at the University of South Florida, and

Folklife Apprenticeship Program

The Florida Folklife Apprenticeship Program supports the preservation of folklife and traditional arts through one-on-one apprenticeships. These awards fund three-, six, or eight-month periods of study between a master artist and apprentice, recognizing the value of folklife and traditional arts in Florida while enabling participants to work together to maintain and share traditional knowledge, skills, and techniques. At the end of the apprenticeship term, the master artists and apprenticeships take to the folklife stage to demonstrate the finished product from their months of classes. This year, the folklife stage is proud to present three apprenticeship teams.

Florida Folk Heritage Award recipient and Haitian cultural advocate Liliane Louis and apprentices Marie Romaine Desir and Marie Moncy have explored the intersection of Haitian food and folk narratives over their Folklife Apprenticeship Program. Here, they showcase the product of their apprenticeship, including a live cooking demo of traditional Haitian foods. “Food is so much apart of our culture and our history.” Says Liliane. I’m always happy cooking, especially when I have someone to share it with.”

Neri Torres

Concepción Poou Coy Tharin

The Elements: Fire

to improve the skate infrastructure of Orlando. The team has created and installed handmade skatepark architecture, but also taught local skaters about the intangibles of skate culture –norms, folk history, stewardship, and creative placemaking – to not just teach young people how to skate, but how to belong in the folk group called “skaters”.

Mundillo is the Puerto Rican folk art of handmade bobbin lace. Spanish for “little world”, the mudillo artist winds thread across wooden bobbins, crossing and twisting them until they create a patter. Orlando residents Julia Belen Alverio and Annie Garcia have been working together for the last year in the Florida Folklife Apprenticeship Program. The two of them, along with several other members of “Damas del Mundillo Orlando” (who you will see on stage with them), practice their craft every week in Julia Belen’s home workshop.

Traditional Music & Dance

2023 Folk Heritage Award winner Myriam Eli is a South Florida based dancer, percussionist and tradition bearer who practices and preserves Sephardic and Middle Eastern Music and Dance. She is a master of the Danse Orientale, a folk-based dance from the Middle East and North Africa characterized by circular motions of the torso and rhythmic movements of the hips. She is joined on stage by oud player Joe Zeytoonian, who won a Florida Folk Heritage Award in 2000.

Skateboards and skate culture are intrinsically tied to the folk culture of Florida. From the tricks, the terms, and even the shape of the boards itself, Florida is essential to what we picture when we imagine skate culture. During the duration of their apprenticeship program, skateboarder Zach Moldof and quad skater (roller skater) Dorsa Vaziri have been working

In 1985, they moved to South Florida and founded Harmonic Motion, a nonprofit arts organization focusing on cross-cultural and folkloric music and dance. In 2022, Harmonic Motion were Florida Folklife’s 2022 Artist-inResidence, where they played and performed at Florida State University School, School for Arts and Innovative Learning, Florida State University, and Mission San Luis.

Liliane Nerette Louis

Julia Belen Alverio & Annie Garcia

Zach Moldof & Dorsa Vaziri

The Elements: Fire

styles popular in clubs and at cultural celebrations. In addition to reggae, they play konpa, a meringue style Haitian dance music with roots in Africa, and zouke, a fast-paced carnival beat. The band members were born in Haiti but met at church in Immokalee where their families work as farmworkers. This versatile group stays true to the Haitian tradition of socially conscious music while exploring popular genres. At the Folklife Stage, Karribean Groove will be playing songs and telling stories related to fire in Florida.

Born in the Dominican Republic to Cuban parents, Jose Elias is a musician and arts administrator in Miami. He played with the Grammy-nominated group Conjunto Progresso as well as the Spam Allstars before founding Cortadito alongside Julio Cesar Rodriguez Delet 2011 Over on the Folklife Stage, Cortadito will perform early 20th century Cuban music in the styles, such as son montuno, guaracha, boleros, nengon and bolero son, and also have Q&A time with the audience during their show slots. Cortadito have amassed countless honors and awards over the years. They are also one of the featured artists in the Florida Department of State’s online encyclopedia of Florida music, entitled Florida Music Tours. The 2023 installment featuring Cortadito is entitled, Latin Music Tour.

In the sweltering heat of a Florida summer, packed in a warm church for a Sunday service, the swell of the organ gets replaced by the keening whine of the steel guitar. In Florida, we call this particular genre of country-inflected gospel music Sacred Steel.

Cortadito

Led by Judes Albert, Karibbean Groove is a dance band that plays a variety of Caribbean

The Sacred Steel Summit occurs inside the Florida Folk Festival At their Sacred Steel stage, you will be able to see more than thirtyfive sacred steel musicians, including legends of the genre like Check Campbell, Lonnie Bennett, Aubrey Ghent, and Ted Beard. Three players from the Sacred Steel Summit will be coming to the folklife stage. Tommy Phillips will be performing on Friday, Bryan Taylor on

Myriam Eli & Joe Zeytoonian

Karribean Groove

The Elements: Fire

Saturday, and Ives Hicks will perform on Sunday.

Dr. Panayotis “Paddy” League is Assistant

film footage clips from previous Florida Folk Festivals, the 1978 Florida Folks Arts Conference and Four Corners of the Earth (a documentary that resulted from the 1983-1984 Seminole Video Project and was produced by the Florida Folklife Program and WFSU-TV), as well as photographs and music selections from the Florida Folklife Collection that are held by the State Archives and accessible on FloridaMemory.com.

Professor of Musicology at Florida State University and Director of the Center for Music of the Americas. He specializes in the traditional music of the Greek islands, northeastern Brazil, Ireland, and their respective diasporas. He is a 2019 Florida Folklife Program Apprenticeship Program Master Artist. You will see his students from his “Making the Festival” class around the Folklife Stage. Paddy is returning to the stage to perform traditional Greek songs about fire.

Panayotis League

Photo Archivist Adam Watson and Reference Archivist Jackie Attaway assist patrons with research requests at the State Archives of Florida. In addition, they collaborate with the State Archives' Florida Memory Program to select and add digitized archival collections to FloridaMemory.com. Here, they present a sampling of Florida Folklife records including

Supporting

Florida

If you received assistance at the Festival Information area or caught a ride on one of the visitors shuttles you likely encountered a member of the Florida Park Service Ranger Association (FPSRA)

The FPSRA, established in 1989, provides support to Florida State Parks and the Florida Park Service family, past and present.

Service projects are an important function of the FPSRA and include repairs to park facilities, performing resource management projects, preserving the history of the Florida Park Service, and lending a helping hand at special events such as the Florida Folk Festival.

Another important function of the FPSRA is providing support to those who serve the Florida State Parks. A Relief Fund provides financial assistance during difficult times such as when Hurricane Ian struck Florida in 2022. Almost $50,000 in grants were awarded to those impacted. Since the Fund was established in 1993 over $200,000 has been awarded.

Consider giving to the Florida Park Service Ranger Association to continue the important work of helping Florida Park Rangers who have experienced financial hardship and supporting those who serve the Florida State Parks.

www.fpsra.org/Donate The Florida Park Service Ranger Association is a 501(c)3 not for profit organization.

www.fpsra.org

www.facebook.com/FPSRA

Family – Service – Traditions

those who serve

State Parks, past and present, by providing financial assistance, cultivating a family atmosphere, and perpetuating a spirit of unity and service.

Traditional Artists

Traditional Artists at the Florida Folk Festival are sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Just the Way it Was

Liliane Nerette-Louis is a Master Artist who has been promoting Haitian folk life for the past 40 years. She is the author of When Night Falls and other publications including 4 children books such as Pumpkin Soup is for Sunday. She was the recipient of the 2006 Life Achievement award. Louis is committed to continue on passing on the rich culture of the Haitian people.

Paco and Celia Fonta are internationally recognized performers of Spanish flamenco music and dance, and for over thirty years have been ambassadors of flamenco throughout Florida and the U.S. They are the founders of Siempre Flamenco, a not for profit organization that promotes the art of flamenco outside of Spain. They are recipients of the Florida Folk Heritage award and have been recipients of the Florida Folk life Apprenticeship Program as Master Artists. Their performances delight and exhilarate both young and old and the emotions expressed are timeless and universal.

Paco and Celia Fonta

Traditional Artists

the Amphitheater Stage, Cortadito will perform early 20th century Cuban music in the styles of son montuno, guaracha, boleros, nengon and bolero son.

Karibbean Groove

Lead by Judes Albert, Karibbean Groove is a dynamic dance band that performs a variety of Caribbean styles often performed in clubs or for important cultural celebrations like Haitian Flag Day and weddings. In addition to reggae, they play konpa, a meringue style Haitian dance music with roots in Africa, and zouk, a fast-paced carnival beat that originated in Guadeloupe and Martinique. The band members were born in Haiti, but met at church in Immokalee where their families worked as farmworkers. This versatile and high energy group stays true to the Haitian tradition of socially conscious music while also exploring new genres and expanding their fan base. They have performed at the Cape Coral Reggae Festival, several local festivals and cultural celebrations, charity fundraisers, and appeared at Radio-Tele Pacific in Haiti.

Plena Es

In the Cuban-rich region of South Florida, Plena Es has carved a space for Puerto Rican music by emphasizing the island’s distinctive bomba y plena musical traditions, percussion-driven sounds that reflect the island’s African heritage. Founded by Pierre Ramos in 2004, the band—featuring percussion, trombones, piano, and bass—stirs up a high-energy Latin dance music that is a touchstone for Puerto Rican identity.

Cortadito

Born in the Dominican Republic to Cuban parents, Jose Elias is a musician and arts administrator in Miami. He played with the Grammy-nominated group Conjunto Progresso as well as Miami stalwarts the Spam Allstars before co-founding Cortadito. On

Bomba is the 17th-century music created by West African slaves on Puerto Rico’s sugar plantations. Plena mixed bomba with indigenous Taíno Indian music, jibaro music of the island’s mountain farmers, chamber music of the Spanish colonizers and the rhyming verse of urban satirists. The result was often called “el periódico cantado” (“the sung newspaper”), due to the prominence of political commentary and day-to-day news in the lyrics. Backed by the rhythms of the panderos (hand drums), plena focuses on the story, often improvised, sung by a lead singer and chorus. “The bomba was traditionally played in backyards and private parties,” Ramos explains. “These rhythms were considered to be low-class. The plena then went from being played in the streets, to the town plaza, and finally among highclass Puerto Rican people.”

Ramos was inspired upon hearing Los Pleneros del Quinto Olivo as a young boy; he picked up the pandero and found that plena moved him. Shortly

Traditional Artists

after founding Plena Es, Ramos, who also sings, was joined by David Lucca, a conga player originally from Ponce, the region many see as the birthplace of plena. Lucca is now Ramos’s partner in the band. The mission of these pleneros is to get audiences dancing and smiling. “The music is so up-beat and dynamic that it will move anyone that listens to it,” Ramos claims. “The singer’s interpretation and the lyrics telling those amazing stories are nowhere else to be found. The essence of the instruments, when well-performed, creates such a powerful force that it doesn’t matter where you are from, I bet you will move.”

Raymi Dance School

Raymi Dance School is a nonprofit organization that shares the dance, music, history and traditions of Peru in Florida. Led by Silvia Huddleston, a Folkloric Art Teacher and a Peruvian folk dancer raised in Lima, where rural and indigenous folklife was once viewed negatively. She joined the Folkloric Ballet in Lima and while traveling to perform, deepened her appreciation for the Spanish, Afro-Peruvian, and indigenous influences in Peruvian folk dance. The group played an instrumental role in promoting national pride in Peru’s folk culture when they performed at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea.

Dôdô Awoko

Dôdô Awoko showcases the rich heritage of instruments, rhythms and songs from the Côte d’Ivoire and the rest of West Africa. Dôdô Awoko is made up of various African musical instruments. The name Dôdô Awoko is in itself made from two words each representing an instrument: the Dôdô and the Awoko both used in the group. Other traditional instruments including the Balafon, Boro, Yadoh, and Attoungblan added to the captivating voices of the lead vocalist and other singers. The Dôdô Awoko is a very unique, complex, musical combination and Mr. Zagbo is one of the very few musicians in Côte d’Ivoire to play it today. Dôdô Awoko as an ensemble participated in several festivals in Africa as well as in America.

Papaloko & Loray Mistik

“Mystic Thunder,” is the meaning of Loray Mistik, an exciting group which emanates from the hills and villages of the mysterious, ancient land of Haiti. Their music brings forward the truth of their traditions with rhythms played out on the drums like the sound of the mystic thunder of the Gods. Vodou speaks to the heart of Haitian people, putting forth a message of social conscience and

Traditional Artists

spiritual strength. It also typifies the music of the Lwa (the Spirits or Orishas) of Africa, with many songs bringing prayers to the 101 Vodou Nations that look over mankind and protect us all. In slavery days, Haiti became a melting pot of African tribes. With the new arrivals many tribal religions blended with a new rhythm created by Don Petwo, a Vodou priest, who combined the attributes of the spirit of Metal, Iron and Justice, Ogun, with Congo rhythms creating Petwo music. Rhythms of the already present Arawak and Taino Indians blended with immigrant African rhythms and the sound of Rara was born. As the popular folk music rooted in Vodou, Rara brought news to the people of the villages and towns and is also played in weddings, funerals, and all social events.

The leader of Loray Mistik, Jude Thegenus, better known as Papaloko, is an artist, whose work is born through trance, the act of falling into a deep meditative state and then being possessed by a spirit

whose purpose is to paint strokes of life onto canvas. At about age six, Jude began to study sculpture and ceramics at the Art Institute of Saint Jean Bosco and later completed his education at Lycee Antenor Firmin. Papaloko’s work can be found internationally in galleries, private homes, cafés, restaurants and nightclubs. He is currently putting the final touches on an eighteen-year project at Mango’s Tropical Café on Ocean Drive in South Beach, where he was commissioned to design a tropical atmosphere within the realms of his extreme creative talent.

Loray Mistik performs true Vodou music. Traditional instruments like the kleroon, graj, fe iron, conch shell, cha cha, jon, hand bass, and the drums unify with the eclectic sounds of the guitar, bass and saxophone to create what they call “Vodou pop”. Jude believes that many come to their performances for the spiritual aspect of the music. When Loray Mistik performs it is a much for themselves as is it for the audience. They feel the music first, they never just put on a show.

Keeping Seminole Heritage

of palmetto fibers, hand sewn to create the head and body, and dressed in traditional Seminole costumes.

You’ll be greeted at the Seminole Family Camp with a traditional Che-han-tah-mo? (How are you?) and a welcome to the Ee-toh-lit-kee (Seminole Family Camp) and the Cheekee-chobee (Big Chickee) Performance Stage. Thank you to the Seminole Tribe of Florida for their generous contribution to construct a much larger Seminole Family Camp now located near the Craft Square. In 1771, John Stuart, an agent of the British Government, was the first to use the term in writing, when he referred to the Creeks of East Florida as Seminoles. Soon, the name was used to indicate all of Florida’s Native American people. Today, an estimated 2,700 Seminole and Miccosukee people live in Florida. The Seminole Tribe of Florida has about 2,200 members, and the Miccosukee Tribe of Florida Indians has about 500 members. Some still build chickees and wear patchwork clothing derived from traditional styles. At the Florida Folk Festival, you”ll see wonderful examples of traditional Seminole crafts, including:

Nancy Shore will demonstrate Patchwork Sewing

- The women artisans of the Seminole adapt textile arts to suit traditional functions and changing needs. Patchwork is the process of sewing pieces of cloth into rows of designs, joined to make garments. Seminole women use the sewing machine to evoke fire, rain or storm in traditional patterns.

Beadwork - Contemporary Seminole beadwork necklaces, belts and sashes use nylon thread, an odd (never even) number of beads and a ten-inch loom.  Onnie and D’anna Osceola will explain why.

Carla Cypress will demonstrate the Seminole unique dollmaking tradition. The dolls are made

Basketry - Seminole basketry, as it exists today, features old and new traditions, the use of native materials and the influence of other cultural groups. Malcolm Jones will demonstrate the two distinct types of basketry–coiled and twilled. Seminoles make coiled baskets for the tourist trade from sweetgrass, which grows in open palmettocovered fields. Artisans coil the bundles of grass and sew them together with embroidery thread. The bottom of the basket is usually made of palmetto fiber. Twilled baskets were once made of cane but are now made using split palmetto stems, a more readily available material. Palmetto-stem baskets, now almost obsolete, are used in pounding corn to separate meal from hard kernels.

Traditional Seminole Foods - Food sources in Seminole folklore include game meat such as deer, turtle and fish, and vegetables such as corn, beans, sweet potatoes and squash. Of these, corn is the most meaningful and frequently used. One product is sofkee, a cold beverage made of corn by combining hominy meal (hulled corn) with boiling water then allowing the drink to cool. In Seminole frybread, a batter mixture is fried in hot grease in a flat-bottomed pot over an open fire.   Mollie Jolly, Charlotte Burgess and Jennifer Billy will demonstrate Seminole cooking traditions.

Luis Venzor will demonstrate the Seminole tradition of wood carving.

Friday, May 26

6:00 PM

Friday Schedule

Amphitheater Gamble Rogers Stage Heritage StageOld Marble Stage Will McClean Stage

Family and Beginners

6:30 PM

Stage Opens

6:45 pm.

Stage Re-Opens

8:00 pm

Contra Dance Instruction with Vicki Morrison and Joe Bone

Stage Re-Opens 7:00 pm

Stage Re-Opens 7:00 pm

6:45 PM Opening Ceremonies

7:00 PM

7:45 PM

8:00 PM

PM

Bullard Brothers and Friends

Shana Smith

Tree

Karibbean Groove

Documentary Film"Gamble Rogers: Down at the Terminal Tavern"  with introduction by William Sykes

Family and Beginners

Contra Dance with Joe Bone, Vicki Morrison Calling

Contra Dance with Lloyd Baldwin and Friends, Tom Greene Calling

Sacred Steel Performers

Lonnie Bennit

Dante Harmon

Dave Fonville

Deshawn Hichman

Anthony Fox

Please see the Sacred Steel Summit schedule for details

The Lubben Brothers Stage Re-opens

Saturday Morning

11:00 PM Stage Re-opens

Saturday Morning

Swing Dance with Crucial Eddy Cotton and the Uncanny Valley Boys

Stage Re-opens

Saturday Morning

Stage Re-opens

Saturday Morning

Stage Re-opens

Saturday Morning

Open Mic. Hosted by the Will McLean Foundation

Friday Schedule

Friday Schedule

Friday May 26

10:00 AM

10:30 AM

11:00 AM

Children's Area Folklife Stage Folklife Demonstrations Jam Tent

Inside Florida Folklife

FL Remembered

11:30 AM

12:00 PM

12:30 PM

Dance Workshop with Andy Kane

Dom Tartaglia

Controlled Burns

Nels Parson

The Blacksmith Challenge

John Pfund

Cracker Country Foodways Buddy Mills

Greek Folk Music

Unusual Old Time Instruments with Bob Murphy

1:00 PM The Shytunas

1:30 PM

2:00 PM

Aeolian Harp: A Journey into Nature through Music with Haiqiong Deng

Blues Songwriting for Kids with Brett Wellman

2:30 PM

Tales of Tails: Stories of Florida Animals with Carol Mahler

3:30 PM

Kids Crafts and Activities Stage Opens 11:00 am

Old Time Music Jam with Lloyd Baldwin and Friends

Stephen Foster Music Jam with Backintyme

Panayotis League Carol Mahler

Sephardic Music & Dance

Myriam Eli (with Joe Zeytoonian)

Florida Folk Festival Archives Florida Memory

Mayan Backstrap Weaving

Concepcion Poou Coy Tharin

Puerto Rican Mundillo

Bobbin Lace

Julia Belen Alverio and Annie Garcia

Afro-Cuban Orisha Dance

Ongoing Demonstrations: Cracker Country Foodways, Skatepark Architecture, Mayan Back Strap Weaving, Greek Music and Culture, Haitian Foodways, AfroCuban Music and Culture, Puerto Rican Mundillo

Lace

Bluegrass Jam with Remedy Tree

A Jam For the Planet - Good Vibration Songs with Shana Smith

Bartram Trail Society of Florida

Area Opens 11:00 am

Beginning Old Time Banjo with Clay Black, Ron Whisler & Chuck Levy

Funny Songs Jam with Bear and Robert

Bluegrass Flatpicking with Julian Davis

Old Time Jam with Carol Whisler

Alternative Tuning Fiddle Tune Workshop with Carol Whisler

StoryDogs

Neri Torres Just The Way It Was 3:00 PM

Kids Crafts and Activities

4:00 PM

4:30 PM

Clogging and Old Time Dance Workshop with Hot Pepper Steppers and Runaway Biscuits

Skatepark Architecture

Zach Moldof and Dorsa Vaziri

Karribean Groove (Accoustic Set)

Haitian Foodways

Liliane Louis, Marie

Romaine Desir, and Marie Moncy

Sacred Steel Showcase: Tommy Phillips

Fiddle Slow Jam with Joe Mark

Chris Kastle

Celtic Fiddle with Deux Francois

Saturday Morning

Pickin' the Blues with Andy Kimbel Instant Songwriting with Del Suggs

Old Time Jam in C with Jenny James

Florida Sea Shanties with St. Pete Shanties

Turning a Reel into a Waltz Workshop with Katie Waller

Tale Tellers of St. Augustine Old Time Jam with Kathie Aagaard and Debby Sue Gilman

Visit the Florida Remembered Area near the Old Marble Stage for ongoing demonstrations 10a.m - 5 p.m. See the Florida Remembered section of the festival program for a list and description of workshops

Swing Guitar with Jerry Carris

Old Time Singing Circle with Marg Chauvin, Bill Messer & Others

Saturday Schedule

Saturday May 27 Amphitheater Gamble Rogers Heritage & Dance Old Marble Will McLean

6:00 PM Opening/Fiddle Contest Winners

6:30 PM

Allen Shadd

7:00 PM 7:15 PM Grant Peeples 8:00 PM

The Lee Boys

Sacred Steel PerformersTommy Phillips & Tim Williams

Stage Re-Opens

6:30 pm

Beginners Contra Dance Workshop with Vicki Morrison and Deux Francois

Romeo's Tassa Kidz

Stage Re-Opens

7 pm

Stage Re-Opens

7 pm

Stage Re-Opens

8:00 p.m.

Beginners Contra Dance with Deux Francois, Vicki Morrison, Calling

Sacred Steel Performers:

Elton Noble

Chuck Campbell

Aubrey Ghent

PM 8:45 PM Florida Folk Heritage Award Winners Recognition 9:15 PM 10:00 PM

10:15 PM

10:30 PM

Ben Prestage

John McEuen and The Circle Band

11:30 PM Stage Re-opens Sunday Morning

Documentary Film"Gamble Rogers: Down at the Terminal Tavern"  with introduction by William Sykes

Square Dance with Skin & Bonz, Tommy Bledsoe, Calling

Ted Beard

Calvin Cooke

Gary "Fatman" Mckinney

Instruments of Music

Open Mic. Hosted by The Will McLean Foundation

Stage Re-opens

Sunday Morning

Contra Dance with Lonesome Ride, Tom Greene Calling

Stage Re-opens Sunday Morning

Stage Re-opens

Sunday Morning

Stage Re-opens Sunday Morning

Saturday Schedule

Saturday Schedule

Kids Crafts and Activities

11:00 AM

Old Stories with a Florida Twist with Teresa Bruckner

11:30 AM

12:00 PM

12:30 PM

KRIC! KRAC! The "BOUKI" Stories with Liliane Louis

Beginners Harmonica for Kids with Joan Alderman (Harmonicas provided)

1:00 PM The Shytunas

1:30 PM

An Interactive Musical Journey Through Florida with Jeanie Fitchen

2:00 PM The American Songbook with Joey Kerr

2:30 PM

3:00 PM

3:30 PM

4:00 PM 4:30 PM

Nickety-Nackety-Noo: Scottish Traditional Songs for Kids with Hag

Kids Crafts and Activities

Musical Chairs with The Shytunas!

Area Opens 11 am

Area Opens 11 am

Saturday May 27 Children's Area Jam Tent Workshop IWorkshop II FL Remembered 10:00 AM 10:30 AM

Beginning Old Time Banjo with Clay Black, Ron Whisler & Chuck Levy

3-Finger Banjo

Mandolin Jam with Mickey Abraham

Traditional African Instruments with Martin Zagbo

Demonstration/Workshop with Frank Lindamood

Blues Jam with Brett Wellman

Bluegrass Guitar with Allen Shadd

Old Time Jam with Carol & Ron Whisler

Jam with Dodo Awoko

Songwriting Songs of Florida with Grant Livingston

Florida Fiddle Tunes Demo/Workshop with Lloyd Baldwin

Story Swap with Carol Mahler

Backup Guitar with Chuck Hardwicke

Visit the Florida Remembered Area near the Old Marble Stage for ongoing demonstrations 10a.m - 5 p.m. See the Florida Remembered section of the festival program for a list and description of workshops Rosewood Commemoration Ceremony TBA

Yodeling Fun with Lucky Mud

Musical Saw with Tim Martin

Old Time Singing Circle with Marg Chauvin, Bill Messer & Others Old Time Jam in C with Bob Murphy

Showcase: OTEmeal Old Time Ensemble from Tallahasse

Saturday May 27

Saturday Schedule

Folklife Stage Folklife Demonstrations Heritage & Dance Tower

10:00 AM Inside Florida Folklife

Dom Tartaglia

10:30 AM Controlled Burns

Nels Parson

Florida Folk Festival Archives

11:00 AM

11:30 AM

12:00 PM

12:30 PM

1:00 PM

1:30 PM

2:00 PM

2:30 PM

3:00 PM

3:30 PM

4:00 PM

Cross Creek Cloggers Chris Kastle

Hot Pepper Steppers with the Runaway Biscuits

Florida Memory Inisheer Irish Dancers

The Blacksmith Challenge

John Pfund

Cracker Country Foodways

Buddy Mills

Karribean Groove (Accoustic Set)

Puerto Rican Mundillo Bobbin Lace

Julia Belen Alverio and Annie Garcia

Mayan Backstrap Weaving

Concepcion Poou Coy Tharin

Sephardic Music & Dance

Myriam Eli (with Joe Zeytoonian)

Greek Folk Music Panayotis League

Afro-Cuban Orisha Dance

Ongoing Demonstrations: Cracker Country Foodways, Skatepark Architecture, Mayan Back Strap Weaving, Greek Music and Culture, Haitian Foodways, Afro-Cuban Music and Culture, Puerto Rican Mundillo Lace

Tale Tellers of St. Augustine

Paco and Celia Fonta Siempre Flamenco Storydogs

Raymi Dance School TellemTall

St. Pete Shanties VGO

Just The Way It Was Teresa Bruckner

Carol Mahler

Workshop with John McEuen

Bartram Trail Society of Florida

Karibbean Groove The John French Band

Neri Torres Dodo Awoko Frank Lindamood

Skatepark Architecture

Zach Moldof and Dorsa Vaziri

Haitian Foodways

Lili Forbes & the Funky Taters Rural Route 2

Liliane Louis, Marie Romaine Desir, and Marie Moncy Plena Es Hag

4:30 PM Sacred Steel Showcase: Bryan Taylor

Bubbles Brown Paul Smithson

5:00 PM

Stage Re-Opens

Sunday Morning

Stage Re-Opens

Sunday Morning

Cortadito 5:30 PM

Stage Re-Opens 6:30 pm

Stage Re-Opens Sunday Morning

Sunday Schedule

Sunday, May 28 Amphitheater Gamble Rogers Heritage & Dance Old Marble Will McLean

6:00 PM Banjo Contest Winners/Folkartist Memorial

6:30 PM

7:00 PM

7:15 PM

Grant Livingston

Stage Re-Opens

8:00 pm

Stage Re-Opens

6:30 pm

Stage Re-Opens

7:00 pm

Stage Re-Opens

7:00 pm

Contra Dance with Remedy Tree, Tom Greene, Calling

Lili Forbes & the Funky 'Taters

8:00 PM Jim Stafford

9:00 PM

9:30 PM

10:00 PM

Billy Dean

10:15 PM Festival Finale with Jeanie Fitchen and Friends

11:00 PM

Stage Closed - See You Next Year!

Gamble Rogers –Homegrown Philosophy, a Live Performance video

Contra Dance with Hot Pepper Steppers and Runaway Biscuits, Vicki Morrison, Calling

Sacred Steel PerformersReggie "Footie"Covington

Keshiah Hunter

Dante Harmon

Tommy Phillips

Terrel Kings

Erick Lewis

Dan Tyack

Ted Beard

Gary "Fatman" Mckinney

The Lee Boys

Open Mic. Hosted by the Will McLean Foundation

Stage Closed - See You Next Year!

Haitain Voodoo Pop Dance with Papaloko & Loray Mistik

Stage Closed - See You Next Year!

Stage Closed - See You Next Year!

Stage Closed - See You Next Year!

Contest

Hosted by the Florida Banjo Society

Sunday Schedule

Stage Closed - See You Next Year!

Fitchen and Mark Smith

Stage Closed - See You Next Year Stage Re-Opens 8:00 pm

Hosted by Dawson Hicks

Closed - See you next year!

Sunday Schedule

10:30 AM Controlled Burns Nels Parson

11:00 AM Sephardic Music & Dance

Myriam Eli (with Joe Zeytoonian) Romeo's Tassa Kidz

Challenge

Country Foodways Buddy Mills

PM

Groove (Accoustic Set)

Puerto Rican Mundillo Bobbin Lace

Julia Belen Alverio and Annie Garcia

1:30 PM Cortadito (Performance with Q&A)

2:00 PM Florida Folk Festival Archives Florida Memory

Mayan Backstrap Weaving

2:30 PM

3:00 PM

3:30 PM

4:00 PM

Concepcion Poou Coy Tharin

Haitian Foodways

Cracker Country Foodways, Skatepark Architecture, Mayan Back Strap Weaving, Greek Music and Culture, Haitian Foodways, Afro-Cuban Music and Culture, Puerto Rican Mundillo Lace

Tale Tellers of St. Augustine

Liliane Louis, Marie Romaine Desir, and Marie Moncy The Firewater Tent Revival Bartram Trail Society of Florida

Skatepark Architecture

Zach Moldof and Dorsa Vaziri

Greek Folk Music

Panayotis League Alivia Hunter Carris, Keel & Keel

4:30 PM Sacred Steel Showcase: Ives Hicks Del Suggs & Friends

5:00 PM

Stage Closed - See You Next Year!Area Closed - See You Next Year!

pm

Stage Closed - See You Next Year!

Sunday Schedule

AM 10:30 AM 11:00 AM The Shytunas 11:30 AM Songs for Fun and Movement with Chris Kastle

12:00 PM 12:30 PM

Area Opens at 11 a.m.

Florida Shanties Singing Session with St. Pete Shanties

Folk Medicine with Just the Way it Was

Swing Jam with Carris, Keel & Keel

Mountain Dulcimer with Mary Z Cox

Beginning Old Time Banjo with Clay Black, Ron Whisler & Chuck Levy

Old Time Jam with Kathie Aagaard & Debby Sue

Kids Activities and Crafts

1:00 PM Songs by Animals for Animals with Grant Livingston

1:30 PM

2:00 PM

Sacred Steel Meets Traditional Folk with Young Guns of Sacred Steel

Celtic Jam with The Deux Francois Band

Songwriting with Grant Peeples

Puirt-a-beul (Scottish Gaelic Mouth Music) with Hag

Fiddle Harmonies Workshop with Kathie Aagaard & Debby Sue

Old Time Jam with Sharon Hartmann

Kids Activities and Crafts

2:30 PM Florida Songs for Children with Chris Kahl

3:00 PM Going Bananas with Shana Banana

3:30 PM 4:00 PM

4:30 PM

Old Style Irish Step Dance Workshop for Kids with Inisheer Irish Dancers

Area Closed - See You Next Year!

TBA

Waltz Jam with Jackson Creek

Performance 101 (for aspiring performers) with Lee Hunter and Joey Kerr

Introduction to Contra Dance Calling with Vicki Morrison. Attendees previously must have attended at least two contra dances.

Appalachian Pickin' and Singin' with Tommy Bledsoe

Songwriting With Intent with Jane Fallon

Beginner Fiddle Workshop with Sharon Hartmann

Visit the Florida Remembered Area near the Old Marble Stage for ongoing demonstrations 10a.m - 5 p.m. See the Florida Remembered section of the festival program for a list and description of workshops

Old Time Jam with Bobby Lolly

Old Time Singing Circle with Marg Chauvin, Bill Messer & Others

Performers & Group Members

Alivia Hunter - 19-year-old folk songwriter with traditional style and modern lyrics: Alivia Hunter

Allen Shadd - award winning multi-instrumentalist, a 3 time national flatpick champion: Allen Shadd

Andy Kimbel - a mix of traditional blues with a contemporary driving twist: Andy Kimbel

Ashley Feller - original songs deeply inspired by St. Andrews Florida: Ashley Feller

Backintyme - nineteenth century stories and music: Frank W Sweet, MaryLee Sweet, Martha Hozt, Tim Martin, VGO

Bartram Trails Society of Florida - William Bartram's travels in Florida: Sam Carr, Mike Adams, Carol Adams, Kalia Baileen, Dean Campbell, Kelly Carr, Robert Wilson, Miriam Campbell, Linda Crider

Bear and Robert - Folk, Blues and Americana duo with a certain jenais se quois!: Cindy Bear, Franc Robert

Belle and The Band - multi- award winning acoustic folk with bluegrass roots from Tallahassee: Kathryn Belle Long, Mickey Abraham

Ben Prestage - high-energy one-man band: Ben Prestage

Billy Dean - Florida Artist Hall of Fame Member and an American legend with heartfelt tunes: Billy Dean

Bob Patterson - original songs and stories about Florida: Bob Patterson

Brett Wellman & "Dangerous" Dave - a fun mix of old and contemporary blues music.: Brett Wellman, Dave Messler

Bubbles Brown - a Blues, Folk, Country, Soul One Man Band: Bubbles Brown

Bullard Brothers and Friends - Florida songs and gospel: Jerry Bullard, Johnny Bullard, Kerry Waldron, Amanda Bullard, Laura Bullard, Jason Baker, Clint Dockery, Shane Stewart, Katie Stewart

Carol Mahler - stories from the Florida Cracker, African-American, and Seminole traditions: Carol Mahler

Carris, Keel & Keel - a blend of original Florida songs, Old time, Swing, Folk: Jerry Carris, Gail Keel, Josie Keel

Chris Kahl - Florida Folk Songs and Stories: Chris Kahl

Chris Kastle - award-winning storyteller offering insight into a lifetime of adventure: Chris Kastle

Chuck Hardwicke and The Hart Line - original Florida songs: Chuck Hardwicke, Dean Parrish, Karan Newman, Bill Snyder

Cortadito - traditional folk music from Cuba known as Son Oriental: Jose Elias, Julio Cesar Rodriguez, Alberto Pantaleon, Santiago McCook, Tony Perigo

Cross Creek Cloggers - Appalachian clogging to oldtime music: Eleta Sucsy, Sandy McGee, Trish Peterson, Piper Call, Nolan Hines, Julie Falt Dicks, Cheryl Miller, Sandra Noonan, Dianne Harper, Pete Sucsy, Denise Weber, Kai Sucsy, Pat Stevens, Gary Zimmerman, Bill Paine, Tim Stevens, Karan Newman, Rob Blount, Del Suggs / Del Suggs and Friends - guitar-driven ballads reflecting life in Florida: Del Suggs, David Murphy, Chuck Parker

Dim Lights - three people playing wooden instruments and singing songs worth hearing: Karan Newman, Tim Stevens, Ned Stewart

Dodo Awoko - showcase of the heritage of rhythms and songs from Côte d’Ivoire.: Martin Zagbo, Morikeba Kouyate, Seguenon Kone, Saturnin Ba, Abou Koyate, Djian Tie, Eric Gore

Frank Lindamood - old time music and original songs on banjo, guitar and voice: Frank Lindamood

Frankie Jay & the Chicken Parade - a fun-loving group of stellar musicians bring Frank Julian's songs to life: Frank Julian, Curtis Schaper, Paul Belmore, Ron Townsend, Laird Duran

Grant Livingston - Florida songs with a sense of history and a sense of humor, swing guitar: Grant Livingston, Jonathan Hodge, Dan Peterson

Grant Peeples - A singer-songwriter with stories to tell. Funny. Poignant. Leftneck.: Grant Peeples, Mike Lagasse, Rebecca Zapen Douglass, Hananel Jackson

Green Grass Revival - original Florida folk music performed bluegrass style: Pete Gallagher, Foster Barnes, Bart Hanchey, Jack Piccalo, J Robert, T.C. Carr

Performers & Group Members

Gypsy Wind - premiere acoustic newgrass and swinging gypsy jazz band: Michael Godwin, Mark Robertson-Tessi, Kristen Holloway-Oliphant, Tug Winthrop, Rob Williams

Hag - traditional Scottish and Irish music and a bit of paddywhackery: Celeste Landeros, Karen Feldner, Fernando Landeros, Christiane Grimal, Gina Margillo

Haiqiong Deng & David Cobb - "Aeolian Harp": A Journey into Nature through Music: Haiqiong Deng, David Cobb

Holt & Cabe - brother duo from SW, Florida, performing their all-original story songs: Holt Oakley, Cabe Oakley

Hot Pepper Steppers with Runaway BiscuitsAppalachian green grass style clogging wth live stringband music: Mary Allgire, Cassia Wagner, Drew Thomas, Heather Young, Rima Nathan, Cheyenne Alderson, April Denny, Lilly Stevens, Miyoko Inouye, Carrie Danielson, Bobby Lolley, Caitlin Murphy, Howard Pardue, Roger Eudy, Shanice Richards, Rosalee Walsh, Bronwyn Chelette

Hot Tamale - upbeat contemporary acoustic music: Adrian Fogelin, Craig Reeder

In Good Company - Florida folk original & cover songs with exquisite harmonies and energy!: Ingrid Schaper, Curtis Schaper, Lisa Bohn, Mike Worrall

Inisheer Irish Dancers - a variety of old Irish dance styles: Piper Call, Cyd Robbins, Jean Epling, Patrick Harrigan, Mary Caddigan, Kevin Shepherd, Sunita Shepherd

Isobar - originals as well as folk, blues, bluegrass and jazz: Barbie Beckford, Dave Waite, David Menet, Michael Menet

J.Robert - original Florida songs based on old time fiddle songs: J. Robert Houghtaling, Mike Houghtaling

Jackson Creek - a dynamic blend of originals, folk and fiddle tunes: Joe Waller, Katie Waller, Tim Martin, Jim Rigel

Jane Fallon - singer-songwriter with a rich, smooth voice, and strong melodies: Jane Fallon

Jeanie Fitchen - traditional, contemporary singer/ songwriter: Jeanie Fitchen, Mark Billman

Jerry Mincey with Tony Macaluso - Florida history, ecology, and characters through original songs: Jerry Mincey, Tony Macaluso, Bob Bronar

Jim Stafford - Florida Artist Hall of Fame Member and one of America's most beloved artists: Jim Stafford, Kelly Black

Joe Bone - traditional, rural pioneer tunes and songs: Bob Murphy, Greg Allen, Matthew Sabatella, Caitlin Murphy

Joe Mark - traditional and original songs and stories on guitar and fiddle: Joe Mark

John McEuen and the Circle Band - legendary contemporary artists: John McEuen, Matt Cartsonis, John Cable, Les Thompson

Julian/Cherkinsky Band - “Spectrum of the Genre”, Whimsical, “Nearly Native” Florida Music: Jordan Cherkinsky, Frank Julian, Ron Townsend, Garret Alvar, Gabriel Acevedo, Mickey Abraham, Jim Rigel

Just The Way It Was - Haitain stories: Liliane Louis, Ketsia Theodore-Pharel, Dominique Louis, Marie Romaine, Marie Réole Moncy, Mélanie Méristil, Joachim Louis

Karibbean Groove - a dynamic dance band that entertains its audiences with a Caribbean sound: Yajaida Arysthil, Judes Albert, Michelson Aristhyl, Mikenson Pierre, Rickcene Ulysse, Marcel Ulysse

Karis and Julian Davis - harmonious vocals and melodic flatpicking, bringing new life to old songs: Julian Davis, Karis Davis

Kim LeCouteur - a Florida native songwriter’s take on love and longing and her home State: Kim LeCouteur

Kindling - new approaches to old featuring members of Wax Wings & Mourning Glories.: Chelsea Carnes, Arthur Rosales, Tony Dickens, Virginia Carr

Lee Hunter & Joey Kerr - fine songwriting and inventive interpretations of traditional material: Lee Hunter, Joey Kerr, Landon Walker

Lili Forbes & the Funky 'Taters - Tallahassee vocalist, Lili Forbes, performs with the Funky 'Taters: Lili Forbes, Rene Arbogast, Justin Varnes, Jan DeCosmo, Mike Lewis, Bill Landing, Jordan Green, Deanna Miller, Vonzel DeSean, Chris Seepersaud, Tony Chapman, Michelle Waller

Performers & Group Members

Lisa Thomas and Friends - songs of Frank and Ann Thomas & some Country and gospel added: Lisa Thomas, Vgo, Dora Anne, Rochelle Morris

Lloyd Baldwin and Friends - songs and fiddle tunes in the Southern old-time string band tradition: Lloyd Baldwin, Marion Lasley, Bill Martin, Joe Nelson, James Pittman, Will Sager

Lonesome Ride - musicians with varied musical backgrounds forming a unique bluegrass sound: Jack Piccalo, Fred Fortenberry, Frank Lorenz, Wanda Dillaberry, Trey Brewer, Jim Pons, Bob Raspa, Dave Hack

Lucky Mud - swampytonk & folkabilly: Mike McKinney, Maggie McKinney

Mark Smith - acoustic Americana on the rocks with a twist of nature: Mark Smith

Mary Z. Cox - 2 time Florida banjo champ plays and sings mountain banjo: Mary Z. Cox

Matthew Sabatella and Karen Feldner - traditional folk, old-time, and originals with banjo, guitar, and harmony: Matthew Sabatella, Karen Feldner

Mimi and The HearnDogs - soulful vocals, spiced with harmonies, guitars and a fine upright bass: Mimi Hearn, Frank Graham, Mark Patton

North Florida Taildraggers - traditional and contemporary bluegrass and old time music: Trey Brewer, Justin Lane, Ben Lepera, Jan Brewer, Maggie Widener

Paco and Celia Fonta Siempre Flamenco - traditional flamenco songs and dances.: Paco Fonta, Celia Fonta

Papaloko & Loray Mystik - Haitian Voodo Pop music and dance band: Papaloko, Maalik Simbi Makaya, Clark Cajuste, Kenneth Metzker, Silencieux, Pierre Richa Murt, Buffalo, Shadia Nelson

Patchwork - everything from original Florida folk to bluegrass and swing: Cathy DeWitt, Janet Rucker, David Cook, Jolene Jones, Annie McPherson

Paul Smithson - a collection of original folk-Americana tunes focused on Florida's history: Paul Smithson

Plena Es - Puerto Rico Folklore music like Bomba and Plena: David Lucca, Pierre Ramos, Luis Daniel Hernandez, Juan Carlos Rivera, Miguel Rivera, Jose Berrios, Marlon Caro, Paulo Grajales

Podheads - a trio centered on the podharp, invented by B. Grimball: Berkeley Grimball, Tony Treadway

Puddin’ Shot Lynch and the Uncanny Valley Boys - original and contemporary acoustic folk, blues, and swing: Crucial Eddy Cotton, Nancy Lynch, David Lynch, John Peyton

Rachel Grubb - singer-songwriter performing songs about life and Florida: Rachel Grubb

Raymi Dance School Incorporated - Volvere a Bailar Por Ti - Dancing for You Again: Génesis Somoza, Perla Del Castillo, Angela Pacheco, Darwin Motato, Carlos Loza, Luis Reyes Madrid, Sandro Portilla, Jon Huddleston, Silvia Huddleston, Ricardo Linares

Remedy Tree - hard-driving Bluegrass mixed with jamming folky original music: Gabriel Acevedo, Abigail Acevedo, Joey Lazio, Bryce Griffin

Romeo's Tassa Kidz - Tassa drumming: Kyle Ragbir, Rian Ragbir, Romeo Ragbir, Robert Ragbir, Ashish Gangadhar, Varish Gangadhar, Satyanan Ramanan, Shivanan Ramana, Vishal Rajkumar, Michael Samai, Justin Seeloch, Michael Samai, Bhim Seelochan

Rural Route 2 - three generations of Panhandle ladies sharing traditional & original tunes: Amy Alderman, Joan Alderman, Kathrine Alderman

Sarah McCulloch - entertains with a knack for timeless storytelling.: Sarah McCulloch, Raiford Starke, Jim Bickerstaff

Scott Jackson - solo singer-songwriter folk acoustic guitar: Scott Jackson

Shana Smith - original songs about Florida's nature, history, and culture: Shana Smith, Raihan Alam, Richard Brookens

Skin & Bonz - family friendly, old-time music and storytelling: Tommy Bledsoe, Joy D'Elia, Kathe O'Donnelly, Brett Waller

Snake Room Shakers - a bluegrass band made up of Florida Crackers: David McBrady, Norman Green, Jason Baker, Clint Dockery, Shane Stewart

Snaky Woods - A blend of traditional and Southern bluegrass gospel.: Steven Sauls, Nathan Sauls, Kayte Sauls, Kaiah Sauls, Jadyn Saul, Alyson Sauls

St Pete Shanties - the songs of sailors, fishermen, and dockworkers: Dennis Devine, Bruce Witton, Gary Fuller, Goody Haines, Robert Lusk, Maryellen Healy, Vincent Cerniglia

Performers & Group Members

Storydogs - folktales and song since 1989: Christie Koontz, Tim Lynch, Julie Humphries, Thomas Lynch Tale Tellers of St. Augustine - entertaining, original and traditional Florida stories.: Natalie Beltrami, Drew Sappington, Sharon Sappington, Margaret Kaler Reynolds, Robin Mahonen, Uncle Eddie Mahonen

Tellem Tall – Florida stories: Eric Hoeppner

Teresa Bruckner - traditional folktales for children with a Florida setting: Teresa Bruckner

The Deux Francois Band - Celtic music and tunes old and new: Kathie Aagaard, Sarah Mitchell, Bill Dudley

The Dunehoppers - folk, old time, bluegrass, fiddle for the past 20 years in north Florida.: Michael Elias, Allen Hood, Kathy Zemanek, Bob Parsons, Janine Rainville

The Firewater Tent Revival - hailing from Atlantic Beach Florida, performing psychadelic-party-grass: Nigel Ledford, Dave Smith, Kris Whatley, Jeff Hoff, Brandon Howell, Tim Awen

The Front Porch Backsteppers - a four piece string band performing folk and bluegrass music: Eli Tragash, John Peyton, Virginia Carr, Michael Peyton

The John French Band - the original songs of John French: John French, Joe Greaney, Laura Greaney, Steve Waters

The Lee Boys / Young Guns of Sacred Steel - live musical performance of Sacred Steel traditional music: Alvin Lee, Derrick Lee, Keith Lee, Brian Byrd, Alvin Cordy, Earl Walker, Tim Williams Jr., Xavier Perkins, Durel Randolph, Tommy Phillips Jr.

The Lubben Brothers - high-energy acoustic folk: Michael Lubben, Tom Lubben, Joshua Lubben, Katie Lubben, Jorge Sebastian

The New 76ers - family band with tight harmonies and big love to give!: Kelly Goddard, Danny Goddard, Brian Durham, Kayla Williams

The Peyton Brothers - since 1977, one of the Florida Folk Festival's favorite bluegrass bands: Dan Peyton, Michael Peyton, Lee Peyton, John Peyton, Grant Peyton

The Rakish Ramblers - traditional Celtic music performed with flair and finesse: Aisha Ivey, John Ross, Stephen Hodges

The Shepherd Family Band - A family band of 9 playing bluegrass, gospel, country and more: Laureen Shepherd, Kris Shepherd, Kevin Shepherd, Erik Shepherd, Karyn Shepherd, Jake Shepherd, Mark Shepherd, Luke Shepherd, Sunita Shepherd, Carlo Musico, Martin Feagle

The Shytunas – a quirky family trio that plays original songs for all ages: Amelia Ford, Jennifer Ford, Seth Ford

The Wire Birds - a chamber folk group with guitar and a string quintet: Dan Stepp, Emma Lou, Andre Cox, Cate Hancock, Aaron Colverson

Thomas Hendon - Florida native songwriter performing original folk with a western tinge: Thomas Aycock

Tom Greene - contra and square dance caller: Tom Greene

Uncle Mosie - a foot-stomping, soulful exploration of bluegrass, alt-folk, and country: Scott Ashcraft, Andrew Cook, Brian Turk, Noah Shitama, Jared Groom, Dana Myers

VGO - a legendary acoustic multi-instrumentalist and storyteller: VGO, Frank W Sweet, Mary Lee Sweet

Vicki Morrison - contra dance caller and instructor: Vicki Morrison

Wayne Martin - longtime Florida Folk Festival Saturday night Master of Ceremonies: Wayne Martin

Wild Shiners - high energy, bluegrass-inspired rock & roll; tender ballads; fake jazz: Brian Turk, Tom Grant, Mike Lagasse, Andrew Cook, Ta'i Welch

Florida Remembered

Mary and Ruthanne Mason from Mary and Mom display and sell tie-dye creations.

Sausage making, salt pickling, barley threshing, grain grinding, carding and processing wool will be demonstrated by Ethan Forbes, Clothilde Forbes, Rose Forbes, Angie Minno, Mirin Minno, Maria Minno, March Minno, Avi Minno, Shenna Bennarte, Alex Zukovsky, Walt Zukovsky, Laura Price, Ethan Snyder, Sara Cervone, Casey Whitford and Darin Shearer.

Robert Wilson, Cole Cady, Deedee Ritch, Cara Salg, John Salg and Lila Salg will portray frontier trapper traders. Chair making will be demonstrated by Ross Morton, Jessie King and Kito Reed.

Experience Old Florida’s history, traditions and folkways at Florida Remembered. Our newest addition to the festival, Florida Remembered is dedicated to the robust spirit of Floridians and those from around the globe who have built the foundation of the Florida we know and love. With ingenuity and perseverance, our predecessors have conquered the hardships they encountered to cultivate Florida’s cultural landscape.  Meet characters from Florida’s past. See traditional crafts, tools and skills faithfully reproduced by experts. Visit an authentic Cracker Cow Camp. Through workshops, demonstrations and characterizations, tradition-bearers and interpreters will share their expertise as you explore Florida’s unique history.

Michael Stevens will give educational talks on plants and mushrooms.

Kristyn Gorton will give awareness talks on Florida snakes with a brief guided hike

Palm frond weaving and palmetto basket making will be demonstrated by Willy the Losen, Stephen Cotton, Joy Cotton, Barrett Cotton, Jasper Cotton, Gus Cotton, Karin Weinrich, Roscoe Weinrich and Darin Shearer. Psychic readings modeled after the experience at historic Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp in Volusia County. Jillian and Brett Waggoner and children Huck and Bo will give readings all throughout the day.

Florida Remembered band: Duane Westling, Sally Morrison, Bjorn Parramoure and Nancy Lassiter.

Florida Remembered Workshops

Friday

2-4p: Remembering our plants - Have fun learning what plants grow on the grounds, their stories and uses. With Mycol Stevens.

Saturday

9a-10a: Florida's Snakes and You: Safety, Appreciation, Conservation. With Kristyn Gorton, conservation biologist, PhD student and native Floridian. For an all-ages discussion about the ecological and cultural significance of Florida's snakes. Meet a real live snake, learn how to identify and protect yourself from venomous species, and then explore our scaly neighbors’ habitat and their role in the environment during a brief guided walk.

10-noon: Cabbage palm weaving: Learn to weave swamp roses and palm critters. With Willy the Losen and friends.

Funguyin Out. Learn what mycelium are growing amongst us...(the fungus among us). With Mycol Stevens.

2-4pm: Get a handle on things. Demonstrating how to

fix your broken garden tools. With Mycol Stevens. Palmetto Basket Weaving: Learn to make a gathering basket from saw palmetto fronds. With Willy the Losen and friends.

Sunday

10a-12p: Florida's Snakes and You: Safety, Appreciation, Conservation. With Kristyn Gorton, conservation biologist, PhD student and native Floridian. For an all-ages discussion about the ecological and cultural significance of Florida's snakes. Meet a real live snake, learn how to identify and protect yourself from venomous species, and then explore our scaly neighbors’ habitat and their role in the environment during a brief guided walk.

11am -1pm: Cabbage Palm Basket Weaving. Learn to make a plaited basket from cabbage palm fronds. With Willy the Losen and friends.

2-4pm: Cabbage Palm Weaving: Learn to weave swamp roses and palm critters. With Willy the Losen and friends.

Marketplace Highlights

Marketplace brings the artistry of the world to the Florida Folk Festival. In some instances, the vendors are themselves both the importers and the makers of traditional crafts. They may be new settlers whose booths help to support traditional artists in Guatemala or importers of exquisite beads from around the world.

Whether as book and music publishers or the makers of instruments or accessories for musicians, marketplace vendors keep the natural and cultural history of Florida alive, and they showcase the state’s cultural connections with the world.

Richard Ferriss,  Floridana Stuff Company: Primarily second-hand books, sheet music, recordings and other items relating to music, crafts, Florida and folklore.

Deonna Hampton, Hampton Foods LLC has freeze-dried fruits, vegetables, candies, and pastries as well as spices, seasonings, and

dip mixes.

Defiant Worm Books sells Florida books by Tom Levine a Florida writer with four books celebrating natural Florida and collections of his best fishing stories VioStrap: Instrument straps for violins, ukulele, mandolins and bodhrans.

Ginger Tendl,  Florida Tunes and Treasures: Vintage guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle stringed instruments and accessories, typically from 1950 to 2000. Florida related art and collection of folk music vinyl records, including Florida artist Gamble Rogers and other current or prior performers at folk festivals.

Florida’s Handmade Instrument Makers

At the Luthier’s Exhibit, located inside the Museum, you’ll find talented makers of handcrafted stringed instruments who use both raw materials and commercially available supplies to construct one-of-a-kind guitars, banjos, dulcimers, and other musical instruments.

John Catches, Catches Guitars : handcrafted wood/acoustic stringed musical instruments; gourd banjos, open back banjos and acoustic guitars.

Florida's Favorite Menus

Florida’s cooks have created unique flavors using the ingredients at hand and the traditions their families brought when they first came to the state. At the Florida Folk Festival, there’s everything from homemade beef jerky to Caribbean influenced dishes of chicken pilau, hoppin’ john, blackeyed peas, and okra and tomatoes. More recent immigrant communities have brought their culinary tastes for warm curries and fragrant rices from Trinidad, and light pastries and seasoned lamb from Greece. Florida’s coastal waters offer fresh crab, shrimp and oysters, and its farmers raise fresh strawberries, melons, and citrus. During the Folk Festival you can enjoy collard greens and cornbread or a fine plate of fried chicken from the churches cooking at the Old Marble Stage food shelter. At the Amphitheater food court, there’s everything from barbecue and gumbo to lime fizzes and vegetarian fare. From breakfast until the midnight snack, there’s plenty of good food at the Florida Folk Festival.

Old Marble Stage Foods

The Community Revival Center: smoked mullet, fried fish dinner, vegetable plate, slaw dog, hot dog, chicken wings, tater tots, fries, baked beans, collard greens, hoppin’ John, mixed vegetables, coleslaw, crab salad, sweet potato pies, pecan pie. Breakfast menu – grits, sausage, eggs, toast, biscuit and sausage gravy, coffee, orange juice, home brewed tea, homemade lemonade, water, and soda.

Viajes Misioneros: codfish fritters, chicken skewers empanadas, beef empanadas, pizza empanadas, gatorade, water, sodas.

Sacred Steel Summit: Water, Soft Drinks, Gatorade, and a variety of snacks

Smokin Like A ’57 Chevy BBQ and Catering: Ribs, pulled pork, chicken, baked beans, potato salad, cole slaw, a variety of desserts, and bottled drinks.

Amphitheater Stage Foods

AnnLee Concessions: root beer floats, lemonade, orange drink, floats, bottled water.

Coffee Shack/Guillery’s Shaved Ice: shaved ice, coffee, espresso, cappuccino, hot chocolate, chai tea, frozen chocolate, Danish.

Greek Flame Food: lamb or chicken gyro, Greek salad, Greek sampler platter, falafel platter, gyro fries, lemonade, sodas.

Josie’s Latin Fusion: chicken and yellow rice bowl, arepas, Cuban sandwiches, Dominican flour empanadas platter, Colombian corn empanadas platter, rumba dog, cheese quesadilla combo, yucca fritters with beef, churros filled with Bavarian Cream or Dulce de Leche. Gluten-free and vegan options available.

Old Fashion Ice Cream:  homemade ice cream bowls, waffle cones, IBC root beer floats, fruit cobblers with ice cream, IBC root beer, water.

Phils Grille: falafel, fries, grilled chicken Shawarma, smoked wild boar, shaved lamb, spinach artichoke dip, stuffed grape leaves, salad, hummus, rice pilaf with cranberries, salads, lemonade, tea, water, sodas

Pugh Concessions: fresh squeezed lemonade, strawberry and pineapple smoothies, soda, coffee, sweet and unsweet tea, gatorade.

Sadie’s Dawg House and Other Stuff: hoagie roll menu: these ain’t your momma’s hot dogs, beef hot dogs: plain or bacon wrapped, smoked sausage, slaw dawgs, chili dawgs, Ruben dawg, andouille sausage with Cajun mac-n-cheese, Philly Sloppy dawg, Frito pie, Cajun dawg, shrimp roll; Breakfast: egg, cheese, and bacon or sausage or capicola served on soft taco or hoagie roll or bagel; country sausage, egg, capicola, cole slaw, and Sadie’s special sauce; homemade biscuits and gravy

Southern Cravin’s: With fries menu: assorted po’boy, chicken Philly, fried chicken sandwich, fish sandwich, BLT, buffalo chicken, fried or blackened shrimp, oysters, clam strips, catfish, fries, cheese fries, sweet fries, tater tots, fried okra, onion rings, cheese sticks, fried pickles, corn nuggets, veggie bowl, gator tail bites, dirty fries, tea, soft drinks, gatorade.

Sunshine Café & Catering Inc: barbecue pork, barbecue beef brisket, barbecue chicken on a stick, black angus burgers, Cajun jambalaya black-eyed peas, collards, Italian sausage, fresh grilled vegetables, french fries, breakfast bagel sandwiches, Texas toast sandwiches, water, soda.

Sweet Treats: funnel cakes, elephant ears, fried Oreos, fried Snickers, fried Twinkees, beignets, cotton candy, chocolate covered key lime pie, chocolate covered bananas, strawberry shortcake, malts, milk shakes, water, soda.

Wolverine Concessions: catfish basket, bourbon chicken and rice, frog legs, chicken tenders and fries, Philly cheesesteak and fries, grilled cheese sandwich, bourbon chicken wrap, fresh veggies, beans and rice, soda and water, tea and lemonade.

Work Your Bow And Step Into Stardom

Fiddlers of all ages are invited to enter the official Florida State Fiddle Contest. The contest will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Under the Oaks Stage on Saturday. The awards ceremony will take place Saturday night on the Amphitheater Stage. The contest is sponsored by the Florida State Fiddlers Association (FSFA) in cooperation with the Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Recreation and Parks.  The contest has five categories: Junior (through age 12), Youth (13 to 17 years old), Contemporary, Twin and Old-Time.

Contestants may enter one individual category and the twin fiddle competition if they wish. Contestants may have no more than

Fiddle Contest

two back-up musicians. Only stringed instruments are allowed as backup instruments. Contestants are required to perform 2 fiddle tunes of choice no more than 4 minutes in total length. A third tune should be prepared in the event of a tie.

For Additional information and to pre-register for the Fiddle Contest, contact the Florida State Fiddlers Association.

Fiddlers who have not preregistered must purchase a festival pass and sign up at the Under the Oaks Stage beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday. Contest entry fees are $10 per division for FSFA members and nonmembers.

The Florida State Fiddlers Association is a group of musicians and enthusiasts dedicated to perpetuating the art of fiddling by demonstrating fiddling

styles and documenting fiddling traditions of the state. Their intention is to entertain and educate with traditional fiddling. The organization has hosted an annual convention since 1981.

In 1990, the Florida Legislature designated this annual competition the official state fiddle contest. Everyone who enjoys good fiddling is invited to attend the contest and experience Florida’s varied fiddle music tradition.

Banjo Contest

The Florida Banjo Society along with the Florida Folk Festival will host an old-time banjo contest again this year. The competition will be judged by a talented slate of judges. The contest is open to old-time banjo playing styles.  Oldtime banjo in this context refers to styles predating bluegrass played on 5 string banjos.  Categories are:  Novice, Journeyman and Senior Honors.  Registration begins Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Under the Oaks Stage which is the venue for the contest.  Contestants must hold a valid festival pass and pay a $10 registration fee. Entrants will play two tunes. Contact the Florida Banjo Society for additional information. Prizes to be announced.

The Stephen Foster Citizen Support Organization, Inc . (501(c)3) is seeking funds to protect, preserve and restore the historic cultural resources of Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park’ s beautiful Tubular Bell Carillon.

In the summer of 2017, the Carillon Tower sustained electrical damage in a storm. The bells were silent until the Stephen Foster Citizens Support Organization stepped in to fund repair of the bells. The Stephen Foster Citizen Support Organization and the park diligently researched and sought proposals to repair the carillon and to make the bells ring clear again. They found the Verdin Company, who have been creating and repairing bells and carillons for over 170 years.

The 97-bell carillon, one of the largest musical instruments ever produced in the Western Hemisphere, and the world’s largest tubular carillon in number of bells, was installed during the summer of 1958. It was built by the carillon division of J.C. D eagan, Inc., Chicago. More than a year was required by Deagan craftsman to build the huge set of bells, the greatest single manufacturing project in the firm’s 78 - year history of originating and producing a variety of percussive musical instruments well-known throughout the world.

The Restoration will have multiple phases and as a registered historic site we want to make sure the extensive repairs receive the attention to detail they need. Phase One of the project is underway and we are working to complete an extensive service and repair to all 97-tubular bell strikers, relay panels, control clock and the roll player.

The Stephen Foster CSO has received a special category grant from the Florida Department of State to begin the next phase of restoration this year. The $300,000 granted the organization along with your contributions to date will fund the restoration of one of the three sets of bells and make the carillon operational again.

With your generous support and tax-deductible contribution, we hope to continue the necessary restoration of the final two sets of bells for this great community icon. Donations for the Restoration Fund can be made online at www.StephenFosterCSO.org/Donate or by mail.

Our deepest gratitude,

The Stephen Foster Citizen Support Organization, Inc.

Calendar of Events

For more information visit StephenFosterCSO.org or call (386) 397 -7009 *Special Event Fees*

OLD-TIME MUSIC WEEKEND *

September 8-10, 2023

Classes on old-time music techniques from the masters of the fiddle, banjo, guitar, and voice. Concerts nightly.

32nd ANNUAL QUILT SHOW & SALE

October 20- 22, 2023

A wide variety of quilts on exhibit, workshops, keynote speakers and demonstrations.

DULCIMER RETREAT *

November 10-11, 2023

Workshops, jam sessions and concerts with nationally recognized dulcimer players. Instructors teach at all levels. Concerts nightly.

FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS *

December 8 - 24, 2023

Enjoy complimentary popcorn, hot cocoa, marshmallows by the bonfire, music, vendors, train display, snow flurries, Santa and more!

STEPHEN FOSTER DAY

January 14, 2024

An afternoon musical program in honor of National Stephen Foster Day

ANTIQUE TRACTOR & ENGINE SHOW

April 4-6, 2024

Vintage farm equipment, tractor pulls, children’s games, exhibits, parade, demonstrations and more.

Environmental and Cultural Heritage Awareness Exhibitors

Environmental and Cultural Heritage Awareness Exhibitors

Visit the Environmental and Cultural Awareness Exhibits to discover the people and organizations devoted to conserving Florida’s cultural heritage and natural resources, from endangered species and vital rivers, to artists, educators, and historical sites.

Florida Banjo Society is dedicated to the preservation and teaching of the Old Time Banjo styles that were popular prior to the early part of the 20th Century. The Banjo Society annual hosts the Old-Time Banjo Contest and seeks contestants that honor and preserve this part of our culture and perform it publicly. Located near the Under the Oaks Stage, Sunday afternoon during the Banjo Contest.

Florida Historical Society was established in 1856. The Florida Historical Society is dedicated to preserving Florida’s past through the collection and archival maintenance of historical documents and photographs, the publication of scholarly research

on Florida history, and educating the public about Florida history through a variety of public history projects and programs. Visit their exhibit during the festival to discover information about the life and work of writer, folklorist, and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston. Books relating to Florida’s history and culture will be sold.

Florida Trail Association develops, maintains, promotes, and protects the Florida National Scenic Trail and other hiking trails in Florida while educating the public about conservation of the natural beauty of Florida.

Friends of Florida Folk is an advocate for all things Florida Folk. They work to identify, protect, preserve, and promote folk arts, crafts, dance, and music. Located at the Merchandise Tent. They will have Friends of Florida Folk merchandise and are also selling performer cds and festival t-shirts.

Our Santa Fe River, Inc have educational displays about water usage and conservation.

Suwannee Riverkeeper is an advocate for conservation and stewardship of water for South Georgia and North Florida. They will promote awareness, environmental monitoring, education, and citizen activities.

The Bartram Trail Society of Florida, Inc. is committed to historic and environmental education, recreation, and preservation and works to promote interest in developing public access recreational trails (paddling, hiking, and biking) and related activities along the routes taken by John and William Bartram through Florida and to coordinate a state-wide unified effort toward that end. The Society works to encourage the study, preservation and interpretation of the William Bartram heritage. They want to further develop the historic Bartram Trail of Florida.

UF Healthstreet, Our Community Our Health, will have a Mobile Health Vehicle at the Festival on Friday for free health screenings and free flu and covid vaccines.

Florida's Finest Crafters

Amphitheater and Old Marble Crafts showcase the great variety of Florida’s artists and natural resources. Inspired or handed down by traditional ways of the past, or styled with the designs of studio art, Florida’s craftsmen pursue the creative expression of their history and culture. Handcrafted furniture, detailed reproductions of Native American shell carvings, rich Hungarian embroidery and handmade musical instruments are sold alongside fine jewelry, functional studio pottery, handwoven apparel and homemade jams and jellies. Craftsmen demonstrate their skills throughout the craft areas, so take a leisurely stroll and visit with the artists whose work helps to support the Florida Folk Festival.

All craft vendors contribute a percentage of their sales to the Festival. When you patronize these artists, you are supporting both the creativity of Florida crafts and the continuation of the Florida Folk Festival.

Kathryn Basham, Medicine Song Crafts has handmade items using natural gathered and recycled materials including shells, fossils, coral, pine needles, wild grapevine, and bamboo.

Dana Benton, Magnolia Artisan Soaps has handcrafted soaps, balms, body butters, and beard oils as well as hand sewn items.

Victoria Bonebreak, Quilts by Victoria, has quilts for babies and dogs.

Matt Brabham, Brabham Pottery has functional wheelthrown pottery with decorative clay accents.

Amy Edge, OgZ DeZigns LLC has magnetic jewelry, crystals, crystal jewelry, suncatchers, sage, and hair accessories

Dan Erskine, Everette Erskine has bird houses and bird feeders. He comes from a family tradition of carpentry.

Antonio Falla, Antonio Designs has handmade jewelry with silver and semiprecious stones.

Jim Hearn of Hearn Homestead has rustic red cedar benches, signs, coat racks, musical instrument stands and holders.

Harriett Heywood of Earthwares has handmade aprons, purses, clothing, hats, accessories, and other vintage-styled articles.

Matt Keene, St. Augustine Tintype has handmade 4”x5” tintypes using the historic wet plate collodion process.

Patricia Lynne Hutchins of Suwannee Songs Designs has necklaces, bracelets and earrings made of natural stone and inspired by the natural environment of the Suwannee River Valley. These items are created by the traditional skill of hand-knotting on silk, forging and soldering metals (particularly copper) and hand working wire to set stones, along with other handcrafting techniques.

Eric Larson, Winter Park Soap has handmade organic skin care products, soaps, lotions, and lip balms.

Ruthanne Mason, Mary & Mom, apprentice of longtime festival tie-dye artist Mark Wright, has tiedye arts, including t-shirts, dresses, socks, shoelaces, and hats – located

Florida's Finest Crafters

in the Florida Remembered Area

Ethel McDonald, Marie’s Home Canning has, jellies, pickles, and relishes.

Milan Mixson of Stinky Lewis Soap sells all natural, cold-process, high-quality soap.

Greg Nason, Earthwares has scroll saw woodwork of pictures, earrings, boxes, and other scrolled items made on a foot-powered antique scroll saw; folk instruments made from cigar boxes, tins and other found objects.

Wanda & Vidal Pedrosa Torres of ArteBorikua Artesanias (Borikua Handcraft) have handcrafted miniatures and musical instruments made out of gourds and paintings.

Marvin Sawyer of Early Country Furniture has 1800s-era primitive and country hand-crafted

reproductions of household furniture and crafts, including wooden totes, benches, wooden foot stools, jelly cabinets, coat racks, organizers, chimney cabinets and wooden firewood boxes.

Libby Spratlin, Two Can Design House has handmade functional pottery.

Kortney Stewart of Thomas Honey has raw honey, craft honey blends and beeswax.

Lita Swindle and Eva Claytor, Claytor & Swindle demonstrate spinning and the making of rag rugs using a rigid heddle loom. They offer demonstrations and sales of rag rugs, cloth, and fiber items.

Melinda Swindle of Minna’s has weavings, homemade sewing items, microwave potholder bowls, Christmas stockings, cork necklaces and crocheted items.

Who We Are

Our mission is to support and help sustain the Florida Park Service. The Foundation , founded in 1993 as the Friends of Florida State Parks and renamed in 2018, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation and the statewide citizen support organization of the Florida Park Service.

What We Do

Advocacy: Serves as a conduit and a collective citizens’ voice.

Communications: Promotes Florida State Parks and visitor experiences.

Fundraising: Seeks funds, funders, and partnerships to support project s.

Support: To local Friends groups with education, communication and other services.

Programs: Awards grants and provides support through:

• Access for All - funds park accessibility projects and improvements

• LIFE - an educational partnership to utilize st ate parks as outdoor classrooms

• Yellow Buses in the Parks - funds transportation for educational trips

Why We Do It

We are passionate, committed and engaged in making Florida State Parks the very best now and for future generations. We value the Florida Par k Service and support their efforts to preserve, protect and manage state parks utilizing their staff including Friends groups, volunteers, and public and private partnerships. Join us!

Florida State Park Foundation, Inc.

1700 N. Monroe Street Suite 11 #2 00, Tallahassee FL 32303-5535

813-586-0681

info@floridastateparksfoundation.org

To learn more or make a donation

- FloridaStateParksFoundation.org

Acknowledgments

Park Staff and Volunteers

Manny Perez , Park Manager

Debra Walker , Assistant Park Manager

Courtney Livengood, Administrative Assistant

Elaine McGrath , Events Coordinator

Jeff Niehaus, Maintenance Supervisor

Robert Baker, Maintenance Mechanic

Andrea Thomas , Park Services Specialist

John Hill, Park Services Specialist

Peter Shanks , Park Services Specialist

Flozell Redic, Park Ranger

Kevin Pittman, Park Ranger

Jim Ellis , Park Ranger

Kim Rivers, Park Ranger

Jessica Watkins , Park Ranger

Andrew Hughes , Park Ranger

Angela Mouton , Park Ranger

Pat Cromer , Museum Guide

Kath leen Knetge , OPS

Oscar Matthew, OPS

Andrea Nincehelser , OPS

Grace Williams , OPS Events Assista nt

Dominick Tartaglia , State Folklorist

Chuck Bennett, Maintenance Volunteer

David Blatt, Maintenance Volunteer

Mark Manning, Maintenance Volunteer

Bill McDaniel, Maintenance Volunteer

Lauri Phelz, Maintenance Volunteer

Marg Chauvin, Volunteer Events Assistant

Billy Messer , Volunteer Events Assistant

Eric Wasser, Volunteer Events Assistant

Jeanne Wasser, Volunteer Events Assistant

Robert Townsend , Volunteer Events Assistant

Mike Radel , Volunteer Events Assistant

Carolyn Pardue , Stage Management

Cyndy Chittick , Campground

Charlotte Burgess , Seminole Family Camp

Tim Larsen, Stage Safety Officer

Florida Park Service

Temporarily Assigned

Staff/Volunteers

Karl Benz

Austin Crawford

April Davis

Clay Dickson

Amanda Glover

Heather Goston

Bruce Graybeal

Anna Kellner

Thea Knott

Craig Littauer

Brandy Nethery

Nels Parson

Dan Pearson

Christine Small

Kimberlee Tennille

Michelle Waterman

Angela Watson

Alyssa Woodby

Our Florida Park Service

Ranger Association Family

Rebecca Armstrong

Dana Bryan

Doug Carter

DeWayne Carver

Jennifer Carver

Kenny Carver

Thomas Carver

Samantha Cheatham

Sandy Cook

Jim Crane

Larry Fooks

Charlotte Fooks

Donald Forgione

Rosie Forgione

Randy Hester

Parker Hinson

Joe Howard

Danuta Jacob

Scott Jacob

Cliff Joyce

Dan Laird

Rivers Laird

Clif Maxwell

Sandra Maxwell

Joe McGrath

MaryJo McGrath

Nels Parson

Will Parson

Joe Sutter

Sandy Vardaman

Gerry Von Ehr

Margaret Von Her

Gwendolyn Waldorf

Michelle Waterman

Pat Wells

Security

Florida Wildlife Commission

Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office

Florida Highway Patrol

First Aid

Hamilton County EMS

Artist Recording Sales

Friends of Florida Folk, Inc.

Sign Language Interpretation

Diane Delage

Sarah Tait

Piano Care

Bloch Piano Tuning and Restoration

Program

Lake City Reporter

Sound & Lighting

First Street Music

Hurricane Mountain Sound

Rick Ott Performance and Production

Michael Frimet

Sanitation Services

Waste Pro

AAA Port-A-Serv

Sponsor Reception

Nutrien

Stephen Foster CSO

Flowers

Jerry Lawrence, Johnny, Mary

Lou, Amanda, Paige and Rhett

Bullard

Tents

Nelson’s Tents

T-Shirts

Atlas Screen Printing

Transportation

DG Custom Carts

FPS Ranger Assoc.

Festival Volunteers

Shauna Adams

Joan Alderman

Amy Alderman

Anna Alderman

Jennifer Babjak

Athena Baucum

Aurora Baucum

David Baucum

Michael Beans

Patte Beans

David Belcher

Henry Bentley

Joseph Brightbill

David Brightbill

Jane Brightbill

Laura Bullard

Jerry Bullard

Julie Butterfield

Kip Carpenter

Marthann Carter

Kimberly Carter

Donna Carter

Chip Carter

Anne Carter

Claude "Chub" Carter

Bernie Chandler

Irene Chandler

Bronwyn Chelette

Rosie Chittick

Emily Chittick

Andrew Chittick

Cindy Chittick

Timothy Clanton

Indigo Conat-Naar

Betty Jo Cutchen

Thomas Darby

Rick Davidson

Cecilia Davis-Taylor

David Dickel

Laurie Eberhardt

David Enfinger

David Enfinger

David Fairbanks

Bobbie Jo Finer

Jonathan Finer

Acknowledgments

Hilary Flower

Bug Flower

Donald Forgione

Venus-Blue Forgione

Ortrud Forster

David Galvin

Bob Ganley

Grant Gelhardt

Brandi Gonzales

Bruce Graybeal

Vernie Hardwicke

Barbra Harless

Kelli Hastings

Cliffie Hazlehurst

Deborah Hendrix

Cindy Horne

Andy Howard

Rita Iacino

Victor Irvine

Robin Jackson

Sabrina Jacques

Diane Jarriel

Tamarra Jenkins

Andy Kane

Sarah Kell

Richard Kempe

Charlotte Kendall

Scott Kessler

Robert Kester

Susan King-Galvin

Ann Kungel

Timothy Larsen

Karyn Lockermen-Elliott

Steve Lowe

Michael Macy

Hugh Malloch

Jim Marble

Andy Martin

John McClure

Patricia McGovern

Russell McGuff

Merri McKenzie

Bill Metts

Ted Miller

Jerry Mincey

Steve Morgan

Ellen Morgan

David Morgan

Dana Myers

Karan Newman

Candice Norman

Annie Orlando

Carolyn Pardue

Pablo Perez

Vince Piquet

Riley Redington

Joseph C. Reina

Pat Rice

Jim Rigel

Shahdaroba Rodd

Angela Rodriguez

Kevin Sue Rohan

Betty Rosenblatt

Isabel Ruano

Dustin Schaller

Kyle Schaller

Mark Schmidter

Bob Schoenrock

Zoe Schonmann

Scott Seagle

Diane Shaw

Kevin Solomon

Bryan Solomon

Cedar Spirk

Rudy Spirk

Courtney Spitzner

Lila Stewart

Josh Strigle

MaryLou Sutherlin

Linda Taylor

Terry Thomas

John Thrush

Paige Van Antwerp

Margaret Van Wormer

Ricardo Vega Garcia

Nathan Vinehout Kane

Kerry Waldron

Jeanne Wasser

Eric Wasser

Bebe Willis

Luci Willis

Karlia Willis

John Willis

Linda Wilson

Rachel Wolf

Steven Zdawczynsli

Bailey Zook

Stephen Foster CSO Volunteers

Ellen Akers

Scott Alexander

Aeron Atwood

Gabriel Atwood

Jessie Atwood

Rachel Atwood

Sabrina Atwood

Zachary Atwood

Mike Batusic

Teddy Bear

Gettys Braswell

Nancy Brenner

Justin Budwick

Jennifer Collins

Betsy Crisp

Paul Crisp

Beth Daniels

Barbara Dietrich

Rose Flannery

Chris Flannigan

Joe Flannigan

John Pfund

Suzy Pfund

Julie Gay

Scott Gay

Nancy Grossman

Danny Hales

Mitch Hammer

Muna Hammer

Cecilia Henig

Kathy Johnson

Khrys Kantarze

Robert Kester

Marc Knapp

Shirley Knapp

Neil Kowald

John Lacefield

Roberta Lacefield

Paul Mason

Cheryl McCall

Walter McKenzie

Howard Montgomery

Joy Montgomery

Marybeth Nayfield

KC Nafield

Laura Paloozio

Dennis Price

Dottie Price

Kenny Roberts

Tania Roberts

Mick Shea

Sharon Shea

Scott Siewert

Teri Siewert

Carol Stob

John Werner

Susan Werner

Bruce Witton