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.