2025 FL Folk Festival

2025 Featured Artist Featured Artist

Rachel Budwick

Rachel Budwick, a North Florida native, has been inspired by the flora and fauna of the Suwannee River Basin since childhood. A lifelong artist, she studied under master artist Chris Flanagan in high school before earning a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art from Florida State University in 2012. Since then, she has explored a range of creative media, including drawing, painting, collage, and mural art.

In addition to her creative pursuits, Budwick has spent the last 13 years as an educator and devoted mother in White Springs, where she, her three children, and her evertolerant husband live on the Suwannee River (with all their animals). She continues to immerse herself in artistic endeavors whenever possible, bringing her passion for nature and illustration to her work.

Thank You

To our 73rd Annual Florida Folk Festival Sponsors

Dr. Paul Sullivan

The Moses Family

Ralph & Debra Reid

Pam Hyde

Robin Hendrickson

2025 Contributing Angels

In Memory of Barbara Beauchamp

Howard & Carolyn Pardue

Dudley & Gail Matthews

Walter & Merri McKenzie

Jim & Sally Moses

Bebe Willis

The Bullard Family

Danny Hales

Sheila Hiss

Irene Chandler

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Along the banks of the historic Suwannee River in White Springs, Florida, folk artists gather 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 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 Saturday evening on the Heritage and Dance Stage. Check out our full schedule of events for specific times and stages.

HARMONIC MOTION (Friday Evening)

HARMONIC MOTION Middle Eastern Music and Dance (www.harmonicmotion.org) focuses on folkloric music and dance from Armenia, Arabic countries, Sefarad, and Turkey.  Its core performers and teachers are Joe Zeytoonian on oud, darbuka, and voice, and Myriam Eli on darbuka, riqq, dance, and voice.  Based in South Florida since 1985, they have performed and taught at many local festivals, concerts, universities, and schools.  Mr. Zeytoonian has received various grants and honorable mentions from the Florida Department of State including the 2000 Florida Folk Heritage Award as Armenian master oud player, as well as Individual Artist Fellowships.  He also received an award from the National Endowment for the Arts and the HistoryMiami Museum.   Ms. Eli is the 2023 Florida Folk Heritage Award recipient and has received Individual Artist Fellowships and the Apprenticeship as Master Teacher of Middle Eastern Dance from the Florida Department of State.  Mr. Zeytoonian recorded with Gloria Estefan, and they both recorded and performed with Shakira. Ms. Eli was her dance instructor and choreographer and toured with her. In 2022, Harmonic Motion was Florida Folklife’s Artist-inResidence performing at Florida State University, Mission

San Luis, and various schools in Tallahassee.  Additionally, they have toured the United States, Turkey, Japan, and Latin America.

The Little Mercies is a folk trio of songwriting multiinstrumentalists - Bronwyn Chelette, Shanice Richards, and Rosalee Walsh. They present traditional music with authenticity and creativity alongside intimate originals that draw inspiration from their musical upbringings and experiences. Singing three-part harmonies and playing twin fiddle, their individual sounds instantly blend together making the spanish moss and magnolia leaves dance in the Florida sun. Having jumped from playing bars to headlining festivals in just two years, their love for music and their joy playing with each other will surely make you laugh, cry, smile and dance all through the day.

THE LITTLE MERCIES (Friday Evening)

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SINKHOLE SERENADERS

(Friday Evening)

Kick back and enjoy a selection of “Obscure Favorites for These Modern Times” with the  Sinkhole Serenaders.  Hailing from Gainesville and performing for their very first time at the Florida Folk Festival, this trio of seasoned musicians has been steadily gaining popularity throughout the north Florida region.

Showcasing a wide variety of musical styles from the golden era of decades past, they happily tackle everything from blues, old time, and Tin Pan Alley to Celtic, café, and gypsy, including originals based on classic tunes. The combined sounds of accordion, ukulele, slide and other guitars, harmonicas, musical saw, whistles, washboard, reeds, and, of course, vocals create a unique and memorable musical offering.

The three Sinkhole Serenaders, Gus, Jim, and Pete, have been involved with music for decades. “We’ve all had our fun over the years doing our own things … everything you can think of, from the carefree days of new wave and rock through all the subsequent cycles of folk, bluegrass, and the blues we’ve explored, even memorable roles in Oktoberfest, Irish, and circus bands.  So now, connecting as a trio, we are having a blast drawing on our varied experiences and combining the musical styles we love into something new that celebrates the past yet feels fresh all over again.”

SinkHole Serenaders will be performing each day of the Festival, as well as offering the musical workshop “An Introduction to Accordion for Stringed Players”.

REMEDY TREE

(Friday Evening)

Florida’s Americana ensemble Remedy Tree has achieved notable success, securing second place at the prestigious SPBGMA National Band Championship. Following their signing with Mountain Fever Records in 2024, the band has performed internationally, showcasing their talents at Ireland’s Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival. Remedy Tree has shared the stage with legendary artists such as Peter Rowan, The Steeldrivers, Ricky Skaggs, Town Mountain, Rhonda Vincent, and Della Mae. As a selected 2023 IBMA Ramble Showcase band, they have demonstrated their prowess within the industry. With a new album and larger shows on the horizon, Remedy Tree is poised for a breakout year in 2025. Get ready to join the journey with this rising Americana sensation.

THE CURRYS

(Friday Evening)

The Currys have been staking their claim within the indie music scene since 2013, when vocalist/ guitarist Tommy Curry quit his teaching job and moved to Charlottesville, Virginia, to join the harmony-based folkrock outfit newly formed by brother Jimmy Curry (vocals, guitar) and cousin Galen Curry (vocals, bass). The band have since written and released four full-length albums: their studio debut Follow (2014), called “eye-opening, but warmly familiar” by Earmilk, and whose title track is “one of

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the most beautiful pieces of music I’ve ever heard” (Todd Moe of NCPR); sophomore effort West of Here (2016), with its “tight-as-a-rubber-band” harmonies and “infectious” songwriting (PopMatters); and the expansive, selfproduced This Side of the Glass (2019).

During the pandemic, The Currys took the opportunity to explore different avenues of creativity. In 2020 the trio launched a podcast, This Side of the Mic, to showcase songs and share some laughs and insights. The band leveraged their down-time into writing and demoing dozens of new tracks, polishing their production chops and collaborating with fellow creators to expand their sound. The singles they released through 2021, such as pop/R&B track “Man On the Side” and Graceland-inspired “Last Night,” pushed the boundaries of their previous catalog.

In the spring of 2023, the three Currys were joined by Sebastian Green (drums), Sam Whedon (guitar), and Alex Rees (keys) to begin production on their fourth studio album. Keepers, released in October 2023, represents another step in the band’s evolution, pairing the lush, three-part harmony that marks any Currys project with a more guitar-driven, indie pop aesthetic. The album pays homage to the band’s influences, with tracks evoking Sgt. Pepper’s, Jason Isbell, even dreamy pop-punk. Keepers is an honest next step for a group with an appetite for exploration and a long road ahead.

“Stirring vocals...from a promising new band.” - C-Ville Weekly

“...toothsome and satisfying…” - Popshifter on West of Here

“It’s almost impossible not to be moved, physically and metaphorically, by the gorgeously composed tracks on this album.” - Wordkrapht on Follow

LILI FORBES AND THE FUNKY TATERS

(Friday Evening)

Expect to hear original music by Lili Forbes and Michael Lewis when Lili & The Funky ‘Taters take the stage at the Florida Folk Fest.  Forbes, along with her twin sister from St. Maarten, have been singing

and performing 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 International Jazz Plaza Festival in Havana, Cuba and, of course, the Florida Folk Festival.  So put on your dancin’ shoes!

ROMEO’S TASSA KIDZ (Saturday

Evening)

Born in Trinidad and Tobago, Romeo Ragbir is a master musician and instrument builder who specializes in the tassa drum. Tasaa originated in South India and was revolutionized in the West Indies where it was fused with Calypso BEATS. Romeo leads the first tassa group in South Florida, Romeo’s Tassa Kids, and performs at IndoCaribbean Hindu weddings and other cultural events and ceremonies in the community. His grandparents brought the tassa tradition from India to Trinidad, and Romeo learned from his father how to make and play these drums. He has passed these skills on to his

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children and grandchildren as well as many students all over Florida. For over thirty years, Romeo has dedicated himself to preserving and sharing this tradition and was recognized for his expertise in 2009 with the Florida Folk Heritage Award.

CORTADITO

(Saturday Evening)

Since its origins thirteen years ago, the evolution of Cortadito has led it to become one of the torch bearers of a pop culture phenomenon that is two centuries strong. A traditional folk and acoustic band that focuses on performing one of the earliest styles of Cuban Pop music known as Son (pronounced sOwn), their sound can best be described as reminiscent of the famed Buena Vista Social Club. This dynamic, Miami-based ensemble has been joined on stage by Grammy and Latin Grammy award-winning singer Aymeé Nuviola, world-renowned flutist Nestor Torres, and has performed with legendary member of Buena Vista Social Club, Eliades Ochoa. In October 2022, the group was invited to perform at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. The band currently performs throughout South Florida and the United States and is currently promoting their first-ever full-length release The Guajiro Triangle, which the band will also touch on during the show.

BEN PRESTAGE

(Saturday Evening)

Ben Prestage’s own brand of Deep South Swamp Music has been featured at some of the world’s premier Blues, Jazz, Americana, and Folk festivals. Armed with self-crafted instruments made from roasting pans, alligator heads, and even a closet door, Prestage creates a unique sound that has earned him numerous awards and nominations. Growing up in rural Florida near the headwaters of the Everglades in gator and panther territory helped shape Prestage’s spanish-moss-covered sound, but he had music in his blood before birth.

Ben’s maternal great-grandmother was the leader of an all-girls band (at a time when that was unheard-of) that toured the popular vaudeville circuit and performed with one of the most famous and highest paid stars of the 1920’s- Al Jolson. Her daughter was an accomplished boogie-woogie piano player.

On his father’s side, Ben’s grandfather played Blues and Country guitar in a Mississippi string band, when he wasn’t sharecropping cotton and sweet potatoes or cutting timber.

Prestage cut his teeth performing in Florida fish camps, biker bars and tourist traps. After a stint as busker/street performer on historic Beale Street in Memphis, TN Ben emerged as one of world’s top one-man-bands. After releasing a dozen albums, and touring across the US and more than a dozen countries, Ben Prestage continues to create music that “soars like a swamp hawk and wallows like an old bull gator.”

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WALTER PARKS

(Saturday Evening)

In 2020 Walter Parks was invited by The Library of Congress to archive his research on and perform his arrangements of music made by the homesteaders of the headwaters of the Suwannee River – The Okefenokee Swamp. The hollers, hymns and reels of those hardy southeast Georgia homesteaders are featured in his one man show “Swamp by Chandelier”

For 10 years Parks, a Florida native born and raised in Jacksonville, served as the sideman guitarist to Woodstock Festival legend Richie Havens. Now based out of St. Louis, Walter has recently co-written with Stan Lynch, former Tom Petty drummer and has performed at various venues with R&B drum legend Bernard Purdie and at Lincoln Center with Judy Collins.

“In much the same way that The Okefenokee Swamp still is the eastern United States’ final frontier, it has also served the same for my career, for by it I have found uncharted territory and that’s hard to do in the music business.”

THE FIREWATER TENT REVIVAL

(Saturday Evening)

Expect the unexpected! Described as a “whiskey snortin’, happy-golucky, good-time band,” The Firewater Tent Revival is a psychedelic bluegrass band from the small fishing village of Mayport, located just outside of Jacksonville Florida. Not quite Bluegrass, Country or Rock, this is “Psychedelic-Party-Grass.” Storyteller style lyrics, using bluegrass instrumentation, done jam band style, by a High-Energy String Band simply makes you want to dance.

Formed in 2010 and originally called The Hopeless, Dave Smith and Jon Deering formed the band simply to be able to keep playing music together. Soon after, new members joined the band, and it had several featured guest artists.

The group recorder their first EP “Sinkin Boat” in February 2015. Two months later they played their way into the hearts of the Jacksonville public, winning third place in the popular crowd funding festival One Spark.

Folio Weekly Magazine, Jacksonville’s most widely printed arts and entertainment publication. proclaimed, “The Firewater Tent Revival burns it up with primo bluegrass and a hot party vibe” and describes them as being “on a subliminal mission to return the music to its original function as pure entertainment.”  “When it isn’t fun to do any more it’s over,” is the perspective the band maintains.

THE LEE BOYS (Saturday Evening)

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

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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.

SIKAN AFRO CUBAN DANCE PROJECT (Sunday Night)

Marisol Blanco is a professional specialized in the performing arts, choreographer, dance and music teacher of the Afro diaspora with more than 30 years of experience dedicated to the artistic medium and community work. Currently, she trains teachers of all levels in Afro-Cuban folk, popular, Latin and Caribbean dances throughout the Americas and the diaspora. Blanco studied at the National School of Art (ENA) (1992) and the Higher Institute of Art (ISA) (1995). She was trained by notable pioneers in educational, dance and choreographic development such as Graciela Chao, Bárbara Balbuena, María de los Ángeles

Sardui, Julia Fernández, Lucía Sulbiadur, Domingo Pao and Alfredo O’Farrill, who left a strong mark on her teaching pedagogy, which consists of how to discover musicality and instruments in the different parts of our body. Following the guidance of maestro O’Farrill, Blanco trained in Cuban rhythms and percussion with pillars of the old school such as Lázaro Pedroso, Radamés Villegas, Mario Jáuregui, Cristóbal Larrinaga, and Ángel Terry. She took additional music courses at the Félix Varela Center for Cultural Development.

She was a member of Cuba’s first all-female percussion and dance group, Obiní-Batá (2000-2008). Some of her contributions in the fields of performance and teaching include the National and International Salsa and Bachata Congresses (2010-2025), the International Folkloric Dance Festivals Dancing with the World and One World Soul of Dance (2015-2023), Dance Africa Miami (2009-2025), and academic commitments at the University of Miami, Miami Dade College, St. Thomas University, Boulder-Colorado University, Florida International University, and Indiana University (2015-2025). Blanco developed her community dance project, Sikan, with an educational purpose aimed at fostering a life ethic for the women in her community, in addition to having InaOmi as a nonprofit for sociocultural exchange. She recently completed her second Master of Fine Arts in Choreography at Linda Berry School of Arts at Jacksonville University. Her dance exploration since her time and graduation from the National School of Art has focused primarily on the artistic incorporation of male roles on female bodies in Yoruba dances. Currently, her research has extended to the origins of Regla de Ocha or Santería in Cuba.

She received the Florida FolkLife Award (2024-2025) and is an artist-in-residence at the Miami Historical Society, HistoryMiami Museum.

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

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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.

HADLEY PARRISHCOTTON

(Sunday Night)

Hailing from Jacksonville, Florida, Hadley ParrishCotton is an independent singer, songwriter and multiinstrumentalist now based out of Portland, Oregon. Described as engaging, comforting, insightful and thought provoking, Hadley blends the country and folk influence of their childhood with introspective lyrics that promote self-love and acceptance, growing, and finding joy in challenge and change. Having attended for many years as a child, Hadley is so excited to return to the Florida Folk Festival now as a performer, to be able to celebrate the beauty and community there, and to share their love of folk music and art.

MEAN MARY

(Sunday Night)

Mean Mary is a genre-bending multiinstrumentalist, singersongwriter, and storyteller whose mix of banjo, fiddle, and guitar has earned her over 38 million YouTube views and a fast-growing international fanbase. Her latest album, Woman Creature, received critical acclaim for its sharp lyrics, cinematic scope, and superb production—earning the #1 spot on Country Music People’s Critics’ Choice 2024 list and landing in the Top 10 on multiple “Best of” lists from respected DJs and tastemakers in the folk and Americana world. With songs that range from toe-tapping to spine-tingling, she blends Americana, folk, and blues into a sound all her own. A modern-day nomad, she’s lived everywhere from

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a remote cabin in northern Minnesota to the heart of the Nashville scene—but she grew up in Florida and recently returned, happy to once again call it home between tour stops.

JEANIE FITCHEN

(Sunday evening)

Jeanie Fitchen has come a long way from 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.

The Elements: Air

The Elements: Air

Dom Tartaglia, Mathilde Lind, Zach Moreau, and Julian Duncan

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.

What’s New at Florida Folklife?

Housed within the Division of Arts and Culture in Tallahassee, the Florida Folklife Program has documented, presented, and preserved Florida’s vibrant folklife and traditional culture for more than forty years. State Folklorist Dr. Dom Tartaglia and folklorists Dr. Mathilde Lind and Zachary Moreau completed the 2024 Fieldwork Survey, conducting ethnographic research on traditions involving the Air in Florida. Apart from the fieldwork survey and last year’s festival, Dom presided over the nominations of the 2025 Folk Heritage, coordinated the 202 4 Artist Residency (with Heritage Award winners The Ukrainian Dancers of Miami) and coordinated the 2024-25 Apprenticeship Program (all four teams will perform on the Folklife Stage). Dom would also like to welcome a new face to the Folklife Stage: folklorist Julian Duncan ! A PhD candidate at FSU’s College of Music, Julian is the director of Florida Folklife’s newest program, the Major John Leroy Haynes Florida Veterans' History Program You will see him and several veterans who he has interviewed at the “Florida Veterans’ History Spotlight on Aviation” . We are very excited to have Julian at the Division and honored to be entrusted with stewarding the

new Veterans’ Oral History Program going forward. Also, around the stage this year, you may find students from FSU students assisting with operations.

Air

For four years at the Folk Festival, the Folklife Area has covered how the elements influence traditions in the state of Florida. Based on survey fieldwork conducted in 20 24, the theme of this year’s Folklife Area is Air. The element of air provides a particularly useful central theme for this survey of Florida’s arts and culture For one it is so intrinsically linked to the other elements we have featured on the stage water, fire, and Earth that is already so present in so many folk traditions. Fire needs air to feed the flames, the ocean is nothing without the breeze, and the earth and open work together so perfectly. Air is humanity’s first power source, whether it is the wind or breath. Many of our acts on stage use air to make music, like accordions, trombones, or bagpipes. Some people defy the la ws of gravity and stay suspended in the air to the crowd’s delight. Some traditions take care of animals with wings, and some venerate the air personified, but we all create traditions involving the ever-present, life-giving and powerful element which surrounds us.

The tradition bearers on the Folklife Stage come from across our state, from Miami to Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Central Florida, and many more places This year, the stage brings you seven Air tradition bearers, four teams from the Apprenticeship Program, several partners from across the festival and across the state

Invited Artists:

Sikan Afro Cuban Dance Project is a dance company that performs traditional Afro Cuban dance with throughout Florida and the United States. Led by 2024 Florida Folk Heritage Award winner Marisol Blanco, the group aims to both entertain and educate by giving audiences “a panoramic vision about the Cuban heritage ” A dancer, teacher, and keeper of Afro-Cuban religious traditions, Marisol Blanco has spent

The Elements: Air

her life teaching and performing Afro -Cuban arts and culture. She started dancing in her native Cuba at the age of five, and by sixteen she was teaching Afro- Cuban dance classes. Additionally, she learned bata, the syncopated ritual drumming style traditionally only taught to men, and became a member of Obini Bata , Cuba's first female percussion ensemble.

Sikan Afro Cuban Dance Project

Marisol completed an MFA in Dance at the Cuban Superior Arts Institute and she is working on her second master’s degree from Jacksonville University. Marisol served as a master artist in the 2013 Florida Folklife Apprenticeship program, which provided her a push forward in her career as a folkloric artist, introducing her to a broader academic audience in her new home of Miami and across the United States.

Taking inspiration from Psalm 98, you can hear trumpets and brass making joyful noise with the Spirit of Joy. Located in Jacksonville, Florida , the Spirit of Joy is a Shout Band directed by Cedric Mangum Jr. The tradition of Shout Bands is unique to the United House of Prayer for All People Church and is concentrated in the Southeast United States, with The Spirit of Joy being Florida’s only Shout Band. Serving as the church’s musical ensemble, The Spirit of Joy features all low brass, with trombone as the main instrument. Accompanying these instruments are a duo of percussionists who keep the groove and feel of worship.

Cedric continues the tradition of Shout Band from his father, Cedric Mangum Sr., who has worked in the North Carolina area for years. Important to Cedric Jr.’s mission is not just to worship God, but to create a place for young men to learn music, grow spi ritually, and be creative. This is seen in Cedric’s teachings and multi-generational makeup of the band, which range from middle-aged men to toddlers-intraining. If you are interested in hearing the heavenly tunes of brass and drums, come by the Folklife Area and see The Spirit of Joy.

The Spirit of Joy Shout Band

Rich Field

The Elements: Air

Rich Field was born on a US base in Germany and raised in Louisiana, and he moved to Florida in 1977. Although he came to beekeeping later in life, it was a natural next step after a career working with trees both in private industry and through enforcing public ordinances for the City of Sunrise. His beekeeping story started with finding a swarm in his yard, and Rich and his wife Beth worked together to capture the swarm and learn how to take care of a hive. Rich has become an expert in beekeeping and its history, and he has even built a reproduction of the casket hives used by O.O. Poppleton, the “Bee King of Florida” (1843-1917). Rich’s approach to beekeeping is grounded in carefully observing the bees and working with their behavior and biology to support their needs. He notes that much of the structure of the hive is designed to help the bees manage temperature and ventilation, which the bees do through behaviors like rapidly flapping their wings at the entryway. He sums up his philosophy as follows: “I love it because bee's going to do what bee's going to do and it's up to us to figure out why.”

Located in Jupiter Farms, Florida, Mark and Alex Buncy are a father and son vert (vertical) skater duo. Vert skating is a style of skateboarding where one transitions up or down an incline or ramp to perform tricks. The Buncies, out of love for this style and lack of local halfpipe infrastructure, built a halfpipe in their own backyard to further hone their

skills. Mark has been skating for over forty years and still prefers vert now in his sixties. While he likes other forms, he says that there is a profound sense of weightlessness during vert. The tricks performed at the apex of the pipes/ramps form what we now see at events such as the X Games.

Alex began skating at two years old with Mark’s help and is now a pro -skater. Due to the space and resources required for vert skating, the practice is not as common today as street skating. Alex states that keeping the culture alive is a current goal of h is. You can visit the Folklife Area to see this duo discuss their experiences and perform tricks as a part of this Floridian invention.

Jenny Hesoun is a slackliner, caver, climber, musician, and graduate student who lives in Tallahassee, FL. Originally a rock climber, she picked up slacklining during a trip which had no rock climbing available and has been working on it since then. Slacklining is the act of walking across a taut rope typically stretched between two trees. It is commonly viewed as an act of

Mark Buncy

Alex Buncy

The Elements: Air

leisure; however, Jenny states that there are plenty of benefits to the activity such as keeping physically active, staying mindful, and having fun. While not yet a master, she embraces the challenge and enjoys building up her skills to become more well-versed on the various techniques required to stay on the line. In between practicing saxophone and studying, she sets up her line outside to get a quick session that helps her meditate. While seemingly a solo act, she states that she enjoys the communal aspect of helping out novices and enjoying the physicality of it with others. If you want to watch and learn how to slackline, Jenny will be demonstrating and performing at the Folklife Stage. Jenny will also be performing with the Hot Pepper Steppers at other stages around the festival.

Dr. Panayotis “Paddy” League is Associate 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. While he lives in Tallahassee, Tarpon Springs is his home, and he is a master of the traditional folk songs and oral poetry from the Greek island of Kalymnos, the folk song repertoire that has flourished in Tarpon Springs amidst over years of Kalymnian immigration to the town. He is also one of the few living tsabouna players in the state of Florida. The tsabouna is synonymous with Kalymnian folk song and dance, and is a bagpipe made from the body of a goat, olive wood, bamboo, and beeswax. A dedicated

practitioner of folk arts and performer at the Florida Folk Festival, Paddy can be seen across the festival performing and interacting with various stages and traditions. You can also see his Brazilian folk music group Lontra at the Folklife Stage on Friday.

Karibbean Groove is a dynamic six-piece dance band that has been entertaining audiences since 2004 with the sounds of the Caribbean. They specialize in many genres of music including Reggae, Zouk, Merengue, Salsa, Calypso, and Konpa. The band members were born in Haiti or the Dominican Republic but met at church in Immokalee, where their families work as farmworkers. Karibbean Groove is also well known for being involved in events that highlight diversity, celebrate culture and community empowerment locally and around the world. Karibbean Groove will be at the Folklife Stage on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, but you can catch them around the rest of the park, as well as their storytelling outfit Las Casita Hispanola, all weekend.

Jenny Hesoun

Panayotis “Paddy” League

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Folklife Apprenticeship Program

The Florida Folklife Apprenticeship Program supports the preservation of folklife and traditional arts through one -on-one apprenticeships. These awards fund classes 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.

Apprenticeship Master Betty Caloretti is a master dancer and choreographer of Andean folk dances. Originally from Peru, she learned folk dances from her mother. Upon moving to Miami, Betty founded Sumaj Tusuy Peru, a dance company which not only teaches traditional Andean dance but also preserves and promotes of indigenous Peruvian cultural heritage across South Florida. Edward Bautista has been dancing with Sumaj Tusuy Peru since he was eight years old. He has become one of the principal dancers of the company. Through the Apprenticeship Program, Betty is training Edward to become a choreographer for the group, and to one day take over as director. At the Folklife Stage, you will see Betty, Edward, and several members of Sumaj Tusuy performing dances choreographed by Betty and Edward.

Master artist Cecilia Bohorquez has traveled the world studying voice and performing classical music. Originally from Lima, Peru, she came to California to study voice, and while she studied opera and Western classical music, she stayed connected to Peruvian Folk Music. Her father and his family spoke Quechwa, and she grew up loving Huayño music from the Peruvian highlands. In California, she joined the Peruvian ensemble Inca, where she was the principal vocalist and Charango player.

Apprentice Freddie Fuerte has similarly studied and performed across the world, his primary instrument being classical trumpet. He also hails

Karibbean Groove

Betty Caloretti and Edward Bautista

Freddy Fuerte and Ceclia Bohorquez

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from Peru, and from a family of Peruvian Brass Band musicians who would perform traditional music in parades and church festivals. He and Ceclia met in 2016 but have not had a chance to work together until the Apprenticeship Program. Cecilia is teaching Freddy Huayño music, as they play the trumpet, the charango, and of course the voice.

Making their second appearance at the Folklife Stage are Belén Alverio and Annie Garcia A Florida Folk Heritage Award winner in 2024, Belén is a master lacemaker in the intricate art of Puerto Rican Mundillo bobbin lace. Using a Mundillo box, Belén makes lace by twisting and crossing thread with numerous bobbins. When Belén and her husband moved to Orlando, she founded a women’s Mundillo group called Las Damas Del Mundillo Orlando Belen has since converted her garage to a Mundillo studio where more than a dozen women craft together every week, including Annie, who has been studying Mundillo with Belen since 2022. This is their second Apprenticeship with Florida Folklife, having worked together and appeared at the Folklife Stage in 2023. They will be working on their Mundillo projects on stage and at their table with the rest of Las Damas at the Folklife Stage.

Also in their second year of the Apprenticeship Program are returning favorites Paul Groff and Shauna O’Hara Paul has been teaching Shauna piano accompaniment (or backing) for traditional Irish folk music while he plays the accordion and concertina. Paul also collects and restores vintage Irish instruments. Shauna is a very accomplished and award -winning Irish step dancer who is utilizing the apprenticeship program to make the jump from dancing to accompaniment. Shauna’s extensive knowledge of Irish music from her many years of dance informs her piano playing, along with Paul’s many years of being a practicing Irish musician, from the UK, to Boston, to Miami. Since starting their apprenticeship, Paul and Shauna have been playing concerts in South Florida as he helps her enter the growing world of Irish Traditional musicians in Florida.

Major John Leroy Haynes Florida Veterans' History Program: Spotlight on Aviation

Annie Garcia and Belen Alverio

Shauna O’Hara & Paul Groff

The Elements: Air

The Major John Leroy Haynes Florida Veterans’ History Program collects, preserves, and shares the stories of Florida’s veterans and the State of Florida’s military contributions throughout the nation’s history. By documenting veterans’ personal narratives, the program ensures their firsthand experiences remain accessible to the public and future generations. Through collecting written accounts, photographs, and memorabilia, and through recorded or audio interviews for the Program’s Oral History Collection, the Major John Leroy Haynes Florida Veterans’ History Program makes these narratives and the memories of military service by Florida’s veteran community accessible to the public and to future generations. Moderated by Division of Arts and Culture folklorist Julian Duncan, members of the “Florida Veterans’ History Spotlight on Aviation” panel are veterans from multiple services of the Armed Forces whose military service involved aviation as pilots and air crew members. Their stories are also a part of the Major John Leroy Haynes Florida Veterans’ History Program’s Oral History Collection. Discussions will center military life, aviation, and veterans’ advocacy in Florida.

Born in San Jose, CA, Lt Cdr Gordon Hunter (USN Retired) is a resident of St George Island. He attended UCLA on an ROTC scholarship, commissioning into the Navy and training in aviation in Pensacola, FL. Hunter was assigned to the USS Oriskany in October 1966, stationed in the Gulf of Tonkin. Sho rtly after his arrival, an accident occurred when a sailor ignited a flare and, in panic, through it into a weapons room containing other flares, causing an explosion that killed 44 sailors and forcing the ship to return to San Diego for repairs. By June 1967, The USS Oriskany returned to Vietnam. While there in 1967 –1968, Hunter flew the A4 Skyhawk, a small, single-engine bomber as part of attack squadron VA-163,“Saints.” Hunter flew 296 missions, primarily tasked with disrupting enemy supply chains along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. After leaving active duty, Lt Cdr Hunter flew as a commercial pilot for Delta Airlines for

more than 30 years and continued his service in the Naval Reserve.

Lt Colonel Michael Roehr , (USAF Retired) was born in Kansas City, MO and lives on St. George Island. He attended the University of Missouri at Kansas City and was commissioned in the Air Force through Officer Training School (OTS) in 1967. Roehr flew an impressive 465 combat missions in the F4 Phantom II throughout multiple tours in the late 1960s, focusing especially on interdiction of enemy supply lines. While stationed at George Air Force Base in California, Roehr transitioned to the F-105G “Wild Weasel,” a specialized fighter bomber used for air-defense suppression. He transitioned to the Air National Guard in 1979, where he stayed until retirement in 1987. Roehr subsequently flew cargo for FedEx for twenty years, allowing him to continue to pursue his love of flying and traveling. He is a member of American Legion post 106 and volunteered for many years for

Gordon Hunter, 1968

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the Florida Highway Patrol Auxiliary, reflecting his continued service to his community after the military.

Warrant Officer Boogie Knight was born in Lynchburg, VA, where he grew up enjoying life on the farm, hunting, fishing, and spending time outdoors. An aviation enthusiast from a young age, Knight joined the United States Army after high school and attended Warrant Officer Candidate School, followed by Flight School. Knight deployed to Vietnam in 1969 –1970, where he served with D Troop, 3 rd Squadron, 5th Cavalry Regiment as an AH1 Cobra attack helicopter pilot. Knight flew highrisk missions known as hunter-killer operations. After returning from Vietnam, he worked as a flight instructor, before separating from the Army. He briefly worked in banking before leaving to follow his passion for horses. He became a professional trainer of American Saddlebreds and traveled the country showing horses, while flying in his spare time well into his seventies in his personal aircraft. Knight is a member of American Legion Post 106 and resides on St. George Island.

Harry J. Graham III is a former U.S. Air Force officer and civil trial attorney based in Tallahassee, Florida. Commissioned through Officer Training School in 1983, he began his military career as an intelligence officer at Tyndall Air Force Base. In 1986, he transferred to the 7th Airborne Command and Control Squadron at Keesler AFB, where he was designated an Airborne Intelligence Officer and supported airborne command missions, logging significant flying hours. Following active duty, Graham joined the Air Force Reserve, where he worked with U.S. Special Operations Command at MacDill AFB. He contributed to SCUD missile targeting during Operation Desert Storm and later deployed twice to Kuwait in 1992 to assist in rebuilding Kuwaiti defense capabilities. Graham completed law school as a reservist, ultimately serving as a served as a Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer and retiring with the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Michael Roehr, 1968

Boogie Knight, 1970

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In civilian life, Graham clerked for the Florida Supreme Court before establishing a successful trial practice. He has tried cases across multiple Florida counties and remains active in veterans’ causes and legal advocacy.

Harry

Graham, 1992

Sacred Steel Summit

The third annual Sacred Steel Summit occurs inside the Florida Folk Festival and is organized by Florida Folk Heritage Award winner Alvin Lee of The Lee Boys At their Sacred Steel stage, you will be able to see more than thirty-five sacred steel musicians, including legends of the genre like Ted Beard, Calvin Cooke, Chuck Campbell, Aubrey Ghent, Lonnie Bennett and The Lee Boys, as well as workshops, lectures, and music all night. Come get out of your seats and enjoy this special Florida tradition.

Three acts from the Sacred Steel Summit will be coming to the folklife stage. Friday will see Dontrail Wright and the Orange Machine, Saturday will feature Professor Frank Owens of the Lee Boys, and Tommy Phillips and Friends will perform on Sunda y.

Tommy Phillips

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Archivists Adam Watson and Chelsea Joslin 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 film footage clips from

previous Florida Folk Festivals and segments from documentaries created by Florida folklorists, as well as photographs and music selections from the Florida Folklife Collection that are held by the State Archives and accessible on FloridaMemory.com.

Dontrail Wright

Frank Owens

Chelsea Joslin and Adam Watson

The Sacred Steel Summit: A Visionary Tale

By John Leopold

What happens when you mix a nearly 100-year-old sacred music tradition, add talent from across the region and up the eastern seaboard, and mix in guests from Florida, Tennessee, and Georgia with the nation’s oldest state-sponsored folk festival? The 2025 Scared Steel Summit at the Florida Folklife Festival!

Conceived by Alvin Lee, a founding member of the Lee Boys, an internationally recognized tradition-bearing sacred steel group out of Kissimmee Florida, the Sacred Steel Summit brings together musicians to share techniques and enthrall new audiences and aficionados. “We have assembled the greatest tradition bearers of pedal steel and lap steel guitars from within the Sacred Steel tradition,” says Alvin Lee, “People will be educated and entertained by this unique American gospel tradition.”

The Sacred Steel Summit is part of the Florida Folklife program. It will present three days of presentations about the history of the musical tradition, workshops with innovators of the sacred steel tradition, performance workshops showcasing the styles with the major houses of worship, and evening concert performances with the Living Legends of the genre and the brightest emerging talent.

HISTORY

The House of God (Keith Dominion) and the Church of the Living God, (Jewel Dominion) are African American Holiness Pentecostal churches that share a common founder. Both are national organizations with a strong presence in Florida, and both are homes to sacred steel guitar music.

In the House of God, members of the congregation began playing sacred music on the electric steel guitar in the late 1930s. The foundations for the sacred steel guitar tradition were laid by Willie Eason, Rev. Henry Nelson, and Lorenzo Harrison. Eason had a direct influence on Nelson, who was Eason’s brother-in-law, and Lorenzo Harrison. Nelson became the most influential guitarist in Keith Dominion churches. Harrison was the most influential steel player in Jewel Dominion churches. Electric steel guitar music quickly became an integral part of the services, conventions, and revivals of these two sects.

The steel guitar allows the player to vary the pitch of notes at will because the steel guitarist is not limited by notes determined by frets. Pitches on the steel guitar are determined by a metal bar that the guitarist places on the strings to “stop” the strings and make musical notes. An accomplished player can use unrestricted vibrato, execute sustained notes of increasing or decreasing pitch, and color notes by other techniques not available to the player of a standard fretted guitar. The properties of the instrument make it well-suited for African American sacred music.

Today, with more than twenty congregations throughout the state, Florida is a stronghold for the House of God and Church of the Living God, where musicians have passed down the unique musical tradition known as “sacred steel” for generations. After over eighty years of evolution, the sacred steel guitar tradition has become a unique musical form characterized by distinctive guitar styles and repertoire.

The Sacred Steel Summit: A Visionary Tale

POWERING THE SACRED STEEL SUMMIT

Building on the history of Sacred Steel Conventions that began nearly 25 years ago, Alvin Lee and Sacred Music Traditions have rejuvenated the convening of Sacred Steel artists from Florida and beyond. They have invited the living innovators of the tradition along with steel guitarists who have emerged from the church and are successfully playing for secular audiences. The roster of artists will include guitarists who are in the Sacred Steel Hall of Fame.

Combining educational workshops with extraordinary performances, the Summit showcases the rich musical tradition with contemporary interpretations of the music. Florida folklorist Bob Stone, who has written extensively about the tradition and produced several albums of the music with Arhoolie Records, will share his treasure trove of photographs taken over 30 years documenting the tradition. Del Ray Grace will share information about the new Sacred Steel Museum and the growing Hall of Fame. Aubrey Ghent will demonstrate how he makes the guitar “sing” along with services.

The Sacred Steel Summit will provide a rare opportunity for the tradition bearers to play together and for festival attendees to participate in workshops to learn about the history of Sacred Steel from the artists who defined the sound. They will participate in technical workshops that will help decipher the tuning, use of the steel bar, and effects that contribute to the unique sound. and finally, they will play with younger musicians to help teach and mentor the next generation of tradition bearers.

Aubrey Ghent remains one of the most respected sacred steel guitar players. Born in Ft. Pierce in 1959, he began playing in Keith Dominion churches regularly at age nine and is recognized as a mature master of the tradition. Ghent’s sense of pitch, even in the upper registers, use of vibrato, and ability to manipulate the guitar’s volume and tone control knobs while picking are highly developed, enabling him to imitate the human voice. He often strives to make his guitar sound “like a female opera singer.”

Calvin Cooke as a resident of Georgia, is one of the most influential musicians in the House of God. Only the best are selected to play at the church’s annual National Assembly and he played for over 40 years as a regular steel guitarist there. Cooke was born in 1944 in Cleveland, OH into a musical Jewell Dominion family and brought the influence of Jewell musicians to the Keith Dominion when he joined around 1958. He is one of the few sacred steelers who regularly combine singing with their guitar work.

Chuck Campbell is the musician responsible for introducing the pedal-steel guitar to House of God services in the early 1970s. While many steel guitarists in the church still prefer the older lap steel, the pedal guitar has become the choice of younger musicians, and Chuck is their greatest influence. Not only did Chuck introduce a new instrument and its expanded musical capabilities to House of God services, but he also brought musical influences from secular sources and used electronic effects extensively.

Maurice “Ted” Beard, a retired postal worker from a suburb of Detroit, served as the chief musician at the House of God’s annual General Assembly, held at the 2,500-seat auditorium of the mother church in Nashville, Tennessee. Among musicians and congregations, Beard is respected as a senior steel guitarist and valued as a patient teacher. He grew up in the Jewell Dominion and brought influences from that sect’s music, which is generally slower and more melodic than the Keith Dominion’s, to House of God services.

The Sacred Steel Summit: A Visionary Tale

“We want to bring musical guests from outside the Sacred Steel tradition to participate to show the broad impact that this music has had outside the four walls of a church.” says founder Alvin Lee.

Florida blues phenome Selwyn Birchwood will join this year’s Summit to share the impact Sacred Steel has had on his guitar playing. Last year Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi shared the stage with the Living Legends in honor of the role Sacred Steel has played in shaping their musical careers.

The Sacred Steel Summit is in the southeast corner of the Florida Folklife Festival. Admission to the festival includes access to all the workshops and concerts at the Summit. Don’t miss this rare chance to see some of the most powerful and soulful interpreters of the Sacred Steel tradition. Join us at the Sacred Steel Summit and enjoy getting swept away with music that will lift your spirits and cause you to dance and sing.

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

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 vital role of the FPSRA is supporting to those who serve in Florida State Parks.

Through its Relief Fund, the organization provides financial assistance to individuals facing challenging times, such as major medical expenses, significant property loss, or other serious hardships. Since its establishment in 1994, the Relief Fund has awarded over $240,000 to more than 285 individuals.

Consider giving to the Florida Park Service Ranger Association so they can continue the important work of supporting those who serve the Florida State Parks and helping those who have experienced financial hardship. www.fpsra.org/Donate

Legends and Legacies

The Legends and Legacies award is a lifetime achievement honor created to recognize individuals who have been instrumental to the success and spirit of the Florida Folk Festival. Developed by the Stephen Foster Citizen Support Organization (CSO), this initiative highlights the festival's rich history and celebrates the many people who have contributed to its legacy as being the longest continuously running folk festival in the country.

Award recipients are commemorated in a special area near the bell tower, where their recognition is proudly displayed. Each year, the CSO strives to welcome new honorees during the festival. However, this year, the nomination process has been temporarily paused to allow time for new submissions. If you would like to nominate someone for future recognition, please contact the park office at (386) 3977009.

Florida Folk Festival Legends and Legacies Recipients:

2014

• Barbara Beauchamp

• Cousin Thelma Boltin

• Sara Gertrude Knott

• Lillian Saunders

• Nancy Morgan

• Ruby Shaw

2016

• J. L. McMullen

• Jeanie Fitchen

2017

• James Billie

• Frank Thomas

• Grant and Gail Simons

2018

• Dale Crider

• Marie Norris

• Aunt Peggy and Jay Smith

2019

• Dr. Peggy A. Bulger

2022

• Bobby Hicks

• JU Lee

• Whitey Markle

• Merri McKenzie

Lloyd Baldwin

Wayne Martin

The Mackley Family

Gamble Rogers

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, and handwoven apparel.

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.

Matt Brabham, Brabham Pottery, has functional wheel-thrown pottery with decorative clay accents.

Erica DuPaul, Pipe Dream Tie Dye Shop, employs various techniques to produce her tie-dyed clothing and tapestries.

Antonio Falla, Antonio Designs, has handmade jewelry with silver and semi-precious stones.

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

Patricia Lynne Hutchins, 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.

Milan Mixson, Stinky Lewis Soap, sells all natural, cold-process, highquality soap.

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

Stacey Robinson, Just the Ticket, handmade solid wood platters, charcuterie boards, and lanterns along with leather and cow hide made items.

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

Jude “Papaloko” Thegenus, Gallery Jakmel Inc., will have paintings, fine art, and small functional art. The focus of Gallery Jakmel is Haitian art, music, and culture.

Harriett Heywood, Earthwares, has handmade aprons, purses, clothing, hats, accessories, and other vintagestyle articles.

Angelica Tilton, Possum and Palmetto, has handmade natural watercolor sets and art pieces. The artwork features plants, animals, and mushrooms of Florida.

Florida's Finest Crafters

Gloria Lee, Ernest M. Lee Gallery, has folk art from her husband, Ernest Lee. Paintings, notecards, and more along with replica prints.

Agnes Czarnecki, Aggie’s Treasures, features handmade quilts and other quilted items.

Marvin Sawyer, Early Country Furnishings, makes wood boxes, wooden totes, jelly cabinets, small wooden bookcases, wood benches and live edge benches.

Zsolt Szabo, Fauna Toys, has a collection of 100% hand crafted wooden puzzles, educational toys, jumping toys, push along and pull along toys. They are all natural, creative and fun!

Judy Smith, Judy’s Crafts, showcases handmade oven mitts, microwave bowls, potholders and tote bags.

Phulsingh Kachlam, Bamboo Handicrafts, makes flutes and other musical instruments.

Khadijah Cole, Julia’s Natural Shop, sells crystals, handmade crystal jewelry, live plants, incense/smudge and hand sewn tote bags.

Paul Smithson, Paul Smithson Art, is a self-taught artist who creates acrylic art on canvases, paper, and wood.

Kate Less-Madsen, The Painted Cat, features fine art of animals and Florida nature scenes.

Renee Fernimen, Peacock Jewelry, has handmade sterling silver, copper, bronze/brass earrings, rings, and bracelets.

The Sonic Planet is a web based radio station that offers hosted live streaming of folk, roots, and Americana music. It is produced by Creative Public Media and is available 24 hours a day. Hear a mix of musical roots: rock, folk, soul and blues from a diversity of legendary, local and emerging artists.

The Sonic Planet is accessible via free dedicated Android and Apple Store apps, as well as home listening devices like Alexa and online at www.thesonicplanet.com It can also be heard nationwide on the free Audacy or LIVE365 app. The Sonic Planet ensures that listeners can tune in from anywhere, anytime.

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.

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.

Sarah “Echo” Steiner, Greater Goods Trading Company, has musical instruments, handmade jewelry, Florida artwork, and hot sauces.

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

Justin Bond, Trees Edge Farm, has a “Make Your Own Candle” booth. They specialize in handcrafted fragrances, blended diffuser oils, incense, room and body sprays, beard oil and soap, car and room diffusers, diffuser jewelry, diffuser flowers, scent sachets, soy candles and wax melts.

Matt Zaccone, Lunar Crunch, features freeze dried candy.

Alyssa Cashmore, For All Creation, has fine art, jewelry, T-shirts and stickers that reflect Florida’s natural beauty.

Lakecia Watson, Kecia’s Kreation Design, will have microwave cozy bowls and potatoes bags, leather card holders, wreaths, jewelry and repose jackets.

Mike Weeks, John M. Weeks, recently wrote a book of poetry called Wiregrass Moon which focuses on wildlife, plants, and environment. All the poems were written in Northeast and North-central Florida.

Florida’s Handmade Instrument Makers

At the Luthier Exhibit in the Museum, you’ll meet some of the state’s makers of handcrafted 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, acoustic guitars

Willow Cartier-Berrean, Willow CartierBerrean, sells Folk fiddles, Gourd Banjos, Standard Five String Banjos, Banjo Ukuleles.

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

FLCC Mission: To 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?

The Florida Conservation Corps (FLCC) is a natural resource program managed by the Department of Environmental Protection, and 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 hem into leaders of natural resource management, volunteer recruitment, outreach, and trail management

Kylie Bosket

Patricia Campion

Kelly Churchill

Zach Farina

Isabella Gallos

Sophia Gallos

Jason Garcia

Mackenzie Knight

Clinton Lefabvre

Zachary Maxon

Sophia Mercer

Samuel Mitchell

Kayla Muzzillo

Shania Rodriguez

Justin Russ

Susana Sandino

Rachelle Sanford

Samantha Seitz

Ibrahim Sharif

FLCC Program Staff:

Adriana Betancourt

Lauren Natwick

Carissa Stepp

Abby Ledford

Autumn White THANK

Carl Gillis

Camden Hairfield

Chloe Klepper

Michael Paskus

Aryn Pearcey

Hayley Porter

Cole Ridenour

Dante Spencer

Ezra Townsend

Jade Weyand

Jeffrey Williams

Brianna Moorehead

Keeping Seminole Heritage

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.

The Seminole unique dollmaking tradition. The dolls are made of palmetto fibers, hand sewn to create the head and body, and dressed in traditional Seminole costumes.

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 palmetto-covered 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 Jollie will demonstrate Seminole cooking traditions.

Louis Venzor will demonstrate the Seminole tradition of wood carving.

12:00 PM

FRIDAY

Sacred Steel Stage

The Tradition of Sacred Steel Hosted by Alvin Lee: Tommy Phillips, Jeremy Grimes, Dontrail Wright, Jermaine Jennings

Sacred Steel Workshop 1

1:00 PM Two Left Hands with Anthony Fox & David Fonville

Sacred Steel Workshop 2

1:30 PM

Tapping The Bass Tone workshop with Choppy and Rico

Sacred Steel Stage

2:00 PM

3:30 PM

5:00 PM

All That Jazz: Sacred Steel guitar Hosted by: Tommy Phillips with Jermaine Jennings Players - Dante Harmon, Antjuan Edwards, George Webster

Give a Hand for the Band: Hosted by Phil Campbell

Sacred Steel Stage Hosted by: Rico and Dawn Unplugged Elton Noble and The Noble Boys.

5:40 PM Dan Tyack, Antjuan Edwards

6:20 PM Kashiah Hunter and ATL Crew

6:50 PM Young Guns - Tommy Phllips, Dontrail Dee Wright, Tim Williams

7:30 PM The Fonville Brothers

8:00 PM

10:00 AM

SATURDAY

Sacred Steel Stage

The Young Guns of Sacred Steel Part 1 Hosted by: Kashiah Hunter, Jermaine Tank Jennings, Jamichal

Sacred Steel Workshop 1

11:30 AM History of Sacred Steel in Florida with Bob Stone

Sacred Steel Stage

12:15 PM

1:45 PM

Bringing in Heavenly Sounds with Sacred Steel Hosted by Antjuan Edwards: Miles Hoyt, Jamaal Johnson, Jeff Vangen, Antwon Ethridge

Sacred Steel Workshop 2

Finding the Groove: Sacred Steel Clinic with Frank Owens

Sacred Steel Stage

2:15 PM

The Young Guns of Sacred Steel Part 2 Hosted by: Kashiah Hunter, Jeremy Grimes, Dural Randolph, Monte Noble, Frank Owens

Sacred Steel Workshop 1

3:30 PM Carlton Campbell workshop

Sacred Steel Stage

6:00 PM Lisa Lang - Hosted by Rico and Dawn Unplugged

6:20 PM Aubrey Ghent

6:40 PM Ted Beard and Family

Gary Fatman McKinney & Instrumens of Praise

8:30 PM Pastor Troy Jackson and the Lite Brigade

7:00 PM The Campbell Brothers

7:40 PM Dave Fonville

8:20 PM The Fox Brothers

10:00 AM

Sacred Steel Stage

1:00 PM Finale/Closing SUNDAY

Seeking the Spirit with Sacred Steel: Ceremony worship service Host Dante Harmon: Summit Praise and worship Choir Keith Lee, Dawn & Robin Beard, Music Director Carlos Fox. & Performer The Lee Boys. Guest Speakers Eric Williams Lewis and Bishop Tommy Phillips.

12:00 PM Awards Ceremony with Alvin Lee

FLORIDA FOLK FESTIVAL 2025

Sacred Steel Summit Closed - See You Next Year!

Fri: 2:00 River Gazebo Sat: 2:30 Seminole Sat: 4:00 Workshop 1 Sun: 12:30 Seminole

TellemTall tales are a blend of fact and fiction of growing up in Florida in the mid fifties to present. Explosions, fire, giant alligators, pirate ghosts, a little time travel and a slightly crazy science teacher make for some great stories.

Friday Schedule

Kids Crafts and Activities

Kids Crafts and Activities Anything Goes Jam with Bear & Robert

Carol Mahler: Story Swap

Introduction to Contra Dance Calling with Vickie Morrison

Kid's Dance with Andy Kane

- 5 p.m. See the Florida Remembered section of the festival program for a list and description of workshops

2:30 PM Instrument Petting Zoo with

4:00 PM

4:30 PM

5:00 PM

Kids Crafts and Activities

Wawakuna Raymi Dance School

Ongoing Demonstrations: Beekeeping, Slacklining, Puerto Rican Mundillo Bobbin Lacemaking, Skating, Mexican Accordions, Greek Bagpipes, Peruvian Folk Instruments

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

Florida Songs Jam with Emmett Carlisle Blues Jam with Brett Wellman & "Dangrous" Dave Humorous, Ironic Songs with Julian/ Cherkinsky Band

Dontrail Wright and his Orange Machine The Flathead String Band Ben Prestage Wild Shiners

Sacred Steel Showcase

Sikan Afrocuban Dance Project Rachel Grubb

Papaloko and Loray Mistik The Firewater Tent Revival

AM Julian/Cherkinsky Band

10:30 AM Raisin' Cane

Friday Schedule

Stage Opens 11:00 am Stage Opens 11:00 am

11:00 AM Crucial Eddy and the Uncanny Valley Authority In Good Company

Bartram Trail Society of Florida

Stage Opens 1:00 pm Stage Opens 1:00 pm

11:30 AM Old Porch Swing J.Robert - Florida Fiddler

12:00 PM Saylor Dollar Walt Belcher Thomas Hendon

12:30 PM Grant Livingston Walt Belcher Workshop: Storytelling Skills Ashley Feller

1:00 PM Ric J. Edmiston Lisa Thomas Hadley ParrishCotton Carol MahlerThe Chicken Parade

1:30 PM The Carr SistersKim LeCouteurBear and Robert The Shytunas

Tale Tellers of St. Augustine

2:00 PM Mary Z. Cox TellemTall The Dolce Trio Vintage Strings

2:30 PM The Deux Francois Band Joe Mark VGO Green Grass Revival

3:00 PM Too Many Smiths Heart Strings La Casita HispaniolaBob Patterson

3:30 PM Chuck Hardwicke: Florida River Songs Ayres of Promise Chris Kastle Jeanie Fitchen

Stage Re-Opens Saturday Morning

4:00

Stage ReOpens Saturday Morning

Stage Re-Opens Saturday Morning

The Songs of Stephen Foster withVintage Strings Old Time Jam with Marg & Bill

Beginning Old Time Banjo with Clay Black, Marg Chauvin and Bill Messer

Secrets of Songwriting with Del Suggs

Mystic Rhythms Drum Circle facilitated workshop..beginner friendly instruments provided

Rag Tunes Workshop with Jenny James & Ron Gilbert

Nashville Number System for Beginners with Wild Shiners Old Time Jam in Key of C with Jenny James & Ron Gilbert

Swing Guitar, Gypsy Guitar, Flat-picking Guitar with Carris & Keel Fiddle Workshop with Anna Strickland

Folk Alternate Tuning Tricks of the Greats with Kim LeCouteur Old Time Jam with Bobby Lolley

Singing With Nothing But A Fiddle In My Hands J. Robert

with Kellie Allen & Pete Peterson

Saturday Schedule

Ernest Lee grew up in North Carolina, where he learned to love painting as a youth. After training at St. Augustine’s University, he multiple awards for his work and was called Florida’s Van Gogh because of his robust impasto style with rich and vibrant colors.

In 2021, while returning to Gainesville from visiting the Van Gogh exhibit in Atlanta with his wife, Gloria, Ernest suffered a heart attack and died unexpectedly in the ambulance on the way to a hospital in Valdosta, Ga.

Gloria continues to display and sell Ernest’s artwork. Mrs. Lee keeps Earnest’s passion alive by donating funds to student art scholarships in Alachua and other Florida counties.

Visit Gloria and see Ernest’s beautiful work in the Craft Vendor area on the Amphitheater hill.

Schedule

Kids Crafts and Activities

10:30 AM Florida Beekeeping

11:00 AM The Shytunas

Kids Crafts and Activities

12:30

2:00 PM

Workshop with Rural Route 2

2:30 PM Big/Little Ukulele with Mary Z. Cox

3:00 PM

3:30 PM

4:00 PM

4:30 PM

5:00 PM

5:30 PM

Kids Crafts and Activities

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

Trombone Shout Band Music Spirit of Joy Shout Band

Florida Folk Festival Archives Florida Memory

Greek Tsabouna Panayotis League

Florida Veterans’ History Spotlight on Aviation

Sikan Afrocuban Dance Project

Sacred Steel Showcase

Professor Frank Owens

Ongoing Demonstrations: Beekeeping, Slacklining, Puerto Rican Mundillo Bobbin Lacemaking, Skating, Mexican Accordions, Greek Bagpipes, Peruvian Folk Instruments

Florida State Fiddle Contest conducted by The Florida State Fiddlers Association

Jim Stafford

19th Century Songs with VGO

Bunny Bread Bandits

Bomba Puertorriqueña with The 813 P.R.oject

The Frank Thomas Song Swap with Lisa Thomas & Friends

Suggs and Friends

Bluegrass Jam with Remedy Tree

Swing/Jazz Jam with Carris & Keel

Singing Jam with The Purple Hayseeds

Crucial Eddy and The Uncanny Valley Authority

The Carr Sisters

Old Time Jam with Lloyd Baldwin and Friends

Dodo Awoko

Fun Circle and Square Dance Workshop with Hot Pepper Steppers and Runaway Biscuits Re-Opens Sunday Morning Re-Opens Sunday Morning

Sunday Morning

Sunday Morning

Sunday Morning

Plena Esperformance and workshop and/or Salsa Jam

Fast Celtic Jam, Celtic Fiddle Workshop with The Deux Francois Band

The Florida State Fiddlers Association Jam Re-Opens at 6 p.m.

Sarah McCulloch

The Currys

Mean Mary

Lili Forbes & the Funky Taters

Karibbean Groove

Saturday Schedule

Saturday May 24 PawPaw River Gazebo Seminole Tower Will McLean Workshop I Workshop II

10:00 AM Kim LeCouteur Bullard Brothers & Friends Rural Route 2 Ayres of Promise

10:30 AM Purple Hayseeds Emmett Carlisle Julian/ Cherkinsky Band Chris Kastle Vintage Strings

11:00 AM The Wire Birds Jim Bickerstaff & Friends Joe Bone Joe Mark

Tale Tellers of St. Augustine

11:30 AM Wild ShinersAshley FellerToo Many Smiths Paul Smithson

12:00 PM Chuck Hardwicke and The Hart Line Bob PattersonIn Good Company Sacred Harp Shape-Note Singers The Dolce Trio

12:30 PM Uncle MosieLisa ThomasThe Shytunas Raisin' Cane

Bartram Trail Society of Florida

1:00 PM Steward Family String Band Rachel Grubb Green Grass Revival Ric J. Edmiston

1:30 PM Grant Peeples Hadley ParrishCotton Dunehoppers Walt BelcherLloyd Baldwin & Friends

2:00 PM The Little MerciesDave Pucik Saylor Dollar La Casita Hispaniola Brett Wellman & "Dangrous" Dave Messler

2:30 PM Matthew Sabatella and the Rambling String Band Chris Kahl TellemTall Deborah Lyn Thompson Bear and Robert

3:00 PM Thomas HendonLucky MudOld Porch SwingCarol MahlerSinkhole Serenaders

3:30 PM The Flathead Stringband Carris & Keel VGO Lee Hunter & Joey Kerr

4:00 PM The McLaughlins Just the Way it Was Holt and Cabe

Del Suggs & Grant Livingston

Shanties Workshop: Sailing and land shanty songs with the St. Pete Shanties

Beginning Old Time Banjo with Clay Black, Marg Chauvin and Bill Messer

Performance 101 for aspiring performers with Lee Hunter Old Time Moderate Speed Jam with Marg & Bill

No Strings Attached! An Introduction to Accordion for String Players with Sinkhole Serenaders Fiddle Harmonies Workshop with Kathie Aagaard & Deb Gilman

Yodeling fun with Lucky Mud Old Time Moderate Speed Jam in Key of G with Clay Black

Mystic Rhythms Drum Circle ~ facilitated workshop... beginner friendly instruments provided Showcase Jam: The Baldwin Family with Brent, Inslee, Scott & Akiko Baldwin

Arranging Harmony and String Parts for Music with The Wire Birds Old Time Moderate to Fast Jam with Bob Murphy & Greg Allen

Re-Opens Sunday Morning

4:30 PM Snaky Woods

5:00 PM Take A Chance to Swing Band

TellemTall Stories from the Hat Old Time Singing Circle with Kellie Allen & Pete Peterson Re-Opens Sunday Morning Re-Opens Sunday Morning

5:30 PM Re-opens at 7:00 p.m.

Re-Opens Sunday Morning Re-Opens Sunday Morning

Sunday Schedule

Crafts

Sunday Schedule

3:00

Songwriting for Kids with Grant Livingston

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

Ongoing Demonstrations: Beekeeping, Slacklining, Puerto Rican Mundillo Bobbin Lacemaking, Skating, Mexican Accordions, Greek Bagpipes, Peruvian Folk Instruments

Currys

Jam for Kids with Mike Potters (Kazoos provided)

Banjo Contest Hosted by the Florida Banjo Society

Train Songs with Lee Hunter & Joey Kerr

Celtic Music Jam with The McLaughlins

Florida Song Swap with Andy Kane and Friends

Florida Fiddle Tunes with Lloyd Baldwin and Friends

Swing band/Texas Swing/ French Swing with Take A Chance To Swing Band

Shape-Note Social with the Sacred Harp Shape-Note Singers Songs of Kathryn Belle Long Jam hosted by Raisin' Cane

Sunday Schedule

Performers & Group Members

Andy Kane - Square, contra and family dances to oldtime tunes: Andy Kane

Ashley Feller - Florida songwriter who brings her adventures to life through her songs: Ashley Feller

Ayres of Promise - Family band with blending harmonies mix old and contemporary sounds: Sarah, Elizabeth, & Grace Ayres

Bartram Trail Society - Tales and songs of Bartram’s Travels in Florida: Sam Carr, Mike Adams, Robert Wilson, Lee Pinkerson, Bill Snyder

Bear and Robert - Award winning Folk, Blues and Americana duo with a certain Jenais Se Quois! Cindy Bear, Franc Robert

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

Bing Futch - Mountain dulcimer folk-rock: passionate, humorous, and energetic! Bing Futch

Bob Patterson - Bob writes original music and stories about Florida: Bob Patterson, Carol Kramer

Brett Wellman & “Dangrous” Dave Messler - Delta & Chicago style blues: Brett Wellman, Dave Messler

Bullard Brothers and Friends - Original Florida songs and traditional gospel.: Jerry Bullard, Johnny Bullard, Kerry Waldron, Amanda Bullard, Laura Bullard, Michael Godwin, Jason Baker

Bunny Bread Bandits - Contradance music on accordian, fiddle, banjo, bass, guitar, and skiffle: Carrie Hamby, Aidan Collins, Ben Green, Bill Pollock, Erice Shepard, Howard Pardue, Kirill Litvak, Neil Jones

Carol Mahler - Florida Cracker, Florida African-American, and Florida Seminole Stories: Carol Mahler

Carris & Keel - Florida original songs, Swing and easy listening, jokes and humor: Jerry Carris, Gail Keel

Chris Kahl - Florida folk songs and stories with a sense of history and culture: Chris Kahl

Chris Kastle - Award-winning storyteller offering insight into a lifetime of adventure: Chris Kastle: guitar, penny whistle, percussion

Chuck Hardwicke & The Hart Line - Original Florida songs about the people, environment & history: Chuck Hardwicke, Dean Parrish, Karan Newman, Bill Snyder

Cortadito - Traditional folk and country music from Cuba: Jose Elias, Julio Cesar Rodriguez, Alberto Pantaleon, Tony Perigo, Santiago McCook

Cross Creek Cloggers - Appalachian clogging to oldtime music: Sandy McGee, Piper Call, Nolan Hines, Julie Dicks, Eleta Sucsy, Dianne Harper, Denise Weber, Cheryl Miller, Sandra Noonan, Suzanne Stapleton, Sunita Shepherd

Crucial Eddy and the Uncanny Valley Authority - Songs highways, heartache, and the pursuit of happiness: Eddy Cotton, Nancy Lynch, David Lynch, John Peyton, Frank Lorenz, Mike Godwin

Dave Pucik - Dynamic, confessional songs with a steady, driving fingerstyle: Dave Pucik, Greg Brown

Deborah Lyn Thompson - Sailing the seas off coast of Florida & my favorite Florida stories: Deborah Lyn Thompson

Del Suggs / Del Suggs and Friends - Guitar-driven songs reflecting life in the Sunshine State: Del Suggs, Michael Sautter, Jerry Thigpen, David Murphy

Dim Lights - Fun zesty blends of great harmony & foot tappin’ music: Karan Newman, Tim Stevens, Ned Stewart

Dodo Awoko - Group Dodo Awoko showcases instruments & songs of Cote d’Ivoire West Africa: Martin Zagbo, Seguenon Kone, Amo Damas, Eric Bli Bi Gore, Saturnin Ba, Djian Tie

Drew Thomas - Light- hearted and fun caller of contra, square, and circle dances: Drew Thomas

Dunehoppers - The Dunehoppers bring toe-tapping fun to the festival stage: Mike Elias, Allen Hood, Kathy Zemaneck, Bob Parsons, Janine Rainville

Emmett Carlisle - Original Florida songs about history, characters, and the environment: Emmett Carlisle

Fran Grace “Lady Strings” - High Energy Sacred Steel guitar band led by Fran Grace know as lady strings: Fran Grace, Chris Pope, Byron Harris, Demetrius Beasley, Nicolle Brown

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

Grant Peeples - Folk tunes with a mission. Musical storytelling with heart and humor: Grant Peeples, Hananel Jackson, Sara Stovall, Mike Lagassee

Performers & Group Members

Green Grass Revival - Florida Folk Music need I say more! Pete Gallagher, Jack Piccalo, Foster Barnes, T.C. Carr, Bart Hanchey

Hadley Parrish-Cotton - Folksy tunes promoting self love and finding joy in change and challenge: Hadley Parrish-Cotton, Eddy Cotton

Haitian Culture with Just The Way it Was - Passing on the Haitian folk culture and tradition: Liliane Louis

Harmonic Motion Middle Eastern Music and DanceHarmonic Motion Middle Eastern Music and Dance: Joe Zeytoonian, Myriam Eli

Heart Strings – Florida songs, Celtic melodies, and a bit of story: Marg Chauvin, Bill Messer

Holt & Cabe - Brother duo from Southwest Florida perform their all-original story songs: Holt & Cabe Oakley

Hot Pepper Steppers with Runaway BiscuitsAppalachian style clogging performed to live old time string band music: Mary Allgire, Cassia Reimer, Drew Thomas, Heather Young, Rima Nathan, Cheyenne Alderson, Shanice Richards, Rosalee Walsh, Chris Bittle, Fatima Alcantara, Carrie Danielson, Bobby Lolley, Caitlin Murphy, Howard Pardue, Roger Eudy, Bronwyn Chelette

In Good Company - Florida songs & originals with awesome harmonies: Ingrid Schaper, Curtis Wayne Schaper, Lisa Bohn, Mike Worrall, Nick Bohn

Instruments of Musik - Through legends like Ted Beard they create a inspirational-gospel sound: Gary Mckinney, Garvin Mckinney

J.Robert - Florida Fiddler - Songs of Florida Cowmen, Hurricanes, Seminoles & Swimming Holes: J.Robert

Jane Fallon - Folk performer whose songs combine humor, intelligence, and deep musicality: Jane Fallon

Jeanie Fitchen – From traditional to environmental and original topical songs: Jeanie Fitchen, Mark Billman, Will Ellis

Jim Bickerstaff & Friends – A mixture of Florida songs & thought provoking humor & story telling: Jim Bickerstaff, Patrick Haynes, Will Ellis, Savannah Pierce, Landis Yarovyy

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

Joe Bone – Strives for the root sounds of traditional rural music: Bob Murphy, Greg Allen, Caitlin Murphy, Matthew Sabatella

Joe Mark – Traditional and original folk songs with stories of growing up in Florida: Joe Mark

Julian/Cherkinsky Band – Our Florida songs: SemiHistorical, semi- autobiographic: Jordan Cherkinsky, Frank Julian, Jim Rigel, Ron Townsend, Teresa Cruise, Sean Curran

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

Kim LeCouteur – Florida & folk songs with naturalist’s passion for this enchanting state: Kim LeCouteur

La Casita Hispaniola (book/story) - Reading of a tale about the rich cultures of the Hispaniola Island: Yajaida Aristhyl, Michelson Aristhyl, Judes Albert, Mikenson Pierre, Rickcene Ulysse, Emmanuel Jean

Lee Hunter & Joey Kerr - Fine songwriting mixed with interesting takes on traditional fare: Lee Hunter, Joey Kerr, Landon Walker, Walter Mingledorff

Lili Forbes & the Funky ‘Taters - The Funky ‘Taters is a big band performing danceable covers and originals: Lili Forbes, Mike Lewis, Jan DeCosmo, Deanna Miller, Justin Varnes, Jordan Green, Israel Campbell, Dino Saliba

Lisa Thomas and Friends - Tradition bearing of Frank & Ann Thomas’s Florida songs: Lisa Thomas, Vgo, Rochelle Morris, Dora Anne, Ron Litchour

Lloyd Baldwin and Friends - Fiddle tunes Tunes and songs in the old time Southern string band tradition: Lloyd Baldwin, Marion Lasley, Bill Martin, Joe Nelson, James Pittman, Richard Hardy

Lucky Mud - SwampyTonk & Folkabilly: Mike McKinney, Maggie McKinney, Seth Traylor, Sierra Everly Latham

Mary Z. Cox - Banjo Banjo Banjo! Florida Banjo champion, book author & recording artist: Mary Z. Cox

Matthew Sabatella and the Rambling String BandTraditional American folk and other songs that tell the story of the U.S.: Matthew Sabatella, Jack Stamates, Sean Edelson, Chris DeAngelis

Mean Mary - Banjo-driven Americana with vivid storytelling and high-energy picking: Mary James

Performers & Group Members

Nikki D & The Sisters of Thunder - The sister of thunder bring a special unique style of sacred steel gospel: Nikki D, Gloria Brown

Old Porch Swing - String Band playing the Great American Songbook and Country Songs: Jim Crozier, David Langston, Dennis Hardin, Ben Banks, Bill Pollock

Paco and Celia Fonta Siempre Flamenco - Traditional flamenco music and dance from Andalusia Spain: Paco Fonta, Celia Fonta

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

Paul Smithson - Songs about Florida history and current events: Paul Smithson

Plena Es - Ethnic music from Puerto Rico: David Lucca, Pierre Ramos, Juan Carlos Rivera, Roberto Alvarado, Mike Rivera, Luis Garcia, Wilfredo Castaneda, Ramon Benitez

Purple Hayseeds - Songs of love, hard luck, regret, conspiracy, longing, & sometimes trains: Cobblestone, Jenny Baxley Lee, Sarah Hinds, Chuck Levy

Rachel Grubb - Florida-centric Americana singer/ songwriter: Rachel Grubb - vocals, guitar

Raisin’ Cane - Newgrass and originals delivering hearty harmonies and tasty instrumentals: Elizabeth Fravel, Dave Langston, Chris Wright, Rob Schoen

Raymi Dance School - Raymi is dedicated to sharing the rich history of Peru through dance: John Zorilla, Tato Maldonado, Flavio Flores, Julio Llerena, Ana lucia Guillen, Edgar levano, Jhonny Rodriguez, Abraham Durand Zampona, Silvia Huddleston, Genesis Somoza Perla del Castillo, Darwin Motato, Pedro Reyes, Shirley Contreras, Sandro Portilla, Maria Pinedo, Juliet Pinedo, Luis Reyes Madrid, Roger Alayo, Rocio Lopez, Magaly Prieto

Remedy Tree - Modern Bluegrass Americana original music: Gabriel Acevedo, Abigail Acevedo, Nathan Beaumont, Bryce Griffin

Ric J. Edmiston – Ric writes songs both funny and serious, and plays guitar OK too! Dennis Hardn, Ric Edmiston, Angie Prather

Romeo’s Tassa Kidz - Indo-Caribbean Tassa drumming: Romeo Ragbir, Kyle Ragbir, Robert Ragbir, Rian Ragbir, Shreya Ragbir, Neve Ragbir, Ashish Gangadhar, Varish Gangadhar, Shivanan Ramanan, Satyanan Ramanan, Michal Samai, Vinayak Cassie, Ramesh Cassie, Artie Cassie, Andrew Sinanan, Ethan Sinanan, Vinai Samlal, Nisha Gosein

Rural Route 2 - A trio of “musical storyweavers” share history, heritage, harmonies & humor: Amy Alderman, Kathrine Alderman, Joan Alderman

Sacred Harp Shape-Note Singers - “FaSoLa” 4-part a cappella community singing of hymns set in shapenotes: Rachel Speer, Dean Jens, Calvin Jens, Molly Bagley, Sadie Bagley, Fay Baird, Brack Barker, Ann Barnett, Morgan Bunch, Shelby Burke, José Camacho-Cerna, Jill Cocanougher, Art Crummer, Mary Crummer, Beverly Dayton, Bob Ellis, Jeffery Forbes, Suzanna Hough, Dorothea Maynard, Esther Morgan-Ellis, Pat Morse, Thatcher Morse, Melanie Murray, Brian Rasmussen, Karl Schults, Anna Strickland, David Strickland, Ron Wiegert

Sarah McCulloch - Masterful storyteller, catchy lyrics and a healthy dose of down home humor: Sarah McCulloch, Colon Kenny

Saylor Dollar - Songs about Florida, family, and things that light our fire: Lisa Dollar, Dale Dollar

Sinkhole Serenaders - Acoustic Trio playing Obscure 20th Century Favorites for these Modern Times: Gus Olmos, Pete McGrain, Jim Marks

Snaky Woods - Traditional & Southern Gospel Bluegrass: Steven Sauls, Nathan Sauls, Kayte Sauls, Jadyn Sauls, Kaiah Sauls, Alyson Sauls, Bradlee Waldvogel

Steward Family String Band - Old time Texas fiddle, cowboy songs, & folk ballads played family style: Eb, Jude, John Jr., Ande Mae, and Vickie Steward

Take a Chance to Swing Band - Mix of western swing, waltzes, and polkas: Andrea Stanley, Wayne Martin, Stephen Hodges, Laura Gayle Green

Tale Tellers of St. Augustine - Florida stories original, traditional, historical, some funny, some true: Sharon Sappington, Drew Sappington, Natalie Beltrami, Margaret Kaler, Lou Novak, Twila Hudson, Harold Lock, Robin Mahonen

TellemTall - TellemTall tells a blend of fact and fiction from boys point of view: Eric Hoeppner

Performers & Group Members

The 813 P.R.oject - Bomba Puertorriqueña with live drums and singers and dancers: Marisol Quiles, Steve Monsegur, Hector Colon, Lily Medina, Marisel Salazar

The Campbell Brothers - Music infused with gospel and blues: Chuck Campbell, Phil Campbell, Calton Campbell, Daric Bennett, Denise

The Carr Sisters - Florida grown sisters perform folkcountry favorites and soulful originals: Madi Carr, Ella Carr, Elizabeth Mallett

The Chicken Parade - A fun-loving party of like-minded talented musicians: Frank Julian, Curtis Wayne Schaper, Pasco Paul Belmore, Laird Duran, Ron Townsend

The Currys - The Currys are an indie folk-rock family band specializing in vocal harmony: Tommy Curry, Jimmy Curry, Galen Curry

The Deux Francois Band - A tasty blend of Celtic and OldTime traditional music: Frances Pisacane, Sarah Mitchell, Bill Dudley

The Dolce Trio - An all-female, three-piece acoustic band from Tallahassee: Gillian Canning, Elizabeth Fravel, Kelly Goddard

The Firewater Tent Revival - Story teller lyrics set to a psychedelic bluegrass party soundscape: Dave Smith, Jeff Hoff, Nigel Ledford, Kris Whatley, Brandon Howell, Maxwell Rudd

The Flathead String Band - Three rollickers having a good ol’ time pickin, sawin, and grinnin: Bronwyn Chelette, Haden Macbeth, Chris Matechik

The Leeboys - Music infused with gospel and blues: Alvin Lee, Keith Lee, Derrick Lee, Frank Owens, Lil Al Cordy, Earl Walker

The Little Mercies - Oldtime, originals and harmonies overflowing with joy and community: Shanice Richards, Bronwyn Chelette, Rosalee Walsh

The Living Legends of Sacred Steel - The Best of Sacred Steel from the Living Legends: Calvin Cooke, Chuck Campbel, Ted Beard, Aubrey Ghent, Lonnie Bennet, Ronnie Mozee

The McLaughlins - A musical tapestry of modern & traditional Celtic & Folk tunes: Paul & Lorraine McLaughlin The Shytunas - Lively and quirky blend of family-friendly pop, rock, folk and punk: Amelia, Seth, & Jen

The Wire Birds - We are a string quintet that plays Florida songs of nostalgia and history: Dan Stepp, Andre Cox, Cate Hancock, Dan Hardwick, Gabi Shapiro, Elisabeth Schreiber, Emma Renear

The Young Guns of Sacred Steel - The young guns are the emerging younger players of sacred steel genre: Tommy Phillips, Dontrail Wright, Tim Williams, Terrel King, Xavier Perkins, Dominic Collins, Teione Noble, Monte Noble

Thomas Hendon - Songwriter from Calhoun County, Florida. A fresh take on Country/Folk music: Thomas Hendon Aycock Jr.

Tom Greene - Contra and square dance caller: Tom Greene

Too Many Smiths - A mix of Florida singer songwriters, American, folk and originals: Linda Smith, Glenn Smith, Mike Roberts

Uncle Mosie - A foot-stomping, soulful exploration of altfolk, country and bluegrass vibes: Scott Ashcraft, Andrew Cook, Brian Turk, Mark Archer, Jared Groom, Dana Myers

VGO - Stories and music from tradition, history, and folklore. VGO, Hank Tenenbaum

Vicki Morrison - Contra dance caller: Vicki Morrison

Vintage Strings - Folk, blues, jazz, and Hawaiian favorites from the 19th-early 20th century: Lisa Johnson, David Turner, Jim Marks

Walt Belcher Storyteller - Amusing Tales of Florida Cowman Bone Mizell: Walt Belcher

Walter Parks - Historic spirituals, hollers, reels and originals prefaced with stories: Walter Parks, Matthew Lindsey, Steven Williams

Wild Shiners - Face-Melting Americana: Brian Turk, Tom Grant, Mike Lagasse, Andrew Cook, T’ai Welch

Florida Remembered

Experience Old Florida’s history, traditions and folkways at Florida Remembered. One of our newest additions 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.

Christa Hunter, Field & Flock, has natural fiber knitted wares, dried herbs, and fresh Florida salt along with other apothecary goods and candies. Demonstrations and hands-on experiences for hand quilting.

Sausage making, salt pickling, barley threshing, grain grinding, carding and processing wool will be demonstrated by Ethan Forbes, Clothilde Forbes, Rose Forbes, Angela Minno, Mirin Minno, Marc Minno, Avi Minno, Shenna Bennarte, Alex Zukovski.

Robert Wilson, Cole Cady, Deedee Ritch, Cara Salg, John Salg and Lila Salg will portray frontier trapper traders

Mycol 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, and Gus Cotton.

Psychic readings modeled after the experience at historic Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp in Volusia County. Maria Minno and friends will give readings all throughout the day.

Florida Remembered band: Duane Westling and Bjorn Parramoure

Florida Remembered Workshops

Friday

All day

Seed Saving with Angela Minno family and friends.

Psychic Readings with Maria Minno and friends. Modeled after the experience at historic Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp in Volusia County. Readings will be given throughout the day.

Frontier Trapper-Trader Camp with Trapper Robert Wilson and friends.

Florida Remembered Band with Duane Westling and Bjorn Parramoure.

Knitting and Crocheting with Ute and Saga Webber.

9a -12p: Sewing Embroidery with Rose Forbes.

9a -12p: Wooden Mallet Making with Cameron Becker.

10a-11a: Learn to Juggle with Jaime Westfall. All ages, no experience or equipment necessary!

12p- 2p: Florida’s Snakes and You: Safety, Appreciation, and Conservation with Kristyn Gorton. Join ecologist Kristyn Gorton for an all-ages workshop on the ecological and cultural significance of Florida’s native snakes. Meet a real snake, learn how to identify and protect yourself from venomous species,

and explore our scaly neighbors’ habitat during a brief guided walk.

1p-3p: Sewing Patterns and Dress Making with Rose Forbes.

1p-3p: Spinning Wool from Florida Cracker Sheep with Chrissy Strickland.

1p-3p: Wooden Mallet Making (continued) with Cameron Becker.

2p-4p: Mycology Edutainment with Mycol Stevens. We will discuss mushroom 101 and then go on a foray.

3p-4p: Learn to Juggle with Jaime Westfall. All ages, no experience or equipment necessary!

3p-4p: The Wonder of Plant Friends: Plant Processing & Exploration for Kids with Jenna Niblack. Painting with plants & intro to herbalism. In this exploratory class we will talk about our connection to our local plant friends and fun ways to preserve for kids such as plant paint and herbal bundles!

4p-5p: Learn to Juggle with Jamie Westfall. All ages, no experience or equipment necessary!

Florida Remembered Workshops

Saturday

All Day

Pine Needle Baskets with Angela Minno, family and friends.

Psychic Readings with Maria Minno and friends. Modeled after the experience at historic Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp in Volusia County. Readings will be given throughout the day.

Frontier Trapper-Trader Camp with Trapper Robert Wilson and friends.

Florida Remembered Band with Duane Westling and Bjorn Parramoure.

Knitting and Crocheting with Ute and Saga Webber.

9a -12p: Dress making with Rose Forbes

9a -12p: Wooden Stool Making with Cameron Becker. This is a two-part workshop. 9-noon and continued from 1-3pm.

10a-11a: The Wonder of Plant Friends: Plant Processing & Exploration for Kids with Jenna Niblack. Painting with plants & intro to herbalism. In this exploratory class we will talk about our connection to our local plant friends and fun ways to preserve for kids such as plant paint and herbal bundles!

10a-11a: Learn to Juggle with Jamie Westfall. All ages, no experience or equipment necessary!

10a-12p: Cabbage Palm Basket Weaving with Willy the Losen and friends. Learn to make a plaited basket from cabbage palm fronds.

1p-3p: Quilting with Rose Forbes

1p-3p: Wooden Stool Making (continued) with Cameron Becker.

2p-4p: Ethnobotany Walk with Mycol Stevens. We will discuss plant id and their traditional uses.

2p-4p: Weaving with Hand Spun Wool with Chrissy Strickland.

2p-4p: Cabbage palm weaving with Willy the Losen & friends. Learn to weave swamp roses and palm critters.

3p-4p: The Wonder of Plant Friends: Seed Saving for Kids with Jenna Niblack. In this exploratory class we will learn the basics of seed saving and processing and play with local seeds.

4p: Green Burial with Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery with Carly Zeffren. Learn about the ways our ancestors buried their dead while conserving nature and protecting Florida’s native habitats.

4p-5p: Learn to Juggle with Jamie Westfall. All ages, no experience or equipment necessary!

Sunday

All Day

Psychic Readings with Maria Minno and friends. Modeled after the experience at historic Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp in Volusia County. Readings will be given throughout the day.

Frontier Trapper-Trader Camp with Trapper Robert Wilson and friends.

Florida Remembered Band with Duane Westling and Bjorn Parramoure.

Salt Pickling with Angie Minno and friends.

Knitting and Crocheting with Ute and Saga Webber.

10a -12p: Embroidery with Rose Forbes

10a -12p: Wooden Tool Box Making (Part 1) with Cameron Becker. This is a two-part workshop. 10-noon and continued from 1-3pm.

10a-12p: Palmetto Basket Weaving with Willy the Losen and friends. Learn to make a gathering basket from saw palmetto fronds.

11a: Green Burial with Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery with Carly Zeffren. Learn about the ways our ancestors buried their dead while conserving nature and protecting Florida’s native habitats.

11a-12p: Learn to Juggle with Jamie Westfall. All ages, no experience or equipment necessary!

1p-3p: Dress Making with Rose Forbes.

1p-3p: Native American Finger Weaving with Chrissy Strickland.

1p-3p: Wooden Tool Box Making (Part 2) with Cameron Becker.

2p: Green Burial with Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery with Carly Zeffren. Learn about the ways our ancestors buried their dead while conserving nature and protecting Florida’s native habitats.

2p-4p: Cabbage Palm Basket Weaving with Willy the Losen & friends. Learn to make a plaited basket from cabbage palm fronds.

4p-5p: Learn to Juggle with Jamie Westfall. All ages, no experience or equipment necessary!

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, black-eyed peas, and okra and tomatoes. More recent immigrant communities have brought their culinary tastes for warm curries and fragrant rice 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

Alston’s Chicken: chicken wings – 6, 15, 20, 25, 30, or 35 piece. dry rub options: Old Bay, garlic parmesan, garlic pepper, lemon pepper, and smoky jalapeno. sauce options: BBQ, buffalo, wimpy, with (a-kick), and we dare you. Mains - hand-cut seasalt fries, garlic parmesan fries, homemade egg rolls - shrimp, chicken, vegetable, or pork. grilled chicken, chicken bites, smoked BBQ pork sandwich, chicken grilled cheese sandwich, brisket mac & cheese sandwich. Sides - mac & cheese, red beans & rice, coleslaw, and corn fritters. Drinks - water, soda, homemade sweet tea, or strawberry lemonade

The Community Revival Center: Mains - smoked mullet, fried fish dinner, vegetable platter, chicken wings, stewed chicken. Sides - French fries, tater tots, baked beans, coleslaw, mac & cheese, cabbage, collard greens, rice, crab salad. Water, soda, home brewed tea, and lemonade. Other - sweet potato pie, boiled peanuts

Mama Dukes Home Cooking: Mains - Sweet Italian Sausage sandwich w/peppers, onions, marinara &mozzarella, BBQ pork combo w/mama’s potato salad & cowboy beans, tacos, chicken combo meal, chicken tenders, chicken sandwich, mama’s burgers, subs, wraps, pizza, salads. Sides - funnel cake fries, funnel cake burger, powdered/cinnamon sugar, loaded fries, junkyard fries, onion rings, chips, cookies. Drinks – sweet tea, lemonade, soda, Gatorade, water

True Wisdom New Hope Ministries: Buttermilk Chicken bites w/ hand cut fries, Old-fashioned lemonades, original heritage cakes: Black velvet, Mahoghany Cakes, Red velvet slices

Rastatoulie Escovitch: Jerk ribs, jerk pork, jerk chicken, curry chicken, brown stew chicken, pastas, Escovitch, and fried fish. Sides: rice, vegetables, fries, plantains and more

Amphitheater Stage Foods

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

Bahaman Lime: Bahamian limeade drinks

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

Guillery’s Shaved Ice: coffee, espresso shot, hot chocolate, LG assorted teas, coffee shake, French vanilla cappuccino, frozen chocolate, jamocha, latte, zest tea, quad aftershock, shaved ice, americano, chai tea, dirty chai tea, chai tea with espresso shot, Danish

Jessica Achorn: fried rice/lo mein/pancit, sausages – Polish, Italian, alligator. seafood platter – shrimp, calamari, oyster, fish, and soft-shelled crab. crawfish veggie platter – fried pickles, fried tomatoes, fried eggplant, onion. Shish kabob – alligator, chicken, pork, shark, or shrimp, lumpia, crab cakes, turkey legs, pulled pork, bang bang, ribbon fries, curly fries, loaded potato

Kalacrow Wood Fired Pizza: margherita pizza, off-white pizza, pepperoni pizza, veggie pizza, specialty pizza, iced yerba mate, maple lemonade

Mardi Gras Sno Balls LLC: sno balls, cotton candy, stuffed sno balls, soft drinks, bottled water

Mom’s Momo: Mom’s spicy chicken dumplings, Chengdu spicy peanut noodles w/ pork or tofu sauce, Mom’s chicken cold noodles, Mom’s spicy cucumber salad, fresh watermelon Juice

Phils Grille: burrito sandwich, falafel, shawarma – chicken, lamb, or pork, spinach artichoke dip, crispy vegetables, stuffed grape leaves, baklava, water, coke, strawberry lemonade, iced tea

Radha’s Kitchen: chana bowl (chickpea curry), Thai peanut & BBQ jackfruit tacos, Beyond Burgers, cheese quesadillas, fries

Florida's Favorite Menus

Ryan’s Lobster Pound: lobster roll, double lobster roll, Maine red hotdog, fried chicken breast, breaded shrimp, cheese sticks, coleslaw, fries, jalapeño poppers, ice cream sandwich, Whoopie Pie, water, can soda, sweet or unsweet iced tea

Southern Cravin’s: Mains - po’boy – shrimp, steak, catfish, oyster, or gator. sandwich – fish, chicken, BLT, chicken Philly, fried or blackened shrimp, fried oysters, clam strips, walking taco. Sides - French fries, cheese fries, sweet fries, tator tots, fried okra, onion rings, cheese sticks, corn nuggets, fried pickles, gator bites, boiled peanuts

Sweet Treats: funnel cakes, elephant ears, fried Oreos, beignets, cotton candy, chocolate covered key lime pie, chocolate covered bananas, chocolate covered cheesecake, juice, milk shakes, soda.

The Dog House: hotdogs, BBQ dogs, brats, BBQ brats, sloppy joes, smashburgers, double smashburgers, fries, sloppy dog, sloppy brat, candy, soft drinks, energy drinks

The Sugared Lemon: fresh squeezed lemonades, dirty sodas, Italian sodas, iced tea, seasonal hot chocolate and hot lemonade, desserts and cotton candy upon request.

Under The Reign Lemonade: classic lemonade, strawberry, lavender, blueberry-pomegranate, raspberry, pina colada, berries n cream, strawberries n cream

Wolverine Concessions: Mains - catfish dinner, catfish basket, bourbon chicken and rice, bourbon chicken wrap, Philly cheesesteak and French fries, grilled cheese sandwich, chicken tenders Sides - fresh vegetables, rice, and beans. Drinks – soda, water, tea and lemonade *Open for breakfast*

Zing Bistro: macaroni and cheese bites, pulled pork bites, street corn nuggets, rainbow velvet cupcake, caramel apple, battered chocolate banana Oreo, battered lemon banana Oreo, various flavored chocolate chip cookies, mini pulled pork eggrolls, can soda, banana pudding cups, sweet potato pie bites

Located at the top of the Amphitheater Hill

Fiddle Contest

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 Gamble Rogers 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 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 pre-registered 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.  Old-time banjo in this context refers to styles pre-dating bluegrass played on 5 string banjos.

Categories are Novice, Journeyman and Senior Honors.  Registration begins Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Gamble Rogers 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 (CSO) has been dedicated to the advancement of the park and its activities since 1988. The CSO helps develop, plan, promote and present quality events at the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park for the education and enjoyment of our citizens and visitors to the State of Florida. In addition, the CSO provides an invaluable service by seeking funds for promotion and to purchase additional equipment, build new facilities, enhance educational programming and to assist and support the operation of this park The Stephen Foster CSO is a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization.

Your membership benefits include:

• Special programs and training

• Volunteer opportunities at the many events sponsored by the CSO

• Florida State Park Annual Pass after each 500 hours of volunteer service Membership Categories:

____

____

____

Sponsorship:

Florida Folk Festival ________ Festival of Lights ________ Museum & Tower Repairs ________

Other ____________________

Florida Folk Festival

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.

Alzheimer’s Association will have their Brain Bus to inform about early detection and diagnosis, brain health, and risk reduction as well as providing an opportunity to learn about the resources available to individuals who may need to know.

Bartram Trail Society of Florida is committed to historic and environmental education, recreation, and preservation of the William Bartram heritage. They work 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.

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.

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 Fiddlers Association works to increase communication among fiddlers and other old-time musicians in the State of Florida. They hold an annual convention and conduct the Florida State Fiddle Contest. The fiddle contest is held Saturday of the Florida Folk Festival at the Gamble Rogers Stage. Members of the Fiddle Association are happy to provide information at the stage during the fiddle contest.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will inform of the history of the agency and conservation efforts in the state of Florida.

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.

Sierra Club will have educational materials on the responsible use of the earth’s ecosystems and resources as well as on their organization.

Suwannee Bicycle Association (SBA) is a White Springs nonprofit that creates and maintains local bicycle trails. They coordinate events offering pedaling, paddling and hikes.

Tallahassee Regional Music Collection is an ongoing endeavor to preserve and make accessible recorded audio, artifacts, and more created by artists who have ties to the Tallahassee region. The TRMC is a collaboration between the Warren D. Allen Music Library (AML) and the Center of Music of the Americas (CMA) at Florida State University (FSU).

Will McLean Foundation for Florida Heritage in Music presents material designed to educate about environmental protection and cultural preservation through the works of Will McLean and other Florida artists influenced by him. Located at The Will McLean Stage.

WWALS Watershed Coalition 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.

Calendar of Events

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

JUNETEENTH

June 14, 2025

Come celebrate Juneteenth with us!

OLD-TIME MUSIC WEEKEND *

September 12-14, 2025

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

75th Anniversary of the Park Celebration

October 4, 2025

Come celebrate our 75th Anniversary with us! Music, food & more!

QUILT SHOW & SALE

October 17 - 19, 2025

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

RURAL FOLKLIFE DAY *

October 30, 2025

Florida’s rural past comes to life in this educational and family fun event.

DULCIMER RETREAT *

November 7 - 8, 2025

Workshops, jams, and concerts with nationally recognized dulcimer players.

FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS *

December 5 - 24, 2025

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

STEPHEN FOSTER DAY

January 11, 2026

An afternoon musical program in honor of National Stephen Foster Day

FLORIDA OLD-TIME MUSIC CHAMPIONSHIPS *

March 27 - 29, 2026

The Championships include contests, workshops, jams, and Contra dances. www.fotmcinc.com

ANTIQUE TRACTOR & ENGINE SHOW

April 2- 4, 2026

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

FLORIDA FOLK FESTIVAL *

May 22 - 24, 2026

Enjoy the diversity of Florida ’s culture and history when its residents share their food, music, dance, stories, crafts, and work life. Pets are not allowed.

www.FloridaFolkFestival.com

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. Deagan, 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 wellknown throughout the world.

The restoration of this historic landmark will take place in multiple phases to ensure the level of care and attention to detail it deserves as a registered historic site.

Thanks to a Special Category Grant from the Florida Department of State, the Stephen Foster Citizen Support Organization was awarded $300,000 to begin the next phase of this important project. Combined with generous contributions from supporters like you, this funding made it possible to complete Phase One of the carillon restoration.

In late September 2024, one of the three bell sets was fully serviced and repaired. This included the restoration of all 97 tubular bell strikers, relay panels, the control clock, and the roll player. Bringing this treasured musical instrument back to life. With your continued support and tax-deductible donation, we aim to restore the remaining two sets of bells and preserve this iconic piece of our community's heritage.

Donations to 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.

What We Do

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.

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

Florida Folk Festival

Acknowledgments

Park Staff and Volunteers

Debra Walker, Park Manager

Courtney Livengood, Administrative Assistant

Andrea Thomas, Events Coordinator

Christavia Dickinson, Park Services Specialist

Savannah Lord, OPS Events

Pat Cromer, Museum Guide

Kevin Pittman, Park Ranger

Tina Marshall, Park Ranger

Robert Heck, Park Ranger

Angela Mouton, Park Ranger

Flozell Redic, Park Ranger

Peter Shanks, Park Services Specialist

Kim Rivers, Park Ranger

Tim Scott, Maintenance Supervisor

John Hill, Maintenance Mechanic

Kathleen Knetge, OPS Attendant

Andrea Nincehelser, OPS Tolls

Chuck Bennett, 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

Dominick Tartaglia, State Folklorist

Carolyn Pardue, Stage Management

Cindy Chittick, Campground

Charlotte Burgess, Seminole Family Camp

Clif Maxwell, Bureau Chief D2

Kim Tennille, Assistant Bureau Chief D2

Craig Littauer, Park Program Specialist D2

Vernie Hardwicke, Registration Vol

Florida Park Service Staff/Volunteers

Amy Bauer

Adriana Betancourt

Kylie Bosket

Patricia Campion

Kelly Churchill

Jim Connor

Joy Cotton

Austin Crawford

April Davis

Clay Dickson

Zach Farina

John Fernimen

Isabella Gallos

Sophia Gallos

Jason Garcia

Stephen Giguere

Aydelis Gil

Carl Gillis

Camden Hairfield

Emily Keller

Chloe Klepper

Mackenzie Knight

Thea Knott

John Larson

Clinton Lefabvre

Zachary Maxon

Sophia Mercer

Samuel Mitchell

Brianna Moorehead

Kayla Muzzillo

Lauren Natwick

Brandy Nethery

Rick Owen

Michael Paskus

Aryn Pearcey

Dan Pearson

Cole Ridenour

Florencia Rodriguez

Shania Rodriguez

Justin Russ

Susana Sandino

Rachelle Sanford

Samantha Seitz

Ibrahim Sharif

Dante Spencer

Nicole Steed

Caitlin Snyder

Ezra Townsend

Angela Watson

Michelle Waterman

Rachael Weaver

Jade Weyand

Autumn White

Jeffrey Williams

Jordan Woodley

Olivia Wulfekuhl

Our Florida Park Service

Ranger Association Family

Dana Bryan

Gwendolyn Bryan

Robin Boughton

Donald Forgione

Rosie Forgione

Danuta Jacob

Scott Jacob

Cliff Joyce

Michelle Keirsey

Joachim Lipari

Mark Manning

Elaine McGrath

Joe McGrath

Mary Jo McGrath

Jenn Miller

Nels Parson

Wendy Parson

Bobby Toothaker

Sandra Vardman

Gerry Von Ehr

Margaret Von Ehr

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

Liz Miley

Piano Care

Bloch Piano Tuning and Restoration

Program

Lake City Reporter

Sound, Stage, & Lighting

First Street Music

Rick Ott Performance and Production

Michael Frimet

Vivid Sky Productions

Sanitation Services

Waste Pro

FusionSite Florida LLC

Sponsor Reception

Nutrien

Stephen Foster CSO

Amazing Graze

Flowers

The Bullard Family of White Springs

Tents

United Rent-All

Suwannee Valley Event & Party

Rentals

Acknowledgments

Sarah Mitchell Annie Moon

In Memoriam...

In Memory of Park Ranger Jessica Watkins

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Park Ranger Jessica Watkins of Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park. Jessica tragically lost her life in a motorcycle accident on May 27, 2024.

She will be remembered for her bright smile that could light up any room, her deep love for the park, and her remarkable gift for connecting children with the wonders of nature.

Her enthusiasm, kindness, and dedication to interpretation left a lasting impression on everyone who had the pleasure of working alongside her.

Jessica’s presence will be greatly missed, but her legacy lives on in the memories she helped create.

In Memory of Assistant Park Manager Robert Dampman

With deep sorrow, we share the sudden passing of Bob Dampman, Assistant Park Manager at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park, on Wednesday, April 16th, 2025.

Bob dedicated more than 40 years to Florida State Parks, beginning his journey in 1979 as a Park Ranger at Myakka River State Park. Over the decades, he brought his leadership, knowledge, and passion to many parks across the state, serving as Assistant Park Manager at Fort Zachary Taylor, Gold Head Branch, Homosassa Springs Wildlife, and Rainbow Springs State Parks. He later served as Park Manager at both San Felasco Hammock Preserve and Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Parks.

Bob’s final assignment brought him to Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park as our Assistant Park Manager. Though his time with us was short, his impact was lasting. A talented singer songwriter, Bob held a deep love for the Florida Folk Festival a tradition that resonated with his spirit and values.

His contributions to the park system and the folk community will not be forgotten.