Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park will again be hosting the 63rd Annual Florida Folk Festival this year over Memorial Day weekend that will run Friday through Sunday, May 22-24, from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.

The Florida Folk Festival has been named a “Top 20 Event” in the Southeast for the last few years, featuring the best of Florida’s music, arts and culture. You will enjoy a variety of different styles of music that will be ongoing throughout the Memorial Day weekend, along with tasty eats from various food vendors within the park. You might even enjoy joining a jam session, participating in a workshop, or doing a little shopping as you pay tribute to Florida’s land, its people and its diverse cultural heritage. 

Folk artists and tradition-bearers presented each year in the Folklife Area reflect research and field documentation conducted by the Florida Department of State’s Folklife Program. The 2015 Folklife Area celebrates the diverse cultures of St. Johns County. 

Since 1953, folk artists have come together for this event. It is one of the oldest state folk festivals in America and will continue its grand tradition of celebrating Florida’s land, food, people and diverse cultural heritage. With more than 300 performances by Florida’s greatest folk and roots artists, including national recording artists, songwriters and musicians of swing, folk, blues, gospel, country, Latin, jazz, bluegrass, Caribbean and zydeco music, it is an event not to be missed.

Gates open at 8 a.m. on Friday, May 22, and opening ceremonies will begin at 6 p.m. on the banks of the Suwannee River. 

For more information and a schedule of daily performances, visit www.floridastateparks.org/folkfest  or call 1-877-6FL-FOLK (1-877-635-3655). Pets and personal golf carts are not allowed and the event will go on rain or shine. Camping in the park is not offered during the festival, but there are plenty of places to camp in the area, including Suwannee River State Park, Oleno State Park, Ocean Pond and Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park. For more information and ticket prices, call 386-397-7009.