EVERY MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, ON THE BANKS OF THE SUWANNEE RIVER AT STEPHEN FOSTER FOLK CULTURE CENTER STATE PARK IN WHITE SPRINGS, THE FLORIDA FOLK FESTIVAL CELEBRATES THE STATE’S MULTICULTURAL HERITAGE THROUGH MUSIC, DANCE, SONG, CRAFTS AND FOOD.

THE FLORIDA FOLK FESTIVAL IS THE NATION’S OLDEST STATE-SPONSORED FOLK FESTIVAL. IT HAS BEEN COMMITTED TO REPRESENTING THE STATE’S DIVERSE CULTURES SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1952. IT WAS THEN THAT SARAH GERTRUDE KNOTT, FOUNDER OF THE NATIONAL FOLK FESTIVAL, WAS ASKED TO COORDINATE FLORIDA’S INAUGURAL EVENT.

AT THE TIME, SHE WAS AMONG THE NATION’S LEADING AUTHORITIES ON THE PRESENTATION OF FOLKLIFE.

TODAY, THE DIVISION OF HISTORICAL RESOURCES’ FLORIDA FOLKLIFE PROGRAM CONTINUES

THE FESTIVAL’S LEGACY OF PRESENTING THE RICHNESS OF THE STATE’S TRADITIONAL CULTURE. IN THE YEAR PRIOR TO THE FESTIVAL, PROGRAM STAFF CONDUCTS FIELDWORK ON A SPECIFIC THEME. DEMONSTRATIONS FROM FOLK ARTISTS IDENTIFIED THROUGH THIS RESEARCH SURVEY ARE THEN FEATURED ON THE FOLKLIFE PROGRAM’S STAGE DURING THE THREE-DAY EVENT.

THE 2011 FOLKLIFE STAGE WILL HIGHLIGHT THE TRADITIONS OF THE PANHANDLE’S COASTLINE COUNTIES.

Courtesy of the Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resources