Suwannee County, FL

In 1851 when Stephen Foster chose the Suwannee River for his signature song, “Old Folks at Home,” the first wave of Florida tourism began.  Americans from all walks of life wanted to see the Suwannee River.

Now it’s your turn to see the Suwannee River and its namesake Suwannee County, which is bordered on three sides by the famous river.   The Suwannee River provides excellent camping, paddling and fishing opportunities.  Closely associated with the river are several crystal clear springs, including Little River Springs, which are great locations for a refreshing plunge.  The county is also home to Wes Skiles Peacock Springs State Park as well as Suwannee River State Park. 

Music festivals, as one might expect, are prominent here.  The Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park, located just north of the town of Live Oak and on the Suwannee River, presents musical performances and festivals throughout the year.  Notable Spirit of the Suwannee festivals include the Suwannee River Jam, held in early May, and Suwannee Hulaween, held in late October.  The 800-acre park also hosts RV campers and has cabins for rent.

Live Oak, the county seat, has an assortment of historic buildings in the heart of town.  A former railroad depot is home to the Suwannee County Historical Museum.  The small town of Branford, located in the southern section of the county, is known as the “Freshwater Spring Diving Capital of America.”

In addition to the festivals and events at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park, the Wellborn Blueberry Festival, held in June in the unincorporated community of Wellborn, regularly draws crowds of over 6,000 people.  Additionally, downtown Live Oak hosts Christmas on the Square the first week of December.