The South’s Best Country Music–Camping, too! Suwannee River Jam, Live Oak, FL–May 1-4, 2019

This year’s Suwannee River Jam is scheduled for May 1-4 at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park, just north of Live Oak, Florida.  Sponsored by SunStop/S&S Food Stores and Budweiser, the event will be one of the largest in Florida, attracting attendees from far and wide.  Headlining the event will be Hank Williams, Jr.  Other …

Float The Santa Fe River, Then Enjoy Music at Rum 138 Outfitters, March 2, 2019, In Fort White, FL

  Doug Jipson and Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson’s Rum138 Outfitters has become a gathering spot for paddlers and music lovers in southern Columbia County.  Located on CR138 (off US27, west of High Springs) at the corner of Rum Island Road, the building houses a thriving canoe and kayak rental/livery as well as some spectacular art. Out back, …

Third Annual Suwannee Spring Reunion–American Music Festival at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park, March 21-24, 2019

Our Natural North Florida region is well known for some great music festivals and events.  After all, Gainesville “raised” Stephen Stills, Tom Petty, Bo Diddley and others.  But at the northern end of the region, at one of the largest venues, some great “American music” can be heard at several events held at Spirit of …

17th Annual Florida State Bluegrass Festival in Perry, FL April 4-6, 2019 Don’t Miss It!

Join music lovers from all ’round the southeast April 4-6 in Perry, Fl for the 17th Annual Florida State Bluegrass Festival & Chili Cook-Off.  The event will be held at the Forest Capital State Park, just south of town.  Sponsored by the Perry/Taylor County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Development Board, the event has something …

Panacea Oyster Festival Rescheduled for February 9, 2019

I don’t know about you, but I can eat a lot of oysters on a Saturday afternoon, especially if they’re farm raised in the waters of Wakulla County, on Florida’s Big Bend.  Farm raised oysters are special.  They are called “triploid” and they grow faster than wild “diploid” oysters.  With oysters now being farmed at …

Mark Your Calendars for the 17th Annual Florida State Bluegrass Festival and Chili Cook-Off, 4/5-6, in Perry

The 17th Annual Florida State Bluegrass Festival is coming to Perry, in Taylor County, April 4-6, 2019. This is a “don’t miss” event, with three days of professional and amateur music, food, music workshops, arts and crafts–AND a CHILI Cook-Off!   Tickets are available for each day as separate purchases, and there’s a three-day pass, …

Tom Petty Birthday Bash….Great Music in Gainesville, October 19 & 20, 2018

Gainesville, the largest city in our Natural North Florida region, has been known as a music hub.  Names like Bo Diddley, Sister Hazel, Gram Parsons, Bernie Leadon,  the Peyton Brothers, and Stephen Stills all come to mind.  But most famous was likely “outlaw” musician Tom Petty.  Since his death in October of 2017, Gainesville  has …

Don’t Miss The 63rd Annual Florida Forest Festival and Free Fish Fry, in Perry–October 27, 2018

In 1955, the citizens of Taylor County, Florida, decided to stage a county-wide “Pine Tree Festival” as an educational tool to reduce forest fires that were crippling the county’s economic base-the timber industry. Over the years, the festival grew and accomplished its aim so well that by 1965, Taylor County could boast the lowest fire …

Natural North Florida–Music and Fun–There’s Country, Western and More!

There’s a great line in the movie, “The Blues Brothers”, where the owner of Bob’s Country Bunker explains to the band that they play all kinds of music—“Country…AND Western”!  Well, despite the fact that our region made up of 14 mostly-rural north Florida counties furnish America lots of cattle, soybeans, peanuts and seafood, we enjoy …

Don’t Miss The Annual “Smokin’ in the Pines” BBQ and Music Festival, Perry, Florida, September 21 and 22, 2018

Smokin’ In The Pines BBQ Festival Sep 21 – Sep 22 · Smokin’ In The Pines BBQ Festival Forest Capital Park, Perry, Florida     Southern Rock & Country Music, featuring Andy Pursell, the Micheal Miller Band, Band of Brothers, Frayed Knot and much more. Craft vendors, BBQ tasting, sampling and People’s Choice. Competitions with …