Sunday Truett and I took a drive to White Springs, Florida, just to get away for a different view of another Florida town. White Springs is also located on the Suwanee River so we were curious about the flood conditions there as well.
White Springs is an historic little town, but the thing I like best about it is that they take pride in their history. I wasn't in the mood to take pictures of the old historic buildings, but did take this one on the way out of town. One day I'll drive around and photograph all the gingerbread on the houses.
I learned that White Springs was originally called White Sulphur Springs. It seems the Timucuan Indians and Apalachee Indians lived on either side of the Suwanee River. But they put aside their warring attitudes and both tribes used the springs to heal and cleanse themselves. Click on the link above and you can read the history.
White Springs is home of the Stephen Foster State Folk Cultural Center. I've taken many fourth graders on field trips there and back in the 70's learned how to weave grapevine baskets. I only did that once because it tore up my fingers.
About twice a year White Springs Spirit of the Suwanee hosts a 3-day country music event with single tickets costing $120. These musical events began following the 70's. It is truly a unique town show- casing it's heritage.
These are the stairs leading to the old lodge at the White Sulphur Springs. The Suwanee is flooded so they had the stairs blocked off.
Click here and you can see an old photo of the original hotel at White Sulphur Springs.
Well, that's enough history for today. Actually, Truett and I tromped around the nature trails next to the river.
I love how green everything is and how I learn such interesting things when I read your blog!
Posted by: tina | April 20, 2009 at 06:02 PM
Merry...Following is an excerpt from my column on the Florida Folk Festival. The reference you had in your blog about the "White Springs Spirit of the Suwannee" caught my attention. The event that has been taking place in White Springs since the 1950's is the Florida Folk Festival and it takes place at the Stephen Foster Park in White Springs. It costs way less than $120 and its affordability is just one of many reasons to attend. About your Basket weaving class. Did you take the class from Merri Belland? She's my wife and we are good friends with Barney and Loye. The entire column follows....
Life in White Springs 04-23-2009
I have no vested interest in what I’m writing about this week except that it is good for White Springs and it is good for you, no matter where you live. I want to talk to you about planning ahead, a full month ahead, for something very special.
Every year I talk to scores of people that live in the Hamilton, Suwannee, Columbia tri-county region about my all-time, anyplace I’ve ever been in the whole world favorite event, The Florida Folk Festival, which is the longest running annual Folk Festival in the Country, now entering its fifty seventh year! It happens on Memorial Day weekend every year and I usually talk about it while still enjoying the afterglow of having just added another year to my attendance streak, going on thirty consecutive years now. A lot of people I talk to share my enthusiasm but I am often amazed at the number of folks that live around here who say “Oh, has that already happened? When was it?” or “I used to go but I haven’t been in years,” or “I wish I’d known, I would have gone.” Most distressing of all are the not too few times I’ve heard folks say they just didn’t know about it at all, didn’t even know there was such a thing. Now that is just plain wrong!
The festival is advertised each year, and a lot of people work hard to get the word out all over the region and the state, but still, some of us don’t hear about it or we “forget” that it’s coming up, “forget” just how great it is, and we “forget” to come. Some years attendance has been good, some it’s been low. There is a natural ebb and flow to these things and I think “buzz” has a lot to do with it, so let’s generate some buzz on our own this year. We’re going to have some great headliner performing talents this year as we always do, but the Folk Festival is amazing no matter who is performing there because it’s the greatest annual concentration of music, art, crafts, stories, traditions, food, culture, diversity and fun that takes place anywhere in Florida, period. And it’s right here in your own back yard!
I’ve also heard some reasons for not going that just don’t hold water. Let’s clear up the two biggest misconceptions.
• It’s just “Folk Music”! Not so! There are nine or more music performance stages featuring music from all over the world including the blues, jazz, bluegrass, country, Celtic, African, Asian, Gospel, drumming and much more, and oh yeah, folk! And then there are the workshops, the dance, the storytelling, and the magnificent Folklife area with its state wide and world wide diversity of participants. There is a beer garden that benefits the Stephen Foster Citizen Support Organization and there must be thirty or more food vendors with flavors to satisfy every taste imaginable. For those of you who enjoy fine arts and crafts, the talent and selection is bountiful and breathtaking with choices for every budget. There is so much to do you can spend all three days there and still not see it all!
• It’s too expensive!??? NO ITS NOT! It’s a bargain. I know that we all have to watch our budgets but have you seen the price of any concert, anywhere lately? Have you been to the movies even? Give me a break! Just for comparison, weekend tickets for The Suwannee Jam, a very fine event that is happening this weekend in Live Oak costs $130 per person for the cheapest weekend tickets. Compared to that, the most expensive three day tickets for the Florida Folk Festival go for $50.00, $40.00 if you buy in advance, or $25.00 for an adult single day ticket at the gate. Weekend tickets for kids less than six are free and $5.00 for the entire weekend for those aged six to sixteen years old. Now that is the best family entertainment bargain you will find anywhere.
So, let this be the year that we all show up to support this treasure that we have right here in our own backyard. Tell your friends and family, then remind them and tell them again. Talk it up at work! Plan ahead to attend. It happens Friday, May 22nd through Sunday, May 24 and this is the year that you don’t want to miss, no matter what! For further information Google “Florida Folk Festival” or call 386-397-2733. You’ll be glad you did.
Walter McKenzie
[email protected]
Posted by: Walter McKenzie | April 22, 2009 at 07:12 AM