Florida Folk Festival: 2015 - Views from the Inside as Volunteer Event Staff

April 2015 rolled around and we knew it was time to head for the Stephen Foster Folk Cultural Center State Park in White Springs Florida.  Time to volunteer with the park's Event Staff for the 63rd Florida Folk Festival.  The festival started in 1952 and has a long history being the only state folk/heritage festival that has never missed a year!

Now, you may have read my 2014 blog about the Florida Folk Festival but don't discount this post as no two years are the same.  Since we perform what ever jobs need attention each year is different; however there is some duplication such as working with vendors and being a presence in the campground.

The campground before the festival started

So, what was different this year?  
So glad you asked...Jobs included...

North Gate, normally closed
and open for big events

• All hands on deck or building dance floors

  

  The Heritage & Dance Stage in progress

  
  
• Role call or inventory of banners, signs, fans, stools, chairs, and more

  

  Computers can be useful!

• Safety first or cleaning and checking the beach wheel chairs
  

  

  Slipjig & Marg
  Relaxing at our early May campsite
  near the old shop for a short walk to work!

• More safety or ATV and golf cart training
  ... yes we know but a regulation is a regulation

  

  Driving the Kuboto was fun
  but the Museum golf cart is the BEST

PR or distributing posters, rack cards, and flyers throughout north Florida

One of my favorite posters

• Keeping the stages organized or Marg duplicated schedules and
   compiled books for the Stage Managers, EmCees, Sound Techs, Loggers

Set Change on the Amphitheater Stage

• Happy patrons are shaded and dry or Bill monitored performance tent set-up
  

  

  Campground on the final day...
  

  But this was not under Bill's direction!

• Everyone likes to hear the show or Bill provided Sound Support on the Folklife Stage
  

  

  Folklife Stage being constructed
  Later Bill will manage the sound here
The Folklife Stage and Folklife Area share Florida's traditional culture.  It is an area that relates history and explains our heritage.  Each year a different area or culture is in the spotlight, in 2015 the focus was on St. Johns County.  In 2016 it will be Miami-Dade.

• Avoid heat stroke or Marg co-chaired the Participant Hospitality area
  

  

  Safety first... not like this butterfly
  that didn't survive the storm 

• Entertaining the troupes or hosting a weekly Song Swap

  

  Thank you Ranger Kim
  for this flyer - it worked!

  
  
• Clean it up... the grounds

  

  Ranger Stephanie getting into the act

And some jobs are routine these days...

• Adding some bling or working with craft vendors and food vendors 
• Phone contact and recruitment prior to the festival
• Check-in and set-up
• Assistance during the festival

Kid-powered crushed ice
Vendor Bill recruited from the
High Springs Pioneer Days

• Staying nourished is important or we helped cook the Volunteer Breakfast
  and of course stayed to enjoy the wonderful food
  Thank you to Carolyn Pardue for organizing this.

Banded black snake
Slithering through the campground
before the crowds arrived