2024 FESTIVALS
October 11-13, 2024 --- Festivals Acadiens et Creoles (Lafayette, LA)
Artist lineups are now officially posted to the website. The free festival in Girard Park will feature several stages, each with its own lineup of artists. The dance tent (Scène La Salle de Danse) is the only stage with a cover and dance floor. Artists appearing in the dance tent over the weekend will include Kyle Huval and the Dixie Club Ramblers, Jesse Legé & the Bayou Aces, Corey Ledet Zydeco, Donny Broussard & the Louisiana Stars, Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas, Cameron Dupuy & the Cajun Troubadours, French Mass, Sheryl Cormier & Cajun Sounds, Four Horses, Cedric Watson & Bijou Créole, Créole String Beans, Alphonse Ardoin & the Zydeco Kingz, and The Traiteurs. In the evenings, enjoy bands playing in nearby clubs and usually lots of dancers from around the world. Visit festivalsacadiens.com
October 11-13, 2024 — Suwannee Roots Revival (Live Oak, FL)
Bands booked include Donna The Buffalo, Peter Rowan Band, Old Crow Medicine Show, Yonder Mountain String Band, Grandpa’s Cough Medicine, The Ain’t Sisters, Sloppy Joe, and Magic Moon Traveling Circus. Music workshops, yoga, activities for kids, food and crafts. Visit suwanneerootsrevival.com
October 25 & 26, 2024 — South Louisiana Blackpot Festival & Cookoff (Lafayette, LA)
Pine Leaf Boys, The Revelers, Preston Frank, Ed Poullard, Sheryl Cormier, Jesse Legé, The Daiquiri Queens, Ann Savoy, Los Guiros, Michael Hurley, The Revelers, New Natives Brass Band, Caleb Klauder & Reeb W., John R. Miller, Lone Piñon, Miss Tess, Tatiana Hargreaves, Ferd, Mama’s Broke, Kassi Valazza, Eliza Thorn, Elise Leavy, Ranse Chase, Paige Plaisance, Creekbed Carter, Holiday Playgirls, Dustin Dale Gaspard, The Blue Ridge Girls, Merle Law, and Square Dance with Nancy. Visit blackpotfestival.com
November 1-3, 2024 --- Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival (Pensacola)
Saturday 3:30 p.m. Lost Bayou Ramblers. The Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival is one of the best-regarded, most popular arts festivals in the United States. The three-day, juried art show draws more than 200 of the nation’s best painters, potters, sculptors, jewelers, graphic artists, craftsmen and other artists. The Festival is ranked #30 in the nation by Sunshine Artist Magazine. Location: Seville Square, Pensacola, Florida. Visit ggaf.org
November 2-3, 2024 --- Halifax Art Festival (Daytona Beach)
2nd oldest continual art festival in the state of Florida and attracts well over 30,000 visitors annually. This free festival, open to the public, on historic downtown Beach Street from Orange Avenue to Bay Street n front of the Riverfront Shops of Daytona Beach. The Festival will have over 200 juried artists and artisans exhibiting original two-dimensional art, photography, sculpture, jewelry, textiles, ceramics, wood, metal, and glass pieces for purchase. The Festival has expanded to celebrate seasoned as well as emerging artists and craftsmen. There will be two distinct exhibit areas. International street cuisine and good old-fashioned festival food will be featured for the hungry festival attendees. Beach Street cafes and restaurants will be open and featuring festival specials. There will, also, be live entertainment with musicians playing a variety of popular music. Website: http://halifaxartfestival.com/
November 7-10, 2024 --- Florida Winter Music Festival (Brooksville, FL)
Select artists will include Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers, Have Gun Will Travel, Applebutter Express, Laurel Lee & the Escapees, Little Mercies, Firewater Tent Revival, John Lee Wyatt. Visit foggylongbritches.com
November 8-10, 2024 --- Cracklin Festival (Port Barre, LA)
Select artists in the lineup include The 4 Horses, Adam Leger Band, Richard Lebouef, Robert Jardell & Pure Cajun, and Kevin Naquin and the Ossun Playboys. The annual Cracklin Festival is held the second weekend in November every year. Ice chests, glass containers, and pets are not allowed. Visit cracklinfest.com
November 22-24, 2024 --- Suncoast Jazz Festival (Clearwater Beach, FL)
Several danceable jazz ensembles including Dave Bennett and Professor Cunningham and his Old School with a dance floor. The Friday Night Swing Dance starts with a Lindy swing dance lesson with Forrest and Andrea Phoenix about 6:15 p.m., followed by several dance bands playing until midnight.
Visit suncoastjazzfestival.com
December 6-7, 2024 --- Balboa Park December Nights (San Diego)
Not much info available except for the dates and times: Friday, December 6 — 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday, December 7 — 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Visit sandiego.gov/december-nights
Dec. 7, 2024 — Lakewood Ranch Blues Festival (Lakewood Ranch, FL)
The festival is replacing the Bradenton Blues Fest with 7 bands planned from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. New location will be Waterside Park in Lakewood Ranch. Artists will include Danielle Nichole Band (Kansas City), Vanessa Collier (Dallas), Monster Mike Welch (Boston), Kat Riggins (Miami), Mitch Woods & His Rocket 88s (Brooklyn), Dylan Triplett (St. Louis), Melody Angel (Chicago). Advance tickets are $75 each. lakewoodranchbluesfestival.com
Dec. 27, 2024 – Jan. 1, 2025 --- Floorplay Swing Vacation (Orlando, FL)
Rosen Plaza Resort, 9700 International Dr., Orlando, FL 32819. West coast swing workshops, competitions, late-night social dancing. Instructors will include Robert Royston, Hugo & Stacy, Glenn Ball, Jake Hanning, Chantelle & Joel. Visit https://floorplayswingvacation.com
Feb. 13-16, 2025 — Sounds of Mardi Gras 2025 at DoubleTree by Hilton (Fresno, CA)
Lindy Hop, Charleston, Balboa, Swing, Zydeco, West Coast Swing, Nightclub Two Step, Cha Cha, Country Two-Step, Waltz, Rumba, Foxtrot, Rockabilly. Info: fresnodixie.com or Linda 209-534-1924.
These unique listings are compiled by Jim Hance directly from prominent band and festival websites. Changes in lineups and times are common. Refer to both the event websites and websites of your favorite artists appearing at the festivals prior to making your travel plans.
Artist lineups are now officially posted to the website. The free festival in Girard Park will feature several stages, each with its own lineup of artists. The dance tent (Scène La Salle de Danse) is the only stage with a cover and dance floor. Artists appearing in the dance tent over the weekend will include Kyle Huval and the Dixie Club Ramblers, Jesse Legé & the Bayou Aces, Corey Ledet Zydeco, Donny Broussard & the Louisiana Stars, Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas, Cameron Dupuy & the Cajun Troubadours, French Mass, Sheryl Cormier & Cajun Sounds, Four Horses, Cedric Watson & Bijou Créole, Créole String Beans, Alphonse Ardoin & the Zydeco Kingz, and The Traiteurs. In the evenings, enjoy bands playing in nearby clubs and usually lots of dancers from around the world. Visit festivalsacadiens.com
October 11-13, 2024 — Suwannee Roots Revival (Live Oak, FL)
Bands booked include Donna The Buffalo, Peter Rowan Band, Old Crow Medicine Show, Yonder Mountain String Band, Grandpa’s Cough Medicine, The Ain’t Sisters, Sloppy Joe, and Magic Moon Traveling Circus. Music workshops, yoga, activities for kids, food and crafts. Visit suwanneerootsrevival.com
October 25 & 26, 2024 — South Louisiana Blackpot Festival & Cookoff (Lafayette, LA)
Pine Leaf Boys, The Revelers, Preston Frank, Ed Poullard, Sheryl Cormier, Jesse Legé, The Daiquiri Queens, Ann Savoy, Los Guiros, Michael Hurley, The Revelers, New Natives Brass Band, Caleb Klauder & Reeb W., John R. Miller, Lone Piñon, Miss Tess, Tatiana Hargreaves, Ferd, Mama’s Broke, Kassi Valazza, Eliza Thorn, Elise Leavy, Ranse Chase, Paige Plaisance, Creekbed Carter, Holiday Playgirls, Dustin Dale Gaspard, The Blue Ridge Girls, Merle Law, and Square Dance with Nancy. Visit blackpotfestival.com
November 1-3, 2024 --- Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival (Pensacola)
Saturday 3:30 p.m. Lost Bayou Ramblers. The Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival is one of the best-regarded, most popular arts festivals in the United States. The three-day, juried art show draws more than 200 of the nation’s best painters, potters, sculptors, jewelers, graphic artists, craftsmen and other artists. The Festival is ranked #30 in the nation by Sunshine Artist Magazine. Location: Seville Square, Pensacola, Florida. Visit ggaf.org
November 2-3, 2024 --- Halifax Art Festival (Daytona Beach)
2nd oldest continual art festival in the state of Florida and attracts well over 30,000 visitors annually. This free festival, open to the public, on historic downtown Beach Street from Orange Avenue to Bay Street n front of the Riverfront Shops of Daytona Beach. The Festival will have over 200 juried artists and artisans exhibiting original two-dimensional art, photography, sculpture, jewelry, textiles, ceramics, wood, metal, and glass pieces for purchase. The Festival has expanded to celebrate seasoned as well as emerging artists and craftsmen. There will be two distinct exhibit areas. International street cuisine and good old-fashioned festival food will be featured for the hungry festival attendees. Beach Street cafes and restaurants will be open and featuring festival specials. There will, also, be live entertainment with musicians playing a variety of popular music. Website: http://halifaxartfestival.com/
November 7-10, 2024 --- Florida Winter Music Festival (Brooksville, FL)
Select artists will include Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers, Have Gun Will Travel, Applebutter Express, Laurel Lee & the Escapees, Little Mercies, Firewater Tent Revival, John Lee Wyatt. Visit foggylongbritches.com
November 8-10, 2024 --- Cracklin Festival (Port Barre, LA)
Select artists in the lineup include The 4 Horses, Adam Leger Band, Richard Lebouef, Robert Jardell & Pure Cajun, and Kevin Naquin and the Ossun Playboys. The annual Cracklin Festival is held the second weekend in November every year. Ice chests, glass containers, and pets are not allowed. Visit cracklinfest.com
November 22-24, 2024 --- Suncoast Jazz Festival (Clearwater Beach, FL)
Several danceable jazz ensembles including Dave Bennett and Professor Cunningham and his Old School with a dance floor. The Friday Night Swing Dance starts with a Lindy swing dance lesson with Forrest and Andrea Phoenix about 6:15 p.m., followed by several dance bands playing until midnight.
Visit suncoastjazzfestival.com
December 6-7, 2024 --- Balboa Park December Nights (San Diego)
Not much info available except for the dates and times: Friday, December 6 — 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday, December 7 — 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Visit sandiego.gov/december-nights
Dec. 7, 2024 — Lakewood Ranch Blues Festival (Lakewood Ranch, FL)
The festival is replacing the Bradenton Blues Fest with 7 bands planned from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. New location will be Waterside Park in Lakewood Ranch. Artists will include Danielle Nichole Band (Kansas City), Vanessa Collier (Dallas), Monster Mike Welch (Boston), Kat Riggins (Miami), Mitch Woods & His Rocket 88s (Brooklyn), Dylan Triplett (St. Louis), Melody Angel (Chicago). Advance tickets are $75 each. lakewoodranchbluesfestival.com
Dec. 27, 2024 – Jan. 1, 2025 --- Floorplay Swing Vacation (Orlando, FL)
Rosen Plaza Resort, 9700 International Dr., Orlando, FL 32819. West coast swing workshops, competitions, late-night social dancing. Instructors will include Robert Royston, Hugo & Stacy, Glenn Ball, Jake Hanning, Chantelle & Joel. Visit https://floorplayswingvacation.com
Feb. 13-16, 2025 — Sounds of Mardi Gras 2025 at DoubleTree by Hilton (Fresno, CA)
Lindy Hop, Charleston, Balboa, Swing, Zydeco, West Coast Swing, Nightclub Two Step, Cha Cha, Country Two-Step, Waltz, Rumba, Foxtrot, Rockabilly. Info: fresnodixie.com or Linda 209-534-1924.
These unique listings are compiled by Jim Hance directly from prominent band and festival websites. Changes in lineups and times are common. Refer to both the event websites and websites of your favorite artists appearing at the festivals prior to making your travel plans.
Photo of crowd at Gator By the Bay stage at the top of page by Joe MacDonald.