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2007 Florida Folk Festival Cancelled by fire

18 May 07 - 08:25 PM (#2056020)
Subject: 2007 Florida Folk Festival Cancelled
From: GUEST,harpgirl

Fire conditions in Hamilton County Florida have forced the cancellation of the 55th annual Florida Folk Festival. Read about it here:Fire Cancels Florida Folk Festival 2007

18 May 07 - 08:41 PM (#2056031)
Subject: RE: 2007 Florida Folk Festival Cancelled
From: Joe Offer

Oh, that's a shame, Harpgirl. I really enjoyed the one Florida Folk Festival I attended. Seems to me there were fires in the area that year, too.
We're just moving into fire season here in Northern California. I imagine it won't be long and I'll see tanker planes flying low over the house again.

-Joe-
Here's the article Harpgirl linked to, from the Suwannee Democrat:
    Published: May 18, 2007 04:51 pm

    Florida Park Service cancels Florida Folk Festival

    --Wildfire and air quality conditions affects Memorial Day weekend music

    WHITE SPRINGS - The Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park today announced the cancellation of the Florida Folk Festival. Scheduled for May 25-27, the three-day music and arts festival is cancelled because of concerns for visitor safety due to the uncertainty of wildfire and air quality conditions in the surrounding area.

    "Inviting an additional 10,000 people per day into a high-risk area would not only potentially endanger visitors and performers, but put a strain on the community's emergency response system as well as its natural resources," said Florida State Park Director Mike Bullock. "The Florida Park Service fully intends to hold the event in 2008 and is reviewing the logistics involved in rescheduling the event in 2007."

    The Florida Folk Festival has historically depended on partner agencies from state, county and local cities and towns to assist in providing public safety measures. However, with current emergency fire conditions, the agencies are actively needed to provide support to wildfire response efforts. The decision to cancel the festival was made in consultation with the other agencies involved in the Bugaboo fire suppression and public safety issues. The leading edge of the fire is less than 15 miles from the park, and with conditions uncertain, the park will be temporarily closed beginning Saturday, May 19, 2007.

    Transportation is also impacted by periodic closing of major roads including I-75 and I-10. These closings and re-routing of traffic stretch the limit of the local roads and the attendance of the festival by more than 20,000visitors would place an additional burden on the highway system.

    The first two-time Gold Medal winner honoring the nation's best state park service, Florida's state park system is one of the largest in the country with 160 parks spanning more than 700,000 acres and 100 miles of sandy white beach. From swimming and diving in Florida's rivers and springs to birding and fishing or hiking and riding on natural scenic trails, Florida's state parks offer year-round outdoor activities for all ages. Battle reenactments and Native American festivals celebrate Florida's unique history, while art shows, museums and lighthouses offer a window into Florida's cultural heritage.

    For more information visit, www.FloridaStateParks.org

19 May 07 - 07:37 AM (#2056315)
Subject: RE: 2007 Florida Folk Festival Cancelled
From: Betsy

It's strange for an English person like myself , who has all his life ( especially through Songs )associated Florida and California with sunshine and all the good things in life , and then to have Joe tell me that there actually exists a "Fire Season".
Best wishes to you all and stay safe.

19 May 07 - 04:19 PM (#2056611)
Subject: RE: 2007 Florida Folk Festival Cancelled by fire
From: Joe Offer

The first fire was centered in the Okefenokee Swamp, a huge area in southeastern Georgia, just above the Florida state line and I'd say about ten miles inland from the Atlantic. The Swamp is the source of the Suwanee River, which flows through Stephen C. Foster State Park in Florida and on to the Gulf of Mexico. I'd guess the park is thirty or forty miles downstream from the swamp. This is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen in my life. The vegetation is lush, alive with birds and alligators and lord knows what else. The waters of the swamp and river are jet black, colored by the tannin from oak trees that grow in the water - but that black water is supposedly very pure.

The even bigger Bugaboo Scrub Fire is burning near the Stephen C. Foster park. The festival has been held in the park for many years.

I wonder how much will be left of the stunning natural beauty of this area. I suppose there will be a lot. Here in the Northern California Sierra Foothills, we have huge fires along the American River Canyon every summer, and yet most of the area remains lush and beautiful. The fire areas are depressingly ugly for a good ten years, though. We've lost some favorite wildflower hiking spots to fire, and it's always sad.

-Joe-

20 May 07 - 10:52 AM (#2057005)
Subject: RE: 2007 Florida Folk Festival Cancelled by fire
From: erosconpollo

I remember the fires and smoke at the Festival a few years back...was it five years? Apparently a lot worse this time. Darn, I had my camping gear all piled up ready to go! Guess I'll sit on the front porch with my guitar and a six-pack and have my own private festival.

20 May 07 - 08:44 PM (#2057298)
Subject: RE: 2007 Florida Folk Festival Cancelled by fire
From: GUEST,harpgirl

Yeah, LL...I was looking forward to hearing your niece....

20 May 07 - 09:31 PM (#2057320)
Subject: RE: 2007 Florida Folk Festival Cancelled by fire
From: Leadfingers

Having done a bit of VERY low key Fire Fighting in Pine Forest in Germany - Bombing range on the Dutch border - I wish the guys doing the job over there all the best ! BLOODY nasty job !

20 May 07 - 10:08 PM (#2057337)
Subject: RE: 2007 Florida Folk Festival Cancelled by fire
From: Janie

One day last week the wind blew from the south all day. I went out at lunch and wondered about the haze and the smell of smoke, thinking there must be a fire nearby in the southern part of the county. It was from the south alright. 550 miles south. We were getting smoke from the fires in southern Georgia and northern Florida.

I'm sorry they had to cancel the festival, but it sounds like it was a wise decision.

Janie