Spring is a great time for a Florida road trip. The countless festivals, from music to fine arts, will give you even more reason to escape to the Sunshine State. Visit Florida, the state’s official tourism website, makes it easy with a one-stop resource, where events are posted by region and month. Check out the Visit Florida Things to Do/Events page.
North Florida is on my radar for early April.
Not to be missed is Word of South, an annual celebrated three-day festival. Word of South mixes things up with a diverse blend of musicians, authors, and creative performers.
A truly immersive exploration of the connections between music and literature!
Event Dates: April 4-6, 2025
Location: Cascades Park, Tallahassee (24-acre park with Amphitheater)
Word of South commemorates the 70th anniversary of P-Funk music, featuring legendary keyboardist Danny Bedrosian, iconic singer George Clinton, and other members of the influential funk collective. Audiences will journey through seven decades of groundbreaking music, bridging the past and present of the genre.
Hail to the Master of Funk, George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic. The music still moves me, especially Clinton’s iconic “Atomic Dog”.
Word of South’s only ticketed performance is headliner “The Violent Femmes with the Tallahassee Symphony” on Friday evening, April 4th, at the Adderley Amphitheater in Cascades Park. Violent Femmes formed in 1981 as an acoustic punk band playing on the streets of Milwaukee. After 40 years, the band is still going strong, entertaining and inspiring music lovers of all ages. Tickets start at $52.
Fast Fact: MTV’s “Unplugged” show was inspired by the Femmes, although they never actually appeared on it.
The remaining weekend performances and activities are FREE and open to the public.
An amazing line-up, across all genres, awaits.
The full 2025 list with bios is available online for preview.
Another personal favorite is jazz diva, Madeleine Peyroux, who is among the featured performers. Her sultry sound is captivating. Peyroux, a world-class singer and songwriter, is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
And, Book Lovers are not forgotten. Word of South is showcasing top literary talent.
Featured authors include: Chris Bohjalian (Midwives), Jeff VanderMeer (Annihilation), Craig Pittman (Oh, Florida!) Diane Roberts (Tribal) and Jami Attenberg (1000 Words).
And, beyond the live music, there will be special interactive events throughout the weekend. Family-friendly/children’s programming, cookbook showcases, and jam sessions where authors and musicians collaborate are among the highlights.
Word of South Festival pop-out musical artists, poets and storytellers are many. Something for everyone.
Below are a select few:
• American Aquarium – A Southern rock and alt-country band with a knack for deeply personal storytelling.
• BJ the Chicago Kid – An R&B artist known for blending vintage soul with contemporary influences.
• Delfeayo Marsalis and Herlin Riley Quintet – World-class jazz musicians bringing a dynamic, rhythmic performance.
• Jacqueline Trimble and Ashley Jones – Acclaimed poets and literary voices exploring themes of identity and culture.
More Information and FAQs can be found on the Word of South website.
And, for all your planning needs, including lodging recommendations, visit the official tourism website Visit Tallahassee. Includes information on attractions and hundreds of enticing reasons to extend your Word of South weekend to a week-long adventure.
Photos courtesy of Word of South & BowStern
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