Announcing The 3rd Annual Suwannee Spring Reunion March 21-24, 2019
Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, FLFeaturing:
Steep Canyon Rangers, Billy Strings, Donna The Buffalo, Peter Rowan, Larry Keel Experience,
Jim Lauderdale, Verlon Thompson, The Grass Is Dead, and more!Early Bird Tickets on sale now at → www.suwanneespringreunion.com
LIVE OAK, FL — For decades the onset of Spring meant gathering at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Florida for a weekend of fun, family, Bluegrass and string music. A beloved tradition continues as the picturesque grounds play host to a new take on a classic family-friendly gathering with the 3rd Annual Suwannee Spring Reunion taking place Thursday through Sunday, March 21-24, 2019.
For four days in March, you can slip your shoes off and dance under the bright blue vistas and star-studded skies. Wander the endless trails along the Suwannee River, tell stories around the crackling campfire or simply lie back and watch the Spanish moss that drapes the sheltering Live Oaks that sway in the breeze. Dance the days away at the Stages and while away the late night hours around the “Picking Parties” that spring up into the dawn’s early light. There are no wrong choices when you arrive at your home and the place where live music lives for the founding of a new tradition, built on the love of the past, the Suwannee Spring Reunion.
The Suwannee Spring Reunion initial lineup for 2019 features Steep Canyon Rangers, Billy Strings, Donna The Buffalo, Peter Rowan, Larry Keel Experience, Jim Lauderdale, Verlon Thompson, The Grass Is Dead, Jon Stickley Trio, Town Mountain, Rev. Jeff Mosier, The Mammals, Roy Book Binder, Pigeon Kings, Nora Jane Struthers, Ralph Roddenbery, TKO featuring Duke Bardwell, Nikki Talley, The Adventures of Annabelle Lyn, Quartermoon, Sloppy Joe, Habanero Honeys, Jeff Bradley – Comedy + Cool Stuff, Tania & Magic Moon Traveling Circus. More artists to be announced.
Most of these artists bring with them storied histories of epic Suwannee performances! Matching the history on the stage, long time festival creators Beth Judy and Randy Judy along with an amazing staff, are partnering with the Spirit of the Suwannee to make sure that every piece needed is in place to make an epic weekend of music and fun.
Festival Director Beth Judy believes that the perfect gift for music lovers this year is the 2019 Combo Ticket available until January 7th. Beth says “What could be better than a gift of an extraordinary experience not once, but twice in one year when your loved one can attend Suwannee Spring Reunion and Suwannee Roots Revival? And if not the Combo, an Early Bird Ticket for Suwannee Spring Reunion will make smiling faces all around!”
Once again the beloved tree-lined amphitheater is home to early morning sing-a-longs and night time musical pyrotechnics from the park’s stellar cast of alumni and new favorites. There will be music on four stages including the Amphitheater, Porch, Music Hall, and Music Farmers Stages. Suwannee Spring Reunion attendees will also enjoy music in the campground with jamming at Slopryland and the Bill Monroe Shrine as well as camp pickin’ parties.
Hands-on and performance workshops will be held throughout the weekend with a variety of artists set to perform. Expect to get professional instruction at the hands on workshops and some out of the ordinary intimate musical experience from the different presentations.
Placing a strong emphasis on embracing the traditions that have made the park a national treasure, there will be a wide array of arts & crafts as well as an array of culinary delights ranging from healthy to decadent in the Vending Village. The park itself is a place where kids of all ages can remember why they fell in love with the magic mixture of sights, sounds, and sensations that constitutes a weekend of paradise that is the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park
Tickets are on sale now. Suwannee Spring Reunion offers a multi-day Weekend Ticket that includes festival admission for four days of music, as well as primitive camping on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. Early Bird Tickets are $130; Students and military with a valid ID are $120. Children 12 and under are free if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Get your tickets now before they rise to the next pricing tier. Single Day Tickets will be available at the Gate only. Please note, Single Day Tickets do not include primitive camping.
Also available is the 2019 Combo Ticket Featuring one multi-day Weekend Ticket for both Suwannee Spring Reunion and Suwannee Roots Revival priced at $260, available until January 7th.
SOSMP is located between Jacksonville, Florida & Tallahassee, Florida about 30 minutes south of the Georgia State line, about 45 minutes north of Gainesville and is host to a variety of events.
Steep Canyon Rangers
Billy Strings
Donna The Buffalo
Suwannee Spring Reunion 2019 Initial Lineup
Steep Canyon Rangers
Billy Strings
Donna The Buffalo
Peter Rowan
Larry Keel Experience
Jim Lauderdale
Verlon Thompson
The Grass Is Dead
Jon Stickley Trio
Town Mountain
Rev. Jeff Mosier
The Mammals
Roy Book Binder
Pigeon Kings
Nora Jane Struthers
Ralph Roddenbery
TKO featuring Duke Bardwell
Nikki Talley
The Adventures of Annabelle Lyn
Quartermoon
Sloppy Joe
Habanero Honeys
Jeff Bradley – Comedy + Cool Stuff
Tania & Magic Moon Traveling CircusFor more information, tickets, and to reserve camping, please visit www.suwanneespringreunion.com
AS ALWAYS this article WILL include FULL inforamtion on hotels and maps of everything you need to FULLY enjoy this festival. I have compiled MANY emails and researched EVERY angle of this festival, so you can have the ultimate survival guide for this treasure in Owensboro Kentucky.
Folks this one is close to home for me and always a fun time when I cover this festival, and this year’s lineup is super exciting. Here is some history and some information about it straight from their website:
The 14th annual ROMP Festival will be led by the legendary American roots pioneers, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, progressive bluegrass virtuosos, Punch Brothers, innovative musician, Keller Williams and his project blending bluegrass and Grateful Dead songs, Keller Williams’ Grateful Grass,Grammy Award winning folk rockers, Los Lobos, and multi-instrumentalist and founding member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Rhiannon Giddens. Held in Owensboro’s Yellow Creek Park, the four-day music, camping, and art festival will take place June 21-24, 2017, and will feature over 30 top bluegrass, folk and Americana acts.
Additional acts include 14-time Grammy winner, Jerry Douglas, progressive bluegrass jam band, Yonder Mountain String Band, Grammy Award winning group, The SteelDrivers, bluegrass pioneer, Peter Rowan,old-time folk music aficionado, Pokey LaFarge, Celtic folk rockers, Scythian, Galway, Ireland’s We Banjo 3, and 10-time IBMA Fiddle Player of the Year, Michael Cleveland, plus many more. A full list of artists confirmed can be found below.
Daviess County’s Yellow Creek Park, a 150-acre facility famous for its nature trails, winding creek and fishing lake, and sweeping tree-lines, plays host to ROMP each year.
A full line-up of artist-led instrument workshops takes place throughout the day, giving musicians the chance to interact and teach fans and players of all ages and skill levels. Other workshops and forums include songwriting, clogging and flat-foot dancing, yoga (all levels), and healthy living through music.
Additional offerings at ROMP Festival include organic and farm-to-table food vendors, craft vendors featuring Kentucky Proud products, art installations and professionally-led children’s activities.
Attendees are encouraged to bring their instruments and jam throughout the weekend, and dance until dawn at the infamous after parties, featuring national acclaimed acts on the cabin stage in the park’s rustic Pioneer Village.
The International Bluegrass Music Museum, producer of the event, will open new exhibits, host performances throughout the daytime, and present a film festival of documentaries the museum has produced on Bluegrass Music’s First Generation. Museum admission is free to festival-goers.
Artist additions, single day tickets, volunteer opportunities, vendor applications and daily schedules will be available in 2017. To stay up-to-date with the latest news from ROMP fest, music fans can visit rompfest.com, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and sign-up to become a ROMP insider.
This park has a playground area for kids and a spray area to cool off with, and camping is available for 15 dollars extra and 70 for RV’s. You are required to vacate the area by 11AM the following day of which you pay. The camping area will open to the public at 8 AM wends some campsites require you to walk a short bit. Here is a detailed map of the festival grounds and you can buy tickets HERE.
Family Friendly:For families with children; no late night parties
Bring the kids and have a fun-filled family festival experience! Family Friendly camping includes quiet hours from 10 p.m.-7 a.m.
Late Night:The ‘Wrong Side of the Creek’; very close access to the After Party stage
Feel the need to stay up all night and enjoy live music until sunrise? This is the place for you!
General #1:For those in the middle; easy access to stage and vendors
Camp within a close walking distance to the main stage and the food and craft vendors. Good place for those to camp who don’t want to be in a Family Friendly quiet zone, and don’t want to stay up all night in the Late Night camping area.
Woods: For those in the middle; easy access to stage
Camp within a close walking distance to the main stage. Good place for those to camp who don’t want to be in a Family Friendly quiet zone, and don’t want to stay up all night in the Late Night camping area.
1 Day Only:
A Wednesday Only, Thursday Only, Friday Only, or Saturday Only night camping is valid for that night only, and must be vacated by 11AM the following morning.
Dancin’ Dave’s Festival Camping
Have you ever heard of “Glamping”? Glamour camping…nothing like having your comforts of home setup and ready for your arrival to ROMP. We’re proud to announce that Dancin’ Dave’s Festival Camping will be joining us for the second time. Flying to ROMP and want to camp? Dancin’ Dave’s has got you covered.
Dancin’ Dave’s is excited to announce that we will be providing 4 nights of cushy camping accommodations for this epic event! Our village only has a capacity of 35 tents, so get in while the gettin’s good! Just show up and we’ll take care of the rest.
Small (pup tent) – $100 – Sleeps up to 2 on floor bedrolls. Best for kids. No cots.
Medium (8′ x 8′) – $125 – Sleeps 1 on a cot (up to 2 on floor bedrolls)
Large (9′ x 9′) – $155 – Sleeps up to 2 on cots (or 3 on floor bedrolls) – Most popular tent for 2 adults!
Jumbo (11′ x 11′) – $205 – Sleeps up to 3 on cots (or 4 on floor bedrolls)
*Packages DO NOT include admission to the festivals. To pay by personal check, select the “Money Order” option when checking out. Prices are for the entire weekend, Wednesday through Sunday.
Your tent will come with the number of cots listed above. If you would like a different number of cots or bedrolls, or would like to bring your own bedding (an air mattress, for example) please let us know by sending a message via our contact form.
You can also add the following amenities (you must rent a tent to rent any of the following items):
Solar Shower – $35 Gazebo with Table – $75 Kitchen – $115
Don’t leave the kids at home
We’ve planned the perfect family weekend including tons of kids activities, family camping and so much more! Don’t forget, children 12 & under are FREE!
Kids can enjoy hours of fun including music workshops, arts & crafts, games, face painting and educational exhibits.
Full schedule of activities listed below. You can also schedule your weekend using the official ROMP app. Download now from your app store.
Kids Zone Schedule
Thursday, June 22
8am – 9am: Parachute Fun
9am – 10am: Create your own wind chime
10am – 11am: Create your own cape
11am – Noon: Exploring Rocks & Minerals
Noon – 1pm: Growing a Garden
1pm – 2pm: SKy Science Festival – “Light”
Friday, June 23
8am – 9am: Create your own Mask
9am – 10am: Create your own Fan
10am – 11am: Fiddle Fun with Randy Lanham
11am – Noon: Harmonica with Art the Dude
Noon – 1pm: First Aid Fun
1pm – 2pm: SKy Science Festival – “Celestial Objects”
Saturday, June 24
8am – 9am: Create your own ROMP Owl
9am – 10am: Create your own Pinwheel
9am – 1pm: Fun with Body Zorbs
10am – 11am: Kazoo with Art the Dude
11am – Noon: Meet & Greet with Hootie & friends
Noon – 1pm: Dance workshop with Barry Lanham
1pm – 2pm: SKy Science Festival – “Rainbows”
Welcome, campers!
Gates open Wednesday, June 21st for the 14th annual ROMP festival!
Entry Times:
8:00am – RV camping pass holders
10:00am – Tent campers, all ticket holders
Upon arrival, let us know in which area you wish to camp. You must have a camping wristband to camp. Wristbands will be checked throughout the festival; be sure to wear the right one for that day. Reminder signs will be posted throughout the park. If you only purchased a single day ticket and wish to stay additional days, just go to the gate to buy the proper wristband.
One-Day and Two-Day campers will have a specific area in which to camp. You must be out by 11AM the following morning.
If camping in an RV, everyone in your RV must have both ROMP and camping wristbands.
Some campsites require that you park and hike into the area. If you have to park and hike your camping gear into the camping area, it should only be a 2-5 minute walk.
ROMP Camping 101
In preparation for this years festival, we asked our friend and long-time ROMP attendee and camping expert, Kelly Farr, for some ROMP camping tips.
Camping at Romp is an awesome way to immerse yourself in the full festival experience! The following is a suggested list of things to bring and some tips for enhancing your camping experience.
suncreen/hat/sunglasses
water!
tent
sleeping bag
air mattress/cot/sleeping pad
pillow
extra tarp (can be used under tent for moisture, or above for shade)
flashlight/head lamp/lantern
fan (battery powered)
extra batteries
chair/blanket
towel (hot showers available!)
bandana
rain jacket
bug spray
citronella candle
hammock
$ for vendors
Romp app to create your schedule
musical instrument/frisbee/hula hoop/etc
Camping Tips:
The first thing to do is chose your camping area, for example; late night, family friendly, etc. Then you will need to chose a campsite. Somewhere flat, with shade, and that will drain well in case of rain is ideal. It will be helpful to put a tarp under your tent to protect from moisture. An additional tarp can be hung over your tent for shade or extra rain protection. Since it sometimes rains at Romp, it is a good idea to roll up your sleeping bags and clothing and place them in the middle of your tent to keep them from getting wet if you are away form your campsite. It is also a good idea to keep your food/cooler outside your tent, or in your vehicle to keep animals from being tempted. A bandana or blindfold can also keep the early morning sun out of your eyes if you need to sleep in a little. Remember to drink plenty of water, and just ask the friendly ROMP staff if you have any questions!
Explore Yellow Creek Park
Beyond the music: Yellow Creek Park offers many activities for all age groups. Located in the park is a softball field, disc-golf course, tennis courts, and basketball courts. Along with these, there are spots for fishing as well as picnic shelters to cool off during the heat. The park also provides an idyllic nature trail stretching farther than two miles appealing to those who enjoy peaceful hikes and great scenery. Yellow Creek is very kid-friendly and includes a spray park and play ground for children, as well as playing home to the Western Kentucky Raptor Rescue Center and the ROMP mascot, Hootie.
