Message from Our Director

Celebrating Florida Culture

That’s the May (I Like It).

One of my favorite music groups is KC and The Sunshine Band, hailing from Hialeah, Florida. Although there won’t be much disco music at the 73rd Annual Florida Folk Festival this month, there are plenty of other world-class artists gathering on May 23 – 25, 2025, for a celebration of the music, dance, stories, crafts and food that make Florida unique. I hope you can make time to visit, have a root beer float and try your hand at pine needle basketweaving. Kids under six are admitted free! 

Another important cultural event happening this month is the ribbon-cutting of the Fort Mose reconstruction. The historic 1738 fort near St. Augustine was the site of the first legally sanctioned free African settlement in what is now the United States. A project to reconstruct the fort has been 40 years in the making and will culminate in a day of celebration including the Fort Mose Historical Society militia muster and cannon demonstration. Fort Mose has been recognized for its national significance in the history of the United States, and we are honored to be entrusted with preserving, interpreting and restoring this cultural resource.  

As we head into the unofficial start of summer with Memorial Day Weekend, you might be thinking about how to have some summer fun with your kids. May 17 is the 15th annual Kids to Parks Day, celebrated nationwide as a day of outdoor play for people of all ages. It’s the perfect opportunity to explore a state park near you and prepare for a summer in…the Real Florida. See if a park near you is hosting an event specially designed for kids, or head out and choose your own adventure!   

See you in the parks, 
Chuck Hatcher, Director
Florida State Parks