The 31st Annual Gamble Rogers Folk Festival
Join us April 10–12, 2026, at the St. Johns County Fairgrounds in Northeast Florida
Northeast Florida's Beloved Folk Music Festival
This three-day festival will feature more than 25 musicians performing across multiple stages, including nationally acclaimed performers Dom Flemons & The Traveling Wildfires, Verlon Thompson, Alexa Rose, and Ed Snodderly. Additional performers include Frank Lindamood, Charlotte Morris, Lauren Woodall, Airtight, Joey Kerr Band, and Angel Chantel & Underbrush, along with a variety of regional and emerging performers who continue the rich tradition of folk music, storytelling, and songwriting that defines the Gamble Rogers Folk Festival.
In addition to live music, festival attendees can enjoy workshops, late-night performances, the Friday Night Fish Fry, craft vendors, food trucks, family-friendly activities, and on-site camping, creating an immersive weekend experience.
2026 Festival Highlights
I Remember Gamble Contest
We are pleased to announce that the Gamble Rogers Folk Festival will once again be hosting the “I Remember Gamble Contest”, which is dedicated to the memory and legacy of St. Augustine’s favorite son, Gamble Rogers.
The contest will be held on Sunday, April 12th, at 3:45PM at Gamble’s Living Room Stage.
A total of $850 in prize money will be awarded to the top three performers, generously provided by Gamble’s agent and friend, Charles Steadham, and his wife Mary.
Prizes include $450 for 1st place, $250 for 2nd place, and $150 for 3rd place.
Previous winners are not eligible for prize money.
The Workshop Tent
One of the most beloved traditions of the Gamble Rogers Folk Festival is the opportunity to learn directly from the musicians who keep the folk tradition alive!
Whether you are an experienced musician or simply a fan of folk music, these sessions offer a unique chance to go beyond the stage and explore the craft behind the songs.
Workshops are included with the festival ticket.
YoungFolk Stage
The YoungFolk Stage highlights the next generation of musicians, giving performers age 21 and under the opportunity to step onto a nationally recognized festival stage. These talented young artists represent the future of folk music, carrying forward the traditions of storytelling, songwriting, and musicianship that the
Gamble Rogers Folk Festival celebrates.
Friday Night Fish Fry
Come hungry, bring your friends, and enjoy a plate of the best Southern comfort food around. The Friday Night Fish Fry continues. This year, with the addition of the Free Rangers kicking off the festival!
Dinner Plate Includes:
Fried Flounder, Cole Slaw, Grits, and Hushpuppies
$15 per plate
The fish fry starts at 4:00PM until Sold Out!
Proceeds benefit The Shrine Club of St. Augustine
Jam Tent
The Jam Tent at the Gamble Rogers Folk Festival is where the music keeps going long after the stages wind down. Located in the camping area, this is an open, welcoming space with no set schedule, where musicians and festivalgoers come together to play, share songs, and create something special. Bring your guitar, banjo, fiddle, or whatever you love to play and join in. Or pull up a chair and enjoy the sounds as they carry on throughout the festival grounds!
Book Signing With
Bruce Horovitz
Beloved raconteur, environmentalist, and down-home philosopher, Gamble Rogers (1937–1991) ushered in a renaissance of folk music to a place and time that desperately needed it. In this book, Bruce Horovitz tells the story of how Rogers infused Florida's rapidly commercializing landscape with a refreshing dose of homegrown authenticity and how his distinctive music and personality touched the nation.
The book signing will take place on Saturday, April 11th
at 2:00PM next to the merch tent.
Kids Area
Our Kids Area is filled with hands-on activities designed to spark creativity and imagination, including bubbles, fairy hair, instrument demos, and more. It’s a playful space where kids can explore, create, and be part of the festival magic all weekend long!
Camping
Make the most of the 31st Annual Gamble Rogers Folk Festival by camping at the St. Johns County Fairgrounds and don’t miss a single workshop, performance, or late-night picking session!
Camping Options:
Tent Camping – $30 for the weekend
RV Camping – Starting at $75 for the weekend
Gamble Rogers
The Gamble Rogers Folk Festival celebrates the festival's namesake, the beloved Florida troubadour Gamble Rogers, whose legacy continues to inspire generations of musicians, storytellers, and folk enthusiasts. Since its founding, the festival has grown into one of the region’s most cherished folk music gatherings.
As the oldest music festival in St. Johns County, we are ever grateful to YOU, our longtime and dedicated supporters to help us keep this important and fulfilling musical legacy alive and well.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts and we'll look forward to seeing you soon!
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Here are a few magical moments from our 30th Anniversary Festival Celebration
with Gamble's own spectacular rendition of his tune, Deep Gap Salute, written in honor of his longtime friend, Doc Watson.
