WHITE SPRINGS — The 65th annual Florida Folk Festival had around 10,000 people attend Memorial Day weekend. 

The 2017 Folklife Area celebrated the diverse cultures of Southwest Florida.

Karen Bell and Robin Eurich, of the Sarasota’s Circus Arts Conservatory, demonstrated circus arts and clowning. 

Bell said growing up she always took the comedy route.

She said she was drawn to clown college when the auditions came to California.

She added one of her friends was a clown and that inspired her.

Buddy Mills, of Okeechobee, demonstrated how to harvest make swamp cabbage and buckskin whips. 

As a child, Mills watched his father, George “Junior” Mills create whips.

“There is a desire for handcrafted whips,” Mills said.

He added he is three years behind schedule with whip orders. 

Dennis McDaniels demonstrated how to make handmade cast nets.

He said growing up in a poor area of Naples, knowing how to make and repair nets were necessary for survival. 

A good net meant food for him and his family. McDaniels and other children were taught how to make and repair nets from a young age. 

This year’s musical lineup included artists such as Livingston Taylor, Tom Chapin, Melanie, Les Dudek, Billy Dean, Jim Stafford, Papaloko & Loray Mistik, Ben Prestage, The Currys, The Krickets and many more.

“The 65th annual Florida Folk Festival went well,” Andrea Thomas, Park Services specialist said. “We had a lot of positive feedback.”