Lullaby of the Rivers Festival

Lullaby of the Rivers celebrates Earth Day with a festival on Friday, April 19 through Sunday, April, 21, 2024, at the North Shores Community Park in Vilano Beach.

The information below is from the 2023 festival. This will be updated as musicians and events become available.

Local singer/songwriter, Bob Patterson and organizer, and activist, Carol Kramer, have used Bob's award-winning song "Lullaby of the Rivers" as the inspiration for the festival, which will feature popular regional performers on Saturday and Sunday.

"Lullaby of the Rivers" is a tribute to Florida's rivers and their heritage. In his folksy storytelling style, Patterson invites listeners to embrace the Native American traditions of environmental responsibility by remembering how Florida's great rivers like the Apalachicola, Ichetucknee, Ocklawaha, and Kissimmee got their names.

In addition to two days of musical entertainment, the event will include an Earth Day Resource Fair with activities for kids, tastings of sustainable foods, and presentations by environmental organizations. As the organization states, "The mission of the Lullaby of the Rivers Festival is to awaken and nurture connections to nature in gatherings of all ages, by using music and stories that inspire environmental awareness and consciousness."

Events

Friday, April 21 The festival will offer a variety of events at the park and at nearby locations. These events are all free, however, most will accept donations.

• 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. Peace Dances — Dances of Universal Peace, led by Hakim Tomi Greentree. 
• 5:00 p.m. Music Jam at North Shores Park
• 6:00 p.m. Clean-up along the river — led by Lauren Trice, the Matanzas Riverkeeper, the clean-up will begin at the park and work their way down to the riverfront.

Saturday, April 22  

• 10:00 a.m. – 12 noon — Performances for children on the Rivers Stage
  • 10:00 "Family Style" – music for the whole family performed by Don Cooper, Angie Bascom, and Mike Elias
  • 11:00  Duffy Bishop, Kat Archer, and Chris Carlson
• 12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. — Live music on the Rivers Stage
  • See below for each act.
• 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. — Earth Day Fair and Vendors, and Food Trucks.
• 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. — Storytelling and other performances Springs Stage
  • 12:00 p.m. — Debra Weller
  • 12:30 p.m. — Kathy Duffy
  • 1:00 p..m. — Drew Sappington
• 1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. — Music by The Flajberries
• 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 pm. — Open Mic with the Flajberries
• Earth Day Fair, Vendors, and Food Trucks

Sunday, April 23, 12 noon – 5:00 p.m.

• 12:00  - 5:00 p.m. — LIve music on the Rivers Stage
  • See below for the acts
• 12:30 - 5:00 p.m.Storytelling and other performances on the Springs Stage
  • 12:30 p.m. — Chris Kastle
  • 1:00. p.m. — The Storytelling Sims
  • 1:30 p.m. — Natalie Beltrami
  • 2:00 p.m. — Music from Bridge Street Vibe
  • 2:30 p.m. — Music from the Flajberries
  • 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Concluding with an Open Mic by the Flajberries
• 12:00 - 5:00 p.m — Tasting Tent
• Earth Day Fair, Vendors, and Food Trucks

Special Family Performances on Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to Noon

Beginning at 10:30 a.m. the young and the young-at-heart can enjoy family performances from some of St. Augustine's favorite musicians.

• Taking the stage at 10:30, under the brand "Family Style," Don Cooper will be joined by Angie Bascom and Mike Elias. Don Cooper is an award-winning songwriter who had a number of children's CDs published by Random House books.  Angie Bascom and Mike Elias have performed with many bands in the area, and are frequent contributers at the Farm Market, appearing with the Free Rangers. At the Lullaby of the Rivers Festival, "Family Style" will focus on the family songs Don has written that celebrate nature. 
• From 11:00 to noon, the audience is invited to sing, clap, and dance with the ABC's, three local musicians who each have written family music and performed on youth stages. Kat Archer (A), Duffy Bishop (B), and Chris Carlson (C), will keep everyone moving and having fun.

Logistics

Parking is available at North Shores Park, SurfSide Park, Nease Beachfront Park, and Vilano. The latter option is about a mile from the festival, and a pleasant walk along the boardwalk and residential streets.

Admission: The events on Friday will be free. General admission on Saturday is $20 for one, and $30 for families of 2 or more. General Admission on Sunday is $15.00 for one and $20.00 for families of 2 or more. Children 12 and under are free. For more information about Lullaby of the Rivers, and for tickets, go here.

When: Friday, April 21, with outdoor events scheduled at various times and locations. Saturday,  April 22, from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Sunday, April 23, from noon to 5:00 p.m.

Where: Some of the events on Friday, and all events on Saturday and Sunday take place at North Shores Community Park is just north of the town center of Vilano Beach. Some events on Friday will take place on nearby beaches and waterways.

Lullaby of the Rivers Festival is a presentation of Lullaby of the Rivers Festival, Inc., a Florida non-profit.

The Tale Tellers of St. Augustine: Chris Kastle, Debra Weller, Drew Sappington, Kathy Duffy, Natalie Beltrami, The Storytelling Sims