{"id":197813,"date":"2026-03-19T14:21:11","date_gmt":"2026-03-19T14:21:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/197813\/"},"modified":"2026-03-19T14:21:11","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T14:21:11","slug":"culture-arts-festival-this-spring","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/197813\/","title":{"rendered":"Culture & Arts Festival this spring"},"content":{"rendered":"

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A growing Florida festival is putting Tampa talent on a national stage this spring. From April 10 through April 12, downtown Gainesville will transform into a sprawling arts playground for the fourth annual Big: Culture & Arts Festival, a three-day event blending music, visual art, circus performance, and street culture while spotlighting artists from across the state.<\/p>\n

More than 100 performers will appear across eight stages throughout the city, including nationally recognized names like Earl Sweatshirt, The Alchemist, Zack Fox, Navy Blue, and redveil. Tickets are available here<\/a>, and this year, Tampa artists are showing up in a big way.<\/p>\n

Tampa Bay talent takes the spotlight<\/p>\n

While the festival attracts artists from across the country, organizers intentionally carved out space for Florida\u2019s music communities, including a strong showing from Tampa Bay.<\/p>\n

Co-producer Laila Fakhoury said highlighting Florida artists has been central to the festival since its beginning.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of the national and touring artists on the lineup are friends who often collaborate with each other, so this creates an energy much like a summer camp or a family reunion,\u201d Fakhoury said. \u201cWe want everyone attending Big to feel that kind of comfort, friendliness, and openness to connect with other people.\u201d<\/p>\n

That sense of collaboration extends across Florida\u2019s cities, something the organizers say is often missing in the state\u2019s fragmented music ecosystem.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Tampa music scene is deep and vibrant,\u201d said festival co-producer Jahi Khalfani. \u201cWe\u2019re really excited to see artists from the Gulf Coast showing up this year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tampa Bay\u2019s presence at Big: Culture & Arts Festival includes:<\/p>\n

Cannibal Kids<\/p>\n

Adia<\/p>\n

Rohna<\/p>\n

AJ Hall<\/p>\n

They Hate Change<\/p>\n

Sector.FM<\/p>\n

Pilot Jonezz<\/p>\n

fesssi k.<\/p>\n

T.COUTURE<\/p>\n

MILA KILLA<\/p>\n

Little Giver<\/p>\n

The Pleasantries<\/p>\n

Cigar City Records<\/p>\n

Donnie Luv<\/p>\n

Justin Depth<\/p>\n

Jean~Baptiste<\/p>\n

Cato Galen (visual artist managing the decompression space and bringing art\/activities in)<\/p>\n

\"People\"PeoplePhoto by\u00a0Tiffany Fang<\/a><\/p>\n

BIG festival getting bigger<\/p>\n

Big began as a grassroots project from Gainesville creative collective Dion Dia and its community hub How Bazar. What started as a record label and silent disco series eventually grew into a full-scale cultural festival designed to connect artists across the state.<\/p>\n

That vision is now expanding rapidly. The 2026 festival will feature more than 100 performers, up from roughly 80 the year before, and will span three outdoor stages and five downtown venues.<\/p>\n

Beyond music, attendees can explore visual art installations, fashion shows featuring Florida designers, live screen printing, circus and aerial performances, a car show, and a film program presented by Miami\u2019s Subtropic Film Festival<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Artists discovering Florida\u2019s hidden music scene<\/p>\n

For many touring artists, Big also becomes their first real introduction to Florida\u2019s independent music culture.<\/p>\n

According to co-producer Laila Fakhoury, some performers arrive without knowing what to expect and leave surprised by the depth of the state\u2019s creative communities.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the artists who performed at the first Big festival was MIKE, and he had actually never been to Florida before,\u201d Fakhoury said. \u201cI think artists who haven\u2019t been here are often shocked at how deep our music scene runs, and how specifically slow and easygoing Gainesville feels compared to the bigger cities they\u2019re used to.\u201d<\/p>\n

That slower pace is part of the festival\u2019s charm. After last year\u2019s event wrapped, a handful of visiting performers even extended their stay to explore Florida\u2019s famous freshwater springs.<\/p>\n

\u201cA few of the artists ended up going to the springs afterward and really enjoyed themselves,\u201d Fakhoury added. \u201cIt\u2019s a totally different environment than what most touring artists experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"MIKE performing at BIG fest| Photo by Elise Norman<\/a><\/p>\n

Creating space for artists to stay in Florida<\/p>\n

For Khalfani, who grew up in the rural town of Archer just outside Gainesville, the festival is about building opportunities that allow creatives to remain in Florida instead of moving to popular cities like New York or Los Angeles.<\/p>\n

The team has already taken steps toward that goal, including organizing a statewide \u201cFlorida tour\u201d that helped connect artists across different cities.<\/p>\n

\u201cFlorida can feel like a forgotten state in terms of artists rarely touring here,\u201d Fakhoury said. \u201cThis feels like a great opportunity to elevate and uplift Florida talent.\u201d<\/p>\n

A moment for Tampa\u2019s independent scene<\/p>\n

The festival arrives at a moment when independent music infrastructure in Tampa is facing uncertainty.<\/p>\n

After 20 years as one of the region\u2019s most important DIY venues, Crowbar is set to close when its lease ends in summer 2026. The venue has long served as a launchpad for emerging artists and touring acts, hosting early performances from bands like Portugal. The Man and Two Door Cinema Club.<\/p>\n

For many Tampa artists, festivals like Big represent a rare opportunity to reach broader audiences while keeping Florida\u2019s creative networks connected.<\/p>\n

Tickets and details<\/p>\n

Advance tickets<\/a> for the festival are now at $75 for general admission, while $125 VIP passes include access to a lounge hosted by Kin Cocktail Bar & Lounge<\/a>, plus complimentary drinks, exclusive performances, and additional perks.<\/p>\n

If the momentum behind this year\u2019s lineup is any indication, Gainesville may be quickly becoming one of Florida\u2019s most unexpected creative hubs, with Tampa artists helping lead the charge.<\/p>\n

Secure your tickets because they will sell out soon!\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n