Spring in Tallahassee comes alive with a robust lineup of open-air concerts, festivals and events surrounded by vibrant arts, culture and natural beauty. Plan your getaway to Florida’s Capital City to experience these wonderful events.

Springtime Tallahassee
March 28-29, 2025

Springtime Tallahassee is the area’s free flagship spring event and one of the largest and most celebrated parades in the Southeast. Spanning two days,  Friday night’s Music Festival at Kleman Plaza features a national act, followed by Saturday’s Grand Parade and Jubilee in the Park bringing art, crafts, local cuisine and boutique vendors to downtown Tallahassee.

Pride in the Park
March 1

Tallahassee PRIDEFEST is an annual celebration designed to promote peace and understanding among diverse cultures, races, creeds, genders and sexual identities.  Come to Cascades Park, in the heart of downtown Tallahassee, and join us as we celebrate pride! Entertainment all afternoon on the main stage, food and vendors throughout the park, a Kids Zone, and more! With a family-friendly atmosphere, it’s free and open to everyone!

LeMoyne Chain of Parks Art Festival
April 26-27, 2025

LeMoyne Chain of Parks Art Festival turns the city’s iconic downtown Chain of Park into a natural art gallery with one-of-a-kind works of art from all over the United States. As North Florida’s premier outdoor fine arts festival, visitors will find unique pieces from more than 150 artists, as well as chalk art, local food and craft beer vendors, children’s art activities and live entertainment.

Word of South
April 4-6

Word of South, a Festival of Literature and Music returns with a live exploration of writers and musicians at Cascades Park. Set amongst the backdrop of the Capital City skyline at Cascades Park, Word of South features authors who write about music, musicians who also are also authors and everything in between. The family-friendly event also boasts a children’s ‘Literacy Lane’ offering tales from local authors, as well as literary and musical performances on multiple stages.

The Friday night opener for the Word of South festival, GRAMMY® Award-winning The Flaming Lips are known for their brave, frequently brilliant, and obscure eclectic tracks in the world of alternative rock bands. Performing the highly successful album “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots,” the sci-fi-themed quasi-concept album cast The Flaming Lips’ most playful and profound songs to date, in a wondrous swirl of ambient electronics, digital beats, and psychedelic splendor.

Shakespeare in the Park Festival
May 8-11, 2025

The Southern Shakespeare Company will host its 10th annual Free Shakespeare in the Park Festival from May 8-11, 2025, at Cascades Park. The four-day event, modeled after New York City’s iconic Free Shakespeare in the Park, is expected to draw up to 10,000 attendees.

This year’s festival features performances of Henry IV, Part 1, directed by Broadway’s Conner Wilson (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), alongside guest appearances from acclaimed actors Wil Johnson (The House of the Dragon, Outlander), Kelsey Scott (12 Years a Slave, The Walking Dead), and comedian Kevin McDonald (The Kids in the Hall, Lilo & Stitch).

The festival also includes the Bardlings’ youth performance of Twelfth Night, presented Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

Guests can enjoy family-friendly entertainment, food, and beverages under the stars in Florida’s capital city. Admission is free, and audiences from across the Southeast and beyond are welcome to experience the magic of Shakespeare in this open-air event.

For more information, visit https://southernshakespearefestival.org/free-festival/ 

Freedom’s Eve Emancipation Concert

TBD

A FREE performance of the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, honoring Freedom’s Eve and Florida’s Emancipation Day.

This concert was planned in partnership with the Florida Department of State, the John G. Riley Center & Museum, Soul of Southside, and the Tallahassee Downtown Improvement Authority.

Emancipation Day
May 20

Recognizing Emancipation Day on May 20, Tallahassee holds a weeklong celebration, rejoicing freedom in Florida’s Capital City. While today news of a single event can be transmitted across the planet in seconds, this was not the case in April 1865. More than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, word reached Tallahassee on May 20, 1865, nearly a full month before finally reaching Texas on June 19 (Juneteenth). In partnership with the Knott House Museum and the John G. Riley Museum, each year on May 20, a celebration is held on the steps of the Knott House Museum with performances, speakers, and a historical reenactment of Union General McCook’s reading of the Emancipation Proclamation.