by Robert “Hutch” Hutchinson and Jordan Puryear
A new nature park and festival venue is taking shape south of Melrose. WildFlowers Music Park, a 270-acre property in eastern Alachua County, is being acquired by a nonprofit charitable trust with a dual mission: preserve the land and host arts events to help cover associated costs. The model combines environmental protection with a large outdoor gathering space that the area has been lacking.
GrassRoots festivals, a series of events that originated outside Ithaca, New York, serve as inspiration for this venture. Founded more than three decades ago by the band Donna the Buffalo to address the growing AIDS crisis, the Finger Lakes festival has raised millions of dollars for community causes.
The GrassRoots concept later expanded to Shakori Hills in Pittsboro, North Carolina. WildFlowers Music Park intends to bring the same ideals to North Florida.
A key feature of GrassRoots gatherings is multi-day camping. Mornings typically include workshops in the arts, wellness, and nature awareness, while afternoons and evenings feature performances by local, national, and international musicians. Past GrassRoots festivals have offered early career opportunities to artists such as Rhiannon Giddens, Billy Strings, and Rusted Root.
Formed in November 2024, WildFlowers Music Park will spend the next year collaborating with local community members and agencies to ensure the venue meets regulations and aligns with public expectations.
Organizers plan to recruit volunteers, contractors, and vendors to build necessary infrastructure and restore the landscape. Their goal is a festival site designed to harmonize with the surrounding environment.
Once complete, WildFlowers will host a range of concerts and other activities with an emphasis on community connections, creativity, and environmental education. Plans include establishing trails through live-oak hammocks and along sinkhole wetlands. During the off-season, the park may offer smaller events like art retreats, nature programs, and school visits.
Financial backing for the property purchase includes a $1 million mortgage loan from the Community Foundation of North Central Florida’s new Arts and Culture Fund. Repayment will come from ticket sales with the funds being reinvested in local arts groups. This approach aims, in part, to address shortfalls created by sweeping budget cuts at the state and federal levels to local arts organizations.
Organizers hope the first festival at WildFlowers Music Park will take place by winter 2026. They encourage community members to share ideas and support in the coming months, with the aim of providing an outdoor music and arts experience that also promotes environmental awareness and a sense of togetherness.
For more information, see wildflowersmusicpark.org
Robert Hutchinson is Chief Petty Officer for Existential Logistics with WildFlowers Music Park Finance, LLC, representing the 13 private lenders who financed the property acquisition.
Jordan Puryear co-founded the Finger Lakes and Shakori Hills Grassroots Festivals, founded the WildFlowers Music Park, and serves on the non-profit board of directors.