GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) – Downtown Gainesville is once again packed with music, art and food as The Big: Culture & Arts Festival returns for its fourth year, drawing artists from across the country and North Central Florida.
Organizers say they’re grateful for the event’s growth and its continued impact on the community.
Doors opened at 6 p.m. Friday, and crowds streamed in within minutes, eager to kick off the three-day festival.
This year’s lineup includes more than 140 artists performing across eight stages through Sunday, turning the city’s core into a hub of nonstop entertainment.
Genres range from rap and R&B to indie rock and EDM, with organizers calling it the festival’s biggest year yet.
National acts are helping draw attention, including rapper Earl Sweatshirt.
“Earl Sweatshirt — I mean, how sick is that?” said Monish, a University of Florida student. “From high school, we were talking about it, and now to see an artist like that come to Gainesville.”
At the same time, organizers say highlighting local talent remains a priority. Gainesville-based artists such as Buboy and The Nancy’s are among those featured, a move producers say also honors the city’s often overlooked music history.
Festival producer and creative director Laila Fakhoury said the event is intended to help re-establish Gainesville as a destination for music and the arts.
“When we’re doing what we’re doing with Gainesville — to be in such a unique placement in the state — if we bring people more into the city, make this more of a music hub, which it’s been in the past multiple times, then it would just encourage more music, more creativity, more art to come and stretch throughout the state,” Fakhoury said.
Fakhoury said hosting the festival was a longtime goal after she and her business partners opened a record label and saw how music brought people together.
And while the performances are a major draw, organizers say the festival is designed to offer something beyond the stage.
“We have all kinds of things going on, so there’s something for everyone here,” Fakhoury said. “If you love film, we have film screenings. If you love fashion, we have a fashion show. If you love cars, there’s cars here. If you love art, there’s live art shows and live artists.”
Night one ran until 1 a.m. Saturday. Events resume at 3 p.m. Saturday and continue through Sunday.
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