In just a few weeks, the 2nd annual Fool’s Paradise is going down in sunny St. Augustine, FL. From the North Florida locals hopping in their cars for a quick drive, to the scores of people flying in from all over the country to join the party, excitement is building for what is shaping up to be an unforgettable event! Here are a few of the many reasons to come to Fool’s Paradise and let your Funk Fool flag fly!
The Music:
Two nights of Lettuce, along with sets from Joe Russo’s Almost Dead (with Jeff Chimenti), The Floozies, The Motet, The Main Squeeze, Organ Freeman, and a special Manic Science collaboration between Manic Focus and Break Science over two days? Please, and thank you. Add Artist-at-Large spots from Oteil Burbridge and Antwaun Stanley (Vulfpeck collaborator) and we’re cooking with gas! With all these musicians on deck, you can expect several cross-collaborations.
When the music wraps up at the Amphitheatre, there will be late-night after-shows just across the way featuring the first-ever ‘Infinity Jam‘ hosted by Eric Krasno and Oteil Burbridge, a ‘Fools For Funk‘ performance with members of Lettuce and Dumpstaphunk, and standalone sets from Jaw Gems, Dumpstaphunk, and Eric Krasno Band. Just reading through this lineup is enough to get your adrenaline pumping…
The Beach
St. Augustine boasts some of the most scenic and beautiful beaches along the eastern coast of Florida. They are expansive (42 miles worth of beaches), relaxing, and full of fun things to do during the day before the festival sets get moving. With Fool’s Paradise taking place at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre, you can spend your day in Anastasia State Park, the perfect place to kick it with friends, get some sun, swim in the ocean, lay in a hammock, or hike nature trails. After all, there is a reason the park was voted #6 in a recent ranking of the top 100 State Parks in the United States. But don’t limit yourself to just Anastasia State Park–that’s just one of the many beaches St. Augustine has to enjoy as you follow the line going South down A1A.
The Town
St. Augustine is known, historically, as the home of the fabled Fountain of Youth, the mythical beacon of immortality sought by Spanish explorer Ponce De León. But even beyond this fascinating storyline, St. Augustine has seen more than its fair share of historical moments, from pirate invasions, to attacks on the city, to battles between Native Americans and the Spanish. The town even used to act as a safe haven for runaway slaves! St. Augustine was also a key location for Dr. Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights movement where influential protests received national attention helping sway President Johnson to sign anti-segregation measures into law.
The old town area on the mainland, where Flagler College is located, has plenty of great restaurants, bars, and places to see, before crossing back over the Bridge of Lions to the beachside to get your music fill. If you want to get your pirate on, stop at the St. Augustine Distillery, where they make their own small batch Rum, Gin, Vodka, and Whiskey.
Artist Excursions
Fool’s Paradise is one of the very few festivals in which fans get the opportunity interact and kick it with their favorite artists. You want to go on a two-hour nautical adventure with The Shady Horns, as they spin a two-hour DJ set at sea? Come aboard! How about a round of Putt-Putt Golf with Jesus Coomes (Lettuce), Antwaun Stanley, and Lyle Divinsky (The Motet)? Fool’s has you covered. Maybe Ping-Pong is your game….well, Lettuce’s drummer Adam Deitch and guitarist Adam “Shmeeans” Smirnoff are holding their own tournament at the Elk’s Lodge, with all proceeds benefitting The Water Collective. Sign up today! Space is limited for these artist excursions – more information can be found here.
The Weather
The weather in St. Augustine this time of year is about as good as it gets. Last year’s weather was virtually perfect, with temperatures hovering around the low to mid-80’s, plenty of sun to enjoy the beach, and a nice beachside breeze to cool things off. As the music started on the second day, everything was smooth sailing for what was one of the best weekends in 2016. Important to note: the St. Augustine Amphitheatre is open air, but fully covered, so you don’t have to worry about getting wet inside the venue, in case of inclement weather. For the millions of people doing their best to stay warm amid messy winter conditions, a weekend in the sun probably doesn’t sound too bad right about now…
With just a couple of short weeks to go until Fool’s Paradise, tickets and camping/hotel packages are going fast. For additional information, check out festival website for all options available to attendees.