2nd All Aboard Festival big hit
All Aboard Festival-goers enjoying the great weather and the great event by Suwannee Festivals. -SVT Photos by Tami Stevenson
By Tami Stevenson
Organized and hosted by Suwannee Festivals, a collaboration of University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Suwannee County Extension, the Live Oak Artists Guild and the Suwannee River Regional Library. The second All Aboard Festival, held February 1, 2025, was a big hit again this year.
Held at Heritage Square (Old Train Depot/Museum) in downtown Live Oak, visitors were pressed to find a parking spot nearly all day again this year, which is one of the earmarks for a very popular event.
The All Aboard Festival had a great lineup of live music all day on the dock behind the museum. This photo shows Dr. Jules Cool Blues performing. -SVT Photo
Their live entertainment schedule had no cancelations, according to Anda Chance, event organizer and Live Oak Artists Guild, Inc. President. So live music poured from the museum stage all day with performers like Kentucky Sleepy Hollow Bluegrass Band, Snake Blood Remedy, Dr. Jules Cool Blues and Live Oak 386, among others.
The Experimental Aircraft Association offered kiddie airplane (train) rides throughout the day while the Suwannee River Regional Library oversaw ongoing activities and games for kids.
The Experimental Aircraft Association offered kiddie airplane (train) rides throughout the day. -SVT Photo
The festival offered a great opportunity for visitors to learn more about the area’s history with free museum tours and historical presentations.
Harbor Carney, of Live Oak, running the remote control train track set up in the museum. The train set was donated to the Suwannee County Historical Museum by John and Brenda Summerfield. -SVT Photo
The event also gave visitors the opportunity to help support local entrepreneurs in the Suwannee Valley area who set up their booths with anticipation, excited for the opportunity to sell their products.
One budding entrepreneur’s booth sold out by 1:30. Ronda Hersch from Simply Baked by Ronda said she brought 44 loaves of her homemade sourdough bread and it was gone by 1:30.
Simply Baked by Ronda is the perfect example of creating a successful home-based business through the Florida Cottage Law. See sister story on Cottage Laws.
Simply Baked by Ronda booth at the All Aboard Festival, last Saturday, before she ran out of bread. -Photo Ronda Hersch
The City of Live Oak Fire Department had their fire trucks on display and firefighters were on hand to answer questions and give kids a first hand look at the equipment they use.
This photo shows the City of Live Oak Fire Department firefighters taking a break after giving kids a first hand look at the equipment and what it’s like to sit behind the wheel of a fire truck. Assistant Fire Chief Kyle Nickerson, far right, with other firefighters from the department. -SVT Photo
Assistant Fire Chief Kyle Nickerson said, “Today’s been a great day. We had a good crowd come through. The weather pulled through for us.”
He said they had a lot of kids come through. “We put them in the truck, let them sit behind the wheel. Every kid dreams of driving a fire truck.” They also let them try on some of their gear to see how heavy it is and what it feels like.
Farming is very important to our rural area, so the folks at UF/IFAS Suwannee County Extension saw to it that a colossal High Boy sprayer made its way to the All Aboard Festival, Saturday.
Cade Ramsey, of UF/IFAS, stands inside this mammoth High Boy sprayer that was on display during the All Aboard Festival, Saturday, thanks to the folks from UF/IFAS Suwannee Extension. -SVT Photo
Cade Ramsey, from UF/IFAS, was there to talk to interested farmers and kids about the mammoth machine. He said they use this for herbicides, pesticides and insecticides.
“But our main research project is a nitrogen based study where we Y-drop liquid nitrogen with it.” He said the purpose is to get the nitrogen closer to the plant and its roots instead of spraying it everywhere. It gives them less waste and less run-off. “Using less and growing more,” Ramsey added.
At the UF/IFAS booth, where they were handing out information and giving out prizes, Coordinator Cathy Rogers said with the good weather, they were very busy during the event and had wonderful feedback. “Lots of families here today.”
Manning the UF/IFAS booth. L-R: Volunteer Jane Corless, of Middleburg, with Cathy Rogers and Isaiah Eads helping out at the UF/IFAS booth during the festival. -SVT Photo
Volunteer Jane Corless, of Middleburg, said, “People don’t have to pay to park, they don’t have to pay to get in, they don’t have to buy anything if they don’t want to. It’s just a nice day to spend with your family and friends.”
Suwannee Festivals’ coordinators organized and offered various free games like cornhole and ladder toss. But the scavenger hunt seemed to be the most popular.
During their hunt, participants had to visit the chamber of commerce, the fire station, the museum and the passenger depot.
Those that completed the game took their pick of a red bandana, a train conductor’s hat or a wooden train whistle. They said the train whistle was the most popular prize.
“Mom’s and Dad’s may not have necessarily liked the whistle, but it was by far the most popular prize with the kids,” added Coreless. Over 75 kids participated in the scavenger hunt.
Scavenger hunt prizes. The wooden train whistle was by far the kids’ favorite. -SVT Photo
Olly Mason, 15, from Bradenton, playing ladder toss. -SVT Photo
Erin Greeley, Right, was producing core spun yarn made from 75 percent alpaca and 25 percent wool from their own alpacas. Left, Sarah Strautmann, owner of Heaven Sent Ranch of Live Oak. -SVT Photo
Suwannee Festivals organizer Katherine Allen, UF/IFAS Suwannee County Extension said they want to give a BIG THANK YOU to everyone that donated to make this event possible.
“Have you heard the quote ‘It Takes a Village’? Well, in addition to being done on a shoestring budget, there were so many agencies and organizations that helped lighten the load this year,” said Allen. There are just too many to list. “Our amazing live music and other performers came for just a mileage reimbursement.”
Visitors to the All Aboard Festival are encouraged to fill out a survey so organizers can improve on next year's event. CLICK HERE
This is the first of two events by Suwannee Festivals this year. The next festival is the Wildflower Festival and Plant Sale, coming May 10, 2025. It will be held at Heritage Park and Gardens again this year, from 9am-5pm.
Vendor applications for the May 10 Wildflower Festival at Heritage Park and Gardens are available by emailing
