Big: Culture & Arts Festival gathers Florida’s homegrown talent in Gainesville on April 13

Press release from Dion Dia and How Bazar
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – With support from Visit Gainesville, Alachua County, Fl, Dion Dia and How Bazar announce Big: Culture & Arts Festival. Coalescing in downtown Gainesville on April 13, 2024, Big is a multidisciplinary celebration of the diverse creative and cultural communities growing throughout the Sunshine State.
Big pairs live performances from national touring acts like Madison McFerrin, Nick Hakim, Wahid, Kaelin Ellis, Chuck Strangers, and They Hate Change with sets from Gainesville’s own Casey Jones II, FARO, Crisca, Buboy, PRIZZILA and DAY/DEM, not to mention dozens of artists hailing from Miami, Jacksonville, Orlando, and Tampa.
Building on the success of THE BIG SHO’ – the April 2023 music festival that hosted acclaimed rapper, actor, and stand-up comedian Zack Fox’s first performance in Gainesville – Dion Dia co-founders Laila Fakhoury, Jahi Khalfani, and Khary Khalfani envision Big as a departure from conventional music festivals.
Big will transform an empty lot between Porters Community and South Main Street into an immersive and collaborative meeting place showcasing all expressions of creativity. Expect to see Florida’s music, fashion, visual art, film, skate, and automotive cultures represented. Arrive hungry to sample food and beverages from Florida’s culinary masterminds, including Gainesville’s M&D West African Cuisine, Kings BBQ and Catering, and Germain’s Chicken Sandwiches. Organizers expect attendees to arrive in Gainesville from every corner of Florida to experience this large-scale community event.
In creating Big, Fakhoury and the Khalfanis intend to unite and uplift Florida’s eclectic artistic and cultural communities by aggregating and spotlighting their talents and crafts. By curating inclusive experiences in which attendees can comfortably explore diverse artistic expressions, Big contains the power to drive community connection, cultural representation, and positive tourism in Gainesville and throughout the state.
“Our vision is to offer a dynamic experience far beyond a mere stage with an audience standing in a field. Imagine a cultural amusement park of sorts,” Jahi Khalfani says.
“There are so many creative and talented people throughout Florida who just don’t have the platform to show off what they do,” Fakhoury says. “I want attendees to leave Big knowing that we have a lot of talent in this state alone, and that community is the most important thing we all have.”
Tickets for Big are on sale now. General admission tickets are $50, and a limited number of $60 Big Day tickets will be available April 13. For $100 each, VIP tickets offer a lounge experience with exclusive live performances, complimentary craft cocktails and food, massage therapy, and the option to watch a stream of the day’s performances from the temperature-controlled environs of Gainesville co-working space The Alchemy Work Club.
For more information and to secure tickets to Big: Culture & Arts Festival, visit diondia.com/big.
It’s great to hear that people will be coalescing downtown.