Grove Street Festival to be held November 30
Press release from Grove Street Neighborhood
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Grove Street Neighborhood celebrates the 26th Anniversary of the GROVE STREET FESTIVAL on SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2024, in the green field across the street from IGNITE LIFE CENTER, 404 NW 14TH AVENUE, Gainesville, Florida. A week later, a reading of Jack Kerouac’s ON THE ROAD will follow at Dreamers Garden to conclude this grassroots festival. The reading will be in remembrance of Erik Scott.
What was a shot in the dark for the stabilization of historic, inner city Grove Street Neighborhood on December 5, 1998, continues its trajectory across more than two-and-a-half decades, thanks to the goodwill of the neighborhood, the persistence of its founder, Maria Huff Edwards, and the generosity of Pofahl Studios and the numerous performers that through the years have found their way to the most grassroots of festivals in Alachua County.
This year we dedicate this festival to JOHN WEBER, Parks Manager of the City of Gainesville, who retires on November 30, 2024, after more than 21 years of dedicated service to the City of Gainesville. During all those years, John Weber always felt a special affection for Dreamers Garden, the Grove Street Neighborhood Community Garden. Thus, we wish him success in his new endeavors as he bids us farewell.
We also dedicate this year’s festival to NATALIYA LEBEDEVA, who more than a decade ago discovered Dreamers Garden in the Grove Street Neighborhood while attending and dancing seguidillas in the Feria de Sevilla at Dreamers Garden on April 21, 2013, and became smitten by the charm of Dreamers Garden. Nataliya established THE PUSHKIN READINGS AT DREAMERS GARDEN with the collaboration of Dreamers Garden’s founder, Maria Huff Edwards, in 2013. The readings have been taking place since then.
We also dedicate this year’s Grove Street Festival in honor of our dear friend BELINDA CORREA KING, who flew from Austin, Texas, to Tampa, Florida, to bring her 94-year-old mother, Zulema Correa, to the Dedication of the Gate of the Muses for Ray Charles at Dreamers Garden, but most importantly to play the classical flute music for which she is known. Belinda also honored us with her presence and her music years ago on May 31, 2007, when she attended the Dedication of the Gate of Philip created for Dreamers Garden in honor of legendary Gullah blacksmith and National Living Treasure Philip Simmons of Charleston, S.C.
This year’s LUMINARY WALK will be lit in remembrance and honor of ELESTA PRITCHETT (1930-2024), a childhood friend of Ray Charles, accomplished teacher, dedicated civic and religious leader, exemplary matriarch, and former Mayor and Council Member of Greenville, Florida. Elesta PRITCHETT honored us with her presence by attending the DEDICATION OF THE GATE OF THE MUSES FOR RAY CHARLES AT DREAMERS GARDEN on Saturday, June 1, 2024. Her presence at this event made it most memorable.
We also dedicate this year’s luminaries to BARBARA ARMBRECHT (1947-2024), a beloved local folk and blues singer and guitar player, wife of Mark Armbrecht (1948-2023), with whom she formed MIDDLEGROUND, a musical duo admired by the Blues community of Northeast Central Florida.
We also dedicate this year’s luminaries in memory of ERIK SCOTT, a high school friend of David J. Edwards, who admired and was influenced by Jack Kerouac’s writing in his quest for artistic and spiritual expression and personal freedom.
We also dedicated this year’s luminary walk to Albert Hauser, Jr., David J. Edwards’s eldest cousin, with whom he spent part of his early childhood in Callicoon Center, in upstate New York in the Catskill Mountains.
We continue to honor and remember through this luminary walk all those who have lost their lives in the Ukrainian-Russian conflict and the Israeli-Palestinian war. Let there be peace.
We thank Ignite Life Center for their continued support of the Grove Street Neighborhood, the use of its green field for the celebration of the Grove Street Festival, and for providing its Fellowship Hall and volunteers to for the Dedication of the Gate of the Muses for Ray Charles at Dreamers Garden on June 1, 2024.
Please join us for this event that is truly grassroots and memorable.