Big concerts happen nearly every day in Florida, but for the really big shows you need to head out to a festival.
On the positive side, you will find a bunch of acts that play the same general kind of music — country or rock or hip hop — all for the price of a single ticket.
On the other hand, you will likely find big crowds of other people who love that kind of music and you will be subject to Florida's weather, which might be baking hot, pouring rain or filled with bugs. When your favorite band kicks into the encore, though, it will all be worth it.
Here are some of the biggest fests scheduled in the Sunshine State in 2023. Note that the big fall festivals — Suwannee Roots Revival, Suwannee Hulaween, Country Thunder, Electric Daisy — have generally announced dates but not who will be playing, so we left them off this list.
More big shows:23 concerts to see in the Jacksonville area in 2023
More to see, do:23 big events returning to Jacksonville in 2023
Thunder By The Bay Music and Motorcycle Festival
- When: February 17-19
- Where: Sarasota Fairgrounds
- Who's playing: .38 Special, Colt Ford, Twinkle, Nuthin Fancy the Ultimate Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Band, Nobody's Fool, Maiden Cane, Highway to Hell and, Bobby Friss. Check Friday, Saturday and Sunday schedules for performance times.
- Tickets: $10 per person in advance; $15 at the gate; free for children 12 and under. VIP tickets: $125 plus fee. Sunday premium VIP tickets: $175 plus fee. Two-day VIP tickets: $225 plus fee. Two day premium VIP tickets: $325 plus fee.
- Info: thunderbythebay.org
Heart Support Fest
- When: Feb. 18-19
- Where: Central Florida Fairgrounds, Orlando
- Who's playing: August Burns Red, Bleed From Within, Bloodlines, Comeback Kid, Dance Gavin Dance, Harm’s Way, Hawthorne Heights, She Is Legend, Memphis May Fire, Parkway Drive, Prison, Rise Against, Silverstein, Spiritbox, The Devil Wears Prada, The Ghost Inside, The Word Alive
- Tickets: $85 single day; $175 single day, VIP; $150 two day; $330 two day, VIP.
- Info: www.heartsupportfest.com
Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival 2023
- When: March 2-5
- Where: Sunshine Grove, Okeechobee
- Who's playing? Goose, Dirty Heads, Lil Yachty, Odesza, Griz, Flipturn, Sunsquabi, Earth, Wind & Fire and others
- Tickets: $349-$549
- Info: okeechobeefest.com
Florida Strawberry Festival
- When: March 2-12
- Where: 303 BerryFest Place in Plant City
- Gate admission: $10 adults (ages 13+); $5 children (ages 6-12); Free for children 5 and under with paid adult admission.
- Who's playing and cost for each show: 10:30 a.m. March 2, Jimmy Sturr and his Orchestra, free with gate admission; 3:30 p.m. March 2, The Oak Ridge Boys Front Porch Singin' Tour, $30; 7:30 p.m. March 2, Walker Hayes, $40; 3:30 p.m. March 3, Willie Nelson & Family, $50; 7:30 p.m. March 3, Halestorm, $45; 3:30 p.m. March 4, Sara Evans, $35; 7:30 p.m. March 4 Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, $40; 3:30 p.m. March 5, The Gatlin Brothers, $25; 7:30 p.m. March 5, Chris Young, $60; 3:30 p.m. March 6 Neal McCoy, $30; 7:30 p.m. March 6, Josh Turner, $35; 3:30 p.m. March 7, Roots & Boots Aaron Tippin, Collin Raye and Sammy Kershaw, $35; 7:30 p.m. March 7, Cece Winans, $25; 3:30 p.m. March 8 Tanya Tucker, $35; 7:30 p.m. March 8, The Jacksons, $40; 10:30 a.m. Bill Haley Jr. & the Comets, free with paid admission; 3:30 p.m. March 9, Tommy James & the Shondells, $35; 7:30 p.m. March 9 For King + Country, $40; 3:30 p.m. March 10, Wayne Newton, $40; 7:30 p.m. March 10, Train, $50; 3:30 p.m. March 11, Sawyer Brown, $30; 7:30 p.m. March 11, Isley Brothers, $40; 3:30 p.m. March 12, The Leroy Van Dyke Country Gold Tour, featuring Leroy Van Dyke, T.G. Sheppard, Mandy Barnett and T. Graham Brown, $35; 7:30 p.m. March 12, Lynyrd Skynyrd, $60.
- Info: flstrawberryfestival.com
Jazz in the Gardens
- When: March 11-12
- Where: Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens
- Who's playing: Jill Scott, Jodeci, El DeBarge, Erykah Badu, Charlie Wilson and others
- Tickets: $105-$1,425
- Info: jazzinthegardens.com
Reggae Rise Up
- When: March 16-19
- Where: Vinoy Park, St. Petersburg
- Tickets: $125 multi-day passes; $60 single day passes; $1250 and up VIP tables
- Who's playing: 311, Alborosie, Arise Roots, Collie Buddz, Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, Denm, Dirty Heads, Dispatch, Drifting Roots, Dry Reef, Gone Gone Beyond, Hirie, Iya Terra, J Boog, Joe Samba, Knex, Koffee, Little Stranger, Matisyahu, Mihali, Neverless, Pepper, Raging Fyah, Rebelution, Roots Of Creation, Sa-Roc, Satsang, Sierra Lane, Sublime With Rome, The Elovaters, The Irie, The Movement, The Sub Herbs, Tropidelic, Tunnel Vision, Wiz Khalifa
- Info: reggaeriseup.com/florida
Innings Festival Florida 2023
- When: March 18-19
- Where: Raymond James Stadium in Tampa
- Tickets: $189-$12,500
- Who's playing: Imagine Dragons, Weezer, Pitbull, Grouplove, Japanese Breakfast, Tai Verdes, Joey Valence & Brae, Cydeways, Dave Matthews Band, the Avett Brothers, Marcus Mumford, The Revivalists, Third Eye Blind, The Breeders, Faye Webster, The Heavy Heavy, The Ries Brothers.
- Info: inningsfestival.com/florida
Suwannee Spring Reunion
- When: March 23-26
- Where: Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak
- Who's playing: The Infamous Stringdusters featuring Molly Tuttle, Sam Bush, Leftover Salmon, Steep Canyon Rangers, The Earls of Leicester, Peter Rowan, Donna the Buffalo, Sierra Hull, Keller Williams, Jim Lauderdale, Jon Strickley Trio, Verlon Thompson, Roy Book Binder, Rev. Jeff Mosier Ensemble, The Grass is Dead, Big Richard, Hattie Craven & Joe Craven, John Mailander's Forecast, Armchair Boogie, Caleb Caudle, Mile Twelve, The Ain't Sisters, Medicine Springs, Lee Hunter & The Gatherers, Nikki Talley & Jason Sharp, Quartermoon, Sloppy Joe, Belle & The Band, Free Range Strange, Habanero Honeys, Tania & Magic Moon Traveling Circus.
- Tickets: $60-$275
- Info: suwanneespringreunion.com
Ultra Music Festival
- When: March 24-26
- Where: Bayfront Park in Miami
- Who's playing: David Guetta, Gryffin, Afrojack, Hardwell, Slushii, Reinier Zonneveld and others
- Tickets: $399.95-$449.95.
- Info: ultramusicfestival.com
Resonate Suwannee 2023
- When: March 30-April 1
- Where: Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak
- Who's playing: STS9, Big Something, Lettuce, Lotus, the Floozies and others
- Tickets: $179-$219.
- Info:resonatesuwannee.com
Springing The Blues
- When: March 31–April 2
- Where: SeaWalk Pavilion in Jacksonville Beach
- Who's playing: E.G. Kight, Selwyn Birchwood, Albert Cummings, Vanessa Collier, Victor Wainwright & the Train and others
- Tickets: Free. VIP seating available for $65-$179.
- Info: springingtheblues.com
Blackwater Sol Revue
- When: April 14-15
- Where: St. Augustine Amphitheatre
- Who's playing: JJ Grey & Mofro, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Brothers of a Feather, Robert Cray
- Tickets: $50-$105
- Info: theamp.com
Tampa Bay Blues Festival
- When: April 14-16
- Where: Vinoy Park in St. Petersburg.
- Who's playing: Robert Cray, Tower of Power, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Tab Benoit, Tommy Castro and the Painkillers, Ana Popovic, Colin James, Vanessa Collier, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Chris Cain, Dawn Tyler Watson, Mr. Sipp, Jimmy Carpenter, JT Lauritsen & The Buckshot Hunters, Larry McCray Band.
- Tickets: $60-$800
- Info: tampabaybluesfest.com
Tortuga Music Festival 2023
- When: April 14-16
- Where: Fort Lauderdale Beach
- Who's playing: Eric Church, Shania Twain, Kenny Chesney, Jake Owen, Brett Young, The Wallflowers and others.
- Tickets: $275-$2,199.
- Info: tortugamusicfestival.com
Florida Groves Fest
- When: April 15-16
- Where: Central Florida Fairgrounds in Orlando
- Who's playing: Thievery Corporation, Protoje, Collie Buddz, Fortunate Youth, Bumpin Uglies and others.
- Tickets: $50-$225
- Info: floridagrovesfest.com
Suwannee River Jam 2023
- When: April 19-22
- Where: Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park
- Who's playing: Lineup has not been released
- Tickets: $110-$360
- Info: www.suwanneeriverjam.com
Seabreeze Jazz Festival
- When: April 19-23
- Where: Aaron Beasant Park Amphitheater in Panama City Beach
- Who's playing: Euge Groove, the Jacksons, Najee, George Benson, Boney James, Kem, Gerald Albright, Mindi Abair and others.
- Tickets: Sold out
- Info: seabreezejazzfestival.com
Moon Crush 2023
- When: April 20-23
- Where: Seascape Resort in Miramar Beach
- Who's playing: JJ Grey & Mofro, Red Clay Strays, Sierra Hull, Mipso, Trampled by Turtles, the Avett Brothers, Myron Elkins, Brittney Spencer, Marcus King, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, the New Respects, Wilder Woods, Fitz and the Tantrums, Black Crowes,
- Tickets: $295-$1,000
- Info:tixr.com/groups/mooncrush/events/mooncrush-moon-crush-pink-moon-23-46554
Echoland Festival
- When: May 11-13
- Where: Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak
- Who's playing: Vulfpeck, Phil Lesh & Friends, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Tenacious D, Gov't Mule and others.
- Tickets: $289-$8,000
- Info: echolandfestival.com
Welcome to Rockville 2023
- When: May 18-21
- Where: Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach
- Who's playing: Slipknot, Rob Zombie, Puscifer, Alice Cooper, Queens of the Stone Age, Avenged Sevenfold, Pantera, Godsmack and others.
- Tickets: General admission starts at $119.99-$1,079.96
- Info: welcometorockvillefestival.com
Jacksonville Jazz Festival
- When: May 25-28
- Where: Downtown Jacksonville
- Who's playing: TBA
- Info: jacksonvillejazzfest.com
Florida Folk Festival
- When: May 26-28
- Where: Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park in White Springs.
- Tickets: $40-$80
- Info: floridastateparks.org/FloridaFolkFestival
Sunset Music Festival 2023
- When: May 27-28
- Where: Raymond James Stadium in Tampa
- Who's playing? Odd Mob, AC Slater, Slushii, Westend, Zomboy and others.
- Tickets: $149.95-$259.95
- Info: smftampa.com
Gulf Coast Jam Festival
- When: June 1-4
- Where: Panama City Beach
- Who's playing: Morgan Wallen, Miranda Lambert, Hardy, Kane Brown, Justin Moore, Chase Rice, Gabby Barrett, Dylan Scott, Ernest, Warren Zeiders, Bailey Zimmerman, Breland, Seaforth, Dozzi, Lily Rose, Mackenzie Porter, Shane Profitt, Dylan Marlowe, Them Dirty Roses, Jonboy Storey and others.
- Tickets: Sold out
- Info:www.gulfcoastjam.com
