SPRINGTIME TALLAHASSEE, INC.
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA

About Springtime Tallahassee While Springtime Tallahassee is known for producing one of the top festivals in the southeastern United States, the festival weekend also provides a huge economic impact to Leon County. Visitors spending over the festival weekend is calculated to be over Attracting over 27,000 out of town visitors has a substantial impact on all hotels in Leon County accounting for more than 8,500 room nights generated. Restaurant, shopping, and lodging businesses represent more than 70% of all spending by festival visitors. So you see, Springtime Tallahassee is about fun in the sun and making a positive impact in our community at the same time! We wish to thank each of you for your participation in the past and and invite you to join us this year in our Springtime Tallahassee Festival. We welcome our community members and out-of-town visitors and hope you enjoy our city and our event as much as we enjoy celebrating Springtime in Tallahassee. The Springtime Tallahassee Festival The festival includes a lot of fun for families and friends, such as: Springtime Tallahassee Music Festival on Kleman Plaza featuring national entertainment, the Grand Parade, Jubilee in the Park, Children’s Park, and the entertainment stages throughout the Jubilee with local entertainment. Be sure to check out our fantastic group of arts, crafts and food vendors that offer a variety of items. Everyone should visit our Community & Tallahassee Music Week Stages to enjoy great local talent. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our many sponsors as well as our Springtime members, whose hundreds of volunteer hours help to make the Festival weekend a huge success. We thank all of you, who have given your time and financial support to make Springtime Tallahassee one of the greatest events in the Southeast. So, join us, as we celebrate Springtime Tallahassee in the “city where spring begins.” Springtime Tallahassee, Inc. was chartered as an organization dedicated to keeping Tallahassee as the state’s capital. In 1967, Florida had its first Legislature based on reapportionment when Southern and Central Florida Legislators suggested moving the capitol to Orlando. Local business and civic leaders met behind closed doors to map their strategy to keep the state’s capital in Tallahassee. The legislative delegation asked for help. At a luncheon of the Tallahassee Real Estate Association in May, the speaker suggested: “We should have a festival in the spring when Tallahassee is so beautiful!” By the fall, more than 20 groups were planning the First Annual Spring Festival March-April 1968. As a result, the Legislature historically chose to keep our state's capital in Tallahassee. With the passing of each festival, Springtime Tallahassee has grown a little bigger and better through the dedication of its community-minded members. Since 1968, Springtime Tallahassee continues to showcase and celebrate our Capital city! Springtime Tallahassee is a civic organization dedicated to the promotion and preservation of Tallahassee's history. The home and meeting place of the organization is the David S. Walker Library located in downtown Tallahassee. The building was built in 1903 and was named after David S. Walker, Governor of Florida from 1865-1868 and the founder of Tallahassee's first library. The Walker library was a functioning library until 1976 and then was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Springtime Tallahassee members have since raised the funds necessary to restore the building and it remains open to the public for viewing Monday through Friday. To promote the rich history of our community, Springtime Tallahassee annually selects two members to portray Andrew Jackson and his wife, Rachel. They serve, together with the President and the General Chairman, as representatives of the organization. Andrew Jackson was chosen as a representative of Springtime Tallahassee because of his service to Florida as the first provisional governor in 1821. He later became the seventh President of the United States. The Andrew Jackson Staff is a separate unit within Springtime Tallahassee, much like a sixth krewe. Its members are all Springtime members but it selects its officers, holds social functions throughout the year, and has a monthly meeting. Although not a requirement, most Staff members have served as krewe chief at the time of their election to Staff. Andrew Jackson XLVI and his Rachel, Rob and Bonnie Fisher are honored to be representing Springtime Tallahassee for its 50 Rob and Bonnie joined Springtime Tallahassee in 2003 and jumped in with both feet. Rob and Bonnie are members of the Antebellum Statehood Krewe. Rob has served as Krewe Chief of the Antebellum Statehood Krewe and has also served on the Andrew Jackson Executive Staff for five AJs including as Chief of Staff. Bonnie got started by volunteering in the office and either assisted or chaired the Springtime Tallahassee Jubilee for 8 years during which time she enjoyed working with all the venders participating in the Jubilee. Bonnie was the first recipient of The Betty McCord and Jean Rich Murray Volunteer of the Year Award in 2006. Bonnie is a past General Chairman, served as Rachel’s Chief of Staff and as Krewe Chief of Antebellum Statehood Krewe. One of Rob and Bonnie biggest pleasure is traveling to the different festivals and making new friends while promoting Springtime Tallahassee. Belles & Gents are the next generation of Springtime Tallahassee and are well represented by this youth service organization. 2018 Miss & Mr. Springtime Tallahassee and Miss Congeniality Mr. Springtime Tallahassee: The youngest generation of the Springtime Tallahassee organization! Jr. Belles & Gents is a service organization composed of fifth through eighth grade students. Many participants are children and grandchildren of Springtime Tallahassee members, there are also associate members who are not legacies of Springtime members. Springtime Tallahassee Is Now a Two Day Event