It is once again time for one of Wakulla’s most interesting festivals, Knapfest! Celebrating its 10th year, Knapfest is the primitive arts and Stone Age festival that preserves the lost traditions and skills of the Stone Age period. The event runs from February 24th to 26th and will be from 8 am until 4 pm each day. For $4 per vehicle at the Ochlockonee River State Park, you and your friends and family can come learn how primitive man hunted, created weapons, and made clothes as well as enjoy watching various competitions.
Knapfest Activities
Conveniently located off US Highway 319, four miles southwest of Sopchoppy, the Tenth Annual Stone Age and Primitive Arts Festival focuses on how man lived and worked hundreds to thousands of years ago. Learn how early mankind fashioned stone tools by watching and participating in demonstrations of flint knapping.
You can discover bone, antler, and wood carvings, observe deer hide tanning, and learn primitive methods of early pottery, basket weaving, and bow and arrow construction. Watch as competitors show off their skills in primitive archery and Atlatl throwing. There will also be an auction on Saturday with donated items. For a full schedule of events, click here.
History of Wakulla’s Knapfest
Though Knapfest is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2017, its history dates back to an event organized by a former Payne’s Prairie park ranger, Kevin Patton. Kevin has a lifelong love of flint knapping — the art of shaping stone to make tools. Once he met Claude Van Order, a well-known flint knapper, Kevin was able to organize the Knap-In and Primitive Arts Festival in 1998.
In 2008, Ochlockonee River State Park became the host of the event which drew more than 1,000 visitors. The following year’s festival was attended by over 2,400 people. Now, thousands flock to the area to learn, observe, and participate in various activities.
Wakulla County’s Invites You to Stay
2017 Knapfest is only one of the numerous unique attractions in Wakulla County. Choose from diverse activities including kayaking, biking, hiking, paddling, fishing, and more. Or, simply relax and take in all the natural beauty of Wakulla County at one of our several National Parks. To get the full Wakulla County experience, come for Knapfest then stay for a few extra days to explore all that Wakulla County has to offer. Visit our accommodations page to start planning your next Wakulla trip!
