Big: Culture & Arts Festival Kickoff Block Party

Big 2025 weekend kicks off on the night of April 11 with a block party takeover in the heart of downtown. A car show, skate jam and fashion show will complement an open mic session and live and DJ sets at How Bazar, Loosey’s and Cafe Voltaire featuring artists like Kaelin Ellis, Mr. Floyd Larry, They Hate Change, Rugh, DAY/DEM and Kill Zach. Presented by Dion Dia and How Bazar with support from Visit Gainesville, Alachua County as part of the county’s yearlong Discover 200 Bicentennial Celebration.
Then join us on Saturday at the BIG festival!

Dion Dia and How Bazar present the third annual Big: Culture & Arts Festival with support from Visit Gainesville, Alachua County as part of the county’s yearlong Discover 200 Bicentennial Celebration.

For the third iteration of this annual festival celebrating Florida’s diverse, creative communities, Big organizers have paired street culture with a circus atmosphere. Imagine: aerial artists dancing with silks to the sounds of skateboarders grinding on metal, or the pulse of drum and bass rhythms soundtracking a contortionist’s movements.

Big co-founders Laila Fakhoury and Jahi and Khary Khalfani — who co-own Florida’s Dion Dia Records and Gainesville third place, apparel store and nightlife venue How Bazar — envision the festival as an opportunity to spotlight and connect the wealth of creative talent housed within Florida, as well as introduce Floridian audiences to national touring artists. Big 2025 builds on the success of 2023’s The BIG SHO’ and last year’s Big, both of which saw the convergence of live music of all genres, multimedia art, skate, cars, fashion, and food.