The late Father of Florida Folk, Will McLean, wanted to save Florida through music.  For more than 25 years, a festival named in his honor, has sponsored a song contest to help facilitate McLean’s passion.  Each year a winner and two top finishers are selected by a panel of judges and are given the opportunity to perform their winning song at the annual Will McLean Folk Festival .  Click on a link below to hear the winning songs and 2nd and 3rd place finishers from the long-running festival.

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2024 Song Contest Winner Jim Bickerstaff, 2nd Amy Carol Webb, 3rd Tie Elisabeth Williamson and Kurt Fortmeyer

2023 Song Contest Winner Daniel Childs, 2nd Chad Spikes, 3rd Sarah McCulloch

2022 Song Contest Winner Jim Terry, 2nd Joshua Reilly, 3rd Joe Virga

2021 Song Contest Winner Scott Jackson, 2nd Scott Jackson, 3rd Cindy Bear and Franc Robert

2020 Song Contest Winner The Currys, 2nd John R. Butler, 3rd Jim Bickerstaff

2019 Song Contest Winner Bob Patterson, 2nd Paul Smithson, 3rd Razz Taylor

2018 Song Contest Winner Kathryn Belle Long, 2nd John R. Butler, 3rd Jeff Trippe

2017 Song Contest Winner “Mean Mary,” 2nd “Mean Mary,” 3rd Jeff Parker

2016 Song Contest Winner Lauren Heintz, 2nd Paul Garfinkel and Pete Price, 3rd Ray Sealey

2015 Song Contest Winner Hank Mattson, Dana Robinson, 2nd John Butler and  3rd Lauren Heintz

2014 Song Contest Winner Jane Fallon, 2nd Larry Mangum and 3rd Ray Sealey

2013 Song Contest Winner Elisabeth Williamson, 2nd Susan Brown and 3rd Rog Lee

2012 No Song Contest

2011 Song Contest Winner Ron Johnson, 2nd Al Scortino, 2nd Frank Julian and 3rd Michael Denney

2010 Song Contest Winner Dawn DeWitt, 2nd Walt Leuzinger, and 3rd Michael Denney

2009 Song Contest Winner Garrison Doles, 2nd Chris Kahl and 3rd Carly Bak

2008 Song Contest Winner Rog Lee, 2nd Malcolm McKinney and 3rd Doug Spears

2007 Song Contest Winner Elisabeth Williamson, 2nd Al Scortino and 3rd Scott Morris

2006 Song Contest Winner Mike Jurgensen, 2nd David and Mary Anna Evans and 3rd Larry Mangum

2005 Song Contest Winner Bruce Tetley, 2nd Cathy DeWitt, and (tie) 3rd Lucia Jenkins and Bob Patterson

2004 Song Contest Winner Mike Jurgensen, 2nd Charley Simmons and 3rd David Milam

2003 Song Contest Winners John Hammond, Bettina Makley, (tie) 1st Jeffrey Smith, 2nd Bryan Rivers and 3rd Mike Jurgensen

2002 Song Contest Winner Amy Carol Webb and 2nd Steve Sternberg, 3rd Amy Carol Webb

2001 Song Contest Winner Robbin Bach, 2nd Marie Nofsinger and 3rd Lucinda Kidd Hackney

2000 Song Contest Winner Okefenokee Joe, 2nd Al Scortino and 3rd Gregg Jones

1999 Song Contest Winner Paul Garfinkel, 2nd Lenny Craven, Grant Livingston and 3rd Richard Knellinger

1998 Song Contest Winner Mike Jurgensen, 2nd Lance Lazonby and 3rd Al Scortino

1997 Song Contest Winner Doug Spears, 2nd Paul Garfinkel and 3rd Paul Garfinkel

1996 Song Contest Winner Dennis Dunn, 2nd Okefenokee Joe and 3rd Paul Garfinkel

1995 Song Contest Winner Stan Geberer, 2nd Brad Boone and 3rd Mem Semmes

1994 Song Contest Winner J. Robert Houghtaling, 2nd Lee Paulet and 3rd Al Scortino

1993 Song Contest Winner Boomslang, 2nd Ron Litschauer and a 3-way tie for third

1992 Will McLean Song Contest Winner Ken Skeens, 2nd Ken Skeens, 3rd Ken Skeens

Click here to go back to the Will McLean Festival website