The Festival Grounds at Wickham Park

For 2011, off-site festival activities are being moved to the main park festival grounds. So all of the Native Rhythms Festival events will be conducted in and around the amphitheater on the west side of the main loop inside Wickham Park. Wickham Park's 391.04 acres are one of the most highly used park facilities in Brevard County. The park's 1.5 mile loop drive is popular for power walking, jogging, or cycling. Situated within the park are also two seasonally guarded swimming lakes, three small fishing lakes, an 18-hole disc golf course, archery range, horseshoe pits, volleyball courts, dog park, playground, and multipurpose and soccer fields. A .25 mile stationed exercise trail, 2,000 feet of nature trails, and horse trails invite exploration, with a horse stable and show ring for rental by equestrians.

The amphitheater area on the west side of the loop drive includes a large covered stage sitting beside a small lake that makes a beautiful backdrop for our entertainers. The ground is a contoured natural seating area facing the stage (bring your lawn chairs or a blanket to sit on the ground). The area just outside this mound is lightly pine-wooded and will be home for our vendors. There is plenty of parking and plenty of electric power available to allow our vendors to continue operating past sunset.

Just north of the amphitheater area, within a short walking distance, is the park's campground, listing 88 recently renovated campsites with water and electric hook-ups and 22 overflow campsites, and shower rooms, laundry, group camping site, and fire pit nearby. See our lodging/camping page for more information about the park campgrounds. Provisions are available adjacent to the vendor area for those vendors driving self-contained rigs not requiring power or water hook-ups. There is a reduced camping fee for vendors using this area - refer to the vendor rules and application for more information about camping in this area.

The photos below (taken in mid-January!!!) show what a beautiful location this is to conduct a music event that celebrates Native American music and culture.

Amphitheater stage, viewed from the mound top at the rear of the audience area

Covered stage up close with lake in background

Vendor area - the rear of the amphitheater audience area is on the other side of the fence to the left

Vendor area viewed from the top of the mound at the rear of the amphitheater audience area

In all, this is a beautiful location for a relaxed, low-key weekend enjoying the beauty of our Native inspired music in the great outdoors. Check out the Scrapbook pages for photos and videos of this area in action.

Directions to Wickham Park

Wickham Park is located at 2500 Parkway Drive, Melbourne, FL 32935. It is located at the corner of Wickham Road and Parkway Drive, with access achieved either directly from Wickham Road or from Parkway Drive. Below are directions and maps to the park. The park is located at the "A" tab on the maps below.

Directions to Wickham Park from the North

Directions to Wickham Park from the South

Directions to Wickham Park from Orlando

Directions to the Candlewood Suites

The official lodging host of the Native Rhythms Festival is the Candlewood Suites located at 2930 Pineda Causeway, Melbourne, FL 32940. This will be the residence of our headline performers and has become popular with many of our visitors during the festival. For more information about booking your stay at the Candlewood Suites, see our lodging/camping page.

The Candlewood Suites (indicated by the "1" tab on the below map) is located just east of Wickham Road on the Pineda Causeway (State Road 404), about 4 miles north of Wickham Park.

The intersection has recently undergone a considerable reconfiguration. The satellite image below shows that the main road to/from the Pineda Causeway no longer passes in front of the Candlewood Suites. Coming northbound on Wickham Road from Wickham Park, proceed to the next intersection past the new Pineda Causeway intersection, just past the giant cross at the Pineda Presbyterian Church on your left, to the next traffic light. Turn right there onto the old Pineda Causeway road. Follow this road to it's end and it will deposit you into the Candlewood Suites parking lot.