Adderley Amphitheater at Cascades Park

The heartbeat of Cascades Park is undoubtedly the Adderley Amphitheater at Cascades Park. This amphitheater provides the park's pulse, making it alive and vibrant with color and sound. Located next to the Prime Meridian Plaza, the amphitheater features a canopied 80 feet by 55 feet stage, which can be seen from all angles of the park. The amphitheater is equipped to handle both local and regional acts - musical, theatrical and just about anything else that tickles your fancy. With its state-of-the-art lighting and sound system, you and your friends are sure to be amazed!

The Adderley is named for Julian "Cannonball" and Nathaniel "Nat" Adderley. Both brothers began playing brass instruments early in life and performed throughout their teenage years in local and high school bands. Both brothers then graduated from FAMU and eventually became jazz giants widely known for pioneering the sub-genre "soul jazz." Over the course of their careers, Cannonball and Nat both had significant success playing in their own bands as well as with major jazz musicians, including Ray Charles, Lionel Hampton, J.J. Johnson, Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Though they traveled widely, Tallahassee was home. The Adderley brothers often returned for family visits and were both laid to rest in Tallahassee's Southside Cemetery.

To recognize these important historical figures, the City Commission began the process in April 2022 to rename both the amphitheater and adjacent portion of Suwannee Street after the Adderleys, and a ceremony was held in January of 2023.

View more photos of The Adderley

If you are interested in booking the amphitheater, be sure to check out the Cascades Park Event Planning Guide. When you are ready to book your event, use the Date Request Form.

Tickets and Events
Tickets to events at the Capital City Amphitheater can be purchased through CapitalCityAmphitheater.com.

The Parkview at Cascades

Parkview at Cascades is the perfect spot to celebrate with style. Our venue offers:

• Multiple event space options
• Picturesque views of Cascades Park
• Quality tech options to amplify your event
• Friendly staff to assist with facility needs

Parkview serves as both an amphitheater support space and an affordable event rental space for the public. The Parkview at Cascades features a spacious ballroom, the Cascades Overlook Lounge, a boardroom, four dressing rooms, and a balcony that overlooks beautiful Cascades Parks.

Imagination Fountain

Perhaps the place where you'll hear the most laughs and giggles is at Imagination Fountain. Located on the west side of the Prime Meridian Plaza, Imagination Fountain offers a fun, water-park atmosphere for children. The fountain, which features 73 jets, randomly shoots filtered water into the air, wetting even the most suspecting children. Once your little ones have had enough fun, they can change into dry clothes in the public changing rooms right next to the fountain area.

While the fountain offers a fun way to cool off in the daytime, it's equally cool at night. After dark, Imagination Fountain is not only a water feature, it's a show! Programmed to music and lights, the fountain performs a magnificent, repeating, seven-minute show beginning at dusk.

Birthday parties are definitely welcome at Imagination Fountain and throughout the park! Space is available on a first come first serve basis. Grills are not allowed in the Fountain or Amphitheater areas and vehicles may not enter the park. Please call 850-891-3816 to check a date to be sure there is not an event conflicting your party date.

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Rules

• No food or drink allowed in fountain
• No animals allowed in fountain
• No one allowed in fountain during nighttime finale show

Hours of Operation

• Interactive Play: 9:00am - 8:00pm daily
• No Evening Fountain Shows at the moment

*Concerts in the park may suspend evening shows.
There may be occasions the Fountain is not operational due to maintenance.

Discovery

Laughs and giggles from children are a staple at Cascades Park, and nowhere can more laughs be heard than their own special play zone - Discovery. This playscape, thoughtfully designed with natural materials in mind, engages children through sense and imagination. Some of the obstacles in the Discover play area include a Cypress Climb, Steephead Slide, Log Jump, Butterfly Garden and Beach Sand area.

Walk...or Just Relax

If peace and tranquility is what you're looking for, Cascades Park has that, too. Weaving throughout Cascades Park are miles of trails – trails for walking, jogging, biking or whatever suits you. There are three main trails in Cascades Park - the Nancy Van Vessem, M.D Trail, Bocha Chuba pond loop and the Smokey Hollow pond loop. Altogether, the trails make up 2.3 miles of paved pathways.

You're sure to enjoy the options, and your four-legged friends will, too. Cascades Park is pet-friendly, as long as your furry feline or canine is on a leash. If you bring your furry friend to Cascades, please take advantage of our pet waste stations to keep the park looking good.

The trails of Cascades Park connect to the Capital Cascades Trail, which will run along the newly constructed FAMU Way and connect with the St. Marks Trail, allowing for a seamless path from Tallahassee to the Gulf coast.

Download a copy of the Fitness Map

Prime Meridian Marker

In the middle of the park is something that links all Floridians together - the Prime Meridian Marker. This marker, which was originally set in 1824, is the beginning point for all land surveys in the state of Florida, and it's the original southeast corner for Tallahassee's first boundary. Today, the marker is housed inside a map of Florida, which is inlaid into the bottom of the Prime Meridian Plaza, with colorful bricks and sturdy granite.

Smokey Hollow Commemoration

Tallahassee's Smokey Hollow Commemoration stands in remembrance of the African American community that existed from its founding after the Civil War to its destruction in the 1960s. Smokey Hollow covered much of the area that is now Cascades Park. Smokey Hollow became home to an emerging black middle class that wanted to forge a path of their own. Despite the limitations presented by segregation, Smokey Hollow remained a warm and tight-knit, family community. To the residents, it was more than just a place to live. Smokey Hollow was home.

The story of Smokey Hollow is the story of our nation. Mid-twentieth century government intervention displaced vibrant communities of working class people, immigrants and minorities across the U.S. While the specific contours of that story in Tallahassee were unique, the outcome was not. The Commemoration forces us to rethink historical narratives of the uprooted. The Commemoration, which connects via sidewalk to the John G. Riley Museum, features a pavilion, community and heritage gardens, interpretive panels, and spirit houses, which represent the shotgun house that was one of the housing types found in the neighborhood.

Korean War Memorial

Beyond these two landmarks, there is still plenty to learn in Cascades Park. For example, there is the Korean War Memorial and informational panels strategically placed throughout the park that make for great reading when walking the many trails. Did you know that "Famous Amos" of Famous Amos cookies has a tie to the park? Learn more about that and other fun Tallahassee tidbits while exploring Cascades Park.

Designed to Flood

Cascades Park is first and foremost a stormwater management system consisting of a network of underground channels, open streams, and retention ponds. To provide flood relief both north and south of the park, Cascades Park is designed to flood during major storm events.

The stormwater facilities provide both flood protection and treatment of urban runoff pollutants. A large underground channel called a box culvert diverts the runoff generated by large storm events directly to Boca Chuba Pond to protect the restored stream and to minimize the impact to the park.

Historical Features

From the Prime Meridian Plaza, to the Smokey Hollow Commemoration, to the Korean War Memorial, there are plenty of other sights to see. Check out the History page for more details on these park features.

Voice of Trees

Through the Voice of Trees - Tallahassee sound walk, you’ll discover local poets who pay homage to Cascades Park, one of the City of Tallahassee’s gems. By following the route on the Echoes app, visitors will hear a selection of original poems read aloud by the poets themselves.

Each poem represents a different location within Cascades Park and encourages visitors to discover spots for quiet contemplation. Inspired by the monumental trees and surrounding landscape, these poems serve as a celebration of the unique features of the area. From Smokey Hollow Pond to Centennial Field, visitors can explore the city’s history while enjoying its natural beauty. Learn more about Voice of Trees.

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