Old Florida Festival page 2

 The OLD FLORIDA FESTIVAL is designed to preserve and protect the local traditions and folkways that are rapidly disappearing from our daily lives, and to pass this important heritage to the next generation of citizens. This colorful, living history event is a key part of the Museum's educational mission and has received high praise from local educators for its interpretive quality, authenticity, hospitality and the overall excellence of its presenters. Proceeds from the OLD FLORIDA FESTIVAL help to fund the Museum "express" a highly successful Friends' program that underwrites transportation costs for Collier County students and enables classes to visit the Museum when no other funding sources are available.


THEME
 OLD FLORIDA FESTIVAL is a celebration of 6000 years of South Florida history and features a Sampling of the people and events that have shaped our past. This is year's event features the dedication of the recently completed Seminole War fort, and a preview of the upcoming World War II exhibit that will open in January 2001


OVERVIEW
 The OLD FLORIDA FESTIVAL is held on the grounds of the Collier County Museum on the first weekend of each November. The festival is open to the public from 10:00^am to 5:00^pm both Saturday and Sunday, rain or shine. Approximately 5,000 to 6,000 visitors attend. A typical OLD FLORIDA FESTIVAL consists of 70 or more participants arranged in historic "camps" that portray a specific era in Florida history. Re-enactors and craft workers provide continuous drills and demonstrations through first hand impressions. Participants develop and display historical artifacts and materials in their camps and encourage questions from the public. A growing number of period vendors or sutlers also attend, offering reproductions, art, food, gift items and historically correct goods for sale. Participation in the event is by application and invitation only.


ADMISSION
A small admission fee of $5 is charged for adults, students $3, with children under 8 admitted free.


ORGANIZATION and CONTENT
 The OLD FLORIDA FESTIVAL will be arranged on the Museum's festival grounds in distinctive groupings or camps with each representing a particular cultural theme or era in Florida history.

CAMP I: FIRST FLORIDIANS
 Dedicated to Southwest Florida's first Native American cultures, the camp begins with an impression of the Paleoindians, stone-age man that first populated Florida. Pre-Columbian Calusa Indians are portrayed by members of the Heritage of the Ancient Ones. The grouping also includes early Creek and Seminole Indians, as well as the lesser known Black Seminole.

CAMP II: SPANISH CONQUEST
 Here, living historians recreate the members of a 16th century Spanish expedition to Florida. Featured are crossbow and early firearms demonstrations, repairing armor, and the typical camp life of a garrison in the New World.

CAMP III: FLORIDA COLONIAL LIVING
 The period 1700 to 1850 is represented by Continental and British soldiers of the American Revolution, Spanish colonists, militiamen from Fort Mose, early American pioneers, colorful artisans, frontiersmen and townspeople. Pirate gamesters demonstrate popular period games and tell about life aboard an 18th century ship.