February 1, 2, 3, 2013. Battle at Townsend's Plantation (Renningers Market at Mt. Dora). No reenactor participation fee. Battle 3pm Saturday and 2pm Sunday. This event is north of Orlando on Hwy 441 just a couple of miles from Mt. Dora at 20651 U.S. Hwy 441, Mt. Dora FL, 32757. As you start down the big hill, look for the Renningers flea market and battle sign on East side of road. If you are coming down the Fla. turnpike, get off at the new North Apopka exit #267A on the new 429 toll road then turn north on Hwy. 441 and follow the directions above. Contact: (Sutlers, Infantry and Artillery) Wayne Vaughn at colvaughn@cfl.rr.com
February 1, 2, 3, 2013. Battle of Bowlegs Creek Reenactment and Living History. Fort Meade, FL. Battles will take place on Saturday and Sunday at 1:30 PM. No reenactor fee (donation box at registration table). Location: 1 1/2 miles east of down town Ft. Meade on U.S. 98/Co. Rd. 630 at the Fort Meade Outdoor Recreation Area, just past the Peace River. Directions: From the east coast take I-4 to Co. Rd. 577, exit 48. Go 6 miles to Lake Alfred, turn right on 17/92 and go 18 miles to Bartow. 17/92 turns into 17, take 17 souths to Ft. Meade; turn left on to U.S. 98/Co. Rd. 630 go 1 1/2 miles east the Ft. Meade Outdoor Recreation Area will be on your right. From the East and West take St. Rd. 60 to Bartow 17/92 turns in to U.S. 17 south to Ft. Meade; turn left on to U.S. 98/Co. Rd. 630 go 1 1/2 miles east the Ft. Meade Outdoor Recreation Area will be on your right. From the south: Take US 17 north to Ft. Meade, turn right on to U.S. 98/Co. Rd. 630 go 1 1/2 miles east the Ft. Meade Outdoor Recreation Area will be on your right. For more information, contact Priscilla Perry at the Historic Fort Meade Chamber of Commerce email ftmeadechamber@yahoo.com or check their website at www.fortmeadechamber.com Reenactors and demonstrators contact David Hackel at cok28thgainf@yahoo.com
February 8, 9, 10, 2013. Fort Taylor, Key West, FL. See event information below.I still have the A frame tents available for those that need it. Camping this year is in the Australian Pines.
February, 9, 2013 . Annual Florida Southwest Heritage Festival. Myakka, Florida. Living history event. Reenactors, living historians and Florida crafters are needed to participate in a living history event. Old time preacher who can preach a fiery sermon at the Old Myakka Methodist Church is needed. Check their website at www.crowleyfl.org or email Deborah at 4beesherbs@mindspring.com
February 15, 16, 17, 2013. The Battle of Olustee. Olustee Battlefield State Historic Site, Olustee, Florida. The reenactment takes place on the actual site where the Battle of Olustee (Ocean Pond) was fought. Battles Saturday and Sunday. The Olustee Battle Festival Parade will begin at 10:30 AM. Reenactors are encouraged to participate. Buses will transport reenactor to and from the parade site and will be served breakfast. No pets. Due to concerns for public safety, no fur bearing animals such as cats and dogs will be allowed during the reenactment activities. This does not apply to horses. Website at: http://battleofolustee.org/ The battlefield is located just fifteen miles east of Lake City on Hwy. 90 from I-75 and 50 miles west of Jacksonville. Take I-75 to Hwy. 90 exit. Go east on Hwy. 90. Drive slow, the signs at the entrance for reenactors have been small and hard to see in the past. Contact the Olustee Battlefield Historic Site at (386) 758-0400 or email olusteecso@yahoo.com
February 22, 23, 24, 2013. Nature Coast Civil War Reenactment. Webster, Florida. NEW EVENT. This "new-old" event is sponsored by the original NCCWR committee and will be held at different location (do not confuse this event with the Crystal River Raid which will be held in March at the Holcim Ranch site). Location: S.R. 471. The key contact for reenactors is Ray Smutko at ray1861@earthlink.net For event information and sutler registration contact Bill Micklon at trechuck@tampabay.rr.com Additional event details will be posted on the Nature Coast Civil War website at www.naturecoastcivilwarreenactment.com
February 22, 23, 24, 2013. Fort DeSoto. St. Petersburg, FL. Battle re-enactment each afternoon at 1:30 PM. A limited number of re- enactor modern camping spaces will be available on a first contact, first served basis. Contact us for your reservation now because modern campers showing up on the day of the event without a reservation will not be allowed to camp. Information: contact Tom Stanton at youngtom50@yahoo.com
March 8, 9, 10, 2013. 16th Annual Crystal River Raid.Crystal River, FL The reenactment will be held once again at the Holcim, Inc. property site. A registration fee of $5 per reenactor nine years old and up to be paid at the time of sign-in at the registration desk. Civil War Battles take place at 2:00 PM Saturday and Sunday with pyrotechnic blasts for effects. Directions: Seven miles northwest of Crystal River along US 19/98, site is on the west side of the road. Site entrance signs will be on the highway. From Dunnellon, take CR 448 west, turn north on US 19/98; or SR 40 west to Inglis, turn south on US 19/98. From Orlando, take the Florida Turnpike north to I-75, exit at first exit at Wildwood (SR 44) to US 19, turn north to Crystal River and follow the signs. As you pass over the railroad tracks, get in the left lane. Go about a mile and turn left into the small one lane entrance road. GPS position: N28.59.281 W082.38.889 More information: http://crystalriverraid.org/
March, 22, 23, 24, 2013. The 20th Annual Battle at Narcoossee Mill.St. Cloud, FL. Battles both Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 PM. Visit www.jacobsummerlin.org for more information. Registered reenactors will receive a FREE supper between the Saturday night fire and the barn dance. Registration fee for all reenactors will be $5. GPS/Map address: 4700 Chisholm Park Trail, St. Cloud, Florida 34771.
April ?, ?, 2013. Parrish Train Raid. Parrish FL. This is a small event with two short battles per day, one at 11:00 AM and one at 1:00 PM both Saturday and Sunday. Well, not really battles but an attack on the train as it passes. The train stops and is boarded by the Federals or Confederates and "captured" or the attackers are driven off by the soldiers on the train. Reenactors in period dress will be allowed to ride the train free. There will be time to interact with the public both on and off the train if you like but first person impressions and scenarios on the train and after the train returns to the station must be approved by the event coordinator, Barry King. Artillery, Cavalry, Infantry and civilians are invited. Authentic and modern camping will be accommodated. Firewood and water will be provided. Driving directions: Follow I-275 south until it hits I-75. Parrish is easy to find. From south Fla. take I-75 north to Ellenton like you are going to Gamble Plantation. Instead of turning to the west, turn east on Hwy 301 to the town of Parrish. From Lakeland, go south on Highway 37 (It dead ends in to Highway 62). Turn west or right on Highway 62 toward Parrish. When you hit Highway 301, turn right and immediately right into the Post Office. The train stop is right behind the Post Office. From Orlando, come Highway 17 south to just south of Bowling Green. Turn west on Highway 62 and take it all the way to 301. Pre-registration is appreciated but not required. For further information, contact Barry King at bking75ovi@yahoo.com or call 352-817-1776.
April 12, 13, 14, 2013. The Raid On Bishops Farm.Holly Hill, FL. The Raid will consist of a re-enactment which will involve a number of Living History groups. There will be a battle on Saturday at 1:00 PM and on Sunday at 2:00 PM. There will be no re-enactor fee but donations will be greatly appreciated. For information, contact mla3838@aol.com Driving directions: Driving south on I-95 take LPGA Blvd. exit 265 east to Nova Rd. Turn left and go to Flomich St. and turn right. Driving north on I-95 take LPGA Blvd. exit 265 east to Nova Rd. and turn left. Travel to Flomich St. and turn right. The battlefield is on Flomich Ave, between Nova Rd. and Ridgewood Ave. in Holly Hill.
April 19, 20, 21, 2013. 3rd Annual Saint Andrews Bay Salt Works Raid. Panama City, FL. This event will be held on the beach of Saint Andrews Bay at West Beach Drive in Downtown Panama City Florida. The event ground is a 3.5 acre piece of private property within 200 yards of bay front beach utilized to conduct amphibious landings during the event. Naval reenactors are strongly encouraged to attend as are Confederate infantry units and civilian reenactors. Civilians can play an active role in the event as salt works laborers. Naval operations will be conducted by the Historical vessel Governor Stone, (full scale reproduction of the USS Wartoopo built by the Crystal River Boat Builders), and reproduction steam and rowed launch owned and operated by the Pawnee Marines and National Civil War Naval Museum. There will be pyrotechnics during the Saturday and Sunday afternoon battles in which an amphibious landing and raid on the salt works will be conducted by Federal Marine and Navy forces and defended by the Saint Andrews Confederate Militia. Pre-event registration is desired to enable the organizers and hosts to logistically plan. For further information please contact Steve Fetherman at stevef9550@yahoo.com Ron Boyce at rrrrx4@embarqmail.com Dutch Sanger at dsanger@pcdib.com
I am grateful to Col Niepert and his Florida Reenactors Online newsletter ( www.floridareenactorsonline.com) for the use of this information.
