Final Plans underway for annual Railroad Days Festival

NASSAU COUNTY, FL - Members of various area organizations are busy finalizing plans on a variety of events to be held at different locations throughout Callahan as the 3rd annual Railroad Days Festival draws nearer.

A decade ago, Archer and other towns along the old Florida Rail line started marking David Yulee’s historic achievement of linking the Atlantic with the Gulf by rail. In 2006 the West Nassau Historical Society and the Town of Callahan decided to join those towns and mark the sesquicentennial anniversary of Florida’s railroad pioneer trail blazing his railroad westward through Nassau County.

Today the Railroad Days Festival has grown into a multi-group celebration spanning two weekends. Joining the two original groups this year are the Greater Nassau County Chamber of Commerce and the West Nassau High School Athletic Boosters, who are actively planning events to coincide with Railroad Days. All have pledged to donate a portion of their proceeds to the West Nassau Historical Society to help defray the cost of maintaining the historic 1880s-era Callahan Depot.

SATURDAY, MAY 24TH: The Greater Nassau County Chamber of Commerce will kick off the festivities with a Miss Railroad Days Beauty Pageant on the Saturday before Memorial Day, beginning at 1:00 PM at the West Nassau High School Auditorium.

Contestants vie for trophies in four age groups, with the young ladies in the 16-18 age group competing for a $250 scholarship. There will be concessions served and entertainment during intermission. All four winners will participate in the Railroad Days Parade the following Saturday as well as portions of the program at the Depot.

For more information, contact the Greater Nassau County Chamber of Commerce at 904-879-1441 or stop by their office inside the Callahan Depot.

FRIDAY, MAY 30TH: The 3rd annual Railroad Days Festival resumes at the historical Callahan Depot at 12:00 noon with opening ceremonies, followed by the new historical marker dedication ceremony. The marker, the first erected on the western half of Nassau County in decades, tells of David Yulee and the major impact his cross peninsular railroad had to development of the inland portion of the state.

Food and craft vendors located inside and around the depot will open. Inside the depot, the artwork of Amelia Island artist, William Maurer will be on display, along with photo entries of the Railroad Days Photo Contest sponsored by the Nassau County Record. Live entertainment starts from the front deck of the depot at 3:00 PM until 10:00 PM and includes a street dance in the depot parking lot.

SATURDAY, MAY 31ST: The festivities continue at the Depot with the presenting of the colors at 8:00 AM as the craft and food vendors open. At 10:00 AM the County Building on Mickler Street opens up with model train layouts inside and a car show outside. At 11:00 AM the 3rd annual Railroad Days Parade begins its trek through Callahan.

After the parade, the Town of Callahan hosts children’s games and family fun at the newly expanded Ewing Park until 4:00 PM. Contact Janet Shaw with the town of Callahan for more information at 904-879-3801.

At 12:00 Noon the West Nassau High School Booster Club celebrates 40 years of Warrior athletics by holding a bed race at the high school track. Groups of five will race a custom made bed around the track. For more information, call Richard Hern at 904-879-5922.

Back at the depot, the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office will set up their Children’s ID program at the Chamber of Commerce inside the depot.

Opening festivities will commence on the front deck, including Sponsor Recognition and a Candidate’s Stump. Since David Yulee was a politician as well as a railroader (he was the first Jewish Senator elected to serve in Washington), those running for office and who are in the Railroad Days parade will be allow to speak for 3 minutes exactly from the front deck of the Depot.

Live entertainment resumes at 3:00 PM until 8:00 PM. The vendor area will close but there will be a street dance in the parking lot between 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM. For more information, call John Hendricks at 904-879-6651