Olustee Battlefield Civil War Expo
Event features re-enactors portraying life in Florida during the Civil War
Olustee Battlefield Civil War Expo
Event features re-enactors portraying life in Florida during the Civil War
The Department of Environmental Protection’s Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park will host its Civil War Expo on Saturday, September 27. Visitors can share the experience of Civil War
Military encampments with re-enactors and learn about the hardships and victories of war during the event. The annual Civil War Expo is a day of authentic military drills, music and storytelling, exhibits, period artisans and the war’s traveling merchants.
The event features re-enactors portraying both military and civilian life during the Civil War. Period musicians will perform music of the 1800’s throughout the day.
Demonstrations of blacksmithing and household tool making are scheduled, along with exhibits of relic collections. Demonstrations of authentic weapons and fighting tactics used in the Civil War will include cavalry and infantry drills.
The Battle of Olustee was fought in February, 1864 when Union troops marched west from Jacksonville seeking to deprive the Confederacy of food and other supplies from Central Florida. The Battle of Olustee resulted in a Confederate victory and the containment of Union troops to the Jacksonville area until the war ended nearly 14 months later.
The Civil War Expo will be open to the public from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. A donation of $5.00 per vehicle is requested. All proceeds benefit the Olustee Battlefield Citizens Support Organization and the Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park. The Olustee Civil War Expo is sponsored by the state park’s Citizen Support Organization, the Florida Park Service and the U. S. Forest Service. Please call (386) 397-7005 for more information.
