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Entertainment

Heritage festival offers glimpse of the early years

The event marks the county's 163rd birthday with a showcase of skills used by early settlers, entertainment and food.

By LOGAN NEILL
Published February 17, 2006

BROOKSVILLE - Although the annual Heritage Day Festival was established 26 years ago to commemorate the launch of Hernando County as a governmental entity, to Virginia Jackson, the event has always been much more than just a glorified birthday celebration.

"As a historian, I'm grateful for any opportunity to show people what life was like back when the county was just getting established," said Jackson, of the Hernando Historical Museum Association, which sponsors the event. "To me, knowing how everyday life was back then gives us a perspective as to how far we have come since."

Indeed, the daylong festival offers a cultural showcase of 19th century skills that early settlers found essential. Visitors can observe the intricate art of chair cane weaving, rope making and other hand-crafting techniques of the era. In addition, folks can wander the rooms of the post Civil War-era May-Stringer Museum and perhaps get a better appreciation of modern day conveniences such as electricity, running water and telephones.

"People seem to marvel at how primitive it all seemed. But when you consider what life was like in Florida 30 or 40 years before, it's amazing how things progressed," Jackson said.

The festival, which celebrates the county's 163rd birthday, offers a leisurely day of activities that includes music and entertainment by local and regional artists - the Talako Native American Dancers, Noel Hart and Alice Yost, the Step Sisters, the Old Sault Band and others.

In addition, about 30 artisans, craft makers and food vendors will be set up on the museum grounds, and there will be a silent auction to benefit the museum.

Along with the annual Brooksville Raid Festival, the Heritage Day Festival has become a significant fundraiser for the privately owned museum. Proceeds go toward maintaining the May-String house as well as for the continuing restoration of the Russell Street train station.

"The museums are vital links to our community's past," Jackson said. "The support we receive from the community helps to make sure that they will be here for future generations to enjoy."

Logan Neill can be reached at lneill@sptimes.com or 352 848-1435.

The Heritage Day Festival runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday on the grounds of the May-Stringer Museum at 601 Museum Court, just east of downtown Brooksville. Festival admission is free, however, admission to the museum is $3 for adults and $1 for children. For information, call 799-0129.

[Last modified February 17, 2006, 02:15:35]