Annual Olustee Festival: Creative Crafts & Captivating Civil War Reenactment
While most of the world finds themselves preoccupied with the upcoming Valentine’s holiday, the Olustee community is gearing up for a much bigger annual event. Forget about flowers and chocolates and love – we’ve got arts and crafts and the Civil War!
This year’s Olustee Festival marks the 46th annual reenactment of the Battle of Olustee – a time-honored tradition that brings one of the Civil War’s bloodiest battles back to the forefront of memory. Even folks who don’t identify as history buffs will find themselves fascinated by the authentic costumes, maneuvers, and sheer grandeur of the recreation. With over 1,700 Civil War reenactors, this is the largest, annual Civil War event in the southeast!1
In addition to this incredible, immersive experience, the Olustee Festival also boasts over 200 booths featuring hand-made goods, yummy food, and fun activities to partake in.
Mark your calendars for February 18th-20th, because you definitely don’t want to miss this!!
The Battle of Olustee (The Real One)
The Battle of Olustee, also known as Ocean Pond, was the largest Civil War conflict in the state of Florida.2 Ten thousand men engaged in the battle, including the famous 54th Massachusetts regiment, resulting in 2,807 casualties at the end of the day.3 There was a clear-cut victor, and yet, as with the Civil War itself, one has to wonder if there were really any winners after so much destruction.
Quick Pre-Battle Backstory
Florida was a Confederate-controlled state. Weeks prior to the battle, the Union had invaded. (Of course, the Union wanted Florida back – they missed the oranges, the beaches, Disney World…!)
General Truman Seymour was making his way through Florida, securing towns, severing enemy supply lines, and basically telling Confederate forces to get lost. Following close behind Seymour was John Hays, President Lincoln’s private secretary, issuing loyalty oaths to residents in hopes of getting Florida back on track for the 1864 Republican party convention.4
Things seemed to be going smoothly…until Olustee.
The Battle Ensues
On February 20th, Seymour advanced toward Lake City, only to be met by the enemy. Unlike other towns, Lake City wasn’t going to be subdued so quietly.
The Union and Confederate forces collided, and Seymour’s men were rebutted. But the Union general wasn’t worried; he had plenty more men with which to combat this measly, Florida militia.
But that’s where he was wrong.
This wasn’t a Florida militia – it was General Joseph Finegan and his Confederate force of 5,000 men (equal to Seymour’s own forces). They were simply, sneakily, entrenched in the nearby pine wood.5
Based on his mistaken assumption, Seymour commanded his forces in a piecemeal fashion. The battle seemed never-ending, raging on for five grueling hours. As the Union forces ran low on energy and ammunition, Finnegan released the last of his own men for one last push.
The Union line broke and retreated.6
In the end, Union forces suffered 1,800 casualties. The Confederates suffered 900. The majority of the state of Florida remained solidly in Confederate hands for the remainder of the war.
The Battle of Olustee (The Reenactment)
While the battle itself was a horrendous event, the Civil War reenactment is surprisingly fun! At the Olustee Festival, it’s so much more than just marching around and firing muskets. Reenactors are wonderfully interactive, especially the sutlers! (Sutlers are Civil-War era merchants selling goods you seriously can’t get anywhere else.)
Before and after the battle, you can amble through authentic camps and really live history! Reenactors are excited to tell you about what’s going on – enjoy listening to their stories, and their songs! And definitely take time to savor their old-fashioned cooking.
By old-fashioned cooking, I mean Civil War-era authentic food, like hardtack. Disclaimer: No, it does not taste good. But do you need to experience it? Yes, absolutely. You haven’t lived until you’ve broken a tooth on some salty hardtack.
(Don’t worry, they have other refreshments, too!)
The troop of reenactors at Olustee is so vast they have folks covering every field: from infantry to medical, to cavalry and artillery (with demonstrations in each!). These faithful reenactors come from all across the United States, and some are even from Europe! The reenactment of America’s most divisive war is now pleasantly unifying.
Now, as a general rule, Saturday is the best day to experience this Civil War reenactment.7 While activities are going on Friday through Sunday, Saturday tends to be the least crowded day. Friday is often swamped with school children frantically filling out history reports, and Sunday is the official, scripted battle that everyone is clamoring to see. (There is still a smaller-scale battle on Saturday afternoon!)
However, if your heart is set on the big battle (understandable), just plan to arrive extra early. It is worth noting this year’s scripted, Sunday battle actually falls on the exact anniversary, which is pretty cool!
When planning your weekend, it’s almost important to keep in mind that the arts and crafts side of the Olustee Festival is only open on Friday and Saturday!8
Whichever day you choose to visit the Civil War reenactment, you’re sure to have an amazing time as you wander through Florida’s past, brought brilliantly to life once more.
Olustee Festival: Let’s Party!
While the Battle of Olustee reenactment takes place on the actual, historic battlefield (located in Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park), the Olustee Festival takes place about twenty minutes away in beautiful downtown Lake City!
Opening Friday and Saturday mornings at 9:00 a.m., you can stroll down the streets, admiring (and buying!) gorgeous, handmade goods from traveling vendors. With handcrafted items like soaps, candles, quilts, paintings, woodworks, and jewelry, you’re sure to find at least one (let’s be honest, way more than one) thing that catches your eye!
The only thing more irresistible than the arts and crafts is the delicious food! While an official menu hasn’t been released yet, you can expect the best treats a festival could offer: candy-dipped apples, roasted nuts, kettle corn, ooey-gooey fudge, and more! A day at the Olustee Festival is a day made for splurging.
Additionally, the Olustee Festival usually features music and live entertainment, as well as a kids’ area with pony rides, pig races, and bounce houses!
Needless to say, the Olustee Festival and the Battle of Olustee reenactment make for a tremendous, fun-filled weekend for the whole family. It’s definitely the real highlight of February in Florida.
Valentine’s? What’s that? I’m going to Olustee.
Have you witnessed the Olustee Festival and Civil War reenactment? What were your favorite parts of the experience? Let us know in the comments below!
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