Florida’s Heritage Comes Alive at Barberville Fall Country Jamboree

BARBERVILLE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Step back to simpler times and experience central Florida’s rich history and folk culture at the Volusia County Pioneer Settlement’s Fall Jamboree Nov. 1 and 2, one of the longest-lived heritage festivals in Florida.

This year marks The Pioneer Settlement for the Creative Arts’ 32^nd legendary jamboree with live demonstrations of early industry and trades, folk and domestic arts, bluegrass and folk music, country craftsmen and Florida “cracker” food. National City bank is sponsoring this cultural celebration which draws more than 10,000 people from around the state.

New this year is an “Instrument Petting Zoo” for folks to try instruments they’ve been curious about. Fittingly, the instrument zoo will be held in the settlement’s restored schoolroom and will include mandolins, harps, dulcimers, guitars, fiddles and more.

More than a dozen historic buildings comprise the 13-acre Pioneer Settlement village including a railroad depot, post office, log cabin, quarter’s house, pottery shed and the Old Barberville Central High School, c. 1919. Over time, additional workshops have been added such as a print shop, wheelwright shop, carriage house, woodwright shop, blacksmith shop, and Timucuan-Myacca and Seminole villages.

This folk music fest and more features:

• 100 historical demonstrators, reenactors, artisans and trades people staged throughout the settlement’s restored historical village facilities
• Continuous performances by 150 folk musicians on six stages. Full schedule at www.FolkFiddle.com/Barber.htm
• Two music workshop tents staffed to help folks learn new musical skills and songs, and two jam tents for playing with the pros
• Children’s hands-on activities and storytelling tent
• Barn dance
• Craft show and more.

Whether you come to jam, dance, listen or compete in the pioneer costume contest, there’s something for everyone, including “cracker” food favorites such as BBQ, fried fish and boiled corn along with homemade soups, desserts and ice cream.

The Barberville Jamboree hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 1, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 2. Admission is $6 for adults and children 13 years and older, $4 for those 6 to 12, and children 5 and under are free. The settlement is located just west of the intersection of US 17 and SR 40 in Barberville. Call 386-749-2959 for more details.

Founded in 1976, The Pioneer Settlement for the Creative Arts (www.pioneersettlement.org) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving Florida’s cultural heritage and providing quality arts and educational programs to area school children and the public. Proceeds from the Fall Country Jamboree help to fund programs and field trips for more than 13,000 Florida school children each year.

The Pioneer Settlement is supported in part by the Florida Department of State’s Division of Historical Resources and Division of Cultural Affairs, the Cultural Council of Volusia County and is a preferred social studies/educational destination for Volusia County schools.

National City Corporation (NYSE: NCC) (www.nationalcity.com), one of the nation's largest financial holding companies, operates an extensive banking network primarily in Ohio, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.