The 24th annual event will help residents celebrate the county's history and its 161st birthday.
By JOY DAVIS-PLATT
Published February 20, 2004
BROOKSVILLE - The Hernando County Heritage Museum on Saturday will help residents celebrate the skills and art forms that helped define an era.
The museum's 24th annual Heritage Day Festival will commemorate the county's 161st birthday, featuring artists and crafters who practice skills such as pine needle weaving and rope making, talents nearly lost in today's fast-paced society.
"These skills were very important to Hernando's first settlers," said Jan Knowles, president of the Hernando Historical Museum Association. "Now we appreciate them in a different way, but that's important to remember."
Besides the traditional craftspeople and artisans, the festival will boast about 50 booths with food vendors and artists selling more modern wares.
"We like to limit how many vendors we have so there's room for people to walk around and enjoy the grounds," Knowles said. "We just keep the best ones."
Although the event is what organizers call an "old-time festival," it is second only to the Brooksville Raid Festival as a source of funding for the museum.
As part of Saturday's festival, the historic train station on Russell Street will be open, Knowles said. The museum association hopes to move the first of six historic homes to the site soon, starting with the county's oldest.
"We're looking to move the McKenzie house from Brooksville Avenue," Knowles said. "It was built in 1840 and was used as a law office years and years ago."
Entertainment will include the Talako Native American Dancers from Kissimmee; Hart's Desire, an Andrews Sisters tribute group; the Step Sisters tap dance group; the Hernando Harmonizers barbershop quartet; and entertainers Lucy and Joe Bastia.
An auction of 25 donated items - including gift certificates, Victorian items, crafts and original artwork - will be new at this year's event.
In connection with the festival, Brooksville Again will have its Market on Main Street from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring produce, antiques, collectibles and handmade crafts. The Hernando County Old Car Club will have a show downtown.
- Joy Davis-Platt can be reached at 352 848-1435. Send e-mail to joy@sptimes.com
At a glance
WHAT: 24th annual Heritage Day Festival
WHEN: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday WHERE: Heritage Museum, E Jefferson Street and May Avenue, on the east end of downtown Brooksville.
