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The Pioneer Florida Museum and Village just north of Dade City will hold its biggest event of the year, the Pioneer Florida Days Festival, Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
Highlights include an Outhouse Race, where teams carry creatively designed, occupied outhouses up and down a race course, two Civil War battle re-enactments, a free pancake breakfast, gospel music, and a host of pioneer-style exhibits and demonstrations.
The museum is a collection of historically significant restored buildings brought to the 20-acre site from all over Pasco County. The old general store's shelves are lined with artifacts - wire whisks, bottles of blueing, lye soap. The one-room Lacoochee schoolhouse has old desks carved with the initials of long-ago students.
An old depot has an exhibit of model railroads. The Mabel Jordan Barn features antique farm implements. The main building showcases replicas of a dentist's office and a doctor's office, Indian artifacts, period clothing and toys.
These and other buildings will be open for tours during the festival and most will be occupied by people in period costume talking about the daily lives of early Florida pioneers.
There will even be a typical moonshine still, with Michael Boyette explaining how it works.
- BARBARA FREDRICKSEN, Times staff writer