Event Will Feature a Downtown Parade, Downtown Reenactment of Battle of Marianna, and Bluegrass Music Festival at Citizens Lodge Park By Sid Riley
Jackson County’s spring festival, "Paint and Pork" has become a resounding successful festival event, as has been demonstrated by the steady growth in attendance and participation since it began a few years ago. It has become one of the major events of the year, and attracts hundreds of visitors to our area. Concerned citizens feel it is now appropriate to turn attention to the development of a similar, major fall festival event.
The concept for this fall festival will be based on two themes, the popularity of ‘bluegrass" music as festival entertainment, and the growing interest in Civil War Battle Reenactments around the country. The historic "Battle of Marianna" was the only significant Civil War conflict to occur in Florida. That memorable day of the defense of the town of Marianna by a small, heroic home guard comprised primarily of young boys and old men will be the basis of the second theme for this festival.
The Fall Festival will be promoted under the name "Marianna Day". It is scheduled for September 26-27, the closest weekend dates to the date of that battle, September 27.
This will be the first reenactment of the Battle of Marianna to be held at the actual sites of the battle. It should be something worth witnessing.
This event will hopefully be partially funded by monies from the Jackson County Tourist Development Council (TDC). At their last meeting they approved a $15,000 allocation to be used to assist in the formation of this new tourist attraction for our area. Hopefully, final approval for these funds will be realized at the next meeting of the Jackson County Board of County Commissioners. If these funds are made available, it is anticipated that approximately $6,000 will be used to create the reenactment of the Battle of Marianna, $6500 will be used for promotion and payments to the professional Blue Grass musicians, and the balance will be used for insurance and advertising.
This event is being organized by participation from the Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department, headed by Chuck Hatcher, Main Street Marianna, led by Charlotte Bruner, Art Kimbrough representing the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, Nadine Standland with the Daughters of the Confederacy, and Ashley Pollette, Lionel Young, Robert Daffin, Stan Peacock, and Larry Clere, with Theophilus West M.D. Camp 1346 of the Sons of the Confederacy.
The final plans for the events are still in the planning stage, but the tentative program would be:
Thursday – (Sept 25)- Set up Encampment and Vendors at Citizens Lodge Park.
Friday – (Sept. 26) Encampment would be set up for display on grounds at Citizens Lodge Park, Schools Day events with classroom tours of bivouac area.
Saturday – (Sept. 27) 7:00-10:00 AM, Self guided tours of historical sites in Marianna. 10:00-11:00 AM Marianna Day Parade, downtown area. 11am -Noon "Battle of Marianna" Reenactment, Downtown area. Noon -9:00 PM Blue Grass Festival, Citizens Lodge Park. Great schedule of recognized Bluegrass performers. Admission fee $3.00.
These performers will include Max Tillman Band, Dry Creek, Saunders Brothers, The Dixie Ramblers, Lowell Brown, and Walter and Judith Moore, and others.
We should all eagerly await this new, exciting local event.
Jackson County’s spring festival, "Paint and Pork" has become a resounding successful festival event, as has been demonstrated by the steady growth in attendance and participation since it began a few years ago. It has become one of the major events of the year, and attracts hundreds of visitors to our area. Concerned citizens feel it is now appropriate to turn attention to the development of a similar, major fall festival event.
The concept for this fall festival will be based on two themes, the popularity of ‘bluegrass" music as festival entertainment, and the growing interest in Civil War Battle Reenactments around the country. The historic "Battle of Marianna" was the only significant Civil War conflict to occur in Florida. That memorable day of the defense of the town of Marianna by a small, heroic home guard comprised primarily of young boys and old men will be the basis of the second theme for this festival.
The Fall Festival will be promoted under the name "Marianna Day". It is scheduled for September 26-27, the closest weekend dates to the date of that battle, September 27.
This will be the first reenactment of the Battle of Marianna to be held at the actual sites of the battle. It should be something worth witnessing.
This event will hopefully be partially funded by monies from the Jackson County Tourist Development Council (TDC). At their last meeting they approved a $15,000 allocation to be used to assist in the formation of this new tourist attraction for our area. Hopefully, final approval for these funds will be realized at the next meeting of the Jackson County Board of County Commissioners. If these funds are made available, it is anticipated that approximately $6,000 will be used to create the reenactment of the Battle of Marianna, $6500 will be used for promotion and payments to the professional Blue Grass musicians, and the balance will be used for insurance and advertising.
This event is being organized by participation from the Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department, headed by Chuck Hatcher, Main Street Marianna, led by Charlotte Bruner, Art Kimbrough representing the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, Nadine Standland with the Daughters of the Confederacy, and Ashley Pollette, Lionel Young, Robert Daffin, Stan Peacock, and Larry Clere, with Theophilus West M.D. Camp 1346 of the Sons of the Confederacy.
The final plans for the events are still in the planning stage, but the tentative program would be:
Thursday – (Sept 25)- Set up Encampment and Vendors at Citizens Lodge Park.
Friday – (Sept. 26) Encampment would be set up for display on grounds at Citizens Lodge Park, Schools Day events with classroom tours of bivouac area.
Saturday – (Sept. 27) 7:00-10:00 AM, Self guided tours of historical sites in Marianna. 10:00-11:00 AM Marianna Day Parade, downtown area. 11am -Noon "Battle of Marianna" Reenactment, Downtown area. Noon -9:00 PM Blue Grass Festival, Citizens Lodge Park. Great schedule of recognized Bluegrass performers. Admission fee $3.00.
These performers will include Max Tillman Band, Dry Creek, Saunders Brothers, The Dixie Ramblers, Lowell Brown, and Walter and Judith Moore, and others.
We should all eagerly await this new, exciting local event.
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