Weekend of September 25-26 will be great weekend in Marianna
By Sid Riley
You will want to mark these dates on your family calendar to be sure you are in Marianna on September 25-26 for the first annual “Marianna Day Fall Festival”. This event will begin on Friday, September 25 at Citizens Lodge Park. You will hear a cannon firing every thirty minutes or so if you are anywhere near Marianna. Friday morning school children from all over the county will be experiencing the “living history” exhibit on the Citizens Lodge Park grounds.
This exhibit will be an exact replica of how a Civil War era camp was set up, how the civil war soldiers lived, along with demonstrations on how people who lived in the 1860’s cooked, made metal blacksmith items, how they washed their clothes, received medical services including amputations, and what camp life was like for the soldiers. Students will move from demonstration to demonstration on a timed program, with the firing of the cannon signaling the time to move to the next subject.
These demonstrations will be open to the general public during the afternoon on Friday. At 4:00 the troops will put on a drill demonstration, with a cannonade. At 6:00 musical entertainment from local entertainers will begin. Of course all afternoon and evening the vendors and sutlers will be selling their wares. Admission is free on Friday.
On Saturday morning things will be hopping in downtown Marianna. At 9:00 a memorial ceremony will be held at the Confederate Memorial which is located in Confederate Park in the middle of downtown Marianna. This memorial which will be conducted by the United Daughters of the Confederacy will pay tribute to the ten heroes who gave their lives defending their homes and homeland in Marianna on September 27, 1864.
Immediately after the memorial ceremony a giant downtown parade begins, traversing Lafayette Street from west to east, through downtown Marianna. The parade will be filled with rolling exhibits with plenty of bands, cheer leaders, beauty queens, and many interesting sights. The talented local squad of “Buffalo Soldiers” will demonstrate their skills to the onlookers.
As the parade ends the battle will begin. A troop of invading Yankee soldiers will round the bend at Ely’s Corner in front of the Russ House. They will be met by a determined, outnumbered Home Guard force. After an initial volley of gunfire, they will fall back as they reload. A barrier at the Episcopal Church will enable them to make a brief stand against the oncoming Yankees. After being overcome at the Church, some of the defenders will attempt to escape across the Chipola River. At the Court House the small local detachment of regular Confederate soldiers will delay the oncoming troops while surviving defenders escape across the River. As the last defenders cross the wooden bridge they pull up the planking to prevent the Yanks from using the bridge in pursuit.
The battle ends….and Marianna is left in the hands of the Yankees.
Over 100 uniformed re-enactors will take part in the reliving of the ‘Battle of Marianna” on the actual site where it occurred, 145 years ago.
At noon, activities shift back to the Citizens Lodge Park. A small $3 admission charge will let you into the park to enjoy a full nine hours of Blue Grass Music provided by six talented, well known bluegrass groups. At the same time, the re-enactors will be conducting the “living history” demonstrations. Cannon fire demonstrations with pyrotechnics will keep everyone awake and alert.
In the lodge, the Artist Guild of Northwest Florida will host a display of arts and crafts created by local artists. Outside, the vendors will be busy selling mementos, and delicious food while banjo’s and guitars make you want to dance a jig.
It will be a foot stompin’, eye poppin’, ear ringin’ belly fillin’ day of fun and learning experiences. Come relive the history of Marianna and enjoy a festive day with your friends and family. Don’t miss “Marianna Day Fall Festival” on September 25-26. On Sunday, Sept 27, the re-enactors will hold a camp site church service and then break camp.
This event is being hosted and/or organized by the Jackson County Tourist Development Council, the Jackson County Board of Commissioners, Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department, the Marianna City Commission, Main Street Marianna, United Daughters of the Confederacy, Theophilus West, M.D. Camp 1346, Sons of Confederate Veterans, William Henry Milton Chapter 1039, Loreta Velazquez Chapter 14, The Artist Guild of Northwest Florida, Inc., and the Jackson County Times. For more information go to http://www.scvcamp1346.org/heritage/marianna_day.htm
By Sid Riley
You will want to mark these dates on your family calendar to be sure you are in Marianna on September 25-26 for the first annual “Marianna Day Fall Festival”. This event will begin on Friday, September 25 at Citizens Lodge Park. You will hear a cannon firing every thirty minutes or so if you are anywhere near Marianna. Friday morning school children from all over the county will be experiencing the “living history” exhibit on the Citizens Lodge Park grounds.
This exhibit will be an exact replica of how a Civil War era camp was set up, how the civil war soldiers lived, along with demonstrations on how people who lived in the 1860’s cooked, made metal blacksmith items, how they washed their clothes, received medical services including amputations, and what camp life was like for the soldiers. Students will move from demonstration to demonstration on a timed program, with the firing of the cannon signaling the time to move to the next subject.
These demonstrations will be open to the general public during the afternoon on Friday. At 4:00 the troops will put on a drill demonstration, with a cannonade. At 6:00 musical entertainment from local entertainers will begin. Of course all afternoon and evening the vendors and sutlers will be selling their wares. Admission is free on Friday.
On Saturday morning things will be hopping in downtown Marianna. At 9:00 a memorial ceremony will be held at the Confederate Memorial which is located in Confederate Park in the middle of downtown Marianna. This memorial which will be conducted by the United Daughters of the Confederacy will pay tribute to the ten heroes who gave their lives defending their homes and homeland in Marianna on September 27, 1864.
Immediately after the memorial ceremony a giant downtown parade begins, traversing Lafayette Street from west to east, through downtown Marianna. The parade will be filled with rolling exhibits with plenty of bands, cheer leaders, beauty queens, and many interesting sights. The talented local squad of “Buffalo Soldiers” will demonstrate their skills to the onlookers.
As the parade ends the battle will begin. A troop of invading Yankee soldiers will round the bend at Ely’s Corner in front of the Russ House. They will be met by a determined, outnumbered Home Guard force. After an initial volley of gunfire, they will fall back as they reload. A barrier at the Episcopal Church will enable them to make a brief stand against the oncoming Yankees. After being overcome at the Church, some of the defenders will attempt to escape across the Chipola River. At the Court House the small local detachment of regular Confederate soldiers will delay the oncoming troops while surviving defenders escape across the River. As the last defenders cross the wooden bridge they pull up the planking to prevent the Yanks from using the bridge in pursuit.
The battle ends….and Marianna is left in the hands of the Yankees.
Over 100 uniformed re-enactors will take part in the reliving of the ‘Battle of Marianna” on the actual site where it occurred, 145 years ago.
At noon, activities shift back to the Citizens Lodge Park. A small $3 admission charge will let you into the park to enjoy a full nine hours of Blue Grass Music provided by six talented, well known bluegrass groups. At the same time, the re-enactors will be conducting the “living history” demonstrations. Cannon fire demonstrations with pyrotechnics will keep everyone awake and alert.
In the lodge, the Artist Guild of Northwest Florida will host a display of arts and crafts created by local artists. Outside, the vendors will be busy selling mementos, and delicious food while banjo’s and guitars make you want to dance a jig.
It will be a foot stompin’, eye poppin’, ear ringin’ belly fillin’ day of fun and learning experiences. Come relive the history of Marianna and enjoy a festive day with your friends and family. Don’t miss “Marianna Day Fall Festival” on September 25-26. On Sunday, Sept 27, the re-enactors will hold a camp site church service and then break camp.
This event is being hosted and/or organized by the Jackson County Tourist Development Council, the Jackson County Board of Commissioners, Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department, the Marianna City Commission, Main Street Marianna, United Daughters of the Confederacy, Theophilus West, M.D. Camp 1346, Sons of Confederate Veterans, William Henry Milton Chapter 1039, Loreta Velazquez Chapter 14, The Artist Guild of Northwest Florida, Inc., and the Jackson County Times. For more information go to http://www.scvcamp1346.org/heritage/marianna_day.htm
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