IMPORTANT EVENT NOTICE
Unfortunately, due to increasing costs, Crazy Crow Trading Post will no longer be able to maintain the Event Calendar by updating or adding new events.
The pages will remain active for a time as there are a number of events with current information and past events that may help you contact the sponsors for new information concerning location, dates & times!
Please do NOT contact Crazy Crow about these events, except for corrections to events with 2020 dates that are incorrect. Email date corrections directly to eventcoordinator@crazycrow.com. PLEASE DO NOT CALL, as we have nothing to do with the events and have only provided the listings as a free service.
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2019 Alligator Warrior Festival

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Join us for the 26th Annual Alligator Warrior Festival on October 18-20, 2019 in High Springs, Florida at O’Leno State Park. Celebrate the Alligator Warrior Festival with us, in memory of the years between 1800 and 1859, when High Springs, Florida was still called Alligator, Florida, and in memory of its most famous resident, the Seminole commander, Alligator Warrior. Don’t miss the reenactment of the 1836 Battle of San Felasco Hammock. In addition to the reenactment, the event is a festival that celebrates Native American and immigrant American cultures with music and dancing, living-history camps, demonstrators of historic skills, traders, craftspeople, and food vendors.

Alligator Warrior Festival

The Alligator Warrior Festival is a great family event in which children and adults alike can experience and learn about our history hands on. With activities such as: A living Native American village, soldier’s encampment, Drumming, Dancing, Flute Playing, Storytelling as well as other artisans set up at our festival to educate people. Friday is a school day and children get in for free.

Public Welcome – Park Fees Apply

Hours: Saturday & Sunday 9:00 a.m. – 5 5 p.m.

Admission: State Park Entrance Fees Apply
Free Entry for School Groups.
$5.00 per vehicle holding 2-8 people.
$4.00 Single Occupant Vehicle.
$2.00 Pedestrians, bicyclists, and additional passengers.

Schedule:
All Day Long: Living History in the Spanish Camp, Seminole Camp, Military & Militia Camps, Settlers Camp Dancing, Drum & Flute Music at the Dance Circle, Artisans & Blanket Traders in the Demonstrators Area, Traders Near the Dance Circle & Lodge, Food & Beverage Vendors Along the Road, Story Telling, Fundraising in Support of the Event

Friday-Sunday:
9:00AM – Video Presentaion: The Unconquered Seminoles
11:00AM – WGCU Public Media, Untold Stories Event
1:00PM – In the O’leno Lodge, the large building of the riverbank

Saturday Only: 11:00AM – Proclomation from the office of the Mayor of Lake City, Florida restoring the city’s name to Alligator Warrior for the week.

Saturday & Sunday:
2:00PM – Military weapons demonstration on the battlefield
2:15PM – Battle reenactment
After the Battle – Charitable fundraising auction at the Dance Circle

Sunday Only:
4:30PM – Charitable Drawing for Chance at the Dance Circle

Alligator Warrior Festival Mini-Gallery

Living History Reenactor Camps:
The annual event, which is in memory of the years between 1800 and 1859, features living-history camps and demonstrators of historic skills as well as a reenactment of the 1836 Battle of San Felasco Hammock. Take some time to visit with participants in their camps on Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and learn about life in Frontier Florida and the various ‘nations’ vying for control.

  • Seminole Reenactors’ Camp
  • Soldier Reenactors’ Camp
  • Militia Reenactors’ Camp
  • Gamble’s Light Artillery Cannon Crew
  • Pioneer / Settler Reenactors’ Camp
  • Spanish Reenactors’ Camp
  • Drum Arbor and Dance Circle

Accomodations:
Participants: Provided cabin space
Visitors: Primitive camping as well as RV spaces are available. However, RV reservations have to be made in advance.

Reenactment of the Battle of San Felasco Hammock
Saturdday & Sunday @ 2:15 p.m. – Don’t miss the exciting reenactment presented by participating living historians from the various ‘reenactor camps’.

[su_accordion][su_spoiler title=”Read about the Battle of San Felasco Hammock”] On the 17th of September, 1836, a cart laden with corn and attended by three white men and two black men was on the Picolata road returning to the town of Newnansville (now part of Alachua, FL). They were about a mile from the town when they were fired upon by Seminoles. The 5 men left the cart in the hands of the Seminoles and escaped to Newnansville and reported the event at Fort Gillelaud.

30 armed men were sent out to assess the situation and heavy rain started to fall. Although they did not find the Seminole warriors, they did find the cart and were able to return to the fort with it. The Seminoles had attempted to burn it but the rain had extinguished the fire. Military spies were sent during the night to discover the location and strength of the Seminole warriors but they did not find them.

Convinced that the Seminole Warriors must be hiding in the San Felasco Hammock, Colonel John Warren marched out at the head of 150 men the following morning, September 18th, at 6:00 AM to engage the Seminole warriors. His forces consisted of 100 mounted militia men, 25 former militia, and 25 United States regualrs with the fort’s 24 pound cannon. Colonel Warren’s forces advanced in three columns, the right led by Col. Warrren, the left by Col. Wills and the center by Capt. Tompkins with the regulars and the howitzer cannon.
Within three quarters of a mile of the hammock they were met by the Seminole warriors. The battle immediately commenced along the right wing and center. The Seminole warriors attempted to turn the left flank but the men under Leut. Col. Wills drove them back into the thick oak scrub on the border of the hammock and then dismounted and drove them into the cannon’s line of fire. The Seminole warriors then attempted to flank the right but a charge from Capt. Walker and Lieut Bruten’s forces, drove the Seminoles once again in front of the howitzer.

The Seminoles mortally wounded one of the cannon crew as they twice charged the center attempting to take the howitzer, but were repelled. The Seminoles eventually retreated into the dense hammock where the would have the advantage because the soldiers could not follow them with the cannon. Instead of following them, the Colonel’s forces waited to see if the Seminole Warriors would return but when they didn’t, the Colonel’s forces withdrew without further engagement.

The battle lasted an hour and a half with seven whites wounded, one of them fatally. Five horses were wounded and one horse killed. It was reported that some Seminole warriors had been seen to fall during the battle but Col. Warren’s forces were unable to verify any Seminole losses.

On the 17th of September, 1836, a cart laden with corn and attended by three white men and two black men was on the Picolata road returning to the town of Newnansville (now part of Alachua, FL). They were about a mile from the town when they were fired upon by Seminoles. The 5 men left the cart in the hands of the Seminoles and escaped to Newnansville and reported the event at Fort Gillelaud.

30 armed men were sent out to assess the situation and heavy rain started to fall. Although they did not find the Seminole warriors, they did find the cart and were able to return to the fort with it. The Seminoles had attempted to burn it but the rain had extinguished the fire. Military spies were sent during the night to discover the location and strength of the Seminole warriors but they did not find them.

Convinced that the Seminole Warriors must be hiding in the San Felasco Hammock, Colonel John Warren marched out at the head of 150 men the following morning, September 18th, at 6:00 AM to engage the Seminole warriors. His forces consisted of 100 mounted militia men, 25 former militia, and 25 United States regualrs with the fort’s 24 pound cannon. Colonel Warren’s forces advanced in three columns, the right led by Col. Warrren, the left by Col. Wills and the center by Capt. Tompkins with the regulars and the howitzer cannon.
Within three quarters of a mile of the hammock they were met by the Seminole warriors. The battle immediately commenced along the right wing and center. The Seminole warriors attempted to turn the left flank but the men under Leut. Col. Wills drove them back into the thick oak scrub on the border of the hammock and then dismounted and drove them into the cannon’s line of fire. The Seminole warriors then attempted to flank the right but a charge from Capt. Walker and Lieut Bruten’s forces, drove the Seminoles once again in front of the howitzer.

The Seminoles mortally wounded one of the cannon crew as they twice charged the center attempting to take the howitzer, but were repelled. The Seminoles eventually retreated into the dense hammock where the would have the advantage because the soldiers could not follow them with the cannon. Instead of following them, the Colonel’s forces waited to see if the Seminole Warriors would return but when they didn’t, the Colonel’s forces withdrew without further engagement.

The battle lasted an hour and a half with seven whites wounded, one of them fatally. Five horses were wounded and one horse killed. It was reported that some Seminole warriors had been seen to fall during the battle but Col. Warren’s forces were unable to verify any Seminole losses.[/su_spoiler][/su_accordion]

Location:
O’Leno State Park
410 S.E. Oleno Park Road
High Springs, FL 32643

About the Organizers
This event is organized by Alligator Festival of Lake City Florida, Inc., an all-volunteer, non-profit, public charity, dedicated to teaching and celebrating our local history by experiencing it together. The event is funded by the generosity of local business and individuals that care about bringing the long-time residents, recently arrived residents and tourists of north central Florida together to celebrate our local heritage. The income from the sponsorship, the annual donation raffle and donation auction during the festival goes entirely to support the annual event.

Registration

  • Traders, food and beverage vendors, demonstrators, reenactors, dancers, drums, dances, musicians and other volunteers please visit the REGISTRATION and VOLUNTEER links on this page for more information and to print a registration form.
  • School groups, members of the press, community leaders and sponsors please visit the REGISTRATION link on this page for more information and to print an RSVP form.

More general information: Cindy M. Vasci 386-487-5027

Alligator Warrior Festival - O’Leno State Park

Mark your calendar today so you don’t miss the next Alligator Warrior Festival at the O’Leno State Park in High Springs, Florida the third weekend of October.

Tags: Alligator Warrior Festival, Florida Festival, Florida Reenactment, High Springs FL Festival, High Springs Florida Festival, High Springs FL Reenactment, High Springs Florida Reenactment

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IMPORTANT EVENT NOTICE
Unfortunately, due to increasing costs, Crazy Crow Trading Post will no longer be able to maintain the Event Calendar by updating or adding new events.
The pages will remain active for a time as there are a number of events with current information and past events that may help you contact the sponsors for new information concerning location, dates & times!
Please do NOT contact Crazy Crow about these events, except for corrections to events with 2020 dates that are incorrect. Email date corrections directly to eventcoordinator@crazycrow.com. PLEASE DO NOT CALL, as we have nothing to do with the events and have only provided the listings as a free service.
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