By Ben Gunter
This is a special year for Hispanic Heritage. Two hundred years ago, in 1819, Florida started a long transition from Spanish provincia to US territory. What did our ancestors think about this milestone in Florida’s history? How did Hispanic people dine, duel, dance, and entertain themselves with dramas in Spanish La Florida? Can we still taste, touch, smell, see, and hear how Hispanic Heritage crossed paths with English-speaking traditions in Florida hundreds of years ago?
Yes, we can! The Loco for Love Festival brings you face to face with Spanish La Florida, through puppet shows, parades, plays, paella, and a pony from Florida’s Spanish past – three days of free family fun, just in time for Hispanic Heritage Month.
Here are some highlights from the schedule of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Come celebrate Hispanic Heritage in Florida by singing Happy 200th Birthday to Florida Territory, cheering Cervantes (author of Don Quixote) as he wrestles with Shakespeare (author of Romeo & Juliet) for the title of World Champion Storyteller, and joining the Costume Parade as your favorite character from Florida history.
You’ll find a complete schedule of events on Theater with a Mission’s website www.theaterwithamission.com, and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. ¡Viva la Florida!
Loco for Love Festival 2019
SCHEDULE HIGHLIGHTS
Friday September 13 Welcome to Spanish Florida
6:00 p.m. Parade
6:30 p.m. Puppet Show: Dragoncillo’s Fabulous Johnny Frog
7:30 p.m. Paellaby Real Paella
8:00 p.m. Plays by Tallahassee Hispanic Theater and Theater with a Mission
9:00 p.m. Dancing by Tallahassee Salsa
Saturday, Sept 14 Spanish Florida through the eyes of Don Quixote
11:00 a.m. NiNa the Galiceño horse
11:30 a.m. Dancing: Un Poquito de México by PAEC
12:00 noon Puppet Show: Dragoncillo’s Second Hands
1:00 p.m. Shakespearosaurus
1:30 p.m. Don Quixote Quest
English Florida through the eyes of Romeo & Juliet
2:00 p.m. Historic Games & Handicrafts for kids of all ages
2:30 p.m. Puppetry Workshop withDragoncillo Puppet Troupe
3:00 p.m. Dancing: masked ball with Nena Couch from Ohio
3:30 p.m. Capulets and Montagues: Romeo & Juliet with a happy ending
4:30 p.m. Dueling: swordplay onstage in Cervantes and Shakespeare
5:00 p.m. Puppet Show: Dragoncillo’s Ladies’ Man
6:00 p.m. Dinner Music
Happy 200th Birthday, Florida Territory
7:00 p.m. Dances from 1616 to 1819: step into Florida’s history
8:00 p.m. Families in Florida Territory: Diana Reigelsperger from UF
8:30 Florida for Sale: meet people who sealed the deal 200 years ago
9:00 p.m. cake & ice cream with stars from The History Channel
Sunday, September 15 Florida, Territory of Discovery
11:00 a.m. KariOetry: express yourself with sonnets
11:30 a.m. That Klassic Tag-Team share secrets of pro wrestling
12:00 noon Puppets in Church: Esther Fernández from Texas
12:30 p.m. Musical Instruments from 1616 to 1819: Russell Almond from FSU
1:30 p.m. Costume Show: Well-Dressed in Territorial Florida
Florida, Once and Future
2:00 p.m. Costume Parade – Dress as your Favorite from Florida History!
2:30 p.m. Florida for Sale: first-person drama from Florida in 1819
3:00 p.m. Dueling: wrestlers vs. duellers
3:30 p.m. Capulets & Montagues: Romeo, Juliet, Cervantes, & Shakespeare
4:30 p.m. Anthems for Evensong by St. John’s Episcopal Choir
5:00 p.m. Adios, Amigos: Words of Wisdom from Shakespeare and Cervantes
