Take Your Family on Vacation – to 1776
by Ben Gunter
It’s a dream vacation for the whole family. All free. All family-friendly. All taking place at historic Goodwood Museum & Gardens in Tallahassee on May 29-31, right at the start of summer.
Just in time for America 250, Theater with a Mission (TWAM) is bringing Florida during the American Revolution back to life during a 3-day “Time Travel into Florida 1776” Festival, where you’ll find unique experiences for every member of the family.
For animal lovers, there’s a petting zoo full of animals who made history in 1776 – horses like the ones that scouts rode to tell Americans about British soldiers on the march, cattle like the ones that raiders from Georgia stole from Florida ranchers during the Revolution, and wild critters like the ones that colonists loyal to King George ran into as they ran to Florida to escape persecution by the followers of George Washington.
For fans of dance, there’s a chance to see experts recreate minuets from 1776. Then you can step into history, dress up in your favorite era’s finery, and learn how to do a whole ballroom full of historic dances at the Florida Defenders Ball. All through the weekend, there will be social dances from revolutionary colonies, war dances from Native Americans, and call-together-the-whole-community dances from West Africa. All historic. All exhilarating. All fun to learn.
For foodies, there will be many kinds of good old-fashioned cake and ice cream – one of George Washington’s favorite treats – to celebrate the birthday of King George. Food trucks will round out the menu with meals from Spanish, British, and African chefs, cooking up recipes beloved for generations. Squirrel stew will give you a taste of authentic Revolutionary War rations, and a Formal Tea will feature precisely the same teas that revolutionaries dumped overboard during the Boston Tea Party.
For admirers of military history, there will be parades of Loyalists and Patriots, with competing flags, fanfares, marches, military formations, and marshals. Workshops will teach you the basics of militia drill, how to make your own historic hat, produce a cockade proclaiming your allegiance to the Patriot or Loyalist Cause, sing along with the marching songs that Floridians were singing in 1776, and join the militia of your choice.
For aficionados of game shows, TWAM will premiere Feuding Families in Florida 1776. In this fast-moving family drama, your family can meet families from 1776 who feuded about the Revolution in Florida, discover Lope de Vega’s version of Romeo & Juliet (the most famous family feud in theater history), and compete to win prizes by figuring out the answers to questions about Florida 250 years ago.
This summer, thousands of families will visit Florida. On May 29-31, your family can take a once-in-a-lifetime trip through time and visit Florida 250 years ago. Make your vacation a Time Travel Adventure for the whole family! Details at TheaterwithaMission.com.
