The Festival at Fort King is returning this weekend and will allow visitors to step back into the 1800s.
The City of Ocala Recreation and Parks Department will host the Festival at Fort King on Saturday, December 3 and Sunday, December 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Fort King National Historic Landmark, which is located at 3925 E Fort King Street.
During the event, artillery volunteers will conduct live cannon firing. Residents in the area may hear a series of rounds fired multiple times throughout the day during the event, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
During the historic-themed event, local history will come to life through a re-enactment of the events that fueled the start of the Second Seminole War.
The festival will provide demonstrations and hands-on activities including axe throwing, pine needle basket weaving, live-action combat, leather tanning, pottery, cannon firings, and more. Those in attendance will also be able to take a tour of the nature trail at Fort King.
On both days of the festival, local music will be performed by 7 Lbs. of Bacon. There will also be food trucks and craft vendors, as well as swag bags that will be provided to attendees on a first-come, first-served basis.
Admission to the event will be $5 per person (ages 5 and up). Veterans, active military, and children under the age of five will be able to attend the festival for free.
Fort King is a 40-acre National Historic Landmark that is home to a life-size reconstruction of the fort and block houses that served as the location that ignited the Second Seminole War in the 1830s. Today, the reconstruction of Fort King serves as an ongoing exploration of Ocala’s past.
Fort King is owned jointly by the City of Ocala and Marion County with funding assistance and support from the Fort King Heritage Association.
For more information, visit the City of Ocala’s Fort King National Historic Landmark webpage.