Cracker Country
Reliving Rural Florida History
February 8- 19, 2024
Florida State Fair
Musical Entertainment
Bluegrass and American Folk Music
Musical Entertainment
Bluegrass and American Folk Music
Enjoy early country banjo, guitar, violin melodies on out Main Stage.
Featuring
Southern Express Bluegrass Band,
Bits of Grass Bluegrass Band,
and Buffalo Barfield
Also visit our Church to hear the sounds of rural Florida.
Hand-made Crafts
Hand-made crafts to see, make, and take home
Hand-made Crafts
Hand-made crafts to see, make, and take home
As you stroll through the museum grounds, you will meet artists who
create baskets of pine needles,
carve wooden duck decoys,
hammer hot iron into useful tools,
print newspaper on antique printing presses and more!
Demonstrations
Discover historic skills of Florida's pioneers
Demonstrations
Discover historic skills of Florida's pioneers
Learn a valuable skill, like how to hand-tie a sturdy broom, shape a sponge from the Gulf or how to make a beeswax candle.
Experience textile spinning, open fire cooking and delicate shaker boxes cut on a treadle-operated scroll saw.
Watch the blacksmith and saddle makers practice their ancient and practical craft.
Shopping
Visit our General Store
Shopping
Visit our General Store
Visit our General Store! The store features nostalgic and reproduction items, historical toys and games, books, candy, and many other unique gift ideas.
Also be sure to visit our historic demonstrators to purchase honey, lye soap, cane syrup, jams & jellies, rag rugs, and more!
Unique Exhibits
13 original structures to explore each with interpreters and demonstrations
Unique Exhibits
13 original structures to explore each with interpreters and demonstrations
See our historic structures that have been relocated from all over the state of Florida. These buildings feature a unique collection. Such as:
a late 19th century quilt featuring fabric the size of a postage stamp,
a detailed wood carved Postal window from Knights Griffin, Florida,
an antique printing press,
the childhood saddle of Doyle Carlton Jr
and a promotional grape jelly cup distributed in the late 19th century.
Animals
See Chickens, and Geese
Animals
See Chickens, and Geese
Our Plymouth Rock Chickens were known in 1900 for their hardiness, docility, broodiness, excellent production of brown eggs, and meat that was considered tasty and juicy.
Meet our Cotton Patch Geese who helped farmers by weeding cotton and corn fields.
What to Expect
Florida State Fair
About the Event
Date: February 8- 19, 2024
Opening Time: 11am weekdays / 10 am Fri., Sat., Sun., & Mon Feb. 19
Closing Time: Cracker Country is open until 6pm daily during the Florida State Fair.
Cracker Country is a Florida State Fair tradition, welcoming guests every day of the annual fair since 1979. We invite you to drop in during your visit to the fair and experience a slice of rural Florida history.
General Pricing: Click for pricing information
Parking: Free parking during the annual Florida State Fair.
See & Do
Throughout the Florida State Fair, Cracker Country comes to life with skilled artisans and historical educators who demonstrate crafts and life skills that would have been important to Florida settlers of the 19th century.
Main Stage
We are still planning the 2024 Florida State Fair. Check out what happened in 2023:
Enjoy performances on Cracker Country's main stage:
February 9
Southern Express Bluegrass Band: 12pm, 2pm, 4pm
February 10
Southern Express Bluegrass Band: 11am, 1pm, 3pm, 5pm
February 11-12
Southern Express Bluegrass Band: 11am, 1pm, 3pm, 5pm
Buffalo Barfield: 12pm, 2pm
February 13 - 16
Bits of Grass Band: 12pm, 2pm, 4pm
February 17-20
Southern Express Bluegrass Band: 11am, 1pm, 3pm, 5pm
Buffalo Barfield: 12pm, 2pm
Stop & Shop
There are lots of unique holiday gifts to be found at the General Store! The store features nostalgic and reproduction items, historical toys and games, books, candy, and many other unique gift items.
The General Store accepts cash, Visa, Master Card, and personal checks with ID.
Proceeds from sales in the General Store help support Cracker Country's education programs.
What to Eat
Enjoy boiled peanuts, kettle corn, pork rinds, and lemonade. Old fashion soda and candy available for purchase inside the General Store.
Only on view during the annual Florida State Fair
Additional Exhibits
Carlton-Woodbery Exhibit
Rural Florida pioneer roots
Carlton-Woodbery Exhibit
Rural Florida pioneer roots
The gallery features artifacts, personal items and photographs that tell the story of Cracker Country’s founders, their ancestors and the creation of the museum.
Florida Cattle Ranching
500 Years of Tradition
Florida Cattle Ranching
500 Years of Tradition
This exhibit, which has toured the nation, is filled with artifacts and stories of the history of cattle ranching in Florida from the arrival of the Spanish to the present day.
The Power of Steam
Collection of antique stationary steam engines
The Power of Steam
Collection of antique stationary steam engines
See antique stationary steam engines in motion as you learn how steam powered Florida's industries.
Pets are not allowed in Cracker Country.
Service animals are allowed, as defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or animals approved as part of an exhibition.
Service animal means any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability.
Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA.