The details of history are lost through time unless a conscious efforts are made to preserve it.
The Dade Battlefield Society will continue to make the effort to preserve history with the 44th annual reenactment of the Dade Battle of 1835, set for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Jan. 4 and 5 at the Dade Battlefield Historic State Park, 7200 Battlefield Parkway, Bushnell.
Guests of all ages will get to experience how life was in the 1800s by interacting with period vendors, participating in historic arts and crafts demonstrations, and playing century-specific games.
The reenactment battle will begin at 2 p.m., as more than 100 reenactors portraying the soldiers led by Major Francis Langhorne Dade and native Seminole Indians. There will also be full scale cannon firings during the event.
Anderson said the reenactor who portrays Major Dade tells a very dramatic story — about the battle and how his group got ambushed — while the reenactor who portrays Chief Jumper tells a stoic story about the battle and his people getting pushed off their native land.
He added the work done during the reenactment brings history back to life.
“People who come out are really moved by the reenactment. It brings tears to the eyes of any Veteran because it’s like you are witnessing federal troops being killed,” said Richard Anderson, vice president of the Dade Battlefield Society.
The annual event draws more than 1,700 people to the state park over the weekend.
Guests will get an authentic period experience through activities like rope making, whip cracking, and sticks and hoops.
Anderson said the by participating in the period games, children can gain a deeper understanding of how different life was.
“The children are amazed at how they can do these different things. By playing the games and seeing how other people lived, it brings them back down to earth a little bit,” Anderson said.
Kathie Anderson, a volunteer with the society, said guests who attend the event enjoy learning the detailed history.
“It’s quite the production. I really enjoy being there at the reenactment because there is so much history. A lot of the information you thought you learned in school, it’s so small than what actually happened there,” she said.
Tickets for the event are $5 per person plus the park entrance fee of $3 per vehicle.
Guests are encouraged to bring chairs, though there is limited bleacher seating available.
“People need to know where they came from. Florida has such a rich history. There was a community here where people lived off the land. It’s all a part of our history,” the vice president said. “When you talk to a living historian, there is a spark they light in people’s lives. They are happy with what they are doing, and they want to pass on the knowledge. People see that and they listen to you.”
For more information about the battle or the society, visit Dadebattlefield.com.
Staff writer Brea Jones can be reached at 352-753-1119, ext. 5414, or brea.jones@thevillagesmedia.com.
