Ocali Country Days wraps up 2-day festival with living history demonstrations

OCALA, Fla. (WCJB) - Ocali Country Days is wrapping up its two-day festival.

During the event, people could watch living history demonstrations and traditional crafts. Blacksmithing, sugar cane syrup making and open-hearth cooking were some of the ways the festival showed how some early Floridians lived.

Scott Mitch, museum coordinator, said the demonstrations show skills that are not often practiced today.

“It’s a good way to learn about some of the skills that aren’t really practiced anymore,” Mitch said.

Mitch said the festival means different things to different visitors.

“I think depending on the visitor, the information and the things to learn, mean different things. So, some of the old-time Florida locals, they’ll come here and it’s a walk down memory lane. If you’re new, it’s education,” Mitch said.

Organizers said the festival is rich with history. They said they hoped to connect visitors with the traditions and stories that shaped North Central Florida.

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