Step Back in Time: Exploring the Barberville Pioneer Settlement
Barberville Pioneer Settlement comes alive with their annual special events that celebrate Florida’s rich history and culture. These gatherings offer visitors a chance to engage with living history, enjoy traditional music, and witness artisan demonstrations.
At Barberville Pioneer Settlement, costumed reenactors bring history to life by demonstrating traditional skills, crafts, and daily routines from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Visitors can watch blacksmiths at the forge, farmers working with old tools, and pioneers sharing stories, making the experience feel like stepping back in time.
In the charming whistlestop of Barberville, the Barberville Pioneer Settlement offers visitors a one-of-a-kind journey into Florida’s past. Located in West Volusia, Florida, this living history experience transports visitors to a bygone era, providing a glimpse into life in late 19th- and early 20th-century Florida.
With its collection of historic buildings, hands-on demonstrations, and special events, the Barberville Pioneer Settlement keeps the pioneer spirit alive, and is a must-visit destination for history enthusiasts, families, and anyone seeking a deep cultural experience.
Dedicated to preserving and sharing the history and lifestyles of Florida’s early settlers and Native American communities, the settlement spans a picturesque campus dotted with majestic moss-draped oaks and 19 historic structures. These buildings, ranging from the 1919 Central Barberville Schoolhouse Museum to the Astor Bridge Tender’s House, create a historical village that vividly illustrates rural Florida life from the late 1800s to the early 1900s.
Visitors can explore the campus through self-guided or docent-led tours, interact with thousands of artifacts, and witness demonstrations of pioneer crafts like blacksmithing, weaving, and candle-making. With so much to see and do, the settlement recommends allocating one to two hours to fully explore its offerings.
Special Events: Celebrating Florida’s Heritage
The Barberville Pioneer Settlement comes alive with their annual special events that celebrate Florida’s rich history and culture. These gatherings offer visitors a chance to engage with living history, enjoy traditional music, and witness artisan demonstrations.
A Celebration of Olde Florida
Held annually in June, the Celebration of Olde Florida is a highlight of the settlement’s event calendar. This festival showcases the state’s pioneer and cracker culture through a variety of activities and traditional foods like swamp cabbage and other “cracker vittles.” Listen to captivating tales from skilled storytellers, enjoy live music performances that echo Florida’s folk traditions and observe blacksmiths, weavers, and potters showcasing their crafts. It’s a family-friendly affair that brings history to life, offering hands-on experiences and a chance to connect with Florida’s roots.
Live music often plays an important role in the Barberville Pioneer Settlement experience, adding energy and authenticity to the historic atmosphere. From folk and bluegrass to traditional tunes, musicians provide a lively soundtrack that connects today’s visitors with the community spirit of Florida’s past.
Fall Country Jamboree
The Fall Country Jamboree, typically held on the first Saturday in November, is a beloved staple of the settlement. This music and heritage festival transforms the grounds into a hub of folk music, with musicians and bands from across the globe performing on historic porches and stages. Visitors can explore craft demonstrations, shop for handmade goods like woven rag rugs and candles at the country store, and enjoy interactive exhibits like candle-dipping. The jamboree’s lively atmosphere, combined with the settlement’s rustic charm, makes it a must-attend event for music lovers and history enthusiasts alike. The Spring Frolic, a counterpart often held in April, offers a similar blend of music and pioneer crafts.
A Florida Christmas Remembered
Typically held in early December, A Florida Christmas Remembered transforms the historic village into a festive celebration of old-fashioned Florida holiday traditions. Guests can enjoy a live bell choir and christmas folk music, cookie decorating, and witness demonstrations of traditional crafts like candle-making and woodworking, all while costumed interpreters share stories of pioneer holiday customs. A marketplace offering handmade gifts and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus makes it a heartwarming experience for all. This cherished gathering captures the simple joys of a Florida Christmas, blending nostalgia, community, and seasonal cheer.
Fire & Ice: Chili Cook-off & Ice Cream Churnoff
The Fire & Ice: Chili Cook-Off and Ice Cream Churn-Off, held annually in early September, is a spirited celebration of Florida’s pioneer heritage and culinary creativity. This open-house event transforms the historic village into a lively festival, where locals compete in a fiery Chili Cook-Of for visitors to sample and judge for a $10 tasting fee. Meanwhile, others showcase their skills in the Ice Cream Churn-Off, churning creamy, old-fashioned treats that provide a cool contrast to the spicy chilis. From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Fire & Ice blends history, flavor, and community spirit, making it a must-visit event for foodies and history lovers alike.
Barberville Pioneer Settlement is active on Facebook and Instagram. You can also learn more about the settlement on their website, www.pioneersettlement.org.
More information on West Volusia County can be picked up in our Visitor Center located at 116 W. New York Avenue in Downtown DeLand, FL or can be found online on our website at www.visitwestvolusia.com. Please call 386-734-0162 for more information.
