Tag: Sebring

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Pioneer Daze 2024

Welcome back to #TravelThursday. Pioneer Daze was an overwhelming success for us last Saturday at the Alan Jay Arena at the Highlands County Fairgrounds in downtown Sebring Florida. We planned for it slowly but steadily since nearly the start of the year, and everything just came together for us last Saturday. It was great to see the estimated 500 to 750 volunteers, vendors, participants, and performers bring life to that arena and the exterior grounds. It was often a bit tough to get through the crowds of people down the vendor aisles, but that’s a good problem to have. We at the Sebring Historical Society (#SHS) greatly appreciate it all. We hope to do it again next October !

I’m the Social Media Director of the #SHS. For the locals in the area (as well as our winter residents): To stay in touch with all that we’ve got to offer – check-out our Facebook page. Search for Sebring Historical Society (or link here). Like us, and like and share our posts as you see fit. You can also check out our web site at sebringhistoricalsociety.info.

There are a couple of historical places here in Highlands County that I learned more about at Pioneer Daze. The Edna Pearce Lockett Estate is located on the county line with Okeechobee County on the banks of the Kissimmee River. They host an annual 2-day Heritage Festival. I missed this year’s event in April, as it occurred during my 18-day retirement road-trip to and from North Texas. And Archbold Biological Station is located between Lake Placid and Venus in the south-end of our County. It’s on the National Register Of Historic Places. I’ve driven by it so many times along U.S. 27. On a nice and cool day this winter I hope to stop by and visit the nature preserve to walk the trails and check-out the Learning Center.

A couple of days ago I reached a milestone for the 2ND year in a row. I’ll write about it – next – #TravelThursday. Let’s keep traveling together.

#CountUp & #TravelThursday is on Facebook. I usually post there on Mondays and Thursdays.

All rights reserved (c) 2024 Christopher M. Day, CountUp

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Blogging History Travel

Pioneer Daze 2024

Welcome back to #TravelThursday. We are exactly one month away from the biggest event of the year for the Sebring Historical Society – “Pioneer Daze”. It’ll be held at the Alan Jay Arena – adjacent to the Highlands County Fairgrounds / Firemen’s Field – at the corner of Sebring Parkway and Kenilworth Boulevard near downtown Sebring Florida.

It’s our 2ND annual event, and it’ll be bigger than last year. You’ll want to get there early, as the fun starts at 9:30 AM. Enter at the Blue Streak Boulevard gate off Kenilworth Boulevard. My volunteers will get you, your party, and your vehicle to a great parking space. (I’m in charge of parking.)

Admission is free !

#CountUp & #TravelThursday is on Facebook.

Next #TravelThursday – I’ll tell you all about Fort Meade Florida. Let’s keep traveling together.

All rights reserved (c) 2024 Christopher M. Day, CountUp

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Blogging History Travel

Avon Park Depot Museum

Welcome back to #TravelThursday. 113 weeks ago I wrote all about my first visit (which was really my second visit) to the historic Avon Park Depot Museum – operated by the Avon Park Historical Society. It’s located about 4½ miles from my neighborhood. I visited the museum on a previous trip to the area in February 2021. I arrived at the museum. I took a couple of exterior photos. I walked-up to the front door, and it was locked shut. #COVID

What a disappointment. I immediately returned southward to Sebring. That disappointment actually led me to a big “reveal” with the Sebring Historical Society that began my relationship with them.

Meanwhile I’ve been visiting the Depot Museum in downtown Avon Park on a fairly regular basis. My friend Elaine is the Museum Curator, and she frequently updates the museum with new displays – both temporary and permanent. It’s a very nice museum to visit set in a historic train depot, and the trains keep on rolling by. (They just don’t stop.)

On some days you may even be able to get a bonus exclusive behind-the-scenes tour inside this railroad dining car (acquired in 1986) that last saw action as part of Amtrak’s Auto Train. It’s now used for special catered dining events by groups of 16 to 36 (by reservation only).

The museum is a traditional historical museum for the city of Avon Park. You can easily spend an hour or two checking it all out and allowing the docent and curator to share history with you. It’s currently open from 10 AM to 3 PM on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. It’s located at 3 North Museum Avenue right after the first set of railroad tracks if you’re driving east on Main Street from U.S. 27. Make a left at Museum Avenue, and you’ll see the museum and the dining car on the left-hand side.

The docent on duty at the museum during my visit last month told me all about Tasmania Florida and Fisheating Creek. That led me to do some historical research on the ghost town and the natural free-flowing stream that runs alongside it. I’ll share what I learned next – #TravelThursday. Let’s keep traveling together.

All rights reserved (c) 2024 Christopher M. Day, CountUp

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St. Johns River Cruise

Welcome back to #TravelThursday. Last Thursday me and 42 of my Sebring Historical Society friends met at our Charles Frederick Weigle House Museum early in the morning, and we boarded a chartered bus – courtesy of Small World. We departed for historic downtown Sanford Florida – 108 miles north of Sebring.

We arrived 2½ hours later, and we immediately boarded the 105-foot Rivership Barbara-Lee – courtesy of the St. Johns Rivership Co. We were treated to an interactive comedy wedding complete with singalongs and dancing on the dancefloor. The show essentially started as soon as we got off the bus, and it kept on going intermittently until the ship returned to its dock 3½ hours later.

Our multi-course lunch was pretty good. Nothing spectacular, but better than a typical lunch for me. I had the Prime Rib (cooked perfectly medium-well) served with mashed potatoes and green beans. A side salad and rolls were served beforehand, and delicious dessert (red velvet cake) was served afterward.

Our trek along the St. Johns River actually started dockside on the south shore of 9,406-acre Lake Monroe. We continued WNW – past the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens – off the lake and onto the river proper – underneath both I-4 and U.S. 17 / U.S. 92.

Crossing-over from Seminole County into Volusia County – we went about 7 miles up the river, and then we went around an island and came back southward. It was a nice slow cruise up and down the lazy river on a mostly sunny and hot afternoon; although, it felt cooler (with a nice refreshing breeze) outside – especially on the upper decks of the rivership.

On our way to and from the dock – we caught a glimpse of the vibrant historic downtown district of Sanford. I’d like to walk around and check it out on my own on a future daytrip to (or through) the area. I definitely want to visit the Zoo. I think this field trip was my very first visit ever to the area northeast of Orlando. There’s a lot to see and visit up there !

Fun Facts: We avoided I-4 between Kissimmee and Sanford by taking the “Eastern Beltway” (Florida State Road 417) northward and the “Western Beltway” (Florida State Road 429) southward. Both routes combined form a 108-mile ring around Orlando. On this field trip we traversed 7 counties – Highlands, Polk, Osceola, Orange, Seminole, Volusia, and Lake.

As we returned to our museum in Sebring – our Director announced our next field trip in a little over 3 months to Clewiston to visit an Indian Museum and to Okeechobee for a big Lunch. I’m looking forward to it !

Next #TravelThursday – I’ll tell you all about Frostproof Florida. Let’s keep traveling together.

All rights reserved (c) 2024 Christopher M. Day, CountUp