Music & Literature: HOMESCHOOL DAY
May 6, 2025 from 10am-2pm

Theme: Music & Literature

Discover some of Florida’s rich music and literary history at Cracker Country!  While visiting the museum’s historic buildings, homeschoolers can participate in activities designed to make late 19th-early 20th century literature and music come alive! Enjoy live musical demonstrations on the dulcimer, mandolin and conga drum, make your own musical instrument, and do some of our “everyday” chores, like churning butter and cleaning laundry on a washboard.

Activities:

• Design an advertisement based on writings by 1890s travel writers

• See our model train display

• Color, glue & wrap musical instrument crafts

• Design a family tree

• Bang on some pots & pans or strum a washboard at our found instrument station - designed with toddlers in mind

• Do laundry on a scrub board

• Churn & taste butter

• Play with homemade toys

• Print a postcard on an antique printing press

• Discover 1890s Floridian writers

• Hear a Seminole story

• And more!

Add-on Lecture: Music & Literature in the Late 19th Century 

Price: $2 add-on to Homeschool Day general admission ticket
Ages: The lecture is designed for students aged 12+
Time: 45-minute lecture at 11 am & 1 pm
 Location: Governors Inn at Cracker Country

Music and literature define the human experience and give insight into the world.  Come hear college professor Gary G. DeSantis discuss the integral part music and literature played in distinguishing Florida in the late nineteenth century.  The lecture, which is aimed at students ages 12 to 15, will explore popular musical instruments prevalent during the era and played by a variety of different groups within the state.  Literature of the late nineteenth century—books, travel guides, and poetry—by a wide range of men and women will also be reviewed, with a particular focus on how Florida was perceived by many at the time.  

Date & Time: May 6, 2025 from 10am-2pm

Bring a Picnic Lunch: Picnic tables are available for a picnic lunch.

Shopping: There are lots of unique items 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 and all major credit cards. Proceeds from sales in the General Store help support Cracker Country's education programs.

General Pricing: $11 per person 4 years old and up, children 3 years old and younger will be admitted for FREE. Advance ticket purchase required- this is a very popular event and there are limited tickets available. Tickets only available online. All ticket sales are final. 

Parking: Free parking - enter Orient Rd only. Please follow the directions listed on our website and not GPS. Directions