The lineup for this weekend’s Treasure Coast History Festival has been announced, with separate sessions on the native Ais culture and the life of landscape artist A.E. “Bean’’ Backus headlining the event.
The free festival will be held from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Saturday, January 11, 2020, in downtown Fort Pierce and features historical re-enactors, ghost tours, historical trolley rides, sessions on historical topics and an old-Florida fish fry.
This is the fourth year of the festival, which highlights the history of the Treasure Coast. Free and open to the public, the festival is produced by Indian River Magazine Inc. in association with Main Street Fort Pierce, Sunrise Ford/Volkswagen, the St. Lucie County Historical Society, the A.E. Backus Museum & Gallery and the Sunrise Theatre. It is held on Second Street in front of the Sunrise Theatre between Orange Avenue and Depot Drive.
“We hope people attending will learn more about the rich history of the Treasure Coast,'' said Gregory Enns, publisher of Indian River Magazine and chairman of the History Festival. ‘’It’s a great way to interact with people knowledgeable about the history of the region.''
This is the day’s lineup. Sessions in the Sunrise Theatre Black Box are on a first come, first served basis. Except for the fish fry, all events are free:
09:00 AM — History Festival opens at 117 S. Second St., Fort Pierce
09:30 AM — Social media personality Billy Johnson recalls his free-wheeling childhood growing up in Fort Pierce, Sunrise Theatre Black Box
10:30 AM — Dress inspection at Seminole War re-enactment camp
11:00 AM —“The Ais Natives of the Treasure Coast’’ presented by archaeologist Alan Brech, Sunrise Theatre Black Box
11:00 AM — Summerlin Family Fish Fry opens, $12 plate featuring fish, coleslaw and hush puppies.
11:15 AM — Military Dress Parade produced by Seminole War reenactors
12:45 PM — Military dress parade by Seminole War reenactors
12:45 PM — Seminole War reenactor posing as Lt. William Tecumseh Sherman, based at Fort Pierce and newly out of West Point, attempts to negotiate the surrender of Seminole Chief Wildcat.
01:00 PM — Family, friends and students recall the life of Fort Pierce landscape artist A.E. “Bean’’ Backus, one of Florida’s first landscape painters and one of the inspirations for the Highwaymen art movement, Sunrise Theatre Black Box
01:30 PM — Seminole War soldiers re-enact officers' call.
Throughout the afternoon, trolley tours will take participants to significantly important historical sites in Fort Pierce. The tours are $10 per person and reservations are required by calling 772.466.3880.
Free historical ghost tours led by paranormal investigator Larry Lawson will also be held throughout the day. Registration for those tours are taken on the day of the festival.
Authors of books on the history of the Treasure Coast will also be featured in the festival’s Authors Alley. The alley will give visitors a chance to purchase locally written books and to talk to the authors.
