Alligator Warrior Festival

Participant Registration Forms

Thank you for your interest in participating in the Alligator Warrior Festival which reenacts the 2nd Seminole War Battle of San Felasco Hammock. Please click the link below to open the participant registration form. Also on this page are downloadable event fliers, and the event guidelines, rules and regulations. We've tried to include all of the information that you need but if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us and we'll be glad to help you out.

The Participant Registration Form for Reenactors, Demonstrators, Dancers, Musicians, Traders, Food Vendors, and other Volunteers. It's the same form for everyone so there may be some fields that do not apply to you.

The RSVP form for Student Groups, Journalists, Sponsors, etc. It's the same form for everyone so there may be some fields that do not apply to you.

Other Forms

Absence Request, a template used to request a child's absence from school.

Promotional Pamplets for the Festival

Color poster for legal-sized paper

Black and white poster for letter-sized paper

Color leaflets, 4 leaflets/2-sided letter-sized page.

If you are unable to open the files above:

All of the above documents above are in the Adobe Reader (PDF) format. If you do not have a pdf reader then you can download the free Foxit Reader from the Foxit Software website by clicking on this link.

Camping Information and Rules for the Alligator Warrior Festival

O'Leno State Park - 410 SE O'Leno Park Road - High Springs FL 32643 - Tel: 386-454-1853

GENERAL RULES, REGUALTIONS, CONSENTS, WAIVERS AND POLICIES

In efforts to be able to plan for the number of participants, we request that you please register by September 15th. This gives the event organizers a chance to coordinate the meals, black powder cartridges and other amenities to be provided. Although we don't encourage it, you may register at the information booth next to the CCC museum upon arrival. All participants are required to check-in at the information booth before setting up. Particiapnt registration and the amenities provided to registered participants is limited to persons who are volunteering under the coordination of the festival board. Other members of your party are not considered registered participants if they are not volunteering under the coordination of the festival board.

Limited car parking for participants is available alongside and in front of the cabins. The remaining cars must use the general parking lot. NO RVs are allowed in the parking lots or trader sites. No anachronistic vehicles may be parked in the historic camps, except to unload during set-up and load while packing up.

The park waives park entrance fees for registered participants with an event gate pass. Using a gate pass for multiple vehicles or to grant entry to unregisted participants is an abuse of this waiver. Such abuse may result in the revocation of a participant's registration.

If you have medication that requires refrigeration, we invite you to take it to the Dining Hall, where the kitchen volunteers will allow you access to the refigerator. Please ensure that your name is on your medication. Kitchen volunteers will provide access to the refigerator during event hours but should not at any time handle someone else's medication.

To comply with health department regulations, park rules require that you must stay in one of the RV sites through Reserve America in order to camp with your pets in the park. Park rules also require that pets be on a leash no longer than 6-feet and must not be left unattended if they are outside of the camper. Pets are allowed within the Magnolia and Dogwood RV loops but not in the swimming area, river area, horse trails, cabins or area used by the festival. Registered service animals accompanied by a disabled person are not considered pets. Violation of these rules may result in removal from the park.

Event organizers and participants are responsible for keeping the grounds and buildings free of litter.

Event organizers and participants are responsible for sweeping and mopping the kitchen, dining hall and bathrooms and for putting the trash in the dumpsters.

Alcoholic beverages will not be consumed during normal park operating hours. Any persons under the influence of intoxicants during normal park operating hours shall be removed.

Campfires will be in designated areas only. All fires must be placed at or above ground level. When environmental conditions place the park at an elevated fire risk, the park reserves the right to prohibit fires.

To protect the archeological resources, the ground must remain undisturbed. Digging is not permitted so as not to disturb the historic town sites of the DeSoto Trail, Spanish Ranches, Cantonment Winfield Scott, and the town of Keno or O'Leno . Any artifacts discovered on the O'Leno grounds are property of the State of Florida and must be turned in at the Front Gate Ranger's Station.

Park rules prohibit excessively loud noises from 11 PM to 6 AM.

The front gate of the park will be locked after-hours and after-hours exit/entry will only be possible if an Alligator Warrior Festival volunteer is able to staff the front gate.

The organizers of the Alligator Warrior Festival shall make every reasonable effort to enable the participation of disabled persons. Accessibility and the availability of adaptive equipment for disabled persons shall be considered when selecting event locations, event activities, and the promotion of the event. With regard to disabled persons performing historic portrayals, no anachronistic adaptive equipment shall be used unless it can be hidden from public view. Despite every reasonable effort, some activities integral to the event may not be appropriate for some disabled persons; for example, persons who are sensitive to loud noises may not want to attend or participate in the battle reenactments.

The organizers of the Alligator Warrior Festival and their duly appointed representatives renounce any authority to discriminate, by segregation or otherwise, against any person on the basis of ethnicity, skin color, gender, age, ability, national origin, language, sexual orientation, or religion. The organizers of the Alligator Warrior Festival and their duly appointed representatives do have the authority to revoke or deny participation to any persons who reasonably demonstrate that they present a danger to themselves, to others or to the property of others, and to any persons who behave in a manner that is criminal or disruptive to the event, and to any persons who violate the rules or regulations of the event. Any person on either the sexual predator or sexual offender list maintained by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is prohibited from being an Alligator Warrior Festival participant. In the event that a Trader or Food Vendor has their participation denied or revoked prior to the event, the value of their registation donation will be returned in full.

The Alligator Warrior Festival is an all volunteer event that is open to the public. All participatants, by their participation, consent to being, photographed and/or recorded on audio, video, text or artform, by the public, by the Florida Park Service, by the event organizers, by other participants, and by the news media. All participatants, by their participation, agree that photographs and/or recordings generated at the event are the property of the person or organization that generated them. All participatants, by their participation, waive any right to inspect or approve photographs, recordings and artwork that other persons have generated at the event. All participatants, by their participation, waive any right to compensation in exchange for being photographed and/or recorded at the event and waive any right to any proceeds that come from the use or sale of photographs and/or recordings that other persons have generated at the event.

The Alligator Warrior Festival is an event organized by the non-profit Alligator Festival of Lake City FL, Inc. The Florida Park Service permits Alligator Festival of Lake City FL, Inc. to use O'Leno State Park, under mutually agreed upon conditions. The Alligator Warrior Festival is not an event organized by the Florida Park Service. Alligator Festival of Lake City FL, Inc. is responsible to provide insurance coverage for liabilities related to the event.

In the event of an emergency, please call 911, render any necessary aid, and inform a member of the Park Staff.

Other Park Activities

Canoe & Kayak on the Santa Fe River. Bring your own or rent a canoe at the park ranger station for $3.00 per hour per canoe or $15.00 per day per canoe.

Swimming in the designated area is a great way to enjoy the Santa Fe river but keep in mind that there is NO LIFEGUARD ON DUTY so it's at your own risk.

Fishing in the Santa Fe River is unpredictable but bring your license if you want to try.

Hike on the 2 marked trails - The River Trail, where alligators and turtles may be seen, takes you along the river to the natural bridge where the river disappears underground. The Limestone Trail passes through a hardwood hammock, past a limestone outcrop and then by a pine forest. There are also Horse/Equestrian Trails.

Cabins

The organizers of the Alligator Warrior Festival rent the cabin bunks at O'Leno State Park for Thursday, Friday and Saturday night in order to make them available to registered participants of the event, up to the number of available bunks.

Most cabins have 8 bunks (4 bunk beds). There are also 2 centrally located buildings with toilets, sinks and showers. There are only 2 cabins that are wheel-chair accessable for the disabled. If you have a disability that requires a wheelchair accessible cabin, please indicate this on the special needs portion of your registration.

All cabins have electrical lighting and outlets but none of them have heat or air conditioning.

Bring your own bed linens, pillows, towels, toiletries and other personal items.

No pets are allowed in or around the cabins, dining hall or recreation hall.

Those who bunk in cabins are responsible for sweeping and taking trash to dumpsters.

Check-in starts at noon on Thursday. Check-out no later than 10am Monday.

Do not lock your cabins during the event, many of the locks are in need of repair and will leave you locked out. Store your valubales in your vehicle.

RV Camping Sites (Magnolia loop and Dogwood Loop)

Reservations must be made through ReserveAmerica.com up to 11 months in advance. Book Online or call (800) 326-3521 or TDD (888) 433-0287 (8 am to 8 pm). There is a 50% discount on RV Camping Sites for Florida Resident Seniors and Florida Resident Disabled.

O'Leno has two camping loops with 61 campsites, each with water, electric, in-ground grill, picnic table and a centrally located ADA accessible restrooms in each RV loop. There is no maintained pathway to the bathroom facility located in the Dogwood loop. Call the park at (386) 454-1853 if special accommodations or assistance is necessary.

50 ft maximum RV length.

RV's and campers are not allowed in either the general or cabin parking lots.

The dump station & dumpsters are located off the Park Rd across from Law Enforcement Office.

Check-in and check-out as per your reservation with Reserve America.

Modern Tent Camps (in the Youth Camp)

The organizers of the Alligator Warrior Festival have rented the Youth Camp at O'Leno State Park for Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday night in order to make it available to registered participants of the event, up to the amount of available space for modern tent camps.

The modern tent area includes a small picnic shelter, ground grill, cold showers and restroom but does not have electricity. Modern tent campers can also use the bathrooms and showers in the cabin area.

Set-up for the Youth Camp starts at noon on Thursday. Tear-down must be completed no later than 10 am on Monday.

Tee-pee Camps

Surface fires only. No holes or pit fires so as not to disturb the historic town site of O'Leno. Any artifacts discovered on the O'Leno grounds are property of the State of Florida and must be turned in at the Front Gate Ranger's Station.

Tee-pee camps shall be set up in the location designated on the event map as interpreted by the logistics coordinator.

Set-up for Tee-Pee camps starts at noon on Thursday. Tear-down must be completed no later than 10 am Monday.

Historic Spanish, Indian and US Military or State Militia Camps

Surface fire only. Tent stakes are allowed but digging and pit fires are prohibited to protect the historic town site of O'Leno. Any artifacts discovered on the O'Leno grounds are property of the State of Florida and must be turned in at the Front Gate Ranger's Station.

Reenactors may conduct incidental trades, in accordance with Florida law, from a small blanket or animal hide display.

The Seminole camp shall be set up in the location designated on the event map as interpreted by the logistics coordinator.

The Milita, Soldier and Civilian Pioneer camps shall be set up in the location designated on the event map as interpreted by the logistics coordinator.

The Spanish camps shall be set up in the location designated on the event map as interpreted by the logistics coordinator.

Horses are to be tied to trees or other solid anchors inside a rope perimeter when they are not being ridden or when they are not pulling a cart.

Set-up for the Early 19th Century Camps starts no earlier than 12:00 noon on Thursday. Tear-down must be completed no later than 10 am Monday.

Demonstrators

Demonstrators shall be set up in the location designated on the event map as interpreted by the logistics coordinator.

Demonstrators may conduct incidental trades, in accordance with Florida law, from a small blanket or animal hide display.

No RV's, campers or vehicles on your demonstration site. If you want to stay close to your demonstration then you may sleep/camp in your marquee.

Set-up for demonstrator sites starts at noon on Thursday. Tear-down must be completed no later than 10 am Monday.

Musicians

The organizers of the Alligator Warrior Festival have rented the yard in the Cabin (Group Camp) area at O'Leno State Park for Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday night in order to make it available to registered event participants and visitors. Like all participants at the Alligator Warrior Festival, Musicians are unpaid volunteers. Musicians may, of their own initiative, secure their own sponsors to help them cover the cost of performing at the event.

Musicians must only perfrom either their own original works, works in the public domain or works that the owner of the music rights has given them written permission to perform. Musicians agree to assume full responsibility for their performances and to indemnify the event organizers and the park from liability if the perfomer violates the event rules by performing copyrighted material without permission of the copyright holder.

Musicians can perform in the lodge and any other space deemed appropriate by the logistics coordinator. There may be couple of hours on Sunday when the lodge must be surrendered to a Contra Dancing group. On a year-by-year basis, the park may make the outdoor music pavilion available to the festival musicans as well. Musicians performing ealy 19th century music are also encourgaed to perform in and around the reenactor camps. Persons playing American Indian and/or Native American Style music, are also encourgaed to coordinate with the M.C. to perform at the dance circle.

Musicians may sell CD's and other media containing their music, in accordance with Florida and Federal laws.

No RV's, campers or vehicles on your performance site.

Set-up for Musicians sites starts at noon on Thursday. Tear-down must be completed no later than 10 am Monday.

Handcraft Traders & Traders in Early 19th Century Marquees

The organizers of the Alligator Warrior Festival have rented the yard in the Cabin area at O'Leno State Park for Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday night in order to make it available to registered participants of the event, with trading sites, up to the amount of available space.

Handcraft Traders & Traders in Early 19th Century Marquees are located around or in the vicinity of the dance circle.

Tents, marquees and tow behind booths are allowed. No blanket traders shall be located in the traders' area. Tent stakes are allowed but no digging so as not to disturb the historic town site of O'Leno. Any artifacts discovered on the O'Leno grounds are property of the State of Florida and must be turned in at the Front Gate Ranger's Station.

No RV's, campers or vehicles on your trading site. If you want to stay close to your wares then you may sleep/camp in your marquee.

Set-up for trader sites starts at noon on Thursday. Tear-down must be completed no later than 10 am Monday.

Traders in Factory Items

Traders in Factory Items shall be set up in the location designated on the event map as interpreted by the logistics coordinator (or in an overflow area by determined the logistics coordinator). Tent stakes are allowed but no digging so as not to disturb the historic town site of O'Leno. Any artifacts discovered on the O'Leno grounds are property of the State of Florida and must be turned in at the Front Gate Ranger's Station.

No RV's, campers or vehicles on your trading site. If you want to stay close to your wares then you may sleep/camp in your marquee.

Set-up for trader sites starts at noon on Thursday. Tear-down must be completed no later than 10 am Monday.

Food Vendors

The organizers of the Alligator Warrior Festival have rented the yard in the Cabin area at O'Leno State Park for Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday night in order to make it available to registered participants of the event, with food vending sites, up to the amount of available space.

Food Vendors shall be set up in the location designated on the event map as interpreted by the logistics coordinator (or in an overflow area by determined the logistics coordinator).

Tent stakes are allowed but digging is prohibitted so as not to disturb the historic town site of O'Leno. Any artifacts discovered on the O'Leno grounds are property of the State of Florida and must be turned in at the Front Gate Ranger's Station.

A total of 60 amps of 110 Volt, 60 Hz, single phase electricity is available to be shared among all of the food vendors at no additional charge. One outlet will be available to each food vendor, up to 12 outlets. Food vendors must bring their own extention cords terminating in single or multiple outlets.

No RV's, campers or vehicles on your vending site. If you want to stay close to your wares then you may sleep in your marquee.

Set-up for food vendor sites starts at noon on Thursday. Tear-down must be completed no later than 10 am Monday.

Information Booth

The Information booth shall welcome participants and visitors. It will be the office the logistics coordinator and the primary location for participant check-in, event information, free event booklets, donation raffle tickets, lost-and-found, emergency response and coordination with the park staff.

The Information booth shall be located on the opposite side of the Infirmary Cabin from the food vendors.

SAFETY PROCEDURES FOR THE ALLIGATOR WARRIOR FESTIVAL

Historic Weapons Safety Guide for the Alligator Warrior Festival

GENERAL SAETY PROCEEDURES

These safety procedures will be strictly enforced through a safety officer and his or her assisstants. An individual or group will not be permitted to participate if any of these procedures are not followed. The Park Safety Supervisor has the final say regarding safety matters in the park.

Every weapon must pass a full safety inspection under the supervision of the safety supervisor prior to that weapon being fired.

Park visitors (event specators) are not permitted to handle any edged weapons or whips.

Park visitors (event specators) are not permitted to handle any weapon or equipment containing black powder.

WHIP DEMONSTRATIONS

The Florida whip is the Cow Whip. The Florida cow whip used by crakers is a two-piece whip consisting of a handle and a thong. The thong is connected to the handle by threading two strands of the thong through a hollow part of a wooden handle before being tied off. The traditional cow whip is made of of cowhide or buckskin. Modern cow whips may also be made of flat nylon parachute cord, which is still effective when wet. Most cow whips have handles that average 16 inches, and thongs that average 12 feet. A good cowwhip can produce a loud crack by a simple push of the handle. This makes it more convenient to use than a bullwhip in a thick vegetated environment with less swinging room.

Whips are not toys, whips can cause considerable pain, cut flesh and break bones. When a whip cracks the tip is travelling in excess of 1,400 feet per second. Whip demonstrators must ensure that there is enough clear space around them and that spectators and animals are at a safe distance. Child demonstrators of the cow whip or other whips must be under adult supervision. It is recommended that whip demonstrators wear protective eyewear and clothing.

WEAPON FIRING DEMONSTRATIONS AND BATTLE REENACTMENTS

Weapons demonstrations will be coordinated by the Florida Park Service safety supervisor.

All gun powder in the event or demonstration area must be in the form of cartridges. No staples will be used in any cartridge.

To protect against flash burns, all demonstrators must wear long-sleeved, natural fiber or animal skin clothing.

No bullets, musket balls, projectiles, or loading blocks will be carried at any time during an event or demonstration.

No black powder will be carried or used by any person under 16 years of age.

Sales of black powder are not permitted as per the Federal Explosive Law (Public Law 91-452) & Title 27, Code of Federal Regulations Part 55, Commerce in Explosives, Subpart D-Licenses and Permits.

Weapons demonstrators are not permitted to fire their weapons in the encampments or along marching routes without prior approval from the safety supervisor.

Pyrodex or other synthetic black powders are not permitted in Florida Park Service events or demonstrations.

The demonstration area shall be safe for the size of the event of demonstration. All events or demonstrations where weapons are fired will follow the Florida Park Service's Primitive Weapons Range Diagram, Small Arms Range Diagram, Artillery Range Diagram, or Opposing Troops Range Diagram as appropriate.

All firing will be done at an elevated angle without aiming the weapon directly at another person.

The safety supervisor shall designate an area for weapons testing.

Nails, vent picks, etc. should be kept out of the cartridge box to avoid accidentally dropping any of these objects into a muzzle.

Each Unit Commander is responsible for the conduct of all participants in the unit (including women and children). The Commander is responsible for making sure that the participants are aware of the safety rules and that they understand and abide by them.

[Each Head Warrior is responsible for the conduct of all the warriors under his command and of any tribal women or children on the battlefield. When they are off the battlefield, the tribal women, children and non-combatant men are under the Volunteer Coordinator.]

Children [under the age of 16] are not permitted on the battlefield while weapons are being fired, with the exception of unarmed boys 11 or older who are competently playing a drum, fife or trumpet. [No child under the age of 16 shall] serve as color bearers during battle reenactments.

In the event of an actual injury needing immediate attention during a reenactment, either the injured person or someone going to his aid will shout the word "MEDIC" to signify this injury. The word "Medic" is to be used only in the case of an actual injury requiring immediate medical attention. When the call "Medic" is heard, all activity will cease and the injured person will be cared for. Other words such as "help" or "doctor" shall be considered role play.

Seminole Warriors shall remove any reenactors feigning to be wounded or deceased during the reenactment if at all possible to prevent them from falling into the hands of the soldiers. However, persons who have actually been injured should not be moved until a medically qualified person has determined that it is safe to do so.

[The following persons have the right to order any participant off the battlefield for the duration of the battle: the safety supervisor or any of his or her safety assistants, any officer or NCO, and any head warrior.]

If the black powder cartridges are not distributed directly from an ATF qualifying magazine to the reenactors and weapons demonstrators, then the black powder cartridges shall be distributed from one or more cartridge boxes. A cartridge box shall contain no more than 50 lbs of black powder and may only contain small arms and cannon cartridges.

The event organizers shall maintain a log book that records the dates and locations of events, the type and quantity of cartridges prepared for each event, the names, dates of birth and addresses of persons receiving cartridges after their weapon have been inspected, the names of any persons that the safety supervisor sanctioned for unsafe conduct and a brief record of the conduct, a record of any weapons that failed inspection and if the weapon subsequently passed inspection, a record of what actions were taken for the weapon to pass inspection.

SMALL ARMS SAFETY

Opposing [forces] will not fire against each other if they are within 45 feet of [each other].

No one shall fire his or her musket, rifle or pistol if any person is within the first 45 feet of his or her blast cone. Reenactors shall rotate so that the persons behind are loading while the persons in front are firing.

Cartridge paper will not be placed in the barrel and no wadding or ramming will be permitted except in the use of pistols.

Torn or damaged small arms cartridges will not be used.

Multiple loading is not permitted.

All small arms demonstrators must follow the Table of Maximum Loads. FFFg (3F) and FFFFg (4F) powder is not permitted in Florida State Parks. Maximum musket or rifle charges are 60 grains for small caliber (.50 caliber or less) and 120 grains for large caliber (.69 - .75 caliber) weapons.

Edged weapons may be carried but will not be unsheathed at any time without direct command of an officer. The command will only be given with prior approval of the safety officer.

[War clubs may be carried but may not be swung at anyone or thrown.]

[Hand-to-hand combat, scripted or otherwise, is not permitted in Florida State Parks.]

The Florida Park service requires all flintlock weapons to be equipped with flash guards and frizzen covers also known as frizzen stalls. [Any reenactors or weapons demonstrators that fire flintlock weapons when positioned shoulder to shoulder, shall have flash guards on their pans.]

Only officers, NCOs, mounted cavalrymen [and mounted warriors] may carry pistols. Do not fire pistols directly at any person. [Revolvers may not be used at the Alligator Warrior Festival because they had not yet been invented.]

Since musket and riffle rammers may only be used during the safety inspection, all rammers shall be left in the encampment during battle reenactments, except the pistol rammer to be carried by the person or persons who have been assigned to load the pistols by the safety supervisor.

Powder will only be carried in the form of cartridges, and all cartridges should be made prior to the event or demonstration. Cartridges will not be carried anywhere on the person except in a hard cartridge box or [flame resistant bag or pouch].

Unless otherwise specified by the safety supervisor for a specific event or demonstration, reenactors should not bring powder or cartridges to an event or demonstration. Appropriate supplies will be provided.

If a weapon misfires during a weapons firing demonstration, explain the misfire procedure to the visitors, and keep them at a safe distance until the weapon is discharged or rendered safe.

If attempts fail to correct a small arms misfire, then the small arms will be removed from the area to a safe location.

CANNON SAFETY

Cannon charges will be Fg or C grade black powder only - no Pyrodex.

Maximum cannon charges must follow the Table of Maximum Loads.

Charges should be no more than 2 ½ ounces of black powder per inch of bore opening.

Aluminum foil will be the only material used to prepare the charges - no plastic bags.

Do not add anything, including sawdust or flour to charges.

The ammunition box on or off a limber must be constructed of wood or metal, and lined with non-sparking material.

Cannon crews are required to perform firing and misfiring drills as part of the safety inspection.

Cannon crews are required to make their log book available as a part of the safety inspection.

For maximum safety, cannons should be fired no more than once every 3 minutes.

Torn or damaged cannon charges will not be used.

All events or demonstrations where weapons are fired will follow the Florida Park Service's Primitive Weapons Range Diagram, Small Arms Range Diagram, Artillery Range Diagram or Opposing Troops Range Diagram as appropriate.

Powder will only be carried in the form of cannon rounds, and all rounds should be made prior to the event or demonstration.

Unless otherwise specified by the safety supervisor for a specific event or demonstration, demonstrators should not bring powder or cannon rounds to an event or demonstration. Appropriate supplies will be provided.

If a weapon misfires during a firing demonstration, explain the misfire procedure to the visitors, and keep them at a safe distance until the weapon is discharged or rendered safe. If attempts fail to correct an artillery misfire, visitors will be removed from the area and standard unloading procedures will follow.

[During the safety meeting, the cannon crew/s shall explain to the other battle participants what steps they will take to signal other reenactors if a cannon becomes unsafe during the battle and what safety procedures the other reenactors must then take.]

REENACTOR GUIDELINES FOR ALLIGATORFEST

SOLDIER AND SEMINOLE CAMPS-Tents and shelters should be period correct for the time and place. All non-1830s items must be kept out of sight of the public-this includes food packaging, coolers, drink containers, modern bedding, etc.

SETUP AND PARKING - During the public hours, vehicles must be removed from the historic area and any non-period items must be out of sight. All vehicles must be kept in the designated parking area near the cabins at night and during public hours.

REGISTRATION - In efforts to be able to plan for the number of participants, we request that you please register at least 30 days before the event date. This gives us a chance to coordinate the meals, cartridges and other amenities to be provided. Although we don't encourage it, you may register upon arrival. All participants are required to check-in at the information booth before setting up.

PETS - Are allowed only in designated areas and even then they must be on a leash no longer than 6 ft and must be tended to at all times. Owners are responsible for picking up after their animals. The festival is primarily located in the O'Leno Group Camp, which is not one of the areas designated for pets. We recommend keeping pets away from the battle reenactment and weapons demonstrations as the loud noises can inspire fear and distress in pets.

DRESS AND EQUIPMENT GUIDELINES FOR SEMINOLE WARRIORS

The purpose of this document is to convey guidelines on the dress and equipment for 1830's Seminole warriors in the battle reenactment. There is some leniency herein to permit beginner reenactors wearing items that are not quite correct but acceptable as they work towards a more authentic wardrobe. Participants with unacceptable items will be permitted to participate in the battle but will be required to remain behind the cover of the other reenactors so that they are not obvious to the spectators.

HEADCOVERINGS- GOAL: 1830s Seminole or Creek style turban with fabric turban band or uncovered head with hair cut in a southeastern native style, no side braids. Ostrich feathers oriented horizontally on the right side of head may be worn. Silver turban bands and vertical plumes are only worn by a micco, heneha, head warrior or medicine maker. ACCEPTABLE: Other documented Creek headdress styles. UNACCEPTABLE: Visible modern haircut, late 1800s or 20th Cent. Seminole turban, Plains or Woodlands style headdresses.

FACIAL HAIR- GOAL: Clean-shaven. ACCEPTABLE: Many Seminoles did have a thin mustache so this is OK. UNACCEPTABLE - Large beard, "walrus" mustache or "man-chu" mustache.

FACE PAINT- GOAL: Red or black covering the upper or lower half of the face or combinations of red and black. ACCEPTABLE: unpainted face. UNACCEPTABLE - Non-Seminole war paint designs.

UPPER BODY CLOTHING- GOAL: 1830s style Plain Shirt or trade shirt - loose pullover shirts made of vintage solid, calico, striped or paisley cotton prints plus, if desired, an 1830s Seminole Long Shirt. ACCEPTABLE: Long hunter style wrap-around hunting shirt/ coat, 1830s civilian vest or coat, tanned bare chest (no lily-white skin please). UNACCEPTABLE - fringed leather garment of a Plains or mountain man appearance, or Colonial style clothing or Civil War style clothing.

LOWER BODY CLOTHING- GOAL: Tapered truncated point or triangular breechcloth, wool front-seam Seminole leggings with taped edging or natural "braintanned" leather leggings with side seam flaps. ACCEPTABLE: Bare legs or red long-johns. UNACCEPTABLE- fringed Plains style leggings, leather mountain man trousers, dark colored leather.

FOOTWARE- GOAL: Seminole pucker-toe moccasins or bare feet. ACCEPTABLE: Woodlands center-seam moccasins in natural colored leather with the flaps turned up, tied around the ankles and covered by Seminole style leggings. UNACCEPTABLE - Plains moccasins, Apache boots, modern footwear.

ACCOUTREMENTS AND OTHER- GOAL AND ACCEPTABLE: For formal occasions, Seminoles of the period regularly wore some of the following- silver pendant earrings, silver armbands and wrist bands, 1 to 4 silver crescent gorgets, silk or cotton neck scarves in period prints, finger woven sashes and leg ties- in diamond or chevron patterns and especially with interwoven white beads, decorated Seminole bandoleer bags or "primitive" hunting bags and powder horns. Beadwork on bags, breechcloths or leggings should be of a documented Seminole or Creek style. Documentation also exists for trade rings (no stones), decorative brooches and nose rings. Smokers should use trade pipes. UNACCEPTABLE: Plains beadwork, cigarettes, mountain man "fur" pouches, modern jewelry.

FIREARMS- GOAL: Flintlock or caplock long rifles or muskets are correct for the period. ACCEPTABLE: Carbine-length flintlocks. UNACCEPTABLE- Any post 1830s pattern such as modern black powder hunting rifles, Civil War muskets and Civil War pistol-carbines, and Civil War double barrel shotguns.

OTHER ARMS- GOAL: If desired, Eastern style tomahawks, war clubs, bows, blow-guns, atl-atls and period knives in Southeastern style sheaths. UNACCEPTABLE - Tomahawks or knives decorated in a Plains style, Bowie knives. Note that no projectiles (arrows, knives, spears, darts, etc.) may be launched during the event unless it is both scripted by the event organizers and approved in advance by the safety supervisor.

DRESS AND EQUIPMENT GUIDELINES FOR SOLDIERS

The purpose of this document is to convey guidelines on the dress and equipment for 1836 Militia and U.S. Regulars in the battle reenactment. There is some leniency herein to permit beginner reenactors wearing items that are not quite correct but acceptable as they work towards a more authentic wardrobe. Participants with unacceptable items may be permitted to participate in the battle but will be required to remain behind the cover of the other reenactors so that they are not obvious to the spectators.

UNIFORMS--The regular soldiers should be equipped with: M1825 or M1833 forage caps. The M1833 cap is preferred. Wearing no hat is acceptable. The M1839 cap is not acceptable. Uniforms should include gray or sky blue greatcoats (greatcoats need to be in evidence regardless of the weather), shell jackets (artillery yellow trim is preferred), sky blue trousers and fatigue jackets (no summer whites) and military brogans. Officers will wear the 1832 dark blue coat or the 1835 dark blue frock coat with shoulder straps with dark blue center & gold trim for artillery (shoulder strap centers did not vary in color to designated branch of service until later).

ACCOUTREMENTS--White buff cross belts, black leather cartridge boxes and bayonet scabbards are the needed accoutrements.

WEAPONS--Flintlock military muskets or rifles.

A Guide for Civil War Reenactors at 2nd Seminole War Reenactments 1835-1842

from https://www.okeechobeebattlefield.com/okeechobee_battlefield_reenactor_info.htm

As has been demonstrated many times, interested Civil War reenactors can participate in 2nd Seminole War Re-enactment events, especially in the role of US militia and volunteer troops of the 1830s. Where certain preferable items are not on hand, many events have clothing, guns, and equipment on hand for loan to experienced reenactors seeking to improve their Seminole War impressions. Even without 1830s specific equipments however, you can modify your Civil War impression slightly to better suit the interpretation of the 1835-1842 period to the general public.

Clothing: Except for a few companies, the bulk of the militia troops who served in Florida during the Seminole Wars did so without uniforms. From period descriptions, most wore plain outdoorsman or sporting dress, or plain working clothes. Here are a few tips to use your Civil War clothing to best effect in interpreting this:

Dress in your Civil War sky-blue, gray, or butternut trousers. Through drop-front pants were dominant in the 1830s, button-fly types as used during the Civil War were coming into fashion. Please refrain from wearing Civil War leggings, even to hide incorrect footwear, (hint: the sutler row leggings aren't even authentic to the Civil War!...)

Wear a plain slouch, or top hat, of felt or straw, or a plain clerk's or mechanic's cap of cloth with a leather bill. Civil War era forage caps and kepis date to the 1850s and should not be worn at 1830s-4Os events.

Civil War hat insignias should be removed. For example, company letters were not used by militia units in this conflict, nor were branch of service hat cords, (the service colors for the branches were changed between the 1830s and Civil War anyway...). *Wear your plain, colored, or checked shirts. Vests were almost universally worn in the 1830s, and would serve to improve your 1830s impression, especially those of the falling, or "shawl" collar type. A great description from the era refers to rural Americans as wearing shabby versions of English townspeople's dress. The popular styles were of the early Victorian period of fashion. Shirts collars were generally worn pulled up with a colored cravat worn round it and tied in a soft bow in front, (no railroad bandanas please...)

Please do not wear Civil War period blue, gray, or butternut military jackets, sack coats, or frock coats. These did not exist as a point of military or civilian fashion during the 1830s and are not suitable for use at 2nd Seminole War events and serve only to confuse the general public. Also, it would be wise to refrain from employing Indian clothing, like beads. Apache Boots, etc., as Americans in and east of the Rockies did not take their fashions from Indians. For cold weather, a Civil War sky-blue military overcoat would be suitable at a Seminole War event.

Weapons: If you do not have a flintlock military musket or rifle to use at a Seminole War event, a 19th Century style percussion lock hunting rifle or fowler would be acceptable. If you have no other weapons than your Civil War rifle or musket, it may be employed during drill and the battle reenactments, but should be hidden from view in camp. Your Civil War rifle or muskets' bayonet will be unnecessary, as riflemen of the 1830s did not use bayonets. Pistols of any type should not be worn as they did not form any part of the equipment of infantry or riflemen of the 1830s.

Accouterments: Seminole War militia men wore either Ml808 musket accouterments in white or black leather, or plain leather rifle pouches and horns or flasks.

Your Civil War black leather cartridge box and sling are similar in design to the 1808 box and sling. However, the Civil War brass cartridge box should be removed during the Seminole War event to better approach the appearance of the earlier type equipments.

Waist belts were not worn as part of the soldier's equipments of the 1830s, and Civil War accoutrement waist belts should not be worn. The Civil War percussion cap pouch and bayonet scabbard are not necessary for a Seminole War impression. Percussion caps may be carried in an appropriate pouch or bag for that purpose secured on the person. The Civil War bayonet scabbard is not correct, as in the 1830s riflemen were uniformly without bayonets!

Civil War tin canteens are NOT correct for this period and should not be used. The army employed wooden barrel-type canteens. These most often were painted blue, with "US" stenciled in the center, etc. The sling was a plain russet strap, sewn without a buckle.

Camp Equipage: Civil War style wall tents and "A" frame, or common tents are close enough in dimension and appearance to those employed during the 1830s to warrant their use at Seminole War reenactments. The standard camp equipage of soldiers of the 1830s included hatchets, axes, period shovels, camp kettles, mess pans, and tin cups. All else is therefore unnecessary for Seminole War interpretation. Plain woolen blankets are suitable for use in camp.

Exerpts from the Florida Park Service Historic Weapons Firing Safety Manual

Core Module

Artillery Inspection Checklist

Artillery Demonstration Checklist

Muzzle-loaded Small Arms Flintlock Inspection Checklist

Muzzle-loaded Small Arms Caplock Inspection Checklist

Cylinder-loaded Small Arms Revolver Inspection Checklist

Breech-loaded Small Arms Inspection Checklist

Small Arms Demonstration Checklist

Event Weapons Inventory