Though the Florida State Fair has been pushed back to late April, Cracker Country—located on the Fairgrounds at 4800 U.S.-301 in Tampa—is alive and hosting two socially-distanced events focused on two pandemic hobbies: crafting and gardening.
During “Practical Crafting,” on Saturday, Feb. 20 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., guests can learn blacksmithing, decoy carving, leather working, pine needle basketry, candle making and quilting. $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and children ages 6-11. Children five and under are free.
Homeschooled families are invited to “Growing Gardeners” from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 26. In that session students and educators will learn about Florida’s native gardening plants, the state’s citrus industry and will be given supplies to start a home garden. Tickets are $10; free for kids under three.
Cracker Country, an outdoors history museum located at the fairground, focuses on 1890s Florida and houses a “collection of 13 original buildings dating from 1870-1912 which were relocated from across the state.”
Though Cracker Country is not open daily you can schedule a group tour—no school affiliation needed. It will be open during the Florida State Fair, which has been rescheduled for April 22-May 2. More information is at crackercountry.org.
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This article appears in Feb 18-24, 2021.