The Olustee Civil War Expo is a day of authentic military drills and historic talks with reenactors, living historians, period artisans and sutlers at the Olustee Battlefield Historic Park.

See an exhibit on the role of African Americans during the war, period music, relic collections, a history lecture and military drills. Period artisans include a blacksmith and household tool maker.

Demonstrations of authentic weapons and fighting tactics used in the Civil War include cavalry and infantry drills and artillery firing.

The Battle of Olustee was fought in February 1864 when Union troops marched west from Jacksonville seeking to deprive the Confederacy of food and other supplies from Central Florida. Olustee was the largest Civil War battle fought in Florida. It ended with a Confederate victory, 2,807 casualties, and the containment of Union troops to the Jacksonville area until the war ended nearly 14 months later.

No pets are allowed at the Olustee Civil War Expo. A donation of $3 per vehicle is requested, and parking is allowed inside the park. All proceeds benefit the Olustee Battlefield Citizens Support Organization and the Olustee Battlefield Historic Park. The Olustee Civil War Expo is sponsored by the CSO, the Florida Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service.

For more information call 386-397-7009 or 386-397-4331 on the day of the event, or visit online at http://www.FloridaStateParks.org/olustee/ or http://battleofolustee.org/ . Send e-mail inquiries to Martha.J.Nelson@dep.state.fl.us.