Events

Lecture Series

Manatee Village Historical Park is pleased to present a monthly lecture series with staff and guest speakers. Admission is free and seating is limited. Lectures will be held in the Wiggins Store Conference Room starting at 3 p.m., unless otherwise noted.

A Short History of Coloring Cloth

Wednesday, September 14

3 PM - 4 PM

Curator Matt Woodside will present "A Short History of Coloring Cloth: When the World was Dying for Color" on Wednesday, September 14, 2022. This lecture will cover the history and discovery of coal-tar dyes in the mid-19th century, and especially the problems with green dyes that were found to be poisonous. 

Blacksmith Demo Days

Saturdays, September 10 and October 8

10 AM - 12 PM

The  blacksmith shop at Manatee Village Historical Park is a working smithy. Curator Matt Woodside is trained in a style known as traditional blacksmithing, using the techniques, tools, and fuel source (bituminous coal) used during the time of our historic interpretation (1840-1918).

The blacksmith demonstrations provide visitors the opportunity to observe the skill and hard work needed to turn ordinary iron into useful things needed for farming, ranching, building houses, barns, boats and much more. Woodside will be working at the forge on September 10 and October 8, 2022, between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. Admission is free.

Please note that this is an outdoor event and may be canceled due to inclement weather.

Cemetery Tours

Saturday, October 8 and October 22

10 AM - 11 AM

Take a trip through the 1850 Manatee Burying Ground and explore different facets of Manatee County's history on a FREE hour-long staff-led guided tour of our area's oldest public cemetery. 

Guided tours begin at 10 a.m. and will be held on Saturday, October 8 and October 22, 2022. Check in at the Wiggins Store at Manatee Village Historical Park. Space is limited and spots are filled on a first come basis. Admission is free.

Please note that this is an outdoor event and may be canceled due to inclement weather.

An Old Florida Christmas

Saturday, December 10, 2022

10 AM - 3 PM

            FREE ADMISSION EVENT            

Manatee Village will be decorated for the holidays so make plans to join us on Saturday, December 10, for a fun day of crafts, shopping, food and music. Stay tuned for more details.

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Interested in being a vendor? Download the application.

Please note that this is an outdoor event and may be canceled due to inclement weather.

Please know that you will need a device with internet access and internet speed fast enough to tune in. This is a digital event and will not take place at Manatee Village Historical Park. Manatee Village Historical Park is not providing device(s) or internet access. Manatee Village Historical Park is a part of the Manatee County Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller Historical Resources Department. Programs are offered in conjunction with the Manatee County Historical Commission, Inc. For more information about the event, click here. 

This virtual book talk from August 2021 by Guest Speaker Dr. Erwin Wunderlich centers on his historical fiction novel, Drummer Boy on the Run. Click the link above to access this free digital event. Dr. Wunderlich's presentation titled “Richmond’s Treasure Comes to Florida” tells a story about a young man who guided the 2nd Florida Infantry Regiment to battle and their surrender at Appomattox Court House. Afterwards, he finds himself entangled in a scheme to hide Richmond’s gold and silver. According to legend, the treasure crossed into Florida in May of 1865 and its complete whereabouts today are unknown. 
 

Join Dr. Jeffrey N. Brown, former Curator at Manatee Village Historical Park, for a digital lecture to supplement the “Medicine in Manatee” exhibit which opened in March 2021. We reveal some of the medical stories and medical professionals during Manatee County's founding period. Learn how the Village of Manatee received medical care and get a glimpse at tools that were used in the name of health.

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Please know that you will need a device with internet access and internet speed fast enough to play the video. This is a digital event and video will not be played or held at Manatee Village Historical Park. Manatee Village Historical Park is not providing device(s) or internet access. Manatee Village Historical Park is a part of the Manatee County Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller Historical Resources Department. Programs are offered in conjunction with the Manatee County Historical Commission, Inc. For more information about the original event, click here. 

Please know that you will need a device with internet access and internet speed fast enough to play the video. This is a digital event and video will not be played or held at Manatee Village Historical Park. Manatee Village Historical Park is not providing device(s) or internet access. Manatee Village Historical Park is a part of the Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller Historical Resources Department. Programs are offered in conjunction with the Manatee County Historical Commission, Inc. For more information about the original event, click here. 

This special event from December 2020 includes a story time, a craft, and a recipe. Enjoy our version of “The Night Before Christmas” which includes a funny twist. We'll show you how to make a pomander, an easy and refreshing Holiday decoration that smells fresh and spicy! We'll also introduce a special cookie tutorial that’s both sweet and fun.

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Please know that you will need a device with internet access and internet speed fast enough to play the video. This is a digital event and video will not be played or held at Manatee Village Historical Park. Manatee Village Historical Park is not providing device(s) or internet access. Manatee Village Historical Park is a part of the Manatee County Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller Historical Resources Department. Programs are offered in conjunction with the Manatee County Historical Commission, Inc. For additional details about the original event, click here. 

Manatee Village Historical Park released “Tombstone Tour” in October 2020 to share information about the 1850 Manatee Burying Ground. This documentary-style digital tour will reveal the history of the cemetery, the meaning of tombstone symbols, and some of the stories of those who were buried there. 

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Please note: This is a digital event and video will not be played or held at Manatee Village Historical Park. Manatee Village Historical Park is not providing device(s) or internet access. Manatee Village Historical Park is a part of the Manatee County Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller Historical Resources Department. Programs are offered in conjunction with the Manatee County Historical Commission, Inc. For more information about the original event, click here. 

Let us transport you through “tea time” in this digital event from August 2020. Staff members were in costume and shared how tea rooms influenced social and political change. This event was recorded inside a beautiful 1905 house. The house is an antique store and tea room called Charms of Leffingwell, located in Ellenton, FL.

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