Are you searching for the best events and festivals in Florida in November 2024? Thanks for visiting. Please use the links below to find fun events for all ages.
Florida hosts some amazing events and festivals. Each month I hope to take a look at a dozen or so of these in hopes of bringing you fun, exciting, and unexpected ways to enjoy our state.
If you have an event or know of one coming up that you feel should be highlighted, please drop me a line with as much information as you can, including a website. I’ll be glad to include your suggestions in future posts. Maybe we can work together and put together a promotional post for your event.
I have listed events in date order.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you click these links and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. This commission does not affect any price that you pay. Affiliate programs or sponsors providing products do not influence my views and opinions.
The festival features delicious seafood, arts and crafts exhibits, seafood related events, Musical Entertainment. Some of the notable events include Oyster Eating and Oyster Shucking contest, Blue Crab Races, Photo Contest, Parade, 5k Redfish Run, The Blessing of the Fleet, History of the Festival Exhibit and Tonging For Treasure.
They make a point on their website in bold lettering that pets are not welcome and go further with a long paragraph about it. This is unneeded in my view but it’s not my event.
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The Right Whale Festival celebrates the annual return of endangered North Atlantic right whales to the warm coastal waters off northeast Florida and Georgia, where they give birth to and nurse their young.
With less than 360 remaining, this family fun event raises awareness of the threats to right whales and how we can help in their recovery. The festival highlights efforts to protect these whales from extinction, as well as ocean-themed activities and exhibits that emphasize education and environmentally responsible adventures and products.
Free Admission – Come early and spend the day! Music, kids events, a kids obstacle course, mermaids and pirates, rescue vessels, movie in the park, and more.
Witness the United States Air Foce F-16 Viper Demo Team. The Chuters Jump Team will perform precision aerial demonstrations. Aerobatic flier Patty Wagstaff will be on hand. And much, much more.
No pets. outside food or drinks. beach umbrellas or ticket refunds.
Bring your own folding chairs.
Multiple ticket options. Check online to purchase in advance.
Join the fun at the 47th Daytona Beach Greek Festival. Enjoy food, music, dancing, and vendors. Free parking and shuttle are available.
Be Greek for a day!
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Country music’s top stars arrive in Miami for a weekend like no other.
Experience unforgettable performances from the Zac Brown Band, Carrie Underwood, and many more on Miami’s stunning waterfront. Performers subject to change. See the website to keep current on who will be attending.
Parking passes are sold on the day of the event. Credit cards accepted. Rain or shine event. See the website for a long list of prohibited items. Alcohol may not be brought into the concert grounds. It will be available for purchase to those age 21 and older. A wristband is mandatory to purchase and consume alcohol. No exceptions.
Two day general admission tickets start at $199.99 on their website. Try Ticket Networkfor great pricing on tickets to events of all kinds, including the Country Bay Music Festival.
Get hooked on the 11th Annual South Florida Seafood Festival at its new home in The Wynwood Marketplace!
Attendees can expect to indulge in some of South Florida’s most notable seafood cuisines from our local favorites. With 30+ local seafood favorites, 10+ of Miami’s finest chefs firing up our Kitchen Lab in live demonstrations, amazing cocktails that will make you reel, live tunes all day, a vendor market, sponsor activations, family fun activities, and more!
Early bird, general admission tickets start at only $12. Tickets will cost more at the door and are not guaranteed. Event is rain or shine. No refunds.
Featuring the best in surf documentary filmmaking. They show films that invigorate surf culture with surfing as a focus along with story driven narratives.
They offer quarterly film festivals along with their Surf Stories Podcast which you can access on your preferred podcast provider.
Surfing is synonymous with New Smyrna Beach. Kate Cumiskey has gathered dozens of photos showcasing the surf life in what used to be a small beach town. Click the image to order your own copy.
We showcase the best local taco restaurants & eateries and food trucks near you, get ready for TACO HEAVEN!! Enjoy tons of different TACOS, margarita bars, tequila flights, ice cold beer, live bands & DJs on stage all day long, Lucha Libre live wrestling, and so much more.
Get your tickets online. The earlier you buy, the less expensive they are. Hint, hint. Click the photo or link to visit the website.
The 34th Annual American Sand Sculpting Championship on Fort Myers Beach promises to be an extraordinary event, showcasing the incredible talents of World Class Master Sand Sculptors. With the addition of the Advanced Amateur State Championship and an Amateur contest, it offers a unique opportunity for artists of different skill levels to demonstrate their creativity.
The event is not just about the competition; it’s a celebration of art, community, and family fun. The vendor village will provide an array of shopping options, while children can engage in a variety of activities designed just for them. The inclusion of food stands, live music, and the welcoming of furry friends ensures that every family member, on two legs or four, can enjoy a day filled with excitement and entertainment.
It’s an event that encapsulates the spirit of community and the joy of artistic expression, all set against the beautiful backdrop of Fort Myers Beach.
Buy tickets in advance online.
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The Fall Festival of the Arts in DeLand returns on November 23-24, showcasing over 150 artists along Woodland Boulevard. Enjoy free entry, live music, local cuisine, and creative activities for kids. A weekend bursting with art from paintings to pottery awaits!
Whether you want to show off your car, are looking to purchase a classic car, want to buy or sell auto parts and memorabilia, or just make contacts in the industry. The Daytona Turkey run is for you. Enjoy special night time events or maybe take in the Hops and Hoods Beer Festival featuring over 40 breweries and more than 120 beers.
Tickets are $20 per day.
Click the link for all the information you need whether you are looking to sell, buy, or browse. It’s a great Thanksgiving tradition as only Daytona Beach can offer.
To conclude, I want to thank you for reading my listing of the best events and festivals in Florida in November 2024. Check back every month otherwise you might miss out on a great event you did not know about. If you are sponsoring or hosting an upcoming event, drop me a line so I can include it. Maybe we can work together on a blog post and social media posts to promote the event. Let’s hear your ideas.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you click these links and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. This commission does not affect any price that you pay. Affiliate programs or sponsors providing products do not influence my views and opinions.
Bamboo Charcuterie Board and Cheese Board Set from the Bambusi Collection. Perfect holiday, birthday, wedding, or anniversary gift. Includes knives, labels, and a wine bottle opener. Made from 100% sustainable bamboo it will last for years. 13.5 x 13.5 this board has plenty of room for cheese, crackers, fruits, nuts, veggies, and meats. Functional and stylish, this board will be a hit at your next party. Put it out and be ready to refill it. Click the image or THIS LINK for further details and to order.
Multiple markers honoring local soldiers who lost their lives during war years are set beautifully, outside the museum building. The area is open to the public. This particular marker honors those who gave their lives during wars in the Middle East in the years 1990-2014 and is dated 2015. The marker features a large eagle at the top.
This marker is part of the larger display featuring other plaques honoring lost service members from other conflicts. Be sure to view all the other plaques and reflect on the service these soldiers provided.
I will be creating posts for the soldiers lost and commemorated on these plaques. If you have information on these individuals, or photos you are willing to share, I will gladly add them to the individual postings. You will receive acknowledgement of your contribution to this project.
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The marker reads
THE MIDDLE EAST 1990-2014
TO HONOR THE PATRIOTS OF
WEST VOLUSIA COUNTY
WHO SERVED IN IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN, AND THE MIDDLE EAST
& TO REMEMBER THOSE WHO MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE
If the soldiers name shows a hyperlink, I have created an individual page for them. Please give those pages a read. If you have information to add about the soldier, their life, their service, or images, please contact me. I would be honored to share your information. You will receive acknowledgement for your participation in this project.
I invite you to read my post about the Volusia Flagler Law Enforcement Memorial, located only a short distance from this memorial in downtown DeLand. The law enforcement memorial honors officers from Volusia and Flagler counties who lost their lives while on duty.
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This post may contain affiliate links. If you click these links and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. This commission does not affect any price that you pay. Affiliate programs or sponsors providing products do not influence my views and opinions.
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Are you searching for the best events and festivals in Florida in March 2024? Thanks for visiting. Please use the links below to find fun events for all ages.
Florida hosts some amazing events and festivals. Each month I hope to take a look at a dozen or so of these in hopes of bringing you fun, exciting, and unexpected ways to enjoy our state.
If you have an event or know of one coming up that you feel should be highlighted, please drop me a line with as much information as you can, including a website. I’ll be glad to include your suggestions in future posts.
Strawberries and more strawberries are the theme of this amazing annual festival. Enjoy agriculture, industry, livestock, commerce, fine arts, horticulture, arts & crafts, and strawberries. Live music from groups such as the Oak Ridge Boys, the Beach Boys, Black Eyed Peas (though it doesn’t look like Fergie is with them), ZZ Top, Foreigner, Flo Rida, and many, many more. Enjoy over 80 games, attractions, and rides at the Belle City Midway.
Family fun, a date night, or an evening with friends, the Plant City Strawberry Festival has something for everyone. Click the image to check the website for ticket prices.
The City of Mulberry is pleased to announce the return of Pigapalooza!, an FBA sanctioned BBQ competition. But this isn’t just BBQ, it’s Pigapalooza! We will host vendors, a kid zone, live music, and of course the opportunity to purchase award winning barbecue. This year we are launching Pigapalooza’s first Kids-Que!
A premier event that will entertain you with 80 folk music groups performing on 3 covered stages. Music styles include original and traditional songs, in Americana, Blues, Celtic, Bluegrass, Country, and Modern Folk. Besides performances, there are workshops, several jam areas, a young musician’s program, a children’s area and a performance of the winners of The Best New Florida Song contest. Food and craft vendors supply all your cravings.
Two days of delicious foods priced from $1-$5 so sample everything. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks will be available. Music from popular local musicians, artisans, and a craft fair round out this amazing weekend in Boca Raton. Click the link or the image to buy your tickets in advance. Only $15 for a 2-day pass.
Over the years our festival has grown into a multi-day event, beginning with sports tournaments and a Miss Sugar Pageant leading up to the main festival day, followed by a Friday Night Kickoff concert with food trucks on festival weekend.
The event, including the concert lineup are free, making this a great family event.
On Saturday, the main festival day, attendees can enjoy free live music concerts, an antique tractor display, a car show, a free kids play park, visit a local baking contest and a professional baking display, plus enjoy the offerings of various food and crafts vendors present.
Enjoy stone crab, shrimp, and more, along with your favorite adult beverages. Live music will be performed throughout the event. Join more than 60 arts and craft vendors and let the kids play in the Kids Zone. Fun for the entire family. Tickets are $10 for adults, under age 12 are free.
This is a unique event, featuring writing and publishing workshops, and a special day when local and national authors sell and sign books at a festival market in a beautiful downtown park.
About 35 authors and not for profit organizations are currently signed up to attend. Be sure to support your local authors.
Pints n’ Paws Craft Beer Festival is annual fundraiser you bring your dog to featuring over 100 breweries, food trucks, vendors, live entertainment and community in beautiful Historic Downtown Sanford, Florida. Each year one of the activities that everyone looks forward to is our Annual Poster Dog Contest to see who’s furry friend will shine on next year’s poster and event marketing.
Now in its 12th year, it has raised over $600,000 to date for local pet rescues!
A forum to promote environmentally-friendly and sustainable gardening practices featuring an array of vendors and presentations by wildflower and gardening experts. Vendors and speakers will be on hand. Free admission and free parking is available throughout DeLand.
Island Fest returns to Islamorada on March 23 & 24, 2024 featuring a juried art show, live music, great food, classic cars and much more. The annual Islamorada Chamber of Commerce fundraiser, now in its 32nd year, will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday at Founders Park, mile marker 87 bayside.
Around 100 artists will be taking part in the show. Delicious food can be found everywhere, including the smoked fish dip contest on Saturday. Try your hand at the homemade boat race with multiple categories for prizes. Musical guests and a large car show make this an event with something for every member of the family.
The Panacea Beer and Oyster Festival is held along Dickerson Bay at Woolley Park in Panacea, Florida. The festival features unlimited samplings of local and national craft beers in the beer garden and will host local oyster farmers who will have their delicious oysters available for purchase!
The festival will also feature food & craft vendors, live music, and a beautiful view for sipping and shucking!
All proceeds benefit the Panacea Waterfronts Florida Partnership. Tickets are $25 and are only necessary if you would like to participate in the beer tastings held in the BEER GARDEN, or would like to accompany someone in. The rest of the event is open to the public to enjoy.
To conclude, I want to thank you for reading my listing of the best events and festivals in Florida in March 2024. Check back every month otherwise you might miss out on a great event you did not know about. If you are sponsoring or hosting an upcoming event, drop me a line so I can include it. Maybe we can work together on a blog post to promote the event. Let’s hear your ideas.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you click these links and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. This commission does not affect any price that you pay. Affiliate programs or sponsors providing products do not influence my views and opinions
The Best in Florida Festivals and Events November 2023
Use this post to find the best in Florida festivals and events in November 2023.
Florida hosts some amazing events and festivals. Each month I hope to take a look at a dozen or so of these in hopes of bringing you fun, exciting, and unexpected ways to enjoy our state.
If you have an event or know of one coming up that you feel should be highlighted, please drop me a line with as much information as you can, including a website. I’ll be glad to include your suggestions in future posts.
Founded in 1923, the Volusia County Fair offers the chance to show livestock, horticulture, and home and craft products. Participants are able to compete for awards. Highlights of the fair include rides, games, live entertainment, and the Miss Volusia County Fair competition.
Come, celebrate with the pirates! See how they lived on land when ashore. Learn from some of the finest re-enactors on the East Coast. Watch and listen as the pirates set up an outpost in the city park. The park will be open from 12:00 noon on Friday November 3th. Come and purchase wares and clothing from Vendors Row. Listen to rousing, toe tapping sea shanties. Friday evening roam the town with the Pirates eating and drinking in the local establishments! Pirates YE BE WARNED! No open containers in public!
The festival features delicious seafood, arts and crafts exhibits, seafood related events, Musical Entertainment. Some of the notable events include Oyster Eating and Oyster Shucking contest, Blue Crab Races, Photo Contest, Parade, 5k Redfish Run, The Blessing of the Fleet, History of the Festival Exhibit and Tonging for Treasure.
Fun for the whole family! Come out and enjoy authentic Greek foods, dancing, live music, church tours, iconography presentations, and much, much more! Free admission but be advised, this is a cashless event.
The ninth annual Jacksonville PorchFest, a music festival held on the welcoming front porches of Historic Springfield, will take place on Saturday, November 4, 2023, from 12 pm to 8 pm. The free, family-friendly event will feature musicians from a wide variety of genres. Afternoon entertainment will include more than twenty performers on porches throughout the historic district. Attendees will stroll from porch to porch and “camp out” on front lawns and sidewalks as they enjoy live, local talent. Food, drink, and arts vendors are to be found throughout the event.
Vendors and nurseries from all over the state come to Mount Dora, Florida. With a wide variety of Florida native and exotic plants, garden ware along with arts & crafts at this annual event you will find something you need to take home. Get gardening advice from Experts and let our volunteers help you take your plants to your car.
Under the Electric Sky, we come together to celebrate life, love, art, and music. From the stages and the sound to the pyrotechnics and the performers, so many unique elements go into bringing this world to life. We invite you to wander, explore, interact, and connect. Imagination and positive energy are the currency of this place.
Established in 2007 as a showcase for women in action sports, the Super Girl Pro Series is the only large-scale all-women’s action sports, esports and lifestyle series in the world. Developed as a celebration of female strength and empowerment, the platform has grown into a series of five incredible festivals centered around providing social, athletic, cultural, educational, business, and entertainment opportunities for young women in areas where they are traditionally underrepresented.
As you stroll through the Festival on Saturday feeling the balmy breeze while the sun sets you will be embraced in sensory delight as your journey takes you through a variety of Culinary Cuisines; a Welcome Reception, Italian, American, Mediterranean, Asia Pacific, Spanish, Sweet Endings Village, Spirits and BBQ Village, and the fan favorite Villages; Craft Brew, Fine Wine & Artisanal Cheese Village and Specialty Foods Village, Retail and Business Shopping Bazaar. The festival’s featured wines can be purchased during the event.
30+ Local Seafood Favorites, 10+ of Miami’s Finest Chefs fire up our Kitchen Lab, Amazing Cocktails by Miami’s top Mixologists, Live Music All Day, Big Kid Yard Games, Curated Nautical Market, Family Fun Zone with Huge Inflatables, Slides, Games & More!
Buy your tickets in advance to save. This event is rain or shine, no refunds.
Breweries from all over north and central Florida. Beer tastings of more than 20 different beers. Live music, food trucks, and free admission for designated drivers. VIP or General Admission tickets are available online. The proceeds benefit the Rotary Club of Palatka.
Their 30th annual fine arts, juried festival held in the downtown area. Downtown DeLand will be full of artists, vendors, food, and live entertainment. This is a free event.
Established in 1996, the festival is now in its 27th year. Artists from across the state bring their talents, passion, and wares. Live music on Sunday.
Held annually at Daytona International Speedway, this event is a car lover’s dream. Here you can see amazingly restored cars, buy and sell cars, parts, and memorabilia, enjoy fellow enthusiasts, visit the handmade craft vendor section, and enjoy food and drink. This year, enter for a chance to win a 1932 Ford Roadster. Funds raised by the Turkey Run are kept within the local community.
Come from 9am-3pm to celebrate the holiday season at this family-friendly event. Enjoy local arts and crafts with live music and delicious food at MM 31. Experience original one-of-a-kind Island art and a wide array of crafts. FREE ADMISSION & PARKING!
I hope you have found interesting things to do in this look at the November 2023 Best Events and Festivals in Florida. Be sure to bookmark my site and check back for fun things to do in December in Florida!
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you click these links and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. This commission does not affect any price that you pay. All views and opinions provided are my own and are never influenced by affiliate programs or sponsors providing products.
Great Floridians 2000 Hawtense Conrad and George Davis of DeLand
The Great Floridians 2000 program recognizes individuals who distinguished themselves through their philanthropy, public service, or personal or professional service, and who have enhanced the lives of Florida’s citizens. The Great Floridians 2000 program honors Hawtense Conrad and George Davis of DeLand, Florida.
Members of the public nominated individuals by submitting a Great Floridians 2000 application to the state. The Great Floridians 2000 Committee, a group of seven distinguished historians from throughout Florida, was responsible for periodically reviewing and approving applications.
The program began in 1998 and was completed in 2000.
The distinctive blue plaques honor the men and women in the program. Plaques are attached to buildings or structures in the cities where the designee left their mark. The plaques do not contain biographical information. Many plaques have been removed and are no longer on display.
The official biographies published as part of the Great Floridians 2000 program are shown below. The information published by the state may or may not be accurate.
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Hawtense Conrad
Born in 1923, bought the Henry DeLand House in 19888 and donated it to the city of DeLand to house the collection of the West Volusia Historical Society. She also donated furniture and her time to both the DeLand House and the Stone Street Museum. She helped to establish the DeLand Naval Air Station Museum and rebuild the old African American hospital located in Bill Dreggors Park.
In 1997, she donated funds to build the Robert M. Conrad Research and Educational Center in her husband’s honor. Conrad was generous to organizations involving children and the handicapped. She belonged to the Polish American Pulaski Club, Fraternal Order of Eagles Auxiliary, Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary, Settlement for the Creative Arts, and the Lake Beresford Garden Club. She was also a charter member of Women of the Moose. In 1999, she was named “Philanthropist of the Decade” by the West Volusia Historical Society and West Volusia Citizen of the Year by the DeLand Breakfast Rotary Club. Conrad was also awarded the Gorge Schildecker Philanthropy Award by the Volusia County Trusts and Estates Council.
Hawtense Conrad died in 2000. Her Great Floridian plaque is located at the Burgess Building II, 230 North Stone Street, DeLand.
George Augustus Davis
Born in 1858 in Fayetteville, Georgia, attended Middle Georgia College and the Atlanta Medical College, graduating from the latter in 1890. Davis practiced in Atlanta until 1894 when he developed tuberculosis and relocated to DeLand.
Dr. Davis served as city and county health officer, physician for the Florida East Coast and Atlantic Coast Line Railways, and was a charter member of the DeLand Rotary Club. He was president of the DeLand Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Elks Club, Odd Fellows, Woodmen of the World, and the Volusia County Medical Association.
Dr. Davis died in 1948. His Great Floridian plaque is located at the Old DeLand Hospital 240 North Stone Street, DeLand.
Please note the misspelling of Davis’s middle name. This type error seems to have plagued the Great Floridians 2000 program.
Both Conrad and Davis are buried in Oakdale Cemetery in DeLand, FL. Hawtense Conrad’s husband, Robert, is also the recipient of a Great Floridians plaque. A future post will highlight Robert Davis.
The headstone of Hawtense Conrad does not contain her death date. She passed away on July 4, 2000, at age 77. You may find an online memorial for Hawtense Conrad HERE.
George Augustus Davis, the “Dean of Florida Physicians,” passed away early on the morning of February 20, 1948, after a lengthy hospital stay. You may find an online memorial for Davis HERE.
I hope you have enjoyed my post on the Great Floridians 2000 Hawtense Conrad and George Davis of DeLand, Florida. Please see my other Great Floridians 2000 posts HERE.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you click these links and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. This commission does not affect any price that you pay. All views and opinions provided are my own and are not influenced by affiliate programs or sponsors who provide products.
Volusia County is located on the east coast of Florida and is home to more than 550,000 residents and growing daily. The county is currently a prime retirement area for transplants. Read further to discover my Volusia County History bibliography with links. It will help guide you to relevant source material, much of it easily obtainable.
County management is handled by an elected County Council consisting of two at-large members and five district elected members. The Chair position is one of the at-large members.
In 2021, nearly ten million visitors came to Volusia County. Many came to enjoy the “World’s Most Famous Beach,” while others arrived for NASCAR and other racing events, while Bike Week and Biketoberfest continue to draw strong crowds. Events such as the November Turkey Run, spring break, and the multi-day Welcome To Rockville concerts bring short-term visitors to the county. The Ocean Center draws sporting events, conventions, and the occasional concert which help put “heads in beds.”
While tourism is a main draw, the county has a wide and varied history consisting of colorful characters and events. This bibliography is my attempt to bring together a listing of material for readers related to Volusia County history. The term “history” is open to interpretation. I will try to be lenient in my use of the term.
I am providing links when I can so that you can purchase, or if possible, download or read online, for yourself. Materials may be available through the Volusia County Library system. Please check there. Even if it is not in your local branch, books can be sent to your preferred branch. Some books may be non-circulating such as those in genealogy collections and you will need to visit a particular location.
A couple of things about this bibliography. It is not meant to be all inclusive. This is an ongoing project and I invite your input with works I have not included. Also, new material is being published consistently. I try to keep up but this is a one person operation. Updates will be made to the list as required.
I will not be linking items such as newspaper articles. Mainstream magazine articles are fair game if they appear to have value. Peer reviewed academic journal articles will be included though availability of these may be quite limited. There have been, and continue to be, many local, “freebie,” magazine and entertainment guides. Keeping up with them is nearly impossible and finding older issues is the same. Unless something truly strikes me, I am avoiding these.
I am not including links to social media pages. Most of these pages/groups are not very good and the egalitarian nature of social media means anybody with a keyboard can make a statement and way too many take them as fact. Rather than be accused of playing favorites, I am avoiding these pages altogether.
Websites and blogs that show good solid research and writing will be included. Many good historians/writers are sharing their work in these formats. YouTube channels? Maybe.
Works of fiction are not generally included in this bibliography.
I have chosen to set this listing up by city and a general county history section. My thought is that if you are looking for materials on Oak Hill you can find that heading rather than reviewing the entire list.
At the end of the list, you will find a listings of Volusia County based historical societies and museums. Be sure to reach out to these organizations if you have specific questions. There is also a section titled “people.” This is for those individuals who have made an impact on Volusia County for the better or the worse.
I make no guarantees as to the historical accuracy of the materials listed. I have not read and do not own copies of all of the sources lists. While I can certainly vouch for research standards many of the listed authors use, I recommend you draw your own conclusions. Works with foot/end notes and bibliographies are probably more reliable than those without. Notes and bibliographies allow readers to follow up on sources and verify statements.
I want this listing to be a joint project with you, the reader. If you know of sources I have not listed, please drop me a line or add a comment. Please provide as much information as possible and links if the material is digital. I will update the list with your suggestions.
I invite you to provide your thoughts on the resources listed below. If you feel a book or article is a must read, please let readers know and why you feel this way. If you think something is poor, that is acceptable. Please make sure your remarks are respectful and explain your reasoning. Is the research bad? Why do you think a work is not good? Personal attacks on authors or subject matter will not be approved for posting.
Friend, Lani. “Volusia and Vibilia: Companion Plantations on the St. Johns River in Spanish and Territorial East Florida,” Florida Historical Quarterly. Volume 97, No. 4 (2019): 379-406.
Gaby, Donald C. “Volusia; The Origin of a Name.” Florida Historical Quarterly. Vol. 76, No. 1.
Minshew, Paul and Jack Towle. “The 1998 Wildfires in Central Florida: Volusia County’s Own Armageddon.” Journal of Environmental Health. Vol. 61, No. 7 (1999): p. 22-26.
Polk, Brian L. Lost in History–The Mayaca: Native People of West Volusia County, Florida. History Travels Press: DeLeon Springs, 2024.
Guthrie, John J. Jr., “Seeking the Sweet Spirit of Harmony: Establishing a Spiritualist Community at Cassadaga, Florida, 1893-1933.” Florida Historical Quarterly. Vol. 77, No. 1.
Along the Beach Looking Toward Seabreeze Courtesy Florida Memory
Halifax Herald. This journal is published by the Halifax Historical Society and is a trove of information relating to the east side of Volusia County. Individual articles are not generally referenced in this listing. To the best of my knowledge there is no easy to use index for this journal.
Lempel, Leonard R. “The Mayor’s ‘Henchmen and Henchwomen, Both White and Colored,’ Edward H. Armstrong and the Politics of Race in Daytona Beach, 1900-1940.” Florida Historical Quarterly. Vol. 79, No. 3.
Strickland, Alice. “Florida’s Golden Age of Racing.” Florida Historical Quarterly. Vol. 45 No. 3 (1967): 253-269.
If you like to drink something a little stronger than beer, we’ve put something together that’s a little more edgy; The Daytona Beach Dive Bar Tour. We have a collection of bars that cater mostly to locals, bikers, and customers looking for something a little off the tourist path. If you think you’re ready for a locals-only bar, a biker bar, or just a seedy experience, then this is the tour for you. Click the link to purchase tickets and schedule your tour of some of Daytona Beach’s legendary bars. Bars you might go to include Uncle Waldo’s, Metz I and II, Drifters Route 1, and more.
Griffin, John W. and Robert H. Steinbach. Old Fort Park and Turnbull Canal System Archaeological Survey Project New Smyrna Beach, Florida. St. Augustine: Historic Property Associates, 1990.
Marvel at a fascinating Polynesian performance in Daytona Beach. Immerse yourself in authentic island traditions without leaving the USA. Enjoy an enchanting luau, Hula dancing, and a fire knife show. Savor delicious Polynesian cuisine with a variety of dishes for dinner. Seize the chance to purchase photos, souvenirs, or premium drinks. Click the photo or THIS LINK for information and to purchase tickets.
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Individuals were recognized by the Great Floridians 2000 program who distinguished themselves through their philanthropy,
public service or personal or professional service, and who have
enhanced the lives of Florida’s citizens.
Anyone could nominate an individual to be designated a Great Floridian
2000 by submitting a Great Floridians 2000 application. The appointed Great
Floridians 2000 Committee, a group of seven distinguished historians
from throughout Florida, periodically reviewed applications.
The program, begun in 1998, was completed in 2000.
The distinctive blue plaques honoring the men and women in the
program are attached to buildings or structures in the cities where the
designee left their mark. The plaques do not contain biographical information.
William Amory Underhill
William Amory Underhill Photo courtesy United States Department of Justice
William Amory Underhill was born in 1910, received his law degree
from Stetson University and served from 1940 to 1942 as a Volusia
County prosecuting attorney. During World War II, he was a special
attorney for the U.S. Justice Department in Washington. He was an
Assistant U.S. Attorney General during the administration of President Harry Truman and a special Washington counsel to the Florida
Comptroller. He was a Stetson University Trustee from 1977 to 1986
and a member of the College of Law Board of Overseers from more than
20 years. He was a member of the Bert Fish Foundation and treasurer of Florida House, the first state house in the nation’s capital. He was the
founding president and a life member of the DeLand Jaycees and a life
member of the DeLand Area Chamber of Commerce.
William Amory Underhill died in 1999.
William Amory Underhill Great Floridians 2000 plaque, located at the Volusia County Historic Courthouse.
A brief biographical summary of Underhill’s career can be found HERE.
An online memorial for William Amory Underhill may be found HERE.
As mentioned, Underhill served as a member of the Bert Fish
Foundation. You may find the Bert Fish Great Floridians 2000 post HERE.
The remains of William Amory Underhill are interred in the Mausoleum at Oakdale Cemetery.
To read all my Great Floridians 2000 posts click HERE.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you click these links and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. This commission does not affect any price that you pay. Affiliate programs or sponsors providing products do not impact or affect the views and opinions shared in my posts.
Get this incredibly haunting image of the Volusia County Historic Courthouse, shrouded with fog, in puzzle form. Order your 252 or 520 piece jigsaw puzzle HERE.
Pressed paper chipboard with adhesive, 0.06″ (1.53 mm) thick
252 pcs puzzle size: 10.62″ × 13.62″ (27 × 34.6 cm)
520 pcs puzzle size: 15.74″ × 19.74″ (40 × 50.1 cm)
Digitally printed
Semi-gloss finish
Vibrant colors
Can be used as wall decor
Blank product components sourced from the US
Fog shrouds the Volusia County Historic Courthouse in downtown DeLand, FL
Dr. Paul J. Croce Stetson University Professor Image Courtesy Stetson University
Dr. Paul J. Croce has been a mainstay, serving as a professor in the History andAmerican Studies departments at Stetson Universityfor over thirty years. To say that he has positively impacted the lives of thousands of students would not be an understatement. I am one of those students.
When I was a student, Dr. Croce taught several of the courses I took. Recently, he and I had the opportunity to reconnect and now may have a chance to do a bit of collaboration in the future. I jokingly reminded him I may have been his poorest student ever. He was quick to say it wasn’t necessarily that. He said he remembers seeing I had the interest and potential but that I wasn’t engaged. There was something else going on at the time.
Dr. Croce made the point that education and teaching are the long-range game. Results are not always immediate, and just like in my case, the results may show years down the road and that is part of what is so rewarding about being a professor. For students attending Stetson University, I can strongly recommend carving out a time to take one of Dr. Croce’s courses. You will learn a lot and appreciate the time you spent in his classroom. I remember him as being a caring and concerned instructor. He wanted you to succeed but yet made you think and examine issues for your self. He always had time for students as well.
William James Image Courtesy National Endowment for the Humanities
Dr. Croce is one of the leading scholars on William James, the founder of American psychology and pragmatism. James’ twelve-hundred-page masterwork, The Principles of Psychology (1890), is a rich blend of physiology, psychology, philosophy, and personal reflection that has given us such ideas as “the stream of thought” and the baby’s impression of the world “as one great blooming, buzzing confusion” (PP 462).
Dr. Croce received his B.A. degree from Georgetown University and his Ph.D. from Brown University. He began his career at Stetson University in 1988. He was the 1998-1999 and 2010-2011 recipient of the Hand Award for Research, Creative, and Professional Activity at Stetson. He is a past President of the William James Society and currently serves as a Fellow for the organization. You can learn more about Dr. Croce at his website,Pub Classroom. This site is an interactive effort. As Dr. Croce states, he wants to hear from you. He goes by the mantra made famous by the beautiful Pat Benatar,“Hit Me with Your BestShot.”
As mentioned, Dr. Croce is a scholar of William James and has published extensively on James. I recommend reviewing Croce’s Google Scholarpage to review the impressive list of journal articles he has penned. His full-length works are referenced below.
In this cultural biography, Paul Croce investigates the contexts surrounding the early intellectual development of American philosopher William James (1842-1910). Croce places the young James at the center of key scientific and religious debates in American intellectual life between the 1820s and 1870s. Early in the nineteenth century, most Americans maintained their scientific and religious beliefs with certainty. Well before the end of the century, however, science and religion had parted company, and, despite the endurance of religious convictions and widespread confidence in science, professionals in both fields expressed belief in terms of hypotheses and probabilities rather than absolutes. Croce highlights the essential issues debated during this shift by investigating the education of James and the circle of intellectuals of which he was part. In particular, the implicit probabilism of Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection, especially as interpreted by Charles Sanders Peirce’s recognition of the fallibility of knowledge, set the stage for James’s reconstruction of belief based on uncertainty.
By going to the sources, Paul J. Croce’s cultural biography challenges the conventional contrast commentators have drawn between James’s youthful troubles and his mature achievements. Inverting James’s reputation for inconsistency, Croce shows how he integrated his interests and his struggles into sophisticated thought. His ambivalence became the motivating core of his philosophizing, the heart of his enduring legacy. Readers can follow James in science classes and in personal “speculations,” studying medicine and exploring both mainstream and sectarian practices, in museums reflecting on the fate of humanity since ancient times, in love and with heart broken, and in periodic crises of confidence that sometimes even spurred thoughts of suicide.
To keep up on all aspects of modern psychology, I recommend a subscription to Psychology Today. Psychology Today Magazine unveils the latest discoveries in psychological research and helps you apply the results to your own life.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you click these links and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. This commission does not affect any price that you pay. All views and opinions provided are my own and are never influenced by affiliate programs or sponsors providing products.
In Memory Lawrence Peacock. Lawrence S. Peacock came from a humble background. Lawrence was born on July 5, 1891in Spring Garden, FL to parents Samuel D. and Martha (Daugharty) Peacock. Samuel was a farmer and the family lived in Precinct Four according to the 1900 United States Census. Lawrence was the fourth of five children; John, Thomas, Margaret, and Violet. The 1910 United States Census placed the Peacock family at 46 E. New York Avenue.
Young Lawrence appears to have been an industrious young man, not afraid of hard work. He was the owner of a vulcanizing company located in the downtown DeLand area. He regularly advertised in the local newspaper, “Tires and Tubes, All Work Guaranteed”.
Vulcanization is the process of using heat to help harden rubber, thus increasing its lifespan and strength. For more information on vulcanization check the Wikipedia page.
A prime bachelor, Lawrence attracted the attentions of young Edith Baguley, “a talented musician and a popular young woman…” The two eligible DeLandites eloped on July 5, 1917. The service was performed by Reverend H. S. Rightmire at the Baptist church in Daytona Beach with only the reverend’s wife and Mrs. M. N. Baguley, Edith’s mother, in attendance.
The newly wed couple briefly honeymooned in St. Augustine, Jacksonville, and Pablo Beach, before returning to DeLand.
World events were closing in on young men around the globe and Lawrence S. Peacock was no exception. Peacock was drafted in mid-1918 and received notice he would be called to active duty.
In preparation for leaving DeLand for an unknown period, Lawrence sold his business to Mr. A. C. Clark, a young man from Miami.
Lawrence was transported to Camp Greenleaf at Fort Oglethorpe, GA for two months of training. His skills and abilities earned him a promotion from Private to Wagoner in Evacuation Ambulance Company No. 19 during his training.
USS George Washington (ID#3018) underway at sea, 10 May 1918. Photographed from USS Whipple (Destroyer # 15), which was then operating off western France. US Navy photo # NH 53885 from the collections of the US Navy Historical Center.
On September 22, 1918, he was sent to Camp Upton on Long Island, NY before being transferred to the Transport S.S. George Washingtonin preparation for transport to France.
It was during this transport to France that Peacock contracted pneumonia and passed away onboard. His death on October 9, 1918 was one of only thousands caused as a result of the 1918 influenza outbreak. The largest cause of death during the pandemic was pneumonia.
The 1918 influenza outbreak is estimated to have contributed to the deaths of nearly 100 million people. Historian John M. Barry has written what may be the definitive look at this pandemic. The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History is accessible and readable for those of us without a scientific background.
The remains of Lawrence S. Peacock were buried temporarily in Brest, France, a port city in Brittany, before being returned to DeLand in 1920. After the conclusion of hostilities, the Army returned the remains of Peacock, through New York City, where they were placed aboard a southbound train, with a single soldier accompanying.
Members of the DeLand American Legion Post met the train and carried the remains to an awaiting hearse that secured the body to Allen’s Undertaking Parlors in preparation for the funeral on July 15, 1920.
The funeral was a somber affair. At 2:00 p.m. the parade left Allen’s on their way to Oakdale Cemetery. A squad of uniformed men, followed by the pall bearers, a group of Legionnaires, the family, and finally friends of the deceased made their way through the streets of DeLand.
Once the procession arrived at the cemetery, the flag draped coffin was carried to the burial site with uniformed men at parade rest. Dr. C. L. Collins talked about the war and its impact and provided a biographical sketch of the young soldier. Reverend C. E. Wyatt offered prayer. The service ended with a three-round volley over the grave and the blowing of taps by bugler Feasel.
The headstone for Wagoner Lawrence Peacock as seen in Oakdale Cemetery, DeLand, FL
In the years following the burial of her husband, Edith was to remarry. On February 11, 1922, she married Pharris M. Stribling, a newspaper printer who worked for the local paper. The 1930 United States Census shows her to already have divorced Stribling and working as a stenographer in North Carolina where she lived with her mother.
A brief search shows that Edith does not appear to have married again. When she passed away on March 4, 1982, Edith was living in San Bernadino, CA.
Wagoner Lawrence S. Peacock is memorialized today at the DeLand Memorial Hospital and Veterans Museum. This project was trumpeted in the local newspaper by DeLand Mayor S. A. Wood on February 19, 1919 and opened in 1920. DeLand Memorial Hospital would serve as the primary medical facility in DeLand until the opening of Fish Memorial Hospital in 1952. Today the building is home to City of DeLand offices and museum exhibits.
A full exterior view of the circa 1920 DeLand Memorial Hospital and Veterans Museum buildingA dedication plaque to West Volusia County soldiers who perished during World War I.
An originally placed plaque dedicating the hospital as a Memorial to our boys for service rendered and sacrifice supreme
I hope you have enjoyed this in memory post to Lawrence S. Peacock, a wagoner during World War I. To view other posts related to Oakdale Cemetery, many of them military related, please click here.
Sources:
Multiple issues of the DeLand News were used to compile this article.
www.floridamemory.com
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This post may contain affiliate links. If you click these links and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. This commission does not affect any price that you pay. Affiliate programs or sponsors providing products do not influence the views and opinions shared on this website.
November 1st and 2nd 61st Annual Apalachicola Florida Seafood Festival
November 2nd and 3rd Right Whale Festival Fernandina Beach
November 2nd and 3rd Florida International Air Show Punta Gorda
November 7th through 10th Daytona Beach Greek Festival
November 9 and 10 Country Bay Music Festival Miami
November 10 South Florida Seafood Festival Miami
November 15th and 16th Florida Surf Film Festival New Smyrna Beach
November 16 and 17 Orlando Taco Festival 
November 21st through 24th 34th Annual American Sand Sculpting Championship Fort Myers Beach
November 23rd and 24th Fall Festival of the Arts DeLand
November 28 through December 1 51st Annual Daytona Turkey Run Daytona Beach
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