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OLUSTEE –The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park, Florida’s first state park, will host the 37th Annual Reenactment of the Battle of Olustee on Feb. 15-17, 2013. Throughout the weekend, more than 2,000 demonstrators will present living history impressions of military and civilian life at the time of Florida’s largest Civil War battle.

The Battle of Olustee was fought on Feb. 20, 1864. Full-scale artillery, mounted cavalry and three African American regiments, took part in the battle that ended with 2,807 casualties and a Confederate victory. The 54th Massachusetts was among the African American troops that fought at Olustee.

The living history weekend features a Civil War-era battle reenactment on Saturday at 3:30 p.m., as well as the reenactment of the Battle of Olustee on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.  Period music concerts, lectures, battlefield surgical practices and the lives of both white and black civilians during the war will be portrayed by re-enactors. Military camps and drills by infantry and artillery are scheduled throughout the weekend.

On Friday, Feb. 15, educational programs are planned for students. School groups may call (386) 397-7009 to register for the event. Food concessions will be available. Pets are not allowed at the Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park during the reenactment.

The Olustee Battle Civil War Reenactment is sponsored by the Florida Park Service, U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Olustee Battlefield Citizen Support Organization and The Blue Grey Army of Florida, Inc.

For more information, visit www.floridastateparks.org/olustee or http://battleofolustee.org.

This event will take place:

Friday, Feb. 15 - Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013

8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park

5890 Battlefield Trail Road

Sanderson, Florida