OLUSTEE BATTLE FESTIVAL

OLUSTEE BATTLE FESTIVAL
BLUE-GREY ARMY, INC.
The Blue-Grey Army was first incorporated in December, 1978. Stated within the Articles of incorporation, as well as the organization’s By-laws, is that the primary purpose of the Blue-Grey Army is to
increase the knowledge of its members and the public about the historical events of the Battle of Olustee.
The name Blue-Grey Army represents the soldiers and families on both sides of this tragic conflict. The
purpose of the Blue-Grey is to equally represent both sides as well as highlight the faces of the Civil War
and recognize everyone that played a part in one of the bloodiest wars to date.
The Blue-Grey Army is a volunteer based 501-C3 organization. Without its many volunteers the festival
would not be possible and the history of this significant event in Florida would be long forgotten. Each
February history unfolds in front of you in downtown Lake City, FL as well as Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park, site of the original battle of Olustee and Florida’s first state park. For 38 years the festival
and re-enactment has continued to inspire many and educate the public on a dark time in American
History. The Olustee Battle Festival and Re-enactment has also won numerous awards from the Florida Festival and Events Association, Congressional Black Caucus and has been named one of the top 20
events in the southeast
The festival contains live entertainment, kid’s activities, arts & craft vendors, living historians, live drama,
specialty shows and activities, food vendors, parades and much more over this three day event which
attracts thousands to the area. This influx of visitors to Lake City creates a large economic impact to its
citizens and creates a sense of pride in our city and county governments as volunteers and citizens come
together to put on a community event.
We welcome everyone to our festival and sincerely hope it is a memorable experience.
General Information:
OlusteeFestival.com
386-758-1397
Faye Bowling-Warren
Executive Director
386-755-1097
Cody A. Gray
Media and Public Relations
386-758-1397
www.olusteefestival.com
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2016 Olustee at a glance
Florida’s First
State Park
Olustee Battlefield
Memorial was aquired by the
State of Florida in 1909 after years
of dedication by the Florida Division of the United Daughters of the
Confederacy to raise funds to place
a monument on the site.
The UDC began thier fundraising
efforts in 1897. In 1899, the Florida
Legislature appropriated $2,500 and
established a commission to oversee construction of the monument.
The monument was completed in
1912 and dedicated on October
23rd of that year.
The UDC administered Olustee
Battlefield Memorial until 1949,
appropriating a small annual sum
for its upkeep. In 1949, the Florida
Board of Parks and Hitoric Memorials assumed responsibility for
Olustee Battlefield. The site subsequently became Florida’s first state
park.
Today Olustee Battlefield Historic
State Park is administered by the
Florida Department of
Enviromental Protection, Division
of Recreation and Parks, with assitance by the U.S.D.A Forest
Service.
EVENT DATES
Olustee Battle
Festival
Feb 12-13, 2016
Olustee Battle
Reenactment
Feb 12-14, 2016
Economic Impact
According to the University of
Florida after conducting an economic impact study on the event,
the annual two day festival and
three day reenactment brings in
over 4 million dollars of economic
activity to Columbia County.
Reach/Tourism
Annually the Olustee Festival
draws in upwards of 25-30,000
visitors with a similar attendance
to the battlefield for the annual
reenactment.
Visitors and tourists from across
the United States and parts of Europe come each year to attend the
event.
The Columbia County Tourist
Development Council aids in
the promotion of this event and
markets it to tourists across the
country, helping Columbia County
and Lake City grow from cultural
heritage tourism.
The Blue-Grey Army,
Inc. was selected in 2014 to re-
ceive 4 Sunsational awards from the
Florida Festivals and Events Association. The awards presented were
for the Olustee program, promotional item and photography. The
fourth award was presented to a
Blue-Grey Army Board of Directors
member for the Emerging Leader
of 2014.
Olustee Battlefield
Historic State Park was
selected as a recipient of the 2003
Congressional Black Caucus
Veterans’ Braintrust Award. The
award recognizes people and
organizations that have provided
exemplary national and community
service on behalf of African
American veterans.
Presenting
Sponsors
First Federal Bank
of Florida
and
Lifeguard Ambulance
Service
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NEW AT OLUSTEE IN 2016
Expansion on
Entertainment
For 2016 the amount of performers
for the annual festival have significantly increased. New acts from
across Florida and South Georgia
will be displaying their talent at the
Festival. Dancers, singers, songwriters, theater and much more are
slated for this jam-packed 2 day
event.
New Look
In 2015 long time poster artist
Duffy Soto, known for his work at
the Pensacola Air Museum retired
as the official poster artist for the
Olustee Festival. After much
planning and consideration the
Blue-Grey felt it was time to
change our imagery with new style
and look.
Photographer Jen Chasteen was
chosen as the new artist and has
created not only the new Olustee
Festival poster, she has also created
new artwork for marketing and
advertising on social media, websites, print and digital ads as well as
billboards. This new look includes
familiar faces of living historians
seen at the Olustee Festival and
other various events.
Expansion to
Wilson Park
In 2016 the Olustee Festival will
expand to include Wilson Park on
Lake Desoto in Downtown Lake
City. This new venue will feature
the Disc Connected K9’s as well as
a secondary entertainment stage at
Darby Pavilion. The Festival arts
and crafts booths will connect Wilson Park to the festival and provide
a scenic area for watching new
entertainment added to the festival.
Guest Author,
Lottie Guttry
author of
Alligator Creek
This year’s guest author is Lottie
Guttry, presenting her new book
Alligator Creek. Alligator Creek is
based off of a true story of Guttry’s
family and their involvement at the
Battle of Olustee.
Here is a little about the book; “On
a foggy spring morning in 1862,
Sarah Browning watches a train
leave Lake City, Florida, heading
northeast and full of Confederate
soldiers. On board is her husband,
Alex, crowded into a boxcar with
fellow recruits and imagining the
terrors awaiting him in Manassas,
Gettysburg, Olustee, and the Wilderness....”
Disc-Connected K9s
World Famous Frisbee
Dogs!
100% Self Contained High Energy Frisbee Dog Entertainment
Grounds Act. Over 45 Years of Frisbee Entertainment Experience.
http://k9frisbee.com/
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2016 Olustee Battle Festival
Poster and Rebranding
Designer
Jennifer Chasteen is a Lake City-based artist, photographer, illustrator and
designer with over 25 years in the profession. A fifth generation Columbia Countian, Chasteen has a degree in photography and has worked for
the Miami Herald, Lake City Reporter, Lake City Journal and numerous
freelance ventures while blending her artistic and journalistic styles into
illustrative photography, promotional design and magazine publication. JENNIFER CHASTEEN
www.ChasteenPhotoInk.com
She has worked closely with a variety of organizations and institutions
over the years, creating original promotional art and photography including campaigns with Columbia County Tourism Development, CVS,
Gainesville Magazine, Currents Magazine, Columbia High School Sports,
MaxPreps, Richardson Middle School Sports, UF IFAS Extensions and
has also contributed photography to the Blue-Grey Army, Inc. for Olustee
promotions and garnered the 2015 Heritage Photography Award.
2016 REBRANDING CAMPAIGN
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The Civil War Soldier
Who They Were
http://www.history.com/interactives/civil-war-150#/who-they-were
• 180,000 African-Americans fought for the Union
• 25% of Union Soldiers were immigrants or second generation Americans
• 400+ Women disguised their identities and secretly served
• 10,000 Native Americans fought in the war - on both sides
The Average Soldier
Three Million Americans fought in the Civil War. They come from different
places and believed in very different things, but had more in common that
you might expect.
• 80% were literate
• Mostly Farmers
• Average Age 18-29
• Average height 5’8”
• Average Weight 145 lbs
SALARY
Union Private
White Soldiers - $13.00 Monthly Pay
$10.00 Salary
+ $3.00 Clothing Allowance
Confederate Private
$11.00 Monthly Pay 1861
$18.00 Monthly Pay 1864
The raise in 1864 was nearly worthless due to the
weak Confederate dollar
Black Soldiers - $7.00 Monthly Pay
$10.00 Salary
- $3.00 Clothing Allowance
FOOD
Union Rations
Confederate Rations
12 oz of Pork or 18 oz Salted Beef
22 oz of Bread or Hardtack of Flour Biscuits
Vegetables, Dried Fruit & Potatoes
12 oz of Bacon or 20 oz of Salted Beef
20 oz of Cornmeal or Bread
Molasses, Peas & Rice
SUPPLIES
30-40 lbs of Supplies: Ammo 7 lbs (approximately), Musket or Rifle, Bayonet, Scabbard, Haversack for Rations,
Canteen for Water & Knapsack or Blanket Roll Containing a Wool Blanket and “Shelter Half”
ARMY
Union
NAVY
80% Infantry
14 % Cavalry
6% Artillary
Confederate 75% Infantry
20% Cavalry
5% Artillary
58
Union
6,759 Officers
61,300 Sailors
3,850 Marines
Confederate 753 Officers
4,460 Sailors
539 Marines
150th Anniversary of the Battle of Olustee
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OLUSTEE FAST FACTS
Q: How much is it to attend the festival?
A: The festival is free and open to the public.
Q: How much is it to attend the battle reenactment?
A: Admission is $10 Adult, $5 Student, Children 5 and under FREE.
Q: Where can I or my family stay during the event?
A: Accommodations can be found at a verity of hotels in Lake City, FL. Please
visit www.springsrus.com for a complete list of accommodations.
Friday, February 12, 2016
Q: How can I participate in the reenactment?
A: Reenactors or living historians are permitted to participate in the reen9:00am – Civil War Memorial
actment and festival. Reenactors belong to a military unit or historical organization and have studied the time period in depth as well as undergo safety
Program (Oaklawn Cemetary)
training. If you are interested in becoming a reenactor you may want to search
9:00am – Arts & Crafts,
for a local reenacting organization or reenactor in your area that can point you
Entertainment and Food
in the appropriate direction.
Booths Open
12:00pm – Official Opening
Q: What does it take to be a reeanactor?
Ceremonies
A: Reenactors or Living Historians, spend hours of time and research building
(Main
Stage,
Olustee Park)
and preparing and obtaining authentic items such as their tents, gear, uni5:00pm – Battle of the Iron
forms and weaponry. All items are required to be period appropriate to the
Clads and Skirmish
Civil War. All clothing and accessories must meet those standards and are pat(Lake Desoto)
terned after the original uniforms. Weaponry must meet safety requirements.
The muskets, revolvers and swords are all real and are reproductions of the
original arms used in the Civil War. All reenactors are volunteers and particiSaturday, February 13, 2016
pate in reenactments across the United States.
Q: Is there transportation to Olustee Battlefield from Lake City?
A: Yes, a shuttle service is provided at the Lake City Gateway Airport. The
shuttle service is available Saturday, starting at 9:00 am and Sunday, starting at
9:00 am and ending at 5:00 pm. $2.00 per adult, $1.00 per student, preschool
and under ride free.
Q: How can I become a vendor at the festival?
A: Easy, simply go to www.olusteefestival.com and visit our “registration” section. There you can register for the arts and crafts show or as a food vendor.
Q: How can I participate in the annual parade?
A: Please visit www.olusteefestival.com and visit the “Parade” section. There
you will find our registration form to participate in the annual parade.
Q: What times are the reenactments at the Battlefield?
A: There is a battle reenactment on Saturday and Sunday during the event.
On Saturday the tactical battle is held at 3:30pm. On Sunday the actual battle
reenactment of Olustee is held at 1:30pm. Space fills up fast so be sure to get
there early to get a seat or you may bring your own.
Q:What time is the festival open?
A: The festival is open Friday and Saturday 9am to 5pm both days. A full
schedule of events can be found at www.olusteefestival.com
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7:00am – 5K Run and Fun Run
9:00am - Arts & Crafts,
Entertainment and Food
Booths Open
10:00am – Annual Olustee
Festival Parade (Marion Ave)
12:00pm – Main Stage Program
(Olustee Park)
3:00pm - Tactical Battle
Reenactment
(Olustee Battlefield)
Sunday, February 14, 2016
1:00pm – 40th Annual
Reenactment of the Battle of
Olustee
* The Olustee Battlefield
Historic State Park is open
February 12-14 to the public.
Period military camps,
demonstrations and exhibits
are available as well as
concessions.
OLUSTEE BATTLE FESTIVAL
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