Southeastern Native American Event at Mission San Luis Two-Day Winter Solstice Celebration

Tallahassee –

Mission San Luis invites the public to enjoy two days of Southeastern Native American culture, crafts, demonstrations, living history, music, astronomy, and speakers at its fifth annual Winter Solstice Celebration. The event takes place on Saturday, December 12, 2015, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday, December 13, 2015, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  This year's expanded schedule will include more participation by Native American tribes and ceremonial grounds, as well as presentations by archaeological and historical scholars, the Tallahassee Astronomical Society, musicians and more.

“Come out to Mission San Luis to observe the occasion of the ‘sun standing’ at its southernmost position in the sky and honor the Native American heritage of this 17th-century living history village,” said Secretary of State Ken Detzner. “Tribes from Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and Louisiana have been invited to participate and stomp dancers will perform interactive demonstrations.”  

The event will include:

-- Artisans selling hand-crafted Native American baskets, flutes, clothing, jewelry, etc.

-- Muscogee-Creek stickball demonstrations

-- Daily interactive stomp dance demonstrations

-- A variety of speakers discussing topics such as prehistoric mounds, belief systems, native plants, tribal recognition, interethnic relations on the Spanish Florida frontier, and astronomy

-- The Seminole Tribe of Florida presenting a program entitled, "Who are the Seminoles?”

-- Period-specific primitive camps and representations of the Native American lifestyle

-- Drum circles and a flute performance

-- Children’s games and make-and-take crafts

-- Archery activities

-- Reenactors

-- Food vendors

-- Stargazing Starparty (with powerful telescopes)

While their lives and times were different than ours, we share the same sky with the Apalachee Indians and Spanish settlers who lived at Mission San Luis more than 300 years ago. Regular admission applies ($5 for Adults, $3 for 65+, $2 for ages 6-17, FREE for members, under 6, and active duty military). For more information, including speakers and schedule updates, visit the Winter Solstice Celebration event page at facebook.com/MissionSanLuis/events.

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About Mission San Luis

Mission San Luis, Florida’s Apalachee-Spanish Living History Museum, was the western capital of Spanish Florida from 1656 to 1704. The Mission, now a National Historic Landmark, brings the early 1700s to life with living history interpreters in period dress, reconstructed period buildings, exhibits, and archaeological research. The site is managed by the Florida Department of State, and support is provided by the Friends of Mission San Luis, Inc. Mission San Luis is located at 2100 West Tennessee Street in Tallahassee, Florida, and is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information call 850.245.6406 or visit missionsanluis.org.