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Cracker Country Homeschool Day: Growing Gardners

Event Details

Description

Growing Gardeners Homeschool Day

Buzz, Bloom, and Grow: A Florida Garden Adventure!

Bring your students on a journey to discover Florida’s growing world! Explore the science of plants and agriculture during Florida’s growing season.

Discover what life would have been like for a child growing up in a Florida farming and ranching community over 100 years ago! Educators in historic dress will welcome guests to the 1885 Carlton House, Okahumpka Depot, Terry Store, School House and more authentic structures. Students will explore how to grow plants in Florida, get their hands dirty in our garden, learn about the parts of a plant, and how pollinators help us grow plants.

Each young learner will enjoy hands-on demonstrations of daily chores and skills such as butter churning, laundry, garden chores, a nature scavenger hunt and a period schoolhouse lesson. Students will also discover how Florida plants helped sustain pioneer families and shaped life in early Florida communities.

Activities:

  • See our model train display
  • Explore our historic buildings
  • Learn the difference between cotton and wool
  • Help with old fashioned laundry
  • See our blacksmith at work
  • Get your hands dirty in our kitchen garden
  • Sample sugar cane syrup
  • Try out turn-of-the-century toys
  • Make a corn husk doll $1 each
  • and more!

Add-on Lecture: Florida plants and history

  • Price: $2 add-on to Homeschool Day general admission ticket
  • Ages: The lecture is designed for students aged 12+
  • Time: 45-minute lecture at 11 am & 1 pm
  • Location: Governors Inn at Cracker Country

Bring a Picnic Lunch: Picnic tables are available for a picnic lunch.

Shopping: There are lots of unique items to be found at the General Store! The store features nostalgic and reproduction items, historical toys and games, books, candy, and many other unique gift items. The General Store accepts cash and all major credit cards. Proceeds from sales in the General Store help support Cracker Country’s education programs.

Date & Time

11/9/2026: 10:00am – 2:00pm

Where to Enter

Parking: Free parking – enter Orient Rd only. Please follow the directions listed on our website and not GPS: Directions

Cost

$14 per person 4 years old and up, children 3 years old and younger will be admitted for FREE. Advance ticket purchase required- this is a very popular event and there are limited tickets available. Tickets only available online. All ticket sales are final.

Fun Awaits – Buy Tickets Today: Growing Gardeners

Address

4800 N US Highway 301
Tampa, FL 33610 United States
Fairgrounds Map
  • MidFlorida Amphitheater US Hwy 301 Entrance
  • Bob Thomas Equestrian Center
    Bob Thomas Equestrian Center Orient Road Entrance, Gate 4
  • TECO Arena
    TECO Arena MLK Blvd Entrance, Gate 3
  • Cracker Country
    Cracker Country MLK Blvd Entrance, Gate 2
  • Florida State Fairgrounds - Expo Hall
    Expo Hall US Hwy 301 Entrance, Gate 1
  • Florida State Fairgrounds - Entertainment Hall
    Entertainment Hall US Hwy 301 Entrance, Gate 1
  • Florida State Fairgrounds - The Florida Center
    Florida Center MLK Blvd Entrance, Gate 2
  • Florida State Fairgrounds - Special Events Center
    Special Events Center MLK Blvd Entrance, Gate 3

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