HIGHLANDS COUNTY -- On Saturday, April 13 and  and Sunday, April  14, the Fourth Annual Heritage Festival, sponsored by the  Heritage Association  of Highlands County, was  celebrated at the Edna Pearce Locket Pearce Homestead on the Kissimmee River near the Highlands County/Okeechobee County Line.

This year, the festival was  dedicated to our faithful  founding member Pat Harrison who recently passed away .

 Numerous activities for all ages and interests took place, including tours of the Pearce home. Quilt artist Betty Ford Smith, who has a quilt in the Smithsonian,  was there to show her Pinecone quilts.

In the one room  schoolhouse,  Highwayman paintings were displayed with the artist there to answer questions.  Visitors also enjoyed boat rides on the newly restored Kissimmee River, courtesy Florida Atlantic University Center for Environmental Studies.

The festival also included Cracker Trail Riders who demonstrated traditional "Cracker cow hunter" skills, civic and environmental informational booths and venders selling their craft items.  Food trucks kept everyone fed.  Talented folks entertained. 

Pearce Family members shared their memories and history .   Sons of the American Revolution Members of the Society of the War of 1812 traveled from Ft Lauderdale to present the colors and demonstrate muskets.

On Sunday the festival included an inspirational Cowboy Church group with their families.

Thanks once again to  Butch and Donna Thompson for making this all possible and Friends of the Pearce Homestead.    Carole Fields