Shandlebar, originally from Wisconsin, sits in the tent he lives in when he goes to prehistoric festivals across the country. “I live out of two coolers,” he said Saturday, Feb. 18. “One for beer, one for foods.” (Emily Mavrakis/WUFT News)
As cars packed into the parking lot of Silver Springs State Park Saturday, hundreds of people transported themselves from the year 2017 to an era which has long since passed.
The Silver River Museum, located in the state park, hosted its 7th annual Silver River Knap-In, Stone Tool Making and Prehistoric Festival Saturday and Sunday to celebrate the traditional activities people relied on hundreds of years ago.
About 3,000 people attended the festival over the weekend, said Scott Mitchell, director of the museum. Attendees, some dressed in graphic t-shirts and others in deer hide, tossed axes, shot arrows at targets and sharpened stone to make arrowheads.
“A lot of people don’t know about this time-period in Florida,” Mitchell said.
He said the best part of the festival is watching the children who attend have fun connecting with the past.
“It’s up to the adults to take their kids outside, take them to museums,” he said. “It’s too easy to watch TV or sit in front of a computer all day.”
Charles Palle, of Ocala, skins a tree pole to use for a teepee Saturday. He said taking the bark off is important to prevent bugs from eating at the wood. (Emily Mavrakis/WUFT News)
Kevin Young, of Ocala knaps, or sharpens, a piece of stone into an arrow Saturday. Flint knapping has been a hobby of his for about 17 years. (Emily Mavrakis/WUFT News)
Shandlebar, originally from Wisconsin, sits in the tent he lives in when he goes to prehistoric festivals across the country. “I live out of two coolers,” he said Saturday, Feb. 18. “One for beer, one for foods.” (Emily Mavrakis/WUFT News)
Justin Cook, an environmental scientist from Pensacola, sells arrowheads at the festival Saturday. Cook was featured on the Discovery Channel show “Man, Woman, Wild,” about surviving in the wilderness. (Emily Mavrakis/WUFT News)
David McCrecken, of Georgia, explains the process of skinning a deer for its hide to attendees Saturday. (Emily Mavrakis/WUFT News)
A young girl prepares to shoot an arrow at a target Saturday. (Emily Mavrakis/WUFT News)
Elijah Wagner, Joshua Wagner and their father, John Wagner, look at bows for sale Saturday. (Emily Mavrakis/WUFT News)
A young boy exits a teepee at the event Saturday. (Emily Mavrakis/WUFT News)
Jerry “Nobudy” Loss stands behind the counter of his mobile shop, Nobudy’s Business: Sweet Treats and Sharp, Pointy Things Saturday. (Emily Mavrakis/WUFT News)
Chance Wengler, an 8-year-old from Palm City, tosses an ax Saturday. (Emily Mavrakis/WUFT News)