Alligator Warrior Festival

A couple of weeks ago we went to the Alligator Warrior Festival at one of our favorite places, O'Leno State Park. The festival, unfortunately, doesn't include any gator wrastlin'. However, it does celebrate some local history. There is a battle reenactment between the Seminoles (led by the fearless Alligator Warrior) and the U.S. settlers. We didn't stay for the battle but we saw and learned a lot of cool things.

We learned lots of cool things about the star shaped fire. It's easy to cook on, produces relatively little smoke (great if you're trying to keep a low profile), and is laid out according to a compass. If you get separated from your party they'll lay a stick next to one of the logs to indicate which direction they're travelling in.

Soap berries, all natural laundry detergent

White acorn meal was used to supplement flour

Cat Tail fluff was used as a filling for diapers

Rope made from moss and palm fibers

A shell phone (haha! get it?)

Conquistador weapons demo

My favorite part of the day was finding out that beauty berries are edible! I always thought you'd get really sick or die if you ate just one, but one of the reenactors told us you can eat them raw or make jelly or cobbler with them. The leaves also contain oils that repel mosquitoes. 

She was thrilled to pieces over this drum!