Tallahassee and Leon County's bicentennial year comes to an end in a few weeks. But Tom Flanigan reports the last weekend of the year will bring one final celebration.
That gala happens at Tallahassee's historic Goodwood Museum and Gardens. The live performance troupe Theater With a Mission has put together three days of an immersive Birthday Bash, which troupe member Idy Coddington said will begin on Friday, December 27th. The theme of the occasion: "Time Travel: 200 Years of Partying."
"Friday night after we get welcomed in by Native ceremonies and a blessing, we get to dance through 200 years. So you can dress in any decade you want. We'll have a culinary, a dance and a music timeline and do 200 years."
After all, explained Coddington, Tallahassee was literally founded as a party town. As the territorial and then state capital, political and social gatherings have been part of the community's DNA since 1824. And for hundreds of years before that, Apalachee, Miccosukee and other tribal peoples congregated constantly in the area.
Theater With a Mission's Ben Gunter said Saturday, December 28th will be packed with lots of fun activities with historical connections to fascinate folks of all ages.
"There'll be a petting zoo with pony rides. You can ride horses just like the commissioners did 200 years ago. There'll be a dance lesson so you can learn dances like 'The Spanish Dance' that Ellen Call Long and Lizzie Brown, two governors' daughters, both say was a signature dance for Tallahassee."
All this leads to Saturday evening's grand ball in Goodwood's Carriage House. Gunter said the throwing of lavish dance parties has been as much a part of Tallahassee's landscape as its iconic oaks draped in Spanish Moss.
"When the legislature was over, they threw a ball. When race week came to town and everyone from all over the South was coming to Tallahassee to bet on the races, they hosted a ball. This is our ball."
That will include a buffet of period delicacies, some mini dramas about the legislature and lots more excitement. It all concludes on Sunday afternoon with more dancing, plays and an homage to Leon County, which official marks its 200th anniversary on that day. Gunter sees this as the perfect farewell for the community's bicentennial year in the midst of the holiday season.
"People can bring their kids on Saturday during the day and the kids can have a great time, get exhausted, go home and go to bed. Parents can come back for the ball that night. It's free, it's fun, it's family friendly. It's in the schedule right between Christmas and New Year's where we hope everyone's saying, 'That was fun. What do we do with our out-of-town relatives now?' Bring 'em to Goodwood!"
