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JUNE 2025
Flag Retirement Ceremony, Saturday, June 14th at 11 am
Please join us for the Flag Retirement Ceremony hosted by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) in celebration of Flag Day.
The ceremony will take place on Saturday, June 14th at 11 am at the Pioneer Florida Museum located at 15602 Pioneer Museum Rd, Dade City, FL 33523.
Guests are encouraged to tour the museum, bring lawn chairs and drinks to make themselves comfortable during the ceremony.
Additionally, drinks and ice cream will be available for purchase in the gift shop.
Regular Admission to the museum : $12 for adults, $10 for seniors or Veterans (55 and up), and $6 for students, under 5 yrs old or active military FREE..
We look forward to seeing you at this special event.
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“The Rise, Fall, and Future of Florida’s Citrus Industry"
Tuesday, June 17, 2025, 6 pm
Pioneer Florida Museum
15602 Pioneer Museum Rd, Dade City, FL 33523
Dr. David E. Sumner - Talk and book signing.
There will be some books available for purchase. “The Rise, Fall, and Future of Florida’s Citrus Industry"
Did you know that at one point in the 1950s, Pasco processed 10 percent of all Florida citrus and there were 500 trucks daily coming to Pasco full of fruit, according to the Tampa Tribune?
The story of Florida’s citrus industry has followed an up-and-down path of battling freezes, diseases, and hurricanes for 150 years. After an 1895 freeze almost destroyed the industry, Florida growers fought back and replanted. After surviving the Great Depression and World War II, Florida growers experienced their “Golden Era” from 1950-1980. Seven freezes in the 1980s again devastated the industry, but growers fought back and replanted.
Since then, the citrus canker and citrus greening diseases have destroyed thousands of acres, and growers are still recovering. David E. Sumner tells the story of Florida citrus from the end of the Civil War to the present after visiting Florida archives and
conducting 53 interviews with growers and industry leaders.
Not since John McPhee’s 1967 best-seller, Oranges, has any book told the story of Florida citrus in a lively, popular style that will appeal to readers inside and outside the industry. New scientific breakthroughs for a disease-resistant tree are explained in chapter 14 and offer signs of hope for the future of the industry.
Dr. Sumner will also be a keynote speaker at the Florida Citrus Annual Conference in Bonita Springs on June 12. A Dade City native, he is a 5th-generation Floridian who grew up in a citrus family that dates back to the 1880s. He is professor emeritus of journalism at Ball State University,where he taught feature and magazine writing for 25 years. He is the author of 11 books including a best-selling feature and magazine writing textbook. He graduated from Stetson University and the University of Tennessee where he earned a PhD.
Matt Joyner, Executive Vice President at Florida Citrus Mutual, says, “The story of the people and events that shaped the Florida citrus industry is in many ways the story of Florida itself. In Rise, Fall, and Future of Florida’s Citrus Industry, David E. Sumner has captured the essence of an iconic industry that has been part of the fabric of Florida since statehood and will continue to define the Sunshine State for decades to come. It is a must read for anyone interested in understanding the real Florida.”
“The Rise, Fall, and Future of Florida’s Citrus Industry" is a testament to the industry’s ability to survive challenges that at the time seemed insurmountable. This book gives us hope.” J. Scott Angle, Senior Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Florida
On sale May 1 exclusively at BarnesandNoble.com (bn.com) for $14.95 paperback or $24.95 hardback. This 327-page book includes historic citrus photos dating back to the late 1800s.
Regular museum admission, $12 adults, $10 seniors/veterans, $6 students, free parking, light refreshments included.
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JULY 2025
Night at the Pioneer Florida Museum
Friday, July, 11, 2025, 6 - 9 pm
Ever wonder what happens inside a museum after the lights go out?
Come find out as living historians, and demonstrators come to life when night descends on the museum.
More details closer to the event date.
Regular museum admission. $12 adults, $10 seniors or veterans, $6 students, under 5 free. Free parking.
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Genealogy Workshop
Saturday, July 19, 2025, 12 - 4 pm
Save the date! Several groups will participate and a speaker. Groups including but not limited to:
Daughters of the American Revolution - Jamestown
Daughters of the Confederacy
Included with regular museum admission: Adults $12, Seniors/Veterans $10, Students $6, under 5 FREE
More information closer to the event.
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SEPT 2025
Annual Membership Meeting
Monday, September 15, 2025, 6 pm
Main Building at the Pioneer Florida Museum
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SAVE THE DATES
When vendor registration is ready, it will be posted here. Usually by June 1.
Scarecrow Festival Saturday, October 11, 2025, 9 am - 4 pm
Pioneer Florida Student Field Trip Day Friday, October 24, 2025, 9 am - 1pm
Civil War Living History Student Field Trip Day Friday, November 21, 2025, 9 am - 1 pm
Civil War Living History Event Saturay, November 22, 2025, 10 am - 4 pm
Dade City Christmas Parade Friday, December 5, 2025, 7 pm
When we have information and registration ready for the parade, it will be listed here. Please do not contact the museum prior to the registration opening.
Pioneer Christmas and Vintage Market Saturday, December 6, 2025 10 am - 4 pm
Raising Cane and Moonshine Festival Saturday, January 10, 2026, 10 am - 4 pm
Farm Festival and Quilt Show (Draft Horse Pull Competition) Saturday, February 7, 2026, 10 am - 4pm
Cracker Cowboy Student Field Trip Day Friday, March 6, 2026, 9 am - 1pm
Cracker Cowboy Day Saturday, March 7, 2026, 10 am - 4 pm
Jelly Bean Fling Saturday, March 27, 2026, 10 am - 4 pm
CLASSES
Check back often, we will update as classes become available.
Please wash or sanitize your hands often. The museum frequently sanitizes common areas and has hand sanitizer available. If you are sick, please stay home. The health and safety of our staff, guests and volunteers is our highest priority.
