History in action
The annual Festival at Fort King included reenactors and historic demonstrations.
Reenactors with the 2nd Artillery F Troop Fort King Battery fire an 1842 12-pound Mountain Howitzer during the Festival at Fort King at Fort King National Historic Landmark in Ocala, Fla. on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2025.
Throughout the weekend of Dec. 6 and 7, Ocala’s Fort King National Historic Landmark was the site of activities that harked back to the days when soldiers, pioneers and Native Americans lived, worked and fought on those hallowed grounds.
The landmark is a reconstructed U.S. Army frontier fort that played a pivotal role in the Second Seminole War, the longest and most expensive conflict between the United States and Native American tribes. It is jointly owned by the city of Ocala and Marion County.
The city’s Recreation and Parks Department hosted the annual Festival at Fort King two-day event, which included periods camps, demonstrations and a full reenactment of the events that ignited the Second Seminole War.
There were hand-to-hand combat demonstrations, a lecture by Charles Kimball on Florida’s territorial history, a seep spring talk and walk, Iron Horse dancers and Scales, Tails and Teeth programs.
Cannon and musket firings that took place throughout each day kept people on their toes if they weren’t expecting loud booms and flames and smoke.
And there was more fire inside the working blacksmith shop as artisans demonstrated the time-honored craft.
Historically correct campsites hosted reenactors such as Bruce Lindsay, who was portraying an 1830 U.S. Regiment Army Infantry soldier.
The landmark, located at 3925 E. Fort King St., includes the reconstructed fort, a nature walking trail that includes the Seep Spring, a chickee, a welcome center and an archaeology resource center.
The Fort King Heritage Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)3 formed in 2011 and has played a crucial role in the acquisition and development of Fort King, according to the organization’s website. In 2012 the city, county and foundation entered into a memorandum of understanding that outlines each one’s role in fundraising, design, development and management of the site.
To learn more about the event, go to ocalafl.gov/fortkingfestival
For information about the landmark, go to ftking.org, fortkingocala.com and parks.marionfl.org/home-parks
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