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Christmas in the Country

Experience an Old Florida Christmas at Cracker Country

November 15, 2019

How did rural Americans celebrate Christmas before malls, e-cards, and twinkly electric lights?  Experience a 19th century Florida Christmas in the Country at Mildred W. and Doyle E. Carlton, Jr. Cracker Country at the Florida State Fairgrounds.  Christmas in the Country will take place on Saturday, December 14, 2019, from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. 


 Cracker Country is a living history museum that represents aspects of home life, commerce, and transportation as it was in many rural Florida communities just before the turn of the 20th century.  During Christmas in the Country, guests can stroll through the four-acre complex and experience seasonal décor, music, and traditions in 13 original buildings, including a train depot, historic homes, general store, post office, blacksmith shop and more.  Guests can create holiday keepsakes like salt dough ornaments, beeswax candles, sachets, and cornucopias, and help with the everyday chores like churning butter and cleaning laundry with an old-fashioned washboard.

Trail Dogs Bluegrass Band will perform on stage throughout the day.

Admission to Christmas in the Country is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and children ages 6-12.  Children 5 and under admitted FREE. Parking is $8 per car, $14 per bus or RV. Please enter the Fairgrounds via the Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard entrance.

Mildred W. and Doyle E. Carlton, Jr. Cracker Country Cracker Country is located on the Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 Highway 301 North, Tampa, FL 33610.


** Would you like to win 2 TICKETS to enjoy a real Christmas in the Country?!  Simply complete THIS FORM  **

Congratulations to our winner: Rebecca R.!!! 

About the Giveaway ~ ONE lucky winner will get 2 tickets to experience Cracker Country's Christmas in the Country on Saturday, Dec. 14th from 10 am-4 pm.  You must be a subscriber of New Tampa-Wesley Chapel Macaroni Kid to be eligible to win. Must be 18 or older and a resident of the area. Winners will be chosen at random after the contest ends at 5 PM on 12/4/19.   The winner will be contacted by email (or text message if necessary). All information entered will be used for giveaway purposes only and will not be shared with any other parties. Good luck! ONE ENTRY PER PERSON.

Contest Rules and Regulations

Rules:  Contest ends at 5 PM on Dec 4, 2019.  Winners will be chosen at random and announced in that week's newsletter.  Entering the contest automatically subscribes you to the Lakeland Macaroni Kid FREE weekly e-newsletter.  Your email address and information is never shared or sold.  

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.  A PURCHASE OF ANY KIND WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.  ODDS OF WINNING WILL DEPEND ON THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ENTRIES RECEIVED.  VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.  DO NOT ENTER THIS SWEEPSTAKES IF YOU ARE NOT EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER AS OF 11/18/19 AND A LEGAL RESIDENT OF AND CURRENTLY RESIDING IN ONE OF THE FIFTY UNITED STATES OR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.