Cracker Christmas at Fort Christmas

Step back to pioneer Florida
Each December, the little town of Christmas, Florida, lives up to its name with Cracker Christmas, the largest annual event staged by the Fort Christmas Historical Society. Set at Fort Christmas Historical Park, home to a full-size reconstruction of the 1837 U.S. Army fort built during the Second Seminole War, the festival transports visitors to the days of Florida’s frontier pioneers, the hardy settlers known as “Crackers.”

Living history and hands-on demonstrations
The heart of the festival is its cast of costumed demonstrators who bring 19th-century skills to life across the park grounds. Visitors can watch cane grinding and syrup making, blacksmithing, spinning and weaving, and a Civil War-era encampment, along with other pioneer crafts and trades. Restored “cracker” homesteads and the fort itself are open to explore, offering a window into how early settlers lived, worked, and celebrated the season.

A craft fair and holiday cheer
Cracker Christmas also hosts a sprawling craft fair, with scores of vendors selling handmade American goods, holiday gifts, and folk art beneath the park’s oak canopy. Food vendors serve up seasonal fare, live music sets a festive mood, and families line up to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus for photos. Community organizations set up displays, making the weekend as much a small-town gathering as a history lesson.

A four-decade tradition
What began around 1977 as a modest community celebration has grown into the Fort Christmas Historical Society’s signature event, reaching its 47th annual edition in 2025. The festival remains free to attend, supported by the society and Orange County Parks, and continues to draw thousands of visitors from the Orlando area and beyond each year to celebrate the holidays the pioneer way.