Visit Our Booth at the Pioneer Day Festival (hosted by PIPS)

Space Coast Audubon will be an exhibitor at Pioneer Day, hosted by the Pine Island Preservation Society (PIPS). Events are at multiple locations. No registration is required. For additional details visit: https://mipioneerday.com/

# Pioneer Day – February 11, 2023

Celebrating the history of Merritt Island on “Pioneer Day” is an annual event that has an exciting appeal for history, art, music, and nature lovers, and children of all ages from 1 to 100. The February 11th event is a partnership between [Sams House ](https://mipioneerday.com/sams-house-a/sams-house/)at Pine Island and [St. Luke’s Episcopal Church](https://www.stlukesmi.org/) located on a sleepy little stretch of North Tropical Trail on North Merritt Island. From 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. the Sams House and St. Luke’s will host a wide variety of activities, most of which are free.
*Pioneer Day is held near the birthday of John Sams, a citrus-grower and the first Superintendent of Brevard County Schools. Mr. Sams built the oldest standing home in Brevard County (circa 1875). The Sams Cabin is now a museum within the 1,000-acre Pine Island Conservation Area, which is owned and operated by the Brevard County Environmentally Endangered Lands Program. Mr. Sams also helped to build St. Luke’s Chapel in 1888 and is buried in the church cemetery.*

## **Events at St. Luke’s (10 am to 4 pm)**

*Lunch will be a variety of homemade chilis (beef, white and vegetarian) and loaded baked and sweet potatoes*
**10:15** **Guided Cemetery Tour – “Founding Families”** E*arly Merritt Island settlers who were also the founders of St. Luke’s*
**11:00 Porcher Family History with Michael Boonstra – *This talk will focus on the family’s history before they came to Merritt Island and reveal some little known facts.***
**11:30 Pioneer Hymns (Organ Music and History)**
**12:00** **St Luke’s Chapel: A Gem of Gothic American Architecture**
**12:30 Cemetery Stroll**
**2:15 Guided Cemetery Tour**
**On-going Events:**
Self-guided tour of St. Luke’s Historic Chapel and Cemetery
**Events at Sams House (10 am to 4 pm)**

* Florida living history demonstrations and educational exhibits that include archaeology and anthropology, historic reenactors, encampments with artifacts on display and spinning wool demonstrations
* Live music throughout the day by Celery City String Band, Pine Trio, and Boylston Fish
* A Pioneer “parade” throughout the grounds at 11 am, led by drum and fife, of those dressed in historic attire
* Local exhibitors from Brevard’s historical societies, Field Manor, Lawndale, Green Gables, Linders Wayback Machines, Space Coast Audubon Society, Florida Native Plant Society, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Cape Canaveral Lighthouse Foundation, Save The Manatee Club, Keep Brevard Beautiful, Brevard Backyard Beekeepers, Space Coast League of Women Voters and others
* Crafts fair and farmer’s market vendors such as The Green Marketplace, Spade and Trowel Garden Club, Hugging Heart Soapery, Pine Away Baskets and others
* Pine Island guided nature trail hikes throughout the day
* 1888 Sams House tours with rarely seen antiques on display
* Pine Island Preservation Society tent with vintage pins, doilies, pioneer bonnets, hiking sticks, nature-themed t-shirts, note cards, postcards, and gifts for sale
* Children’s crafts and games – Hay Dive, Steer Roping, Cornhusk Dolls, “Cow” Milking, etc.
* Heidi’s Miniature Goat Petting Farm until 1 pm
* Food trucks and kettle corn!