DeBary Hall plans October events

Posted On: September 16, 2022

DeBary Hall Historic Site is planning various events for October that feature trails, history, mild frights and fun for all. Upcoming events include:

Lemonade Lecture: The Seminole War: 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1. Join Hewitt Dupont, president of the Friends of Tomoka Basin State Park, for a historical tour of conflicts spanning from 1816-1858. Dupont has spent over 40 years reenacting battles of the Second Seminole War and the War Between the States and will present a condensed immersion into a tumultuous period of Florida history including the good, the bad and the ugly This presentation is part of the free Lemonade Lectures series sponsored by Volusia County. Light refreshments and lemonade will be served.

Master Gardener: Vegetable gardening: 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6. Join Howard Jeffries, a master gardener with the University of Florida/Volusia County Extension, for a presentation on growing vegetables in Florida. Jeffries will break down what vegetables to plant, grow and harvest. Take-home sheets with helpful gardening information will be provided.

Story time at DeBary Hall: 9:30 a.m. Fridays, Oct. 7 and 21. Children are invited to Kids Corner, a free story time featuring stories, songs and activities. The program is designed for preschoolers, but children of all ages are welcome.

Get stepping with line dancing lessons: 5:30 p.m. Thursdays, Oct. 13 and 27. Line dancing is a great way to exercise your mind and body. Join DeBary Hall staff for a fun evening full of learning beginner line dances to various music genres. There is a $3 charge for each class.

Historic bike tour: 9 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19. Take a free, guided bike tour from Green Springs Park, 994 Enterprise Osteen Road, Deltona, to Guise Road and back. Learn about the local history from DeBary Hall Historic Site’s staff during a 15-mile ride along the East Central Regional Rail Trail. Participants must bring a bicycle and helmet. Sunscreen and bottled water are also recommended. Children over 12 are welcome if accompanied by an adult. Reservations are required.

Creepy candlelight tours: 7 and 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21, and Saturday, Oct. 22. Candlelight will lead the way while guests listen to scary tales from the past on a spooky tour designed to startle and activate the imagination. Guests can expect mild frights as they are escorted to the DeBary mansion and enter the narrow hallways and darkened rooms once occupied by 19th century wine merchant Frederick deBary and his family. Reservations are required, and space is limited per tour; call 386-668-3840 to make a reservation. Admission is $10 per person. Children under 12 will not be admitted.

Wildlife talk: Owls: 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22. Join local author and wildlife enthusiast Marcia Meara to learn about the owls that call central Florida home.

Guided bike tour: 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26. Take a 9-mile guided ride along the Spring-to-Spring Trail from DeBary Hall Historic Site to Lake Monroe Park and back. Arrive back at DeBary Hall in time for an update on Volusia trails with Maggie Ardito, president of the St. Johns River-to-Sea Loop Alliance.

Trail Talk: 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26. Find out what’s happening with trails and active mobility in Volusia County. Maggie Ardito will discuss the Volusia Trail Master Plan, trail work in progress, the DeLand Black Heritage trail project and more.

Lemonade Lecture: The Timucua of Volusia County: 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29. Registrar and Assistant Curator Felipe De Paula of the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse & Museum will discuss the history of the Timucua people who lived in Florida before the arrival of Europeans. Consisting of various tribes that shared a common language, the Timucua inhabited most of what is today central and north Florida. This presentation is part of the free Lemonade Lectures series sponsored by Volusia County. Light refreshments and lemonade will be served.

All events except the historic bike tour will take place at DeBary Hall Historic Site, 198 Sunrise Blvd. Registration is requested for all programs; call 386-668-3840 or email lperez@volusia.org to sign up.

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