Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park, White Springs, Florida December 15-20, 2013
We
had heard the Christmas show put on by this park every year was a
nice one, so were anticipating a good surprise. We were more than
surprised with the light display and model railroad display as well
as decorations in the museum. They also had Santa each evening, a
man-made snow fall for the kids, popcorn, and hot chocolate. It takes
about two months for workers and volunteers to put up all six million
lights!
Along
a divided drive is a santa, sleigh, and reindeer on a runway,
preparing to soar into the sky to deliver toys, and farther on toward
the carrilon tower there are lights all over – comets flying
through the air, a train ready to disappear into a tunnel, a snow
family caroling, and the buildings were decorated so they looked like
gingerbread houses.
There
were two high points of the evening: one was the dulcimer music and
the other was the model railroad. Michael Vickey, the dulcimer
player, was an award winner in several competitions and over several
years. He had played the banjo for 25 years before moving to the
dulcimer, which he has played for a number of years. He plays both
the hammered dulcimer (my absolute favorite) and the mountain
dulcimer. The hammered dulcimer is mentioned in the King James Bible,
Daniel 3:5. It may have originated in Persia, but some evicdence
suggests that its birthplace is Byzantium (Turkey) in the 10th
century. By this yardstick, the mountain dulcimer is a newbie, having
thought to have been made by early residents of Pennsylvania who
migrated to the Appalachian Mountains in the late 1700's. In spite of
its youth, the mountain dulcimer is an important instrument, since it
is considered to be the only truly American stringed instrument and
is also referred to as an Appalachian, lap, or plucked dulcimer.
While the mountain dulcimer is a beautiful instrument, the hammered
dulcimer makes more music than I've ever heard come from a small
instrument. I was amazed and completely fell in love with the
instrument. Some day, perhaps I'll make an attempt to learn it. (BTW
– Michael doesn't read a note of music!)
The
model railroad display was mesmerizing. The first night we were
there, there were probably eight or ten different trains running. The
display was remarkable in its detail and scope and we'll look forward
to showing it to Rick and Beth and both their families Christmas of
2014.
 |
| Santa's Station |
We
had heard the Christmas show put on by this park every year was a
nice one, so were anticipating a good surprise. We were more than
surprised with the light display and model railroad display as well
as decorations in the museum. They also had Santa each evening, a
man-made snow fall for the kids, popcorn, and hot chocolate. It takes
about two months for workers and volunteers to put up all six million
lights! 
Along
a divided drive is a santa, sleigh, and reindeer on a runway,
preparing to soar into the sky to deliver toys, and farther on toward
the carrilon tower there are lights all over – comets flying
through the air, a train ready to disappear into a tunnel, a snow
family caroling, and the buildings were decorated so they looked like
gingerbread houses.
There
were two high points of the evening: one was the dulcimer music and
the other was the model railroad. Michael Vickey, the dulcimer
player, was an award winner in several competitions and over several
years. He had played the banjo for 25 years before moving to the
dulcimer, which he has played for a number of years. He plays both
the hammered dulcimer (my absolute favorite) and the mountain
dulcimer. The hammered dulcimer is mentioned in the King James Bible,
Daniel 3:5. It may have originated in Persia, but some evicdence
suggests that its birthplace is Byzantium (Turkey) in the 10th
century. By this yardstick, the mountain dulcimer is a newbie, having
thought to have been made by early residents of Pennsylvania who
migrated to the Appalachian Mountains in the late 1700's. In spite of
its youth, the mountain dulcimer is an important instrument, since it
is considered to be the only truly American stringed instrument and
is also referred to as an Appalachian, lap, or plucked dulcimer.
While the mountain dulcimer is a beautiful instrument, the hammered
dulcimer makes more music than I've ever heard come from a small
instrument. I was amazed and completely fell in love with the
instrument. Some day, perhaps I'll make an attempt to learn it. (BTW
– Michael doesn't read a note of music!)
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