One of many Chautauqua Assembly events this weekend

The Walton Guard Civil War Camp will be set up in the historic Lake Yard of DeFuniak Springs beginning Friday morning, Jan. 27 and lasting through Sunday afternoon. Ten tents and displays will make up the exhibit, including members of the Walton Guard who will be at each site explaining the history of the Guard during the Civil War. Live Civil War-era music will be performed by the 97th Regimental String Band on Sunday, and the Walton Guard will participate in a mock Civil War battle on Sunday at 1 p.m. The exhibit is part of the 2012 Florida Chautauqua Assembly and is free and open to the public.

In addition to the Walton Guard Civil War Camp, an additional 4 tents will be set up to display a Florida Frontiersmen Settlement Camp where visitors can learn about the living conditions of original Florida Frontiersmen. This outdoor exhibit is orchestrated by Kevin Chilcutt of DeFuniak Springs of the Frontiersmen Camping Fellowship (FCF). This fellowship is a ministry to boys and men operating under the theme of the Frontiersman from the late 1700s to about 1840, the time of the last great rendezvous. FCF is an advancement for the Royal Rangers, a boys mentoring program originating through the Assembly of God churches.

The Lake Yard exhibits are sponsored in part by the City of DeFuniak Springs. Other free exhibits open to the public during the Assembly are Camp Conservation live animal exhibit and “Hall of Presidents” Student Museum at the Walton County Fairgrounds, the Florida Chautauqua History Exhibit and Porcelain Art Show at the DeFuniak Springs Community Center, “Presidents Who Were Masons” at the Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood on Circle Drive and the Walton Heritage Museum at the Train Depot on Circle Drive. For specific hours and more details, visit www.FloridaChautauquaAssembly.org or call (850) 892-7613.

The Florida Chautauqua History Exhibit at the Community Center and all other assembly exhibits are free and open to the public from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 27 and Saturday, Jan. 28. Tickets to performances and educational sessions, receptions and other activities may be purchased in advance for various prices.