Cracker Country Field Trips

Long Ago & Today

Ages 4-6: This Florida History adventure helps young learners explore connections between long ago and today. A friendly tour guide dressed in historic clothing leads each group through play, dance, storytelling, and hands-on activities. Students will visit a real 1917 railroad caboose and 19th century Florida family cabin and make crafts to take home.

Tour Time: 10:00 am-12:00 pm (if staying for lunch – most groups stay until 12:30 pm)

Dates: Tuesday – Friday on the following dates: Oct. 7-Dec. 12, 2025; March 24-May 8, 2026

Student Cost: $10 per student

Chaperones: One adult (teacher or chaperone) per ten students is required and admitted for free. Additional adults pay the rate of $14 each. Cracker Country is not open to the public during your visit. Individual tickets cannot be sold at the gate.

Deposit: A $75.00 non-refundable deposit is due within 30 days of booking your field trip. The deposit is required to hold your reservation. Please pay online here.

Lunch: Groups are welcome to bring a picnic lunch. Picnic tables and restroom facilities are provided for use after the tour ends. Please leave all lunches and coolers in a vehicle until it is time for lunch. Note there are no food service facilities on The Fairgrounds.

Add-on: Add a souvenir packet for your students for $5 per student! Each packet includes a wooden 12-inch ruler, a Cracker Country pencil, and a surprise item (such as a keychain, small toy, etc.). This program does not include a visit to the gift shop. Please contact us at Museum@floridastatefair.com if you are interested.

Sunshine State Standards: This school tour program aligns with a variety of Kindergarten Sunshine State Standards including:
- Dance Critical Thinking & Reflection 1 and Organizational Structure 3
- Social Studies American History 2 & 3 and Geography 1
- Language Reading Standards 1
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Rural Home Life

Grades 1-5: Students are introduced to the daily lives of Florida’s 19th century pioneers, through participation in farm and household chores and exploration of community buildings. Children will engage in hands-on activities, like dipping a beeswax candle and making a rope. Students will return to the classroom with knowledge of the differences and similarities between their experience and those of children in 1898.

Tour Time: 10:00am-12:15pm (if staying for lunch – most groups stay until 1pm)

Dates: Tuesday – Fridays on the following dates: Sept 16- Dec 12, 2025; March 4- May 8, 2026

Student Cost: $10 per student

Chaperones: One adult (teacher or chaperone) per ten students is required and admitted for free. Additional adults pay the rate of $14 each. Cracker Country is not open to the public during your visit. Individual tickets cannot be sold at the gate.

Deposit: A $75.00 non-refundable deposit is due within 30 days of booking your field trip. The deposit is required to hold your reservation. Please pay online Here.

Lunch: Groups are welcome to bring a picnic lunch. Picnic tables and restroom facilities are provided for use after the tour ends. Please leave all lunches and coolers in a vehicle until it is time for lunch. Note there are no food service facilities on the Fairgrounds.

Shopping: Bring money for souvenirs. Each group will have the opportunity to visit our gift shop. In the Cracker Country General Store you will find a wide selection of historical toys, games, candy, books, 1890s reproductions and much more. Prices start at an affordable $1.00. The General Store accepts cash and all major credit cards.

Add-on: Add our Florida Industry program as part of your tour and stay until 2:00pm for $16 per student & $20 per adult. Grades 4-8 only.

Sunshine State Standards: The Rural Home Life School Tour program aligns with a variety of Florida School Standards including many Social Studies Standards:
- 1st Grade: Compare life now with life in the past; Understand history tells the story of people and events of other times and places.
- 2nd grade: Identify terms and designations of time sequence.
- 3rd grade: Identify the cultures that have settled the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
- 4th grade: Describe pioneer life in Florida; People have many different types of jobs from which to choose. Identify different jobs requiring people to have different skills.
- 5th grade: Examine 19th century advancements (canals, roads, steamboats, flat boats, overland wagons, Pony Express, railroads)
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Extended Day Add-On

Grades 4-5: Students can stay a little longer and explore some of Florida’s pioneering industries, like cattle ranching, citrus and fishing. This program includes a visit to the Power of Steam exhibit to experience working steam engines in action.

Tour Time: 1:00pm-2:00pm

Dates: Tuesday-Thursday on the following dates: Sept 16-Dec 12, 2025 and March 10-May 7, 2026
Student Cost: $16 per student — includes the price of our Rural Home Life School Tour in the AM.

Chaperones: One adult (teacher or chaperone) per ten students is required and admitted for free. Additional adults pay the rate of $20 each. The museum is not open to the public during your visit.

INDIVIDUAL TICKETS CANNOT BE SOLD AT THE GATE.

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What are the chaperone requirements?

The Florida State Fairgrounds requires one adult (teacher or chaperone) per every 10 students. All required adults receive free admission for the field trip. Adults accompanying the group beyond the required number of chaperones must each purchase an admissions ticket through your school. Cracker Country is not open to the public during your visit. Individual tickets cannot be sold at the gate. All adult chaperones must arrive on time and enter the field trip with the school. The gates into the Fairgrounds will be closed once the field trip program begins, so late chaperones CANNOT be admitted. Chaperones and adults are responsible for the behavior of the group and are required to supervise and stay with students at all times during the visit. Download our: Chaperone Letter

What happens in the event of bad weather?

Field Trips take place rain or shine. Please encourage your group to dress appropriately for outdoor activities. During heavy rain or severe weather we may cancel your tour the day of the tour by calling the phone number you provide. Due to Florida's quickly changing forecasts a decision to cancel will never be made prior to the date of your tour. If we cancel your tour due to severe weather, we will make every effort to reschedule your group on an alternative date.

What is the payment process like?

All student and adult admissions must be paid together in a single group transaction. Individual ticket purchases are not permitted. We also accept cash, check, and all major credit cards for your convenience. Checks should be made payable to: Florida State Fair Authority.

What items should you leave behind?

To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone, please do not bring the following into the museum:

Food or drinks (except water bottles)
Backpacks (students only; adults may carry bags if needed)
Coolers or packed lunches (please leave these on the bus)

Water fountains are available throughout the museum, and your tour includes scheduled water breaks.

Can I cancel a reservation?

If you cancel your field trip 30 days or more after it has been confirmed, you will owe a $50.00 cancellation fee. All cancellations must be in writing and emailed to Museum@FloridaStateFair.com or mailed to: Attn: Cracker Country P.O. Box 11766 Tampa, Fl. 33680

Is a deposit required?

A $75.00 non-refundable deposit is due 30 after your field trip is confirmed by Cracker Country. If payment is not received by this date, your group may not be eligible to attend the field trip. Pay Online: click here The remaining balance, after subtracting the $75.00 deposit, will be due the day of your field trip. We recognize that student numbers can and do change, so fees will be adjusted based on the number of students attending the day of your tour. We regret that we are not able to accept purchase orders so please plan to pay by cash, check or credit card when you arrive.

Is there a group size minimum?

A minimum of 15 participants is required for a field trip program. Groups with fewer participants may be booked for a minimum fee of $150.00 (equivalent to 15 paid admissions).

Is there a place to have lunch?

Groups are welcome to bring a picnic lunch. Picnic tables and restroom facilities are provided for use after the tour ends. Please leave all lunches and coolers in a vehicle until it is time for lunch. Note there are no food service facilities on the Fairgrounds.

Is there shopping at Cracker Country?

In the Cracker Country General Store, you will find a wide selection of historical toys, games, candy, books, 1890s reproductions, and much more. Prices start at an affordable $0.40. The General Store accepts cash and all major credit cards. Proceeds from sales in the General Store help support Cracker Country's education programs. Please note: Florida Industry & Long Ago & Today Field Trips do not include a visit to the museum gift shop.