MCINTOSH, FL (352today.com) – The McIntosh 1890s Festival saw thousands of guests on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, with cars filling designated parking areas, lining main roads and taking over local neighborhoods. Vendors were tightly packed, displaying booths throughout multiple streets at Van Ness Park, 5822 Avenue F, in McIntosh.
The festival debuted in 1973, bringing a celebration of local history and entertainment as a small gathering in McIntosh. Throughout the years, the festival grew in popularity, bringing more visitors around the county, introducing new visitors to the charm of the town. However, despite its increasing success, the Friends of McIntosh held a meeting that announced the permanent discontinuation of the celebration in January 2026, following the pandemic and a cancellation of the event in 2024. Factors that attributed to this decision included increased costs while keeping booth fees low; decline in membership and workers as fewer and older members remained to organize the event and dwindling community support and interest.
A week after the discontinuation, the McIntosh Town Council approved for its return for 2026, bringing on a team of volunteers to preserve the history and charm of the festival. The cancellation didn’t hinder audiences this year as guests filled the streets, sold out multiple vendors by noon and gathered to listen to music and connect with the community. Sponsors showed support for the festival, some including The Yearling Restaurant, Battery Source, Connor Tractor, Sportsman Cove Resort, Knickerball Ocala and Unbridled.
Vendors featured quilts, wood carvings, outdoor decorations, solar lights, painted boards, crochet, tumblers, 3D printed items, jewelry, handmade crafts and clothes, hats, purses, plants, seasonal items, soap and plenty more. Food vendors included jams, hot dogs, sauces, lemonade, coffee, fudge, shrimp dinner, baked goods, dirty sodas, spices, teas, smoothies and burgers. Five performers provided live music throughout the evening, scattered around the area with the main performances on a porch of a house at the center of the festival. Performers included Becky Baby, Highway 100, Banjoe Steve and NoBS, Pasture Prime Bluegrass and Hollis Dorian Band.
The festival showcased the importance of community gathering, providing a space for everyone to gather with family, friends, pets, local businesses and organizations. Visitors were able to experience the history and highlights of the town through the arts, music and people.
(All photos by Amber Battillo for 352today)
