Yesteryear
Florida Fair & Palm Beach County Expositions Inc., said a “grand opening” celebration to mark the change is set for Feb. 27. The event will be free and open to the public, she added.
Palm Beach County tourism officials heralded the new hours, saying the village, which boasts buildings from the period of roughly 1895 to 1945, is an important attraction for both locals and out-oftown visitors.
“We have such a rich historical heritage here in the Palm Beaches,” said Jorge Pesquera, president and CEO of Discover the Palm Beaches, the official tourism marketing corporation for Palm Beach County. “Yester- year Village is a treasure for not only history lovers — it’s interactive, so even young children can enjoy the park and learn about the past. With Yesteryear Village extending its hours, this will give visitors a chance to explore a bygone era, and it will allow residents another opportunity to preserve and honor our history.”
The village, which was started in 1990 in response to a similar attraction at the Florida State Fair in Tampa, features a large collection of original and replicated early buildings from the area including an old schoolhouse, a farm, a blacksmith shop, a general store and several houses. It is also home to the only big band museum in the United States, the Sally Bennett Big Band Hall of Fame Museum.
Chouris said fairground officials frequently receive phone calls from people asking whether Yesteryear Village is open to the public.
Last year, the organization received a grant from the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County’s “SmARTBiz” program that ultimately led to the extended visiting hours, Chouris said.
The fairgrounds used the grant money to hire a consultant to analyze the village’s operation and train dozens of volunteers who help staff the buildings when they are open to the public. Under the new plan, volunteers will essentially act out the history of the village.
“Our volunteers are so good as they are,” Chouris said. “They are telling the history of the buildings and what they were used for in Palm Beach County. The twist that we have put on it is making it alive. They become actors. It is going to be a stage performance within the village ... All of the volunteers will have different roles.”