The Raising Cane and Moonshine Festival is an annual outdoor, family-friendly event hosted by the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village in Dade City, Florida. It celebrates old-time Florida pioneer traditions, agriculture, and heritage crafts - specifically focused on traditional sugar cane harvesting and southern distilling history.

The event began simply as the "Raising Cane Festival". It was established as a living-history demonstration centered around rural Florida’s sugar cane industry, which was a vital part of early Florida pioneer survival and trade. Over time, the festival grew into an official regional hub for cane syrup makers, hosting tasting competitions judged by the Southern Syrup-Makers Association on clarity, pour, and flavor.

As the festival expanded, the museum incorporated another major element of Central Florida's history: spirits and distilling heritage. Early pioneer communities in Pasco and Hernando counties were known for illicit moonshining during and after Prohibition. The museum built a dedicated "Moonshine Shed" exhibit to preserve historic stills, artifacts, and local storytelling regarding early Florida bootlegging. To appeal to adult festival-goers and showcase modern craftsmanship, the museum partnered with local craft distilleries to merge sugarcane heritage with legal craft spirits tastings. Today, the rebranded Raising Cane and Moonshine Festival stands as one of the museum's major annual fundraisers.

Watch live demonstrations of sugar cane processing at a fully operational historic cane mill, enter or sample the Southern Syrup-Makers Association syrup tasting competition, and attend presentations on the sugar industry in Florida. You can also tour the museum's dedicated moonshine shed exhibition to learn local lore and history. Adult attendees typically enjoy free craft samples or cocktails provided by local distilleries. Attendees can also see blacksmithing and pioneer craft demonstrations, or tour the historic houses and buildings that are a permanent part of the museum's collection.

Live entertainment is presented at several different venues during the festival. The museum's kitchen is in full swing during the event, serving home-style food and "Cracker Fixins". Food trucks provide additional choices and desserts.
 Activities & Facilities

RestaurantMuseum or Visitor CenterPicnic shelterArts/crafts vendorsLive musicShort hiking trails

• Pioneer Florida Museum & Village website

Note: The dates of annual events and festivals are subject to change from year to year. Before planning your trip, be sure to check the links above for the actual dates, times, and schedule of activities.