For three days (Feb. 13–15), Mount Dora didn’t just host the 6th Annual Jane Austen Fest; it slipped gracefully into another century.

By midmorning, it felt as though 1812 had politely tapped 2026 on the shoulder and said, “Pardon me.” Dainty lace parasols popped open against the Florida sun. Reticule purses hung from women’s arms, bonnets framed smiling faces and empire-waist dresses floated down the sidewalks.

Margaret Jane Anderson, president of the festival, paused for just a moment to take it all in.

“Seeing everyone all dressed up and enjoying themselves is really special,” she says. 

Inside the city’s community building Friday, a bonnet-making classe filled quickly and outside, lawn bowling matches unfolded on the green before a dulcimer concert later that evening. All weekend long, there were also discussion groups, trivia hunts and a marketplace that was open to the public.

Beyond the fashion and fandom, the festival also welcomed this year’s keynote speaker, Claire Saim, co-author of Jane Austen: A Visual Encyclopedia, who traveled all the way from Paris to share her Austen knowledge.

On Saturday, fragile china clinked during afternoon tea parties and conversation happened between crumpets inside the Donnelly House. By Saturday night, guests in gloves and tailcoats promenaded to a nearby church for the Regency Ball. 

“I’m very thrilled with how everything went, mistakes and all,” Margaret says. “The good thing is no one seemed to notice anything but joy.”

Susan King, a longtime vendor, created a booth that felt like stepping into a literary keepsake box. She had handsewn ornaments, delicate cards, pins and magnets. Her handmade pillows, decorated with vintage buttons, lace and silk-screened images of Jane Austen, her characters and her quotes, drew steady attention. 

Many other vendors had tables filled with everything from jewelry and flowers made out of Jane Austen book pages to period clothing, soaps, mugs and more. 

“This is my favorite event to participate in all year long,” Susan says. “I mean, Jane Austen was an amazing woman. And everything you read about her personally just adds to the aura of this festival.”

Susan says Austen’s stories are all very romantic, even though she didn’t really have a romantic life at all. Even so, she says the romance in her stories is much of what people love. That and the strength of her characters.

“I like that people are so enthused and dressed in period costumes and just to be around this element is a great day,” Susan says.

Susan, who lives in Eustis, says she and her daughter have read Austen’s novels together. Her favorite? Persuasion.

Attendees Tom Donnelly and Lisa McClure Donnelly, (no confirmed relation to Mount Dora’s Donnelly landmarks, though they’ve tried to trace it), embraced the Regency vibe with ease. Though seasoned in Civil War reenactments and living history programs, this was their first Austen Fest.

“We love history and we love dressing up,” Lisa says, explaining that she has read every single Jane Austen book and seen all the movie adaptations. She says she can’t make up her mind which book she likes best, so she called a tie between Pride and Prejudice and Emma.

Lisa also laughed about finding a husband willing to dress up, adding that he probably likes it even more than she does. 

“He’s a unicorn,” she says, pointing to him standing proudly in his Regency coat with tails, perfectly worn boots, top hat and confident smile.

Tom says as soon as they arrived at the festival, he was called many names but he didn’t mind it at all.

“People have been calling me Mr. Bennett and I’ve even gotten a few Mr. Darcy references, too,” he says. 

Lisa also talked clothing rules for women, explaining that while the Victorian Era required seven to eight layers of corsets, petticoats and hoops, the Regency Era was much more comfortable. 

“Women wore high waist, straight line dresses that were very light so they could move easily,” she says. 

That movement matters, especially when it came to lawn bowling. 

In the Regency era, lawn bowling was one of the few physical activities women were permitted to partake in, so long as it wasn’t alongside the men. At the festival, it became a way to step directly into that history; parasols nearby, skirts brushing the grass. In this case, “with men” was allowed.

Randy Woods, part of the local club formed in 1928, says the sport is very social.

“It allowed women to get together and enjoy a little competition,” Randy says. “It’s not very strenuous, but a game takes about two hours, so you’re standing up, walking around and talking to one another.” 

Michelle Hodges, a sixth-grade world history teacher from St. Augustine, brought her daughter Abby and welcomed sisters who flew in from Alabama just for the festival.

“This is such a great opportunity to understand the past and bring that into the present,” Michelle says. “I have enjoyed every moment so far from making our dresses and sewing them together at home, then coming here and seeing everybody else dressed up too.”

“It brings so much camaraderie.”

Like many attendees, Michelle has read all of Austen’s novels. She favors Sense and Sensibility, admiring the steadiness of Elinor Dashwood.

“I like the consistency of Elinor’s character and how she’s constant no matter what. She’s in control of her feelings,” Michelle says.

Beyond the romance and ribboned bonnets, however, the festival continues to carry something far more lasting: opportunity.

Proceeds from the weekend support scholarships for women pursuing studies in history, writing, literature and fashion; a modern echo of Austen’s legacy, and proof that her influence is still shaping futures.

“We went to the UK a couple of years ago and we went to Bath and to the Jane Austen Center,” Michelle says. “We were so happy to learn of this festival in Mount Dora. It’s right up our alley and we will definitely be back again, and even more prepared, next year.” 

Photos by Nicole Hamel and provided.