2nd Annual Havana Cigar Day gets rolling with history on Saturday

Special to the Tallahassee Democrat
·2 min read
Master cigar roller Luis Gonzalez will be at Havana Cigar Days celebration.
Master cigar roller Luis Gonzalez will be at Havana Cigar Days celebration.

Spend an interesting day exploring the history of tobacco culture in Florida on Saturday, April 2, at the Shade Tobacco Museum, 204 2nd St. NW, in Havana. The Havana History & Heritage Society will host its 2nd annual Cigar Day celebration and all the interesting things that go along with it.

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Events include:

  • Notable guests: Bobby Newman, 3rd generation owner of JC Newman Cigar Company, Jeff Borysiewicz, owner of Corona Cigar Company, and John Oliva, Oliva Cigar Company.

  • Welcome presentation, a brief history of shade tobacco and a talk by Jeff Borysiewicz, President of Corona Cigars, on “the Making of a Fine Cigar – then and now” - 10 a.m.

  • A panel of former growers musing about their involvement in growing shade tobacco - 11 a.m.

  • A presentation from two of the major US cigar producers: JC Newman (Ybor City, Tampa) and Corona (Orlando) – 1 p.m.

  • Short remarks from Havana’s town manager, followed by a panel of shade tobacco workers sharing stories about their experiences working shade tobacco - 2 p.m.

  • A “Long Ash” contest with a box of major brand cigars, signed by the company president, as the prize.

  • A happy hour with all presenters beginning with a special prize drawing for artwork by Dean Mitchell, Bill McKeown, and James Thigpen, and live music by local band “Madison Street” – 3 p.m.

There will be exhibits and demonstrations throughout the day including:

  • Master Cigar Roller Luis Gonzalez demonstrating his trade on the porch.

  • A working tobacco stringing machine demonstration in the Pavilion.

  • Museum tours of the Shade Tobacco Museum and the newly acquired Planters Exchange fertilizer tower.

  • Videos on cigar making and growing in the Museum Exhibit Hall.

Throughout the day cigar aficionados will be available to answer your questions, several drawings will be held for cigars and mugs, designated cigar smoking areas will be available for your enjoyment, two locally owned food trucks (one Cuban) will be on site, the Museum gift shop will be open and, of course, fine cigars will be on sale.

Whether a cigar smoker or not, this will be a great day to learn everything you ever wanted to know about shade tobacco and the cigar industry.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Havana Cigar Day gets rolling with history, heritage on Saturday