Havana celebrates shade tobacco heritage at annual Cigar Days

Erin Hill
Gadsden County News ServiceThis past Saturday, the Havana History & Heritage Society hosted its annual Cigar Days event, celebrating the town’s legacy as the “Shade Tobacco Capital of the World.” Held at the Shade Tobacco Museum in downtown Havana’s historic Planters Exchange Complex, the event drew a large crowd eager to honor the area’s deep agricultural and cultural roots.
The day-long celebration featured a mix of indoor and outdoor activities, including museum tours, food vendors, artisan booths, and cigar lounge areas. Shade tobacco, once a booming industry across Gadsden County — particularly in Havana and Quincy — was grown and harvested here for over a century, with its delicate leaves used to wrap premium cigars. The crop supported countless families and attracted national companies like King Edward, Swisher, and Hava-Tampa until its decline in the mid-1970s.
Visitors were treated to live demonstrations, historical presentations, and conversations with cigar experts. Representatives from major cigar companies — JC Newman of Tampa and Corona Cigars of Clewiston/Orlando — returned this year to share insights into the past, present, and future of cigar making. The crowd also watched Master Cigar Roller Luis Gonzalez skillfully demonstrate the art of rolling cigars by hand.
Throughout the day, presentations reflected on the legacy of tobacco farming families and offered a look ahead at the evolving cigar industry. The event underscored the enduring impact of shade tobacco on the identity and economy of Gadsden County.
Two popular ticketed experiences added to the festivities. The returning “Bourbon & Cigars” event, led by Corona Cigar Company owner Jeff Borysiewicz and JC Newman aficionados, treated participants to a premium cigar and a flight of four bourbons. A new workshop, sponsored by JC Newman, gave guests hands-on experience growing and rolling cigars — with three fine cigars to take home.
The event concluded with a silent auction announcement, while Havana’s local shops and restaurants remained open to welcome attendees. Running from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., this year’s Cigar Days stood out not just as a community gathering, but as a meaningful tribute to a century of heritage that shaped the heart and history of Havana, Florida.