Spring at Kentucky State Parks

UPDATED April 10

It's Dogwood and Redbud season in Kentucky, and the woods in Kentucky's State Parks are not to be missed.

• Easter Buffet Kentucky State Parks will be serving the annual Easter buffet April 20, and several parks are planning other special events.

• Tree Planting Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site will celebrate Earth Day with a tree-planting event called Natural Environment Day on April 26. The event starts at 9:30 a.m., and volunteers will meet at the park welcome center. Native trees will be planted. An interpretive program about the natural environment of the Mississippian culture and the Woods Walk Trail will be conducted after the tree planting.

• Women on the Frontier Fort Boonesborough State Park will host its “Women on the Frontier” weekend April 26-27. Guests will enjoy a weekend of learning and sharing frontier survival skills and hands-on participation in routine and vital tasks experienced and performed by pioneer women.

• Parks for Derby Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park is offering guests a chance to celebrate the Kentucky Derby at the park with a special Derby Weekend Package May 2-4.

• Wildflower Weekend The Kentucky Native Plant Society’s Wildflower Weekend, April 11-13, 2014, is a chance for botanists, gardeners and nature lovers to enjoy the diversity of native plants at Natural Bridge State Resort Park. Field trips and walks will be offered at 8:30 a.m., 1:30, 4 and 4:30 p.m. on Friday; 8:30 and 9 a.m., 1:30 and 2 p.m. Saturday; and at 9 a.m. on Sunday. All field trips leave from the Hemlock Lodge lobby.

• "Visions of Spring" Exhibit The newest collection of works assembled by an award-winning group of artists, titled “Inspiring Visions of Spring,” will open April 3 at the John James Audubon State Park Museum in Henderson. The works, by “Six Painted Ladies,” showcase paintings executed in oil, acrylic, pastels and watercolors. Visit the John James Audubon Museum for the opening reception, Thursday, April 3, from 5:30-6:45 p.m. The event is free to the public. Exhibit dates are April 3-June 30.

• Camping Discount Kentucky State Parks are offering a weekday camping deal in April and May – pay for one night and get the second night free Sunday through Thursday. To get the discount, campers need to make online reservations at www.parks.ky.gov (look for the “reservations” tab at the top of the page). Use the promotion code “SPRING14.” The offer runs through May 22, 2014.

• Vendors Sought Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park in Gilbertsville is looking for food and arts vendors for its annual Arts and Crafts Festival, May 24-25. This annual Memorial Day weekend show is located at the Old Beach Area and features handcrafted items by artists from Kentucky and neighboring states. The site overlooks Kentucky Lake and its beautiful scenery.