Winter Trade Days

Relive early Kentucky settler history and find unique holiday gifts at Fort Boonesborough's Winter Trade Days Thanksgiving weekend.

Merchants and traders who appear to have stepped out of an 18th century tableau will be selling wares of the era, providing a unique opportunity to do some early holiday gift shopping.

Fort Boonesborough State Park will stage its Winter Trade Days on Thanksgiving weekend, Saturday Nov. 29, 2008 from 9 am to 5 pm and Sunday Nov. 30, 2008 from 10 am to 4 pm. Dressed in 18th century costumes, merchants and traders will set up shops in the cabins and blockhouses of the fort. All merchandise for sale will consist of items available in the last half of the 18th century.

The 18th century Transylvania Store has re-located to the northwest blockhouse of the fort and includes items handmade at the fort. The Museum Store and Fort Museum will be open as well. There is no admission charge to the fort for this event.
You can find pictures of the 2007 Trade Fair at www.fortboonesboroughlivinghistory.org. Click on "Annual Events" at the top of the page.

Fort Boonesborough is located at 4375 Boonesborough Road, just 5 miles off I-75 at Exit 95, about 10 miles south of Lexington. With its strategic location in central Kentucky, Fort Boonesborough is within easy driving distance from most of the commonwealth. The original fort was built by Daniel Boone and his men in 1775.

For more information, contact Bill Farmer at 859-527-3131 ext. 216 or email ftboone@bellsouth.net.

Cross-posted at BlueGrassRoots.

Southern Living: Kentucky's Cumberland Gap Top Fall Destination

For spectacular foliage, breath-taking views and pioneer heritage, you can't beat the mountains of Eastern Kentucky. And now the South's premier magazine agrees.

The Cumberland Gap area of southeastern Kentucky was named the top fall destination in the southern U.S. by Southern Living magazine in its October 2008 edition.

In addition to brilliant foliage, Cumberland Gap -- one of Kentucky’s highest points -- shelters buildings from a long-gone settlement, along with an unparalleled view, the magazine reports in the featured story about the top three Southern destinations for fall travelers.

For more information, contact Cumberland Gap National Historical Park: U.S. 25E, P.O. Box 1848, Middlesboro, KY 40965; www.nps.gov/cuga or (606) 248-2817.

Southern Living also tapped Greenville, S.C. and Broken Bow, Ok. as the number two and number three fall destinations. The selection of three great autumn journeys is an annual feature in the October issue of Southern Living.

Mr. Lincoln of Kentucky

As the nation prepares to elect a President from Illinois, this is a good time to remember that the last president claimed by that state actually got his start in this state.

Now, during the bicentennial commemoration of his birth, prepare to see Lincoln differently. Beyond the Log Cabin: Kentucky’s Abraham Lincoln, the commonwealth’s signature Lincoln bicentennial exhibition, opens to the public Tuesday, Octoeber 21, at the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History in Frankfort.

The exhibition, which will travel to two additional Kentucky venues in 2009-2010, illuminates Lincoln’s connections with Kentucky, the perspective his Kentucky friends and acquaintances provided his life and actions, and the inspiration his legacy continues to contribute to American ideals.

Through engaging imagery, artifacts, and interactive activities, Beyond the Log Cabin presents the untold story of Lincoln's lifelong engagement with Kentucky and Kentuckians. Taking a broad view of Kentuckians’ perceptions of Lincoln from the assassination to the current bicentennial commemoration, the exhibition explores the complex relationship between Lincoln and his native state, and features unique artifacts gathered from repositories and collections across the nation.

“Museums and historical societies in Kentucky and beyond have been very generous in loaning high-quality artifacts and images for this important exhibition,” said Marilyn Zoidis, assistant director at the Kentucky Historical Society. “Pieces never presented together provide a unique story of Lincoln and Kentucky. They help to make Beyond the Log Cabin a signature exhibition.”

Beyond the Log Cabin: Kentucky’s Abraham Lincoln was designed by Gallagher & Associates, an international design firm acclaimed for its work on exhibitions and museum projects at the Smithsonian Institution, the Library of Congress, and others.

This exhibition will be on display at the Center for Kentucky History through June 6, 2009, and will then travel to the Speed Art Museum in Louisville for exhibition June 28, 2009 through September 6, 2009. It will open at the Highlands Museum & Discovery Center in Ashland on October 2, 2009 and remain on display there until February 19, 2010.

“We hope that Kentuckians will take advantage of these upcoming opportunities to experience the Beyond the Log Cabin: Kentucky’s Abraham Lincoln exhibition and to learn more about Lincoln’s Kentucky connections during this bicentennial commemoration of his birth,” said Kent Whitworth, executive director of the Kentucky Historical Society.

Beyond the Log Cabin was made possible by generous support from the James Graham Brown Foundation, the Kentucky Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, and the Kentucky Historical Society Foundation.

During October, the exhibit will also be on display in various state office buildings in Frankfort.

Cross-posted at BlueGrassRoots.

More Fall Festivals: Farm Edition

The drought is probably going to reduce Kentucky's usual fall color in October from spectacular to merely fabulous, but that's no reason to miss the many outdoor events held across the state.

Kentucky's Department of Agriculture is promoting Kentucky's farms this fall - and that means much more than pick-your-own pumpkins.

Kentuckians looking for some outdoor fun can take a trip to Oz, step into the past, test their skills in a corn maze, pick out a pumpkin and much more at farm destinations throughout the Commonwealth in October.

“Kentucky farms are fun, never more than in October,” Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer said. “I encourage all Kentuckians to get out and enjoy the festivities, the mild temperatures, the great Kentucky Proud food and the fall foliage at the peak of its beauty.”

Fall festivals are also at their peak across Kentucky during October. Examples include:

· Lee’s Garden Center in LaRue County will celebrate its fifth anniversary by transforming into the Land of Oz for the entire month of October. Experience Dorothy, the Wizard, Scarecrow Mountain, a storm machine and Wizard’s Theater. Animals include donkeys, cows, goats and sheep. Visit www.leesgardencenter.com/wizard.htm.

· Reed Valley Orchard’s Country Festival and Back Forty Nature Walk is Oct. 4 in Paris. Pick apples and pears, walk a nature trail and an old stagecoach road, and visit the former campsite of notorious outlaws Frank and Jesse James. Enjoy oven-fried pies, fruit slushies and ice cream made with fruits from the farm, crafts and food booths, and entertainment by local musicians. Visit www.reedvalleyorchard.com/CountryFestival.htm.

· Beech Springs Farm’s Scarecrow Festival is Oct. 4 in Winchester. There will be traditional scarecrows, whimsical scarecrows and celebrity scarecrows, all of which will be auctioned off at 3 p.m. Enjoy music, food, face painting and pumpkin decorating. Visit www.tourwinchester.com/festivals.html#scarecrow.

· Magee’s Bakery’s Transparent Pie Day is Oct. 4 in Maysville. Participate in a pie-eating contest, watch baking demonstrations, view one of the oldest working farm buildings in Kentucky and go on a horse-drawn wagon or hay ride. Visit www.mageesbakeryfarm.com.

· Boyd Orchard near Versailles will host festivals every weekend in October and a Harvest Festival Nov. 1-2. Boyd Orchard offers a full restaurant, gift shop, large playground, hay rides, animal display center, corn maze and pony rides. Visit www.boydorchards.com.

· “R” Farm Pumpkins and More’s 10th Annual Pumpkinfest is Oct. 4-5. The Maysville attraction will host a haunted corn maze Oct. 24-25. The 130-acre working farm features horse-drawn wagon rides, a corn maze, live entertainment, craft vendors, live demonstrations and pumpkins you can pick. Visit www.r-farm.com.

· Benton Farms’ Pumpkin Days are weekends Oct. 4-26 in Walton. Visit www.kyagr.com/bentonfarms.htm.

· Jackson’s Orchard’s Fall Festival is weekends Oct. 4-26 in Bowling Green. Visit www.jacksonsorchard.com.

· Bramble Ridge Orchard’s Copper Kettle Apple Butter Festival is Oct. 11 in Mount Sterling. Activities include Kentucky's largest apple slingshot, wagon rides, an observation beehive and a rope maze. Visit www.brambleridgeorchard.com.

· Hinton’s Orchard and Farm Market’s PumpkinFest is weekends beginning Oct. 11-12 in Hodgenville. Visit www.hintonsorchard.com.

· Shaker Museum at South Union’s Farm Day is Oct. 18. Interact with living history demonstrations and activities of Shaker farm chores. Admission is $7 for adults and $2 for children. Visit www.shakermuseum.com.

· The Christian Way Farm Harvest Praise concert is Oct. 18 near Hopkinsville. Cost is $5 per person and free for children under 2 years old. Visit www.christianwayfarm.com.

· Go to Whispering Woods Farm near Georgetown on Oct. 24-25 and take the Twisted Trail of Terror and the ghostly hay ride – if you dare. Visit www.whisperingwoodstrails.com.

To find out more about Kentucky agritourism and fall farm fun activities, go to www.kentuckyfarmsarefun.com.

Cross-posted at BlueGrassRoots.

Spooky Season: Halloween Fun at Kentucky State Parks

Twenty-three Kentucky State Parks are hosting Halloween activities throughout October.

Halloween will soon be upon us and the Kentucky State Parks have plenty of activities – some scary and some not -- planned for families.

They include costume contests, haunted trails, hayrides, storytelling, games, campground decorating and more.

View the complete listing of state park Halloween events with dates, times and phone numbers here and get details about parks and make lodging or camping reservations here.

Cross-posted at BlueGrassRoots.

Kentucky's Fall Festivals

Looking for some weekend distraction from politics between now and the election? Kentucky's fall festivals offer a wide variety of opportunities.

Check out the schedule and description of events.

Music, food, antiques, art, crafts, trains, special cars, hot-air balloons, living history. From Mayfield in the far west to Morehead in the east, Covington in the north and Burkesville and Bowling Green in the south, your only problem is going to be making choices.