Fall Festivals at Kentucky State Parks

Latest UPDATE Oct. 22

The two-month-long drought may dim fall colors this year, but you still have a wide choice of events at Kentucky State Parks in their best season.

I will update with new events as they are scheduled.

Lake Barkley State Resort Park and Land Between The Lakes (LBL) National Recreation Area are teaming up to present the first in a new seasonal Nature Watch Series. “Pelicans and Prairies” will take place Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 30-31.

Carter Caves State Resort Park will present “Murder With a View” – a whodunit that includes dinner on Nov. 5 and 6. The setting is a bed and breakfast in a rural area. The owners propose their own murder investigation with the help of the staff and guests. Who did it? The manipulative self-help guru? The “innocent” housekeeper? Or was it the owners themselves? Join Fantastical Theatricals for “Murder With a View.”

November is almost here and that means the Kentucky State Park restaurants are preparing for one of the busiest days of the year – Thanksgiving Day. All 17 resort park restaurants will be serving the annual Thanksgiving Day buffet on Nov. 25, 2010, a tradition for the parks and many families across Kentucky.

As the weather cools down for fall and the leaves begin to turn, the Kentucky State Parks announce “Getaway Packages.” These packages are good for weekends or weekdays at 17 resort parks across the state, except for holiday weekends and special events. Commonwealth Package I includes a lodge room for one night, dinner for two, breakfast for two and lunch for two for $149 plus tax. Commonwealth Package II features a lodge room for two nights and a dinner, breakfast and lunch for two people for $209 plus tax.

The “Play er’ Again” Concert Series at General Butler State Resort Park will feature the 23 String Band on Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. The concert, at the Butler-Turpin State Historic House on the park grounds, is free. The 23 String Band, an old-time group that offers a new twist to traditional mountain music, is known for its unique arrangements branded as “Original Hillbilly Music.”

Halloween will soon be here and 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. Click here for a listing of Kentucky State Park Halloween events with dates, times and phone numbers. (Please note that some activities are limited to campground guests.)

Photographers of all abilities are invited to Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park’s annual Fall Photography Weekend Oct. 22-24. This weekend consists of a digital photography contest with point and shoot, intermediate, and masters divisions, evening programs, critique and award ceremony.

Set your GPS system to N 36° 51.907 W 086° 04.141 and head out to Barren River Lake State Resort Park for the 5th Annual Geocaching Weekend Oct. 23-24. Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers outdoors, called geocaches, and then share your experiences online. Geocaching is enjoyed by people from all age groups with a strong sense of community and support for the environment.

Several Kentucky State Parks will be participating in “Second Sunday” on Oct. 10, an event aimed at offering fitness activities to Kentuckians ... “With more than 250 miles of hiking trails across the state, Kentucky State Parks provide an excellent place for outdoor exercise and recreation,” said Parks Commissioner Gerry van der Meer. “The Second Sunday event is a great opportunity for people to start exercising and learn more of the many opportunities and wonders that await you in our state parks.”

General Butler State Resort Park is hosting a “Spirits of Butler Paranormal Weekend” on Oct. 23-24. Join Starr Williams, certified ghost investigator and spokesperson of Psy Tech Radio, and the investigation team RIP for a weekend of ghost hunting at the Butler-Turpin State Historic House and cemetery located at General Butler State Resort Park in Carrollton.

Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park will host the “Tanner Station Rifle Frolic” – a living history event about 18th century history and weapons -- on Nov. 6-7. The frolic will include a shooting competition with flintlocks on both days by re-enactors. There will also be speakers, demonstrations and other examples of pioneer and Native American life from the 18th century that guests can see. The shooting competition will start at 10 a.m. both days. The event is free and open to the public.

Fort Harrod State Park will host the Arts Council of Mercer County’s 2nd Annual Fall Arts Festival on Oct. 9 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Local art groups as well as more than 20 booths of juried arts and craft vendors will be presented. Several children’s activities, a Writers Café featuring local authors, Studio G singing sensations, and live theatrical performances from The Ragged Edge Community Theatre and What a Life! Productions will take place.

Big Bone Lick State Park will be hosting the 25th Annual Salt Festival during the weekend of Oct. 15 - 17 at the park in Boone County. The weekend will feature demonstrations of pioneer and American Indian life, salt making, spear throwing, storytelling, music, crafts and more. Visitors can also see the park's bison herd and visitor's center. Friday is geared for school group field trips, but the festival is open for the general public from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. School groups should pre-register by calling (859)384-3522. Admission will be charged.

Green River Lake State Park will host its Kids Outdoor Day on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010. This fun-filled day will consist of many types of outdoor activities for all children, including fishing, archery, BB gun shooting, nature hikes, trap shooting, boating, game calling and much more. Lunch will be provided for all in attendance. Door prizes will be awarded. All events are free. The activities will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call 270-465-8255 for more information.

Elk viewing tours at three Eastern Kentucky resort parks will once again be offered this fall and winter. Visitors to Jenny Wiley, Buckhorn Lake and Pine Mountain can choose a weekend, stay at a state park lodge or cottage and arise early to enjoy one of these unique tours. Participants should bring their cameras – there should be great photography opportunities. The largest elk herds are located on privately owned lands that are normally closed to the public. This is one of the few opportunities available for the public to see the greatest number of elk.

Rockabilly legend Art Adams and his band will be performing during the Sept. 18 “Play er’ Again” Concert Series at General Butler State Resort Park in Carrollton.

Carter Caves State Resort Park will host “The Johnny Cash Story Dinner Show” with the band “6 Feet High & Rising” the weekend of Sept. 24-25. Enjoy two nights of good food and songs that made Johnny Cash famous. The band dresses the part and produces an electrifying atmosphere as they perform hits such as “Walk the Line,” “Ring of Fire” and “Folsom Prison Blues.” The buffet dinner will start at 7 p.m. and the show will begin at 8 p.m. both nights.

Mountain traditions abound the weekend of Sept. 24-25 during the Great American Dulcimer Convention at Pine Mountain State Resort Park at Pineville. Guests can enjoy the sweet music of Appalachian lap and hammered dulcimers softly chiming in the hands of some of the finest performers in the country.

The Kentucky State Parks will be participating in National Public Lands Day on Sept. 25, 2010, a day set aside to recognize the importance of parks and encourage volunteer work. National Public Lands Day began in 1994 with three federal agencies and 700 volunteers. Last year, some 150,000 volunteers worked in 2,000 locations in every state. The purpose of this day is to keep the promise of the Civilian Conservation Corps alive and to preserve and protect America’s natural heritage. Click here for details on the event at individual parks.

If you are making getaway plans for October, then Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park is ready for you. The state park at Dawson Springs has several special weekends scheduled that range from trail rides to geocaching. Click here for the listing of events.