Kentucky Artisan Heritage Trails

Kentucky Arts Council offers marketing programs for Kentucky artists

2012-01-30T07:00:00.000-05:00

By: Ed Lawrence
Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet

The Kentucky Arts Council is accepting applications until March15, 2012, from professional artists who wish to be included in thePerforming Arts Directory, Architectural Artists Directory orKentucky Crafted Program. These state-sponsored marketing programshelp performing and visual artists promote their work and buildtheir careers.

"These programs have been very successful in giving artists a boostin their bookings, commissions and sales," said Lori Meadows,executive director of the arts council. "When artists can make ameaningful contribution to Kentucky's economy, that's a good thingfor the whole Commonwealth."

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“First Saturday of the Month Hike” Planned Feb. 4 at Cumberland Falls

2012-01-27T07:00:00.000-05:00

by: Steve Gilbert

KAHT Archive

Department of Parks

CORBIN, Ky. – Cumberland Falls State Resort Park is hosting a “First Saturday of the Month Hike” starting Feb. 4.

The 10 a.m. trek will be a guided, interpretive hike on the Blue Bend Trail, a 4.5-mile loop. The first 3 miles of trail follow the Cumberland River along a hemlock grove and then ascend the hill leading to a “surprise” at the top.

Participants should bring a lunch and drinking water and should dress appropriately for the weather. This event is free. Participants should meet in the Great Room of Dupont Lodge at 10 a.m.

Cumberland Falls State Resort Park has a lodge, Riverview Restaurant, cottages, campground, hiking trails, fishing, horseback riding, rafting, other recreational activities and a great view of Cumberland Falls. Call the park at 1-800-325-0063 for information.

"There's Only One Kentucky" Marketing Campaign Kicks Off

2012-01-26T07:00:00.000-05:00

by: Bob Adams
Department of Travel and Tourism

FRANKFORT, Ky. – It started not with a stroke of a pen, but with the stamping of a hoof.
The 2012 marketing campaign aimed at attracting visitors and tourism dollars to Kentucky ceremonially started today when 2003 Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide “Hoof-o-graphed” the newest version of the Official Kentucky Visitors Guide. The campaign being conducted by the Kentucky Department of Travel and Tourism is called “There’s Only One,” and focuses on the one-of-a-kind attractions and travel opportunities that exist only in Kentucky.

“There are many reasons that the successful promotion of tourism, and therefore that this campaign, is important to our state,” said Marcheta Sparrow, secretary of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet. “Tourism’s economic impact in Kentucky is $11.3 billion and supports some 170,000 Kentucky jobs. That is the bottom-line reason that we invest time, energy and resources in promoting Kentucky tourism.”
“The foundation of ‘There’s Only One’ is very simple and at the same time, extremely compelling,” said Commissioner Mike Cooper of the Kentucky Department of Travel and Tourism. “Travelers are seeking memorable and authentic experiences that exist in only one place. Kentucky is blessed with many of those and they form the basis for our ‘There’s Only One’ campaign.”

The campaign kickoff took place at the Kentucky Horse Park, where Derby and Preakness winner Funny Cide resides. Also in attendance was Jack Knowlton, managing partner of Sackatoga Stable, Funny Cide’s owners, as well as John Nicholson, executive director of the Kentucky Horse Park.

The campaign will roll out during the course of the year on radio, TV, print and Web-based advertising. It also is being incorporated into all facets of the Department of Travel and Tourism, including the Official Visitors Guide, website, e-newsletters, social media, welcome centers and other communications efforts. Local tourism organizations throughout Kentucky are being encouraged to adopt the “There’s Only One” theme as well.

So far, 31 Kentucky attractions have been designated “There’s Only One,” with others to follow. A listing of those, as well as samples of the TV, radio and, print materials can be found by going to KentuckyTourism.com and clicking on the “There’s Only One” icon.

The 2012 Official Visitors Guide can be picked up at all welcome centers in the state, as well as local tourism offices, and can be viewed online at kentuckytourism.com.

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The Kentucky Department of Travel and Tourism is an agency within the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, which promotes the Commonwealth as a travel destination. Tourism in Kentucky has an economic impact of $11.3 billion, supports about 170,000 jobs and generates $1.2 billion in taxes.

Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park Offers Landscape Oil Painting Weekend

2012-01-25T07:00:00.000-05:00

by: Rebecca Clark

Department of Parks

DAWSON SPRINGS, Ky. – Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park will offer its Landscape Oil Painting Weekend Feb. 24-26.

If you've always wanted to learn how to paint, this is the weekend event for you!

Learn the wet-on-wet method of oil painting by creating your very own 16x20 landscape painting. The fees are as follows: $65 for one painting class (Saturday or Sunday) or $120 for two painting classes (Saturday and Sunday) and the Friday night program. There is a maximum of 15 participants per class, so sign up early. The classes will be taught by Bonita Mallory, of Eddyville.

For more information, call Rebecca Clark at 1-800-325-1711 or 270-797-3421.

Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park has a lodge, cottages, restaurant and hiking trails. The resort is 20 miles northwest of Hopkinsville on KY 109 N. From the Western Kentucky Parkway, exit at Dawson Springs and take KY 109 south.

Buffalo Night and Tour of America Food Series at Barren River

2012-01-24T07:00:00.000-05:00

by: Jamie Avery

Department of Parks

LUCAS, Ky. – If the cold winter weather really makes you hungry, visit the Driftwood Restaurant at Barren River Lake State Resort Park to satisfy your appetite with some comfort food.

Travel back in time with a taste of the past during Buffalo Night on Feb. 4. Enjoy a variety of buffalo dishes prepared by the park’s chef.

Take a culinary “tour of America” without ever leaving Kentucky. Visit the park on the following dates to let your taste buds experience some of our great American cultures: Miami Cuban cuisine – Feb. 2; New Orleans Creole and Cajun foods – Feb. 16; American Indian foods from across the Plains - March 1; and traditional American foods of Boston - March 22.

The park is surrounded by rolling, tree-covered hills, on the edge of a beautiful 10,000-acre lake. It has 51 lodge rooms, 22 cottages, and 99 campsites for you to stay at the park. Enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of an upscale fish camp in the Driftwood Restaurant. If you are looking for something to do during your visit, you can play on the 18-hole golf course, hike along a nature trail, visit the marina to rent a boat, check out a fishing pole or sports equipment, browse the gift shop, or just enjoy a peaceful seat overlooking the lake.

The resort is 44 miles southeast of Bowling Green. Take I-65 to the Cumberland Parkway east, to US 31E south. Call 1-800-325-0057 for information.

Valentine’s Day Packages, Dinners Available at Kentucky State Parks

2012-01-23T07:00:00.000-05:00

By: Gil Lawson

Department of Parks

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Looking for that perfect place to celebrate Valentine’s Day? Consider a Kentucky State Park. Resort parks are offering special events and packages in February to help celebrate Valentine’s Day.

State parks provide a great place for a getaway weekend along with excellent food, entertainment, natural beauty and scenery. Listed below are the parks with Valentine’s packages and programs, and the park phone number. For more information about each park, as well as other state park events, visit www.parks.ky.gov

Here is a listing of special events:

Barren River Lake State Resort Park, Lucas

Honeymooners’ Weekend Feb. 10-12

Honeymooners’ weekend is a tradition at Barren River, so bring your sweetheart for a weekend of fun and romance. Friday night, become part of an interactive murder mystery and help solve the “crime.” Whoever solves it wins a free night’s lodging at Barren River Lake State Resort Park. It will be “An Evening To Die For!” On Saturday, hold your special someone close and dance to the music provided by DJ Cindy Cossey. Or, participate in couples activities including the “Not So Newlywed Game.” Enjoy all this for a two-night lodging package at $279.95 plus tax per couple (includes lodge room, dinners, breakfasts, mystery theater tickets and dance tickets for two). Ask about our one-night lodge room, two-night cottage, and dinner and show packages. For more information, contact Jamie Avery at 1-800-325-0057 or jamie.avery@ky.gov

Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park, Mount Olivet

Valentine Dinner Theater Feb. 11

This year’s performance will be a return of Fantastical Theatricals for a cabaret performance featuring a selection of love songs to warm the heart. The dinner theater will be one night only, Feb. 11, with seating starting at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $34.95 plus tax per person for dinner and entertainment. Packages are available for $129 plus tax that include an overnight stay in the lodge room of your choice, two dinner theater tickets and breakfast for two the following morning. Call 800-443-7008 for reservations.

Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park, Buckhorn

Sweetheart’s Weekend Feb. 10-12

Enjoy the tranquil setting and mountain vista with a special discounted room rate of $50 per couple on each night. There will be a special buffet Feb. 12 from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., offering entrees of rib-eye steaks, fried catfish, fried chicken, herb roasted pork lion, mixed medley vegetables, green beans, corn, baked potatoes, garden vegetables, and various desserts. Adults are $13.99 (plus beverage, tax and gratuity). Call 1-800-325-0058.

Carter Caves State Resort Park, Olive Hill

Valentines Dinner Theater Feb. 10-11

Spend a romantic evening in the natural beauty of the Eastern Kentucky foothills. Romance that special someone in your life with dinner followed by special performance by the duet Heath Eric & Molly G. Heath and Molly present a high-energy, passionate show filled with authentic originals and unique twists on cover songs. For more info on the performers, check out their website at www.heatheric.com Show times are Friday and Saturday evening at 6:45 p.m. Admission fee of $29.95 plus tax per person includes dinner and show. The park is also offering a package that includes the dinner, show and an overnight stay in Lewis Caveland Lodge for just $120.95 plus tax for two people. Call 1-800-325-0059.

Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, Corbin

Valentine Getaway Weekend Feb. 10-12

Cumberland Falls has been considered one of Kentucky’s most romantic attractions for decades. Your weekend begins with a dance and DJ on Friday evening, with music provided by Radioactive Sounds. Saturday evening features a mystery dinner theater where you will help figure out “who done it?” The weekend package is $299 plus tax per couple, which includes two night’s lodging, Friday evening dance and dinner and show on Saturday. Single person price is $239. Call 1-800-325-0063.

General Butler State Resort Park, Carrollton

Perfect Harmony Dinner Theater Feb. 11

General Butler State Resort Park presents “Blues Brothers Tribute Act: The Soul Men.” From their knuckle tattoos to their signature hats and sunglasses, the Soul Men impersonate Jake and Elwood to perfection. The Soul Men’s performance is a fast-paced, high energy, audience participating routine that includes all of your favorite Blue Brothers’ songs and gets the audience moving and dancing. The Butler Lodge package for $165.95 plus tax per couple includes one night’s lodging on Feb. 11, Saturday dinner theater and a Sunday breakfast buffet. Individual tickets for the dinner show are $35 plus tax and are on sale through noon Feb. 11. Call 1-866-462-8853.

Greenbo Lake State Resort Park, Greenup

Valentine Getaway Package Feb. 11-12

Treat that special someone to a Valentine Getaway Package as Greenbo Lake State Resort Park and the Paramount Arts Center present an evening of dinner theater with a comedy production of “The Kentucky Marriage Proposal.” One night’s lodging, dinner and show for two is $130 plus tax; dinner and show only is $28 per person plus tax, tip and drink or $56 for two plus tax, tip and drink. The Sweetheart Buffet is $17.95 per person plus tax, tip and drink. A ticket for the show only is $10. Call 1-800-325-0083.

Jenny Wiley State Resort Park, Prestonsburg

Valentine’s Day Getaway Feb. 14

Enjoy an evening of romantic music while enjoying your candlelight dinner at the Music Highway Grill with Jody Conley. As a professional musician for over 20 years, he played with local groups, Full House Band, Breakaway, was a founding member of the Kentucky Opry, and was a member of Exile. Serving time is 4-8 p.m. Cost is $25 per couple, plus tax and drink. Lodging package available for $100 plus tax per couple, which includes a lodge room, dinner and entertainment. Call 1-800-325-0142.

Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park, Gilbertsville

Couples Month in February

For $125, receive a one-night stay in Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park’s comfortable lodge, with dinner and breakfast. Upon arrival, you will be greeted in your room with a special gift, which includes a bottle of sparkling cider. Dinner at Harbor Lights Restaurant includes a choice of special entree and desert from our Couples’ Menu. The next morning, enjoy a leisurely breakfast for two again at Harbor Lights with a later check-out time. This package is based on availability thru Feb. 29. Call 1-800-325-0146.

Lake Barkley State Resort Park, Cadiz

Sweetheart Weekend Feb. 10-11

Come celebrate Valentine’s Day at Lake Barkley State Resort Park with your sweetheart. On Friday night and Saturday afternoon, enjoy planned recreation activities, and on Saturday night enjoy dinner and the annual Sweetheart Dance with live music, sweet treats and cash bar. Two-night packages are $215 per couple and include Friday and Saturday night lodging in a lake view room, activities, Saturday dinner buffet, Sweetheart Dance and Sunday breakfast. One-night packages are $165 per couple and include lodge room Saturday night, activities, dinner, dance and breakfast. Call 1-800-325-1708 for reservations or additional information.

Lake Cumberland State Resort Park, Jamestown

Sweetie Pie Valentine Dinner Feb. 14

Show your love for your sweetheart with a special romantic dinner at Lake Cumberland State Resort Park. Sit by a window of the park’s beautiful dining room overlooking Lake Cumberland while enjoying your choice of several special entrees such as beef filet mignon, grilled chicken with cherries jubilee sauce, port-roasted pork tenderloin with apple chutney, or coconut-dusted jumbo shrimp. You’re bound to impress the one you love! Reservations are suggested but not required. Call 1-800-325-1709.

Natural Bridge State Resort Park, Slade

Valentine’s Square Dance Feb. 11

Bring your sweetheart out to Natural Bridge for some easy-to-learn Appalachian square dancing, clogging, line dancing, two-stepping, polkas, waltzes, and many other couples and individual dances. The warm-up begins at 6:30 p.m., and the official start time is 7:30 p.m. The dance will be held in the Woodland Center and typically lasts until 10 p.m. Admission is $3 per adult, and children under 12 are free. Contact Brian Gasdorf at brian.gasdorf@ky.gov or (606) 663-2214 for more information.

Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park, Dawson Springs

Sweetheart Month during February

February is sweetheart month! Come stay at Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park – lodge rooms are $44.95 per night during February. On Friday and Saturday night, stay in a lodge room and add a dinner for $80 a couple. If a cottage is more your style, get a one bedroom cottage for $74.95, or a two bedroom cottage for $84.95. The price for a one bedroom cottage and dinner for two is $105. Call 1-800-325-1711.

Pine Mountain State Resort Park, Pineville

Sweethearts Dinner and Dance Feb. 11

Enjoy a dinner and dance whether you’re in a new romance, newlyweds or longtime sweethearts. Celebrate your relationship at this event featuring a night of dancing, with a live music duo and a special sweetheart’s dinner. The park’s $110 (plus tax) package for two includes sweetheart’s dinner, dance admission, and one night’s accommodations. Dinner and dance only tickets are available for $70 plus tax. For information, call 1-800-325-1712.

Pine Mountain State Resort Park, Pineville

That’s Amore Dinner Feb. 14

A romantic, Italian-themed dinner to celebrate your sweetheart on Valentine’s Day will be featured on Tuesday, Feb. 14, from 5-9 p.m. The special evening of fine dining featuring authentic Italian cuisine will include lasagna, spaghetti, and a saute station where the park’s chef will prepare shrimp, chicken, and vegetables to your personal preference. Rounding out the evening’s special menu will be a variety of pastas and sauces, Italian-style vegetables, rolls, garlic bread, various pasta salads on the bar, and an assortment of all-time favorite desserts. The cost is $30 plus tax per couple. For more information, call 606-337-3066 or 800-325-1712.

Rough River Dam State Resort Park, Falls of Rough

Sweetheart Weekend Feb. 17-19

Bring your special someone to Rough River Dam State Resort Park for a romantic weekend getaway! Festivities begin on Friday evening with professional ballroom dance lessons, and Saturday is filled with activities and games including the “Not-So-Newlywed Game.” A romantic prime rib dinner buffet and Sweetheart Dance highlight the night. Overnight package starts at $250 plus tax per couple and includes two nights' accommodations, Saturday breakfast, activities, prime rib dinner buffet and dance and Sunday breakfast. Dinner and dance only packages are also available for $85 plus tax per couple and include prime rib dinner buffet and dance on Saturday. Call 1-800-325-1713.

Kentucky Arts Council presents Arts Day in Kentucky Feb. 2

2012-01-20T07:00:00.000-05:00

By: Ed Lawrence
Arts Council

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Arts leaders, artists and supporters of the arts from across the Commonwealth will come to Frankfort for a full day of activities to celebrate the arts and thank legislators for their support.

The day will begin with leaders from Kentucky Arts Partnership organizations having their photos taken with their legislators to acknowledge the value of public support for the arts. Other activities include recognition of the 2011 recipients of the Governor’s Awards in the Arts, a tour of the “Kentucky Visions at the Capitol” exhibit, and special sessions for artists, arts leaders and arts education directors. The Governor’s Mansion will also be open to the public from 9 - 11 a.m., where visitors can view the exhibit “Commissioned to Create: Works by Artists who Created the Governor’s Awards (1993-2011).”

The Arts Day in Kentucky celebration will culminate with a reception from 5 - 7 p.m. at Berry Hill Mansion, 700 Louisville Road, Frankfort, Ky., which is free and open to the public. Special guests include Kentucky Poet Laureate Maureen Morehead, Governor’s Awards in the Arts recipients and Al Smith Fellowship Award recipients.

For a detailed schedule of events, go to http://1.usa.gov/KyArtsDay2012.

The Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, creates opportunities for Kentuckians to value, participate in and benefit from the arts. Kentucky Arts Council funding is provided by the Kentucky General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Rough River Dam State Resort Park Plans Special Monthly Meals

2012-01-19T12:00:00.000-05:00

by: Geoff Roberts

Department of Parks

FALLS OF ROUGH, Ky. – Rough River Dam State Resort Park is preparing some good food for hungry guests in January and February.

The state park near Leitchfield will host some monthly specials for prime rib and seafood lovers, as well as a Mardi Gras buffet on Feb. 21.

Here are the details:

Prime Rib Dinner Buffet

Begins Jan. 21, continuing on the third Saturday of each month served 4:30-8 p.m. The buffet will feature carved prime rib au jus, Southern fried catfish and hushpuppies, Southern fried chicken, chef's choice entree and chef's selection of country vegetables. It will also include soup, salad and dessert bars. The price for adults is $17.95 plus tax, children (6-12) $7.95 plus tax, and children 5 and under eat free.

Seafood Night

Begins Feb. 3, continuing on the first Friday of each month from 4:30-8 p.m. The dinner features regional favorites such as catfish fiddlers, peel-and-eat shrimp, Southern catfish, seafood chowders, baked fish, clams, seafood pastas, seafood salads and frog legs. The dinner also includes endless soup, salad and dessert bars. Alaskan crab legs will be available at market price plus tax. Price is $17.95 plus tax, children (6-12) $7.95 plus tax and children 5 & under eat free.

Mardi Gras Buffet

Feb. 21, 4:30-8 p.m.

Featuring French Quarter chicken, steamed shrimp, seafood jambalaya, Cajun baked fish, chicken and sausage gumbo, Southern fried catfish, pork ribs, dirty rice, okra, red beans, and cob corn. Served with endless soup, salad and dessert bar. Price is $12.99 plus tax, children (6-12) $6.99 and children 5 & under eat free.

Rough River Dam State Resort Park has a lodge, cottages, campground, Grayson’s Landing Restaurant, fishing, boating, mini-golf and gift shop. For more information about Rough River and other state parks, visit www.parks.ky.gov. Call the park at 1-800-325-1713.

From 1 to 1 million – fun facts about Kentucky Crafted:The Market

2012-01-17T12:00:00.000-05:00

By: Ed Lawrence
Arts Council

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky Crafted: The Market, the award-winning arts marketplace that had its debut in 1982 at the Kentucky Horse Park, returns to Lexington at the Lexington Convention Center after a long run in Louisville at the Kentucky Exposition Center.

From 1 to 1 million, here are some fun facts about The Market.

1 – Kentucky Crafted: The Market has been rated the No. 1 Fair and Festival in the nation three times by the readers of AmericanStyle, the preeminent magazine for collectors of contemporary craft.

2 – Two billboards have been unveiled in Lexington to invite all Kentuckians to The Market. Do you know where they are?

3 and 4 – Mark your calendars for March 3 and 4 to experience Kentucky Crafted: The Market at the Lexington Convention Center.

6 – Artisans from six states beyond Kentucky will be guest exhibitors at The Market. Look for artists representing Best of Missouri Hands, Georgia Made Georgia Grown, Indiana Artisan, Ohio Designer Craftsmen and the Southern Highland Craft Guild.

8 or 10 – Admission is $8 if you buy your tickets online at http://1.usa.gov/Market2012, or $10 at the door.

14 – Have fun participating in one or more of the 14 workshops and hands-on activities offered throughout the days of The Market. Get involved in a wide spectrum of arts including gospel singing, creative writing, storytelling, songwriting, Japanese fabric dyeing, weaving, drumming and dance.

15 – The Kentucky Stage will feature 15 live musical performances by the talented artists of the Kentucky Arts Council’s Performing Arts Directory. Hear Americana, Celtic, jazz, gospel, world and roots-rock music, including original tunes by some of Kentucky’s best singer/songwriters.

20 – In 2011, The Southeast Tourism Society has named Kentucky Crafted: The Market a Top 20 Event in the southeastern United States.

30 – Expect a celebration. This is Kentucky Crafted: The Market’s 30th birthday!

36 – The 36-page official program lists everything you want to know about Kentucky Crafted: The Market and is now available online at http://1.usa.gov/Market2012.

181 – Visit the booths of 181 exhibitors at Kentucky Crafted: The Market – where tradition meets cutting edge – and shop for paintings, prints, jewelry, wearable art, home decor, furniture and artisan foods along with Kentucky-related books, CDs and DVDs.

10,000 – There are 10,000 parking spaces within easy walking distance of the Lexington Convention Center in downtown Lexington.

1,000,000 – This state-sponsored wholesale/retail arts show produced by the Kentucky Arts Council generates more than $1 million annually in economic impact for the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

The Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, creates opportunities for Kentuckians to value, participate in and benefit from the arts. Kentucky Arts Council funding is provided by the Kentucky General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts.

1st Annual Crazy Hearts Arts & Crafts Fair!

2012-01-13T12:00:00.000-05:00

by: Jane Artisan
KAHT

Photo: Clip Art

Mystical Heritage will host the first ever Crazy Hearts Arts & Crafts Fair at the Ravenna National Guard Armory on February 11th from 10am-6pm. Ravenna is located on the Battlefield Trail.

Vendor space is still available and all items must be hand-made. A 10X10 space without electric is $20 and with electric is $40.

Whether you are looking to sell your hand-made crafts or purchase a one of a kind Valentine's day gift for that special someone the Crazy Hearts Arts& Crafts Fair is the place to visit.

Refreshments will be served by Kentucky Army National Guard family members. So come out an support your community and buy your sweetheart a special gift for Valentine's Day!

For more information contact Michael or Sondra Stallings at 606-643-5774 or 606-643-5013.

“The Makings of a Master: Kentucky Folk Art Apprenticeships” on Display at Kentucky Artisan Center

2012-01-12T09:34:00.002-05:00

KAHT Archive

by: Gwen Heffner
Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea

An exciting new exhibition titled “The Makings of a Master: Kentucky Folk Art Apprenticeships” is on display through Feb. 26 in the lobby of the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea. This exhibition was developed by the Kentucky Folklife Program, an interagency program of the Kentucky Arts Council and the Kentucky Historical Society.

Kentucky is rich in cultural traditions and has a wealth of master musicians, dancers, craftspeople and other artists who create and teach within their communities. These art forms and masters have been documented over the years by the Kentucky Folklife Program and are now showcased in the exhibition “The Makings of a Master: Kentucky Folk Art Apprenticeships.”

This exhibition captures stories, artifacts and visuals that enable visitors to learn about the many traditions carried on in Kentucky including old-time string music, storytelling, Chinese dancing, square dance calling, basket making and thumb-picking guitar styles. Exploring the relationships between masters and apprentices, this exhibit showcases selections from the more than 60 apprenticeships documented by the Kentucky Folklife Program between 1993 and 2011.

The Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea is located at 200 Artisan Way, just off Interstate 75 at Berea exit 77. The center’s exhibits, shopping and travel information areas are open winter hours daily from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. with the cafe open from 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Admission is free. The center currently features works by more than 650 artisans from 100 counties across the Commonwealth. For more information call 859-985-5448 or visit the center’s website at www.kentuckyartisancenter.ky.gov.

The Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea is an agency in the Kentucky Tourism, Arts & Heritage Cabinet of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Dream Out Loud contest to begin

2012-01-11T09:02:00.000-05:00

By: Tim Ballard

Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority

FRANKFORT, Ky.-- Kentucky students in grades K-6 have a chance to win $1,500 toward college and $500 for their school in the “Dream Out Loud Challenge.” Students are invited to submit an original drawing, poem, essay or video answering the question: “How will I change the world after I go to college?”

The challenge, sponsored by the Kentucky Education Savings Plan Trust (KESPT), is intended to remind families that it is never too early to start saving and planning for higher education. Nine winning entries will be selected by a panel of judges. One winner will be chosen from each of three submission categories — drawing, video and essay or poem — in grades K-2, grades 3-4 and grades 5-6. The winning students will receive a $1,500 KESPT college savings account, and their schools will win $500. The contest runs from Jan. 16 through March 16, 2012. Entries must be postmarked by March 16 and received by March 23.

“This is the third year that we have sponsored the Dream Out Loud Challenge, and each year the response from Kentucky students has been terrific,” said David Lawhorn, KESPT administrator. “The challenge provides a way to encourage children in Kentucky to dream about their future and also start the discussion of attending college at a young age — which is very beneficial for our entire state.”

KESPT is Kentucky’s official college savings plan and is administered by the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority and managed by TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing. The plan helps parents, grandparents and others invest in a child’s future college education.

Visit www.kysaves.com to learn more about the challenge, including official rules and a complete description of entry requirements. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited.

To learn how to plan and prepare for higher education, go to www.gotocollege.ky.gov. For more information about Kentucky scholarships and grants, visit www.kheaa.com; write KHEAA, P.O. Box 798, Frankfort, KY 40602; or call (800) 928-8926, ext. 6-7372.

Fireside Chats Planned At Fort Boonesborough in February

2012-01-10T10:39:00.004-05:00

by: Todd Melton

Department of Parks

RICHMOND, Ky. – Fort Boonesborough State Park and the Fort Boonesborough Foundation will be holding a series of “Fireside Chats” with famous characters from Kentucky history each Saturday evening in February.

The programs will feature Daniel Boone (played by Scott New) on Feb. 4; a frontier musician portrayed by E.L. Kurtz on Feb. 11; Simon Kenton (played by Mel Hankla) on Feb. 18; and Jenny Wiley (played by Octavia Sexton) on Feb. 25. The Boone and Kenton programs are presentations by the Kentucky Humanities Council.

There will be a “Taste of Frontier Fare” from 5:30 - 6:15 p.m. The program begins at 6:45 p.m. at the block house. Tickets are $15 for adults or $25 for a couple. Children 12 and under are $5 each. Reservations are required due to limited seating. The 18^th Century tavern blockhouse will also be open prior to the chats, until around 6:30. If you would like to browse the tavern, please make time to come a few minutes early.
For reservations or information, call 859-527-3131, Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. or email Bill Farmer at ftboone@bellsouth.net.

All proceeds benefit the Fort Boonesborough Foundation. Fort Boonesborough is located near Richmond. From I-75, take exit 95 to KY 627. From I-64, take exit 94 to KY 627.

More information is available at the foundation’s website at: http://www.fortboonesboroughlivinghistory.org/

Kentucky Museums Boast Unique Collections

2012-01-09T09:02:00.001-05:00

Bob Adams

Department of Travel and Tourism

Six museums have made the initial list of 31 unique attractions featured in the Kentucky Department of Travel and Tourism’s “There’s Only One” marketing campaign.

The department will be promoting these museums throughout 2012 and beyond. Now’s the time to make an excursion to experience these fascinating collections of Americana that are found only in Kentucky.

Cool winter months offer the perfect opportunity to explore the one-of-a-kind indoor displays at the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, International Bluegrass Music Museum in Owensboro, National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green and the Muhammad Ali Center, Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory and Kentucky Derby Museum in Louisville.

The Muhammad Ali Center features the boxing champion’s extensive memorabilia, along with exhibits designed to inspire visitors to achieve their own fullest potential. At the National Corvette Museum, you’ll find a comprehensive collection of the sleek sports cars ranging from the first models of the early 1950s to the latest versions.

The IBMM includes the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Hall of Fame; a gallery devoted to Bill Monroe, father of bluegrass; a timeline of bluegrass music, and a collection of instruments used by the genre’s stalwarts.

The National Quilt Museum showcases about 12 changing exhibits throughout the year, with up to 150 quilts in traditional to contemporary styles displayed in three galleries. At the Slugger Museum, visitors learn the story of the family company that has been crafting the official bat of Major League Baseball for over a century. Hands-on exhibits, statues of MLB immortals and a tour of the factory round out the experience.
At the Kentucky Derby Museum, mount a simulated horse and race friends to the finish line, watch a 360-degree film of the most recent Derby and try your hand at calling a race.
Catch special presentations like the Corvette Museum’s “It’s a Nano World,” a child-oriented exhibit that focuses on the world that’s too small to be seen with just your eyes. It’s on view from mid-January to mid-April.

At the Ali Center, “IndiVisible: A Smithsonian Exhibit” will be on display from mid-January to mid-March. This exhibition explores the lives and experiences of people who share African-American and Native American ancestry.

There’s only one Kentucky, and these museums provide a starting place for discovering it.

Kentucky Arts Council offers apprenticeship program to encourage continuation of folk traditions

2012-01-09T07:00:00.000-05:00

FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Kentucky Arts Council is accepting applications until Feb. 15, 2012, for the Folk and Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Grant. This grant provides up to $3,000 for master folk artists to teach the skills, practices and culture of Kentucky's living traditional arts to less experienced artists who are part of the same community.

Master artists and apprentices must apply together and both be residents of Kentucky. A master artist can practice any traditional art form (music, dance, craft, ceremonial art, etc.) learned in his or her community. The master artist must excel in the art form and demonstrate an effective teaching plan. The apprentice must possess skill in the art form and the potential to share, teach and continue the art form.

For more information about the Folk and Traditional Arts Apprenticeship grant program, contact Mark Brown, Kentucky Folklife Program, at mark.brown@ky.gov or 502-564-5135, ext. 4491. To access guidelines and an application, go to http://artscouncil.ky.gov/Grants/FAA.htm. The Kentucky Folklife Program, an interagency program of the Kentucky Historical Society and the Kentucky Arts Council, identifies, documents and conserves the state's diverse cultural traditions.

The Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, creates opportunities for Kentuckians to value, participate in and benefit from the arts. Kentucky Arts Council funding is provided by the Kentucky General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Adventure Events in January and February at Kentucky State Parks

2012-01-06T07:00:00.000-05:00

by Gil Lawson
Department of Parks

FRANKFORT, Ky. – If you’re looking for some winter adventure, the Kentucky State Parks have numerous outdoor events planned in January and February to get you outdoors and moving. They include elk viewing tours, hikes, looking for eagles at the Land Between the Lakes and watching sandhill cranes as they migrate through Kentucky.

KAHT Archive

One of the most popular events is the Winter Adventure Weekend Jan. 27-29 at Carter Caves State Resort Park at Olive Hill. The weekend includes hiking, canoeing, recreational tree climbing, cave tours, winter survival, rappelling and other adventures. Guests will be able to select from a list of trips they want to take – for beginners and advanced winter adventurers alike. All of the trips and events are led by guides. The list of the trips, along with registration information and other details for the 2012 event are available at www.winteradventureweekend.com. All participants must register online at this site. The nonrefundable fee for adults (age 13 and older) is $25, and the nonrefundable fee for children ages 6-12 is $20. (All participants must be at least 6 years old. Some trips have additional age requirements.). For more information, call Carter Caves at 1-800-325-0059.
Pine Mountain State Resort Park in Pineville is hosting the Hike the Highlands Winter Getaway Jan. 13-15. Join the expedition to hike 8 miles on three guided hikes in one weekend. Gaze out across the Cumberland Mountains from Knobby Rock in the midst of the celebrated Blanton Forest. Stand on the mountain peak where Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia adjoin and feel the weight of history in the saddle of the Cumberland Gap Pass. Investigate a Native American camp in a sandstone rockhouse, relive the folk history of the legendary Chained Rock and examine a natural arch on the vaulted south slope of Pine Mountain. Registration is required. The park is offering a lodging package for $170 for two. Call 1-800-325-1712 for information.

Cumberland Falls State Resort Park near Corbin is hosting its Arches and Waterfall Weekend Jan. 13-15. Enjoy a weekend of guided hikes to explore some of Kentucky’s natural treasures: natural arches and waterfalls. There will be a daily morning hike and a daily afternoon hike to different natural features. Relax in the lodge and enjoy evening programs. Call the park at 1-800-325-0063.

Jenny Wiley State Resort Park at Prestonsburg and Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park at Buckhorn resume elk viewing tours in January. This is one of several excellent wildlife viewing tours offered by the Kentucky State Parks. Call the parks for details and reservations or visit www.parks.ky.gov (Jenny Wiley is 1-800-325-0142; Buckhorn Lake is 1-800-325-0058.)

Three parks in western Kentucky will offer Eagle Watch Weekends in January and February. The parks and dates are: Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park at Gilbertsville, Jan. 20-22; Lake Barkley State Resort Park near Cadiz, Jan. 27-29; and Kenlake State Resort Park near Aurora, Feb. 3-5. Tours are conducted by van and by boat with wildlife guides. Call the parks or visit www.parks.ky.gov for more information and reservations.

Barren River Lake State Resort Park will offer its Nature Watch Weekends for sandhill cranes, Jan. 20-21 and Feb. 17-18. Participants can register for morning or afternoon trips led by naturalists. Registration is $30 per person and includes an evening session, a sunrise or sunset field trip, boxed meal and a T-shirt. Call the park at 1-800-325-0057 for information and reservations.

John James Audubon State Park at Henderson will host several Owl Prowls during January and February. These free trips begin at 3:30 or 4 p.m. Guests should bring cameras or binoculars to see avian predators like short-eared owls, great horned owls, prairie merlins, rough-legged hawks, northern harriers, bald eagles and red-tailed hawks. The hikes are scheduled for Jan. 8 and 22 and Feb. 5 and 19. Meet at the main boat ramp at Bluegrass Fish and Wildlife Area in Warrick County, Ind. Call 1-270-826-2247 for information.

For more information about these events and Kentucky State Parks, visit http://www.parks.ky.gov/

The Kentucky State Park System is composed of 51 state parks plus an interstate park shared with Virginia. The Department of Parks, an agency of the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, operates 17 resort parks with lodges -- more than any other state. For more information on Kentucky parks, visit our website at http://www.parks.ky.gov/

Kentucky State Park Resorts Open During Winter Months

2012-01-05T07:00:00.000-05:00

by Gil Lawson
Department of Parks

FRANKFORT, Ky. – All Kentucky State Park resorts will remain open through the winter months in 2012, the Department of Parks announced today.

That means all lodge rooms and cottages will be open and available for use, seven days a week during January and February.

There will be some adjustments for the hours of operation for some restaurants at the 17 resort parks. Recreation parks and historic sites are also operating under winter hours. Guests should check in advance or visit the Department of Parks website at www.parks.ky.gov for details.

Several Kentucky State Park campgrounds also remain open during winter months. They include: Carter Caves, Columbus-Belmont, Fort Boonesborough, General Butler, Levi Jackson and Pennyrile Forest. Call the park for more details. Campers may also make online reservations for 2012 for holidays and weekends at their favorite state park campground by visiting http://www.parks.ky.gov/.

Two Kentucky State Parks will host ROOK tournaments in January

2012-01-04T09:37:00.000-05:00

Contacts: Pennyrile Forest, Rebecca Clark, 1-800-325-1711; Rough River, Geoffrey Roberts, 1-800-325-1713

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Two Kentucky State Parks will host Rook tournaments in January. Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park in Dawson Springs will hold its Winter Rook Tournament Jan. 6-7. The round-robin rook tournament begins at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6, and runs through Saturday evening. House rules apply. Registration fee is $25 per team and a new deck of rook cards. Register at least one week prior to the event to receive a $5 discount on registration. Prizes will be given to the top three teams.

A lodging discount is available for participants – buy one night and get the second night at 50 percent off. For information, contact Rebecca Clark at 1-800-325-1711 or rebeccae.clark@ky.gov Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park has a lodge, cottages, Clifty Creek Restaurant, golf, mini-golf, gift shop, fishing, horse camping and hiking trails. The resort is 20 miles northwest of Hopkinsville, on KY 109 N. From the Western Kentucky Parkway, exit at Dawson Springs and take KY 109 south. The other Rook tournament will be Jan. 20 at Rough River Dam State Resort Park. The tournament will begin at 6 p.m. The entry fee is $20 per team plus a new deck of Rook cards.

A lodging package that includes two nights (double occupancy) and four meals is available for $85 per person plus tax. For more information, call Geoffrey Roberts at 1-800-325-1713. Rough River Dam State Resort Park has a lodge, cottages, campground, Grayson’s Landing Restaurant, fishing, boating, mini-golf and a gift shop. The park is on KY 79 near Leitchfield. From the Western Kentucky Parkway, exit on KY 79 north from Caneyville or exit on KY 259 N at Leitchfield and travel to the park via KY 54 from Leitchfield. Driving south, take KY 79 south from Hardinsburg and U.S. 60.

Kentucky Guild of Artist exhibit at John James Audubon Museum Jan. 20-March 11

2012-01-03T11:12:00.003-05:00

by Kim McGrew-Liggett

HENDERSON, Ky. – The John James Audubon State Park Museum will present the Kentucky Guild of Artists and Craftsmen group exhibition, a unique mixed-media showcase of talent highlighting 2-D and 3-D work created by more than 25 guild members.

The exhibit, open Jan. 20-March 11, will feature paintings, jewelry, photography, textiles and mixed-media pieces, most of which are for sale. Among the works will be the photography of Henderson photographer Fred Reaves and the glasswork of Henderson native Dan Neil Barnes.

Founded in 1961, the Kentucky Guild of Artists and Craftsmen is Kentucky’s oldest statewide visual art and craft organization. A leader in the national art and craft movement, it was one of the most active and highly visible organizations promoting national awareness from the 1960s through the 1970s, and has been an integral component in promoting Kentucky’s rich heritage of fostering exceptional visual art and fine craft. Visit the John James Audubon Museum to view these spectacular pieces.

For more information, contact the Audubon arts administrator, Kim McGrew-Liggett at the museum. The exhibit is free for the public to view Thursday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

KAHT wishes everyone a Happy New Year.

2011-12-16T10:06:00.001-05:00

Eastern Kentucky University will be closed from 12/19 through January 2nd. KAHT will post again in the New Year. We wish all of our readers a Happy Holidays and New Year.

Products Page - CANDLES / NATURAL

2011-12-13T12:56:00.000-05:00

Something for everyone

KAHT - Archive

Fine hand-crafted products are showcased all along the Kentucky Artisan Heritage Trails. As you explore the shops and galleries along one of our 18 driving trails, you'll be amazed by the rich variety of treasures that await you.

Use the categories listed below to locate artisans and places that specialize in your favorite collectibles. This is not a complete list, and is only meant to highlight destinations from our driving trails.
** Please contact KAHT to be added to this list **

*** Our KAHT Program Development Manager is working quickly to develop this list. In the meantime, if you would like to make sure that you are featured here, please contact KAHT at: cedet.kaht@eku.edu ***

CANDLES / NATURAL:

Millstone Trail

Kentucky Communities Crafts

Moonbow Trail

McCreary County Flower Shop
Sweet Kreations Gift Shop

Mountain Music Trail

Brammer Gap Soap Kettle
Country Candles

Pine Hollows Trail

Country at Heart and Old Town Fudge Company

Red River Gorge Trail

Sheltowee Trace Creations
Kentucky Market Pavillion

Tygarts Creek Trail

Minor E. Cark State Fish Hatchery

Products Page - BASKETS AND BROOMS

2011-12-13T10:59:00.001-05:00

Something for everyone

KAHT - Archive

Lilley's Woods Trail

Poor Folks Arts and Crafts

Products Page - ANTIQUES

2011-12-13T10:53:00.000-05:00

Something for everyone

KAHT - Archive

Millstone Trail

Mountain Music Trail

Salisbury Farm Antiques

Natural Bridge Trail

Ye ole Country Peddler

Tygarts Creek Trail

Old School House Antique and Craft Mall

Products Page - AGRICULTURAL

2011-12-13T10:12:00.002-05:00

Something for everyone

KAHT - Archive

Battlefield Trail

Buckhorn Trail

2 Nanas' Bath Products (online orders only)

Fiddlehead Trail

Country at Heart and Old Town Fudge Company

Frontier Trail

Central Kentucky AG/Expo Center
Kentucky Soaps and Such
Mom Blakemans Candy Company
Owens Garden Center and Landscaping
Penns Store - Oldest Country Store in America
Simple Times Quilt Shop

Gateway Trail

Lilley's Woods Trail

Tygarts Creek Trail

Minor E Clark State Fish Hatchery

Barren River Lake State Resort Park Offers Sandhill Crane Weekends in January and February

2011-12-13T10:04:00.000-05:00

by Jamie Avery
Department of Parks

LUCAS, Ky. – Each year thousands of sandhill cranes make Barren River Lake a stop on their journey back home. Join Barren River Lake State Resort Park during its Nature Watch Weekends to get up close to these beautiful cranes as they migrate through the area.

KAHT Archive

The weekends, Jan. 20-21 and Feb. 17-18, 2012, will consist of educational sessions conducted by Wayne Tamminga, a wildlife biologist with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, on Friday evenings at 7 p.m. CST.

Participants can register for one of two trips. The morning sunrise trip takes guests to the roosting site before sunrise to experience the beauty of the cranes leaving the roost as they journey to nearby cornfields to spend the day. The sunset trip begins by viewing the birds in the cornfields and ends at the roosting site so you may view the magnificence of thousands of cranes circling overhead as they get ready to settle down for the night. Each of these trips will be led by naturalists from the Kentucky Department of Parks.

Registration is $30 per person and includes the evening session, a sunrise or sunset field trip, boxed meal, and a T-shirt. Registration forms are available online at http://parks.ky.gov/calendar/details/nature-watch-weekend--sandhill-cranes/16254/

or by contacting Jamie Avery at 1-800-325-0057.

Please note that the dates selected are based on historical records under normal weather conditions in January and at the end of February, and past trends of the cranes’ arrival in this area. Please be aware that this narrow window of opportunity can vary by several days based on weather and the cranes’ migration schedule.

Barren River Lake State Resort Park near Glasgow has a lodge, cottages, Driftwood Restaurant, golf course, fitness center, gift shop, fishing, picnic areas and hiking trails. The resort is located 44 miles southeast of Bowling Green and 15 miles south of Glasgow. Take I-65 to the Cumberland Parkway east, to US 31E south.

Eagle Watch Weekends Available At Kentucky State Parks

2011-12-12T09:13:00.001-05:00

by Gil Lawson
Department of Parks

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Nature lovers should be making plans for a unique Kentucky State Park tradition – Eagle Watch Weekends in January and February 2012.

KAHT Archive

The park system will sponsor this wildlife-watching opportunity as bald eagles gather around the major lakes of western Kentucky looking for food. The park tours allow you to observe and learn about these beautiful birds of prey.

For four decades, the Kentucky State Parks have offered Eagle Watch Weekends, a chance to view the eagles from land and water and learn about the national symbol and other wildlife.

The tours take place at three resort parks during weekends in January and February, on an excursion yacht and by van. They are led by state park naturalists and Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists.

Ticket prices for the tours range from $20 to $55 a person. Most tours last from two to three and one-half hours. The weekends also include an evening program on birds of prey.

The parks, phone numbers and dates for the 2012 Eagle Watch Weekends are:

Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park (800-325-0146): Jan. 20-22.

Lake Barkley State Resort Park (800-325-1708): Jan. 27-29.

Kenlake State Resort Park (800-325-0143): Feb. 3-5.

Guests should bring warm clothes, rain gear and binoculars. These trips can take place under extreme weather conditions. The resorts offer lodges, cottages and restaurants. Registration is required for the Eagle Watch Weekends. Call the parks for registration, details and fee information or visit: www.parks.ky.gov and look for the “Park News” heading to see the Eagle Watch Weekend flyer.

The Eagle Watch Weekends at Kentucky Dam Village, Lake Barkley and Kenlake will include an option to view eagles from the CQ Princess, a 96-foot yacht. Guests can view eagles from inside the CQ Princess or from outside decks.

Any group or organization interested in a special cruise on the CQ Princess should call Tammy Nanney at Kenlake at 1-800-325-0143 for details.

Appalachian Heritage Buffalo Night

2011-12-08T11:30:00.002-05:00

by: Tim Hibbard
Department of Parks

SLADE, Ky. -- Natural Bridge State Resort Park is hosting Appalachian Heritage Buffalo Night on Jan. 14, 2012.

An all-you-can-eat buffet will be served from 4-8 p.m. The menu will include buffalo chili, snapping turtle soup, roast buffalo rounds, venison ragout, buffalo meatloaf, buffalo ribs, wild boar sausage with onions and peppers, and fried catfish. Side items will include country style green beans, baked potatoes, salad bar and assorted desserts.

The price for adults is $17.95 plus tax, and for children ages 6-12 the price is $8.95 plus tax. Children 5 and under are free.

The band Brushfire will provide bluegrass music in the Hemlock Lodge Lobby from 5:20-7 p.m.

Natural Bridge State Resort Park has a lodge, cottages, the Sandstone Arches Restaurant, gift shop and hiking trails. For more information or for room reservations, phone 1-800-325-1710. The resort near Slade is 52 miles southeast of Lexington off the Mountain Parkway on KY 11, exit 33.

Unique Ky. Attractions Are Basis of New Marketing Campaign

2011-12-07T11:30:00.000-05:00

by: Bob Adams
Department of Travel and Tourism

You can travel to the far reaches of the globe and not see and experience what you can discover in Kentucky.
There’s only one Mammoth Cave, one Birthplace of Abraham Lincoln, one National Corvette Museum, one Kentucky Horse Park.
Kentucky’s wealth of unique attractions forms the basis of the state’s 2012 travel and tourism marketing campaign. The new campaign, called “There’s Only One,” will differentiate Kentucky from other destinations by emphasizing places and things travelers to and within the Commonwealth can experience that cannot be replicated anywhere else.

Thirty-one places and events have been designated “There’s Only One.” More will be added after undergoing a certification process. The current list includes, in alphabetical order:

• American Saddlebred Capital of the World – Shelbyville
• Belle of Louisville, National Historic Landmark – Louisville
• Birthplace of Abraham Lincoln – Hodgenville
• Birthplace of Bluegrass Music, Bill Monroe – Rosine
• Birthplace of Jefferson Davis – Fairview
• Birthplace of Loretta Lynn – Country Music Highway – Butcher Hollow
• Bourbon Country – Bardstown and Frankfort
• Cumberland Falls, Niagara of the South – Corbin
• Cumberland Gap National Historic Park – Middlesboro
• Home of the Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs – Louisville
• Horse Capital of the World – Lexington
• Houseboating Capital – Lake Cumberland
• International Barbecue Festival – Owensboro
• International Bluegrass Music Museum – Owensboro
• Kentucky Derby Museum – Louisville
• Kentucky Horse Park – Lexington
• Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area – Golden Pond
• Lost River Cave – Bowling Green
• Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory – Louisville
• Mammoth Cave National Park – Cave City
• Monte Casino Chapel – Crestview Hills
• Muhammad Ali Center – Louisville
• My Old Kentucky Home – Bardstown
• National Corvette Museum – Bowling Green
• National Quilt Museum – Paducah
• Red River Gorge – Slade
• Rosemary Clooney House – Augusta
• Sanders Café – Corbin
• Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill – Harrodsburg
• St. Mary’s Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption – Covington
• World’s Championship Horse Show – Louisville

The concept of “There’s Only One” will be used to draw visitors to Kentucky and then encourage them to explore all Kentucky has to offer. In the spring, when most vacation decisions are being made, TV, radio and print ads will combine with on-going social media and on-line campaigns to raise awareness of these unique attractions.

Find more information about “There’s Only One” at www.kentuckytourism.com.

Perryville Battlefield Featured on ‘Ghost Adventures’; Offers Paranormal Tours

2011-12-06T11:30:00.000-05:00

by: Kurt Holman

Department of Parks

PERRYVILLE, Ky. -- Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site, the subject of a story on the Travel Channel’s “Ghost Adventures,” offers opportunities to those interested in paranormal investigations.

The “Ghost Adventures” segment with Perryville Battlefield airs Friday, Dec. 2, at 9 p.m. EST.

If you want to come investigate the Perryville Battlefield yourself, please visit: Perryville Battlefield webpage or call the park at 859-332-8631. The park requires a permit for this activity. The cost is $250 for a group of up to 10, and $25 per each additional person. For information about future paranormal investigation events at the park, check Perryville battlefield

Perryville is the scene of the most destructive Civil War battle in the state, with the number of wounded, killed or missing numbering more than 7,000. The park museum tells of the battle that was the South’s last serious attempt to gain possession of Kentucky. The battlefield is one of the most unaltered Civil War sites in the nation; vistas today remain virtually those soldiers saw on that fateful day in 1862.

Perryville will be commemorating the 150^th anniversary of the battle in 2012 during its annual re-enactment weekend Oct. 5-7.

Kentucky Arts Council offers operational support grants to arts and cultural organizations

2011-12-05T08:50:00.000-05:00

By: Gil Lawson
Arts Council

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky nonprofit arts and cultural organizations that provide year-round arts programming may apply to the Kentucky Arts Council for Kentucky Arts Partnership grant funding by Jan. 15, 2012. Grants to qualified organizations will support operating costs for the period between July 1, 2012, and June 30, 2013.

“This operational support to organizations provides economic and education benefits to Kentuckians in all regions of the state,” said Kentucky Arts Council Executive Director Lori Meadows. “With funding from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Kentucky General Assembly, we were able to award funding to 100 Kentucky arts organizations in the last grant cycle.”

Grant awards are based on the amount of funds available to the Kentucky Arts Council, the number of applicants, applicants’ scores as determined by an independent review panel based on prescribed performance expectations, and the organization’s operating revenue.

Full details and applications for the Kentucky Arts Partnership grant can be found at http://artscouncil.ky.gov/Grants/KAP.htm.

The Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, creates opportunities for Kentuckians to value, participate in and benefit from the arts. Kentucky Arts Council funding is provided by the Kentucky General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Holiday Gift Market!

2011-12-01T11:30:00.002-05:00

By: Jane Artisan
Jane Artisan's One of Kind Holiday Gift Guide

The Gateway Regional Arts Center is a visual and performing arts venue located in the historic district of downtown Mt. Sterling, KY. Beginning December 2nd they will be hosting a Holiday Gift Market!

Brightly displayed original, Artisan handcrafted gifts, crowds with smiling faces and Holiday cheer describe the Holiday Artisan Gift Market Exhibition. The Exhibition will include: paintings, hand made ceramics, wearable textiles, textile art, gold, silver and beaded jewelry, sculpture, photography, quilts, function-able textiles , baskets, stained glass, mosaics, blown and fused glass, traditional and contemporary folk craft, wooden toys and furniture, from artisans all over the state.

There will be an opening reception on December 2nd from 4:30pm-7:00pm and the exhibit will close on December 31st at 4:00pm.

Please visit their webpage for more information....

Annual Trail Card Available for Kentucky State Park Golf Courses

2011-11-30T12:30:00.000-05:00

by: Kevin Main
Department of Parks

FRANKFORT, Ky. – For 2012, the Kentucky Golf Trail is again offering a “trail card” that provides unlimited paid green fees for the cardholder at the 18 courses operated by the Kentucky Department of Parks.

The trail card fees will continue to include the daily play fee in the purchase price. The unlimited paid greens fee trail cards are sold at all Kentucky State Park golf courses and are valid through Dec. 31, 2012. Cards start at $475 for senior players (62 and older). For more information on the trail card, visit www.parks.ky.gov/golf

Kentucky State Parks also feature two golf packages: the Chip Shot and the all inclusive Tees & Zzzs. The Chip Shot package includes 18 holes of golf with cart and lodging with rates starting at $59 per person each night – November through March – and $79 April through October. The popular Tees & Zzzs features golf with cart, lodging, breakfast and dinner, plus a gift card, starting at $89 per person per night - November through March – and $109 April through October.

Kentucky State Resort Parks also feature lodges, cottages, campgrounds, restaurants and other activities such as hiking, swimming, boating and wildlife programs. For more information about state park golf trail cards, Tees and Zzzs packages, gift cards and course photos, visit www.parks.ky.gov.

Winter Photo Weekend Jan. 27-29 at Pine Mountain

2011-11-29T11:30:00.002-05:00

by: Dean Henson

Department of Parks

PINEVILLE, Ky. – Pine Mountain State Resort Park will again provide cold-weather adventure with Winter Photo Weekend set for Jan. 27-29.

The event features a digital photography competition with divisions for both amateur and accomplished photographers, impressive evening picture shows, and the exceptional photographic work and instruction of Richard Bernabe, an acclaimed outdoor and nature photographer and writer from South Carolina. Clients such as the National Geographic Society, Audubon, and Backpacker Magazine have published his images worldwide in books, calendars, and magazines.

The weekend event is a quest that leads you on a discovery trek to out-of-the-way places where raw nature resides. Woodlands, waters, weather and wildlife are all part of the experience, and it all takes place at one of the park system’s finest natural resorts. The evenings feature spectacular picture shows offered by our guest professional, and the wonderful dining and cozy accommodations on hand at the rustic lodge round out the experience.

The weekend’s agenda focuses on nature and offers up four competition categories in two divisions. There’s both an amateur and accomplished class of competition, so participants are competing only against photographers of similar skill. Participants always enjoy the relaxed atmosphere that permeates the mountaintop resort in winter.

If you’re looking to get out in the frosty air to stretch mind and body, Pine Mountain’s Winter Photo Weekend just may be the adventure you’re looking for. Don’t worry about the snow; the park has its own snow plow/salt truck and life goes on, regardless of the weather and conditions. Besides, you just might be lucky enough to be on hand when the snow comes. An ample snowfall not only enhances the picture-taking prospects, but the brooding evergreens covered in snow on the vaulted slopes and craggy cliffs of Pine Mountain are a truly splendorous sight!

A special package will be offered for this year’s event that includes two nights’ accommodations, two evening meals and admission to all shows as well as the competition. The event package for one person is $139 (plus tax); the package for two persons is $189 (plus tax). The fee for the photo program only is $30 a person. Registration is required. To register or to make a reservation, phone the park’s Guest Services Desk at 800-325-1712 and mention the Winter Photo Weekend.

Pine Mountain State Resort Park has a lodge, cottages, Mountain View Restaurant, an award-winning golf course, an interpretive center and hiking trails.

Antiques and Accents

2011-11-28T11:30:00.000-05:00

by: Jane Artisan
Jane Artisan‘s One of a Kind Holiday Gift Guide

Along Millstone Trail you will find a beautiful unique antique and gift store.

The Antiques and Accents shop is filled with dining room suites, bedroom suites, sofas, chairs, bookcases, lamps, pictures, and glassware.

Antiques and Accents first opened in August 1995 in a small 600 square-foot shop. Now they are in a beautiful building with over 4000 square-feet filled with antiques.They also have vintage clothing, costume jewelry, art, glass, pottery, old law books covered with sheepskin and much more.

At this store you will find something for everyone. So hit the Cumberland Gap Parkway in Corbin Kentucky to find that perfect gift at Antiques and Accents!

Visit their webpage to see a preview of their inventory.

Photo courtesy of Antiques and Accents webpage.

Holiday Gift Ideas From the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet

2011-11-22T12:00:00.002-05:00

by: Gil Lawson
Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet

The Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet has some gift ideas for shoppers during this holiday season.

They all have “Kentucky” themes because they all come from agencies within the cabinet.

“If you’re looking for a gift that says Kentucky, we have some wonderful ideas ranging from state park gift cards to artwork and history,” said Tourism, Arts and Heritage Secretary Marcheta Sparrow.

Here is a listing of agencies and gift ideas for the holiday season:

Kentucky Historical Society

Is there a history lover on your gift list? If so, make plans to visit the Kentucky Historical Society’s 1792 Store, located in the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History in downtown Frankfort. The 1792 Store has a wide selection of books, Kentucky crafts and other specialty items. You also may want to consider giving a gift membership to the Kentucky Historical Society (KHS). Members receive free publications, special prices on research services and members-only discounts on special events. From now through the end of December, KHS is offering $5 off its regular membership price. Contact KHS Membership Coordinator Leslie Miller at 502-564-1792 or see www.history.ky.gov for details.

Kentucky Unbridled Spirit Gift Card The Kentucky Unbridled Spirit Gift Card is good at all Kentucky State Parks, the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea, the Kentucky Horse Park and the Kentucky Historical Society museum and gift shop in Frankfort. Unbridled Spirit Gift Cards can be purchased at the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea, the Kentucky Horse Park, the Kentucky Historical Society museum and gift shop as well as at Kentucky State Parks. Cards also may be purchased by calling 1-800-255-PARK (select option 5) or online at http://www.parks.ky.gov/gift-cards/.

Kentucky State ParksKentucky State Parks are a great place to visit during the winter months with lodge room rates starting at $49.95 a night. Special events such as holiday gatherings, light displays, New Year’s Eve parties and wildlife viewing weekends are among the favorites. State parks have lodge rooms, cottages and even a few campgrounds open for those who enjoy winter camping. Visit www.parks.ky.gov for information and reservations.

All 18 Kentucky State Park golf courses will continue to be open during the winter, weather permitting. Daily winter rate greens fees range from $11 to $17 weekdays and $11 to $22 weekends (golf cart not included) through March 31, 2012. Another great gift idea for golfers is the Kentucky State Park Golf Discount Card for $20-$25 that provides four discounted rounds of golf and a fifth round for free. Annual golf passes are also available. For more information on gift cards, annual passes, daily rates and golf packages visit http://www.parks.ky.gov/golf/

Kentucky Horse Park

The Kentucky Horse Park Gift Shop Open House is Dec. 2-3 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Enjoy free parking, refreshments and samples, door prizes, storewide discounts, and discounts on park admission as well as park tickets and memberships for stocking stuffers. Discounts are available to customers who show their gift shop receipts. The gift shop carries a unique selection of equine gifts and Kentucky-made products from crafts to Kentucky Proud, and enough holiday decorations to decorate the North Pole. The gift shop is also open during the Southern Lights display Nov. 18-Dec. 31 from 6 to10 p.m. Tickets for the new blockbuster exhibition, “The Horse,” will also make great Christmas gifts. This exhibit at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington runs through April 6. Call 859-259-4200 for more information.

Fish and Wildlife Resources

If you want to give someone who loves the outdoors a gift that he or she will use, then log on to fw.ky.gov – the website of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources – and click on the “Purchase License Here” tab.

The resident Sportsman’s License is the perfect gift for the outdoors enthusiast who does everything. This license includes the combination hunting and fishing license, a trout permit, spring and fall turkey permits, statewide deer permit and the state waterfowl permit (which also covers dove and other migratory bird hunting). This saves the purchaser $50 over buying each of these permits and licenses separately.

A unique stocking stuffer that will surprise the big game hunter in your family is an elk hunt lottery application. Each application costs $10, and may be purchased as a gift. Elk hunt lottery applications go on sale Dec. 1. Applications are available online only at www.fw.ky.gov.

Arts Council

The Kentucky Arts Council has partnered with organizations across the state to promote Kentucky artists and support local businesses. Subscribers to Kentucky Monthly magazine will receive a special Holiday Gift Guide featuring items produced by artists who have been selected for Kentucky Arts Council programs. Work by these artists can also be reviewed from the agency’s artist directories at http://bit.ly/KACartistdirectories.

The arts council is promoting “Small Business Saturday” on Nov. 26. A listing of shops recommended by Kentucky Crafted artists is available on the arts council’s website at http://artscouncil.ky.gov. The arts council has also launched a Twitter campaign to promote gift ideas, holiday open house and open studio events, and retailers carrying merchandise made by Kentucky artists. Search #giveagiftfromky for daily tweets through Dec. 22.

A Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts Gift CertificateGive the gift of the arts! From Broadway to ballet, to the masterpieces of orchestra or the hottest pop stars performing today, The Kentucky Center brings it all to Kentucky. And a Kentucky Center Gift Certificate is the perfect way to thrill the arts lover on your list. Available in any amount and good for any performance! Call the Kentucky Center Box Office at 584-7777 or (800) 775-7777, or visit www.kentuckycenter.org.

Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea

Holiday giving is especially enjoyable when you are able to find the perfect gift, and there is no better place to discover that than at the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea. Shoppers will find an amazing array of distinctive Kentucky handmade treasures created by over 650 artisans.

The center has amazing ornaments, paintings, prints and photographs; sculpture; furniture and quilts; handcrafted glass; beautifully designed scarves, hats and shawls; as well as an array of lotions, candles and jewelry. For the cooks on your list, there are wonderful cookbooks, specialty Kentucky Proud foods for the holidays and a wide array of pottery and wooden items for presenting your holiday feast. Great books for children and adults abound, along with great musical selections – all by Kentucky artisans.

The “Unbridled Spirit Gift Card” is also available, if you’re shopping for those “hard to buy for” people on your list. Visit the Kentucky Artisan Center any time of year to “Give a Gift Made in Kentucky!”

The center’s exhibits, shopping and travel information areas are open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and the cafe is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. For more information call 859-985-5448 or visit the Center’s website at www.kentuckyartisancenter.ky.gov

Kentucky Heritage Council

Main Streets across Kentucky feature some of the most unique shopping experiences to be found anywhere, from clothing boutiques to restaurants, gift shops, bookstores and inns – located in charming historic buildings that have been rehabilitated to serve new uses. With more than 5,600 small businesses located in 71 participating Kentucky Main Street Program communities, downtowns offer the perfect destinations for holiday shopping, dining and visiting. Once again this year, Kentucky Main Street communities are partners with the national Small Business Saturday observance Nov. 26, a day dedicated to supporting small businesses on one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year. The Kentucky Heritage Council encourages everyone to take the pledge and Shop Downtown This Holiday Season! For more, visit www.heritage.ky.gov/mainstreet.

Poor Folks Arts & Crafts

2011-11-21T12:00:00.001-05:00

By: Jane Artisan
Jane Artisan‘s One of a Kind Holiday Gift Guide

Established in 1988 by the Poor Folk Arts & Crafts Guild, the purpose of the store is to provide the Guild members a place to market their goods and tourists a place to buy gifts made by hand. Several thousands of items are displayed in their store.

Once you arrive at the Poor Fork Arts & Crafts Store in Cumberland, you will find a vast array of handcrafted items. You might look around and see a lovely display including a beautiful handmade rocking chair with a handmade quilt or throw draped over the back with some lovely wooden furniture nearby. You will see paintings, pottery, corn shuck flowers, brooms, glass works, quilts, musical instruments, baskets, birdhouses, and many other items.

Each item is handcrafted and unique so give a gift that's one of a kind from Poor Folk Arts & Crafts. With a large inventory made by dozens of artisans your sure to find special unique gift!To find out more about their store or view some of their inventory please visit Poor Folks Arts & Crafts.

Photos courtesy of: Poor Folks Arts and Crafts Guild, Inc webpage.

Hike the Highlands Winter Getaway at Pine Mountain

2011-11-18T12:00:00.000-05:00

by: Dean Henson

Department of Parks

PINEVILLE, Ky. – Got cabin fever? Do the doldrums of winter get you down? Brush off the stay-inside blues and join Pine Mountain State Resort Park for a weekend hiking adventure Jan. 13-15, 2012!

Winter is perhaps the best season for hiking in the Southern Appalachians. Free of stifling humidity and summer crowds, the crisp air invigorates as leafless trees reveal stunning mountain views. All you need is a sturdy pair of boots and the will to explore.

Join our expedition to hike 8 miles on three guided hikes in one weekend. Gaze out across the Cumberland Mountains from Knobby Rock in the midst of the celebrated Blanton Forest; stand on the mountain peak where Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia adjoin; and feel the weight of history in the saddle of the Cumberland Gap Pass. Investigate a Native American camp in a sandstone rockhouse, re-live the folk history of the legendary Chained Rock and examine a natural arch on the vaulted south slope of Pine Mountain.

Evening programs will feature an introduction to the adventure sport of Geocaching, a GPS primer, Leave No Trace Concepts, and a Backpacking 101 session.

The park is offering a discounted Getaway Package Special. Package prices are $125 (single) and $170 (double) and include accommodation for two nights, two evening meals, complimentary hiking staff, and admission to guided hikes and evening programs. The non-package registration fee for participation is $20 for adults, $10 for youths 13-17, and children 12 and under are free. Registration is required. To register or to make a reservation, phone the park’s Guest Services Desk at (800) 325-1712 and mention the Hike the Highlands Winter Getaway.

Pine Mountain State Resort Park has a lodge, cottages, Mountain View Restaurant, an award-winning golf course, an interpretive center and hiking trails.

Sweet Kreations Gift Shoppe, Fudgery & Christmas Landing

2011-11-17T11:03:00.000-05:00

by: Jane Artisan

Jane Artisan‘s One of a Kind Holiday Gift Guide

Looking for custom made gift baskets or home-made treats for that one of a kind Christmas gift?

Sweet Kreations Gift Shoppe is the largest gift store in Southeastern Kentucky is located in the Big South Fork Scenic Railway Depot building in downtown Historic Stearns, Kentucky, and is locally owned and operated.

They proudly offer a fabulous selection of unique and hard to find gifts, toys, collectibles, toiletries, nostalgic memorabilia, gourmet goodies & more!

They specialize in corporate gifts and custom designed gift baskets suitable for any occasion or holiday.

You can view their inventory online or visit their store. New merchandise is being added to their site daily and they plan to have most of their inventory available online as soon as possible. In the meantime, if you can't find what you're looking for, please contact them.

All photos courtesy of Sweet Kreations website you may purchase these items and view many more by clicking on the link.

Creative Memories Scrapbooking Weekends in January at Greenbo Lake

2011-11-16T12:00:00.000-05:00

by: Paul Verespy

Department of Parks

GREENUP, Ky. – Greenbo Lake State Resort Park will host two Creative Memories Scrapbooking Weekends on Jan. 13-14 and Jan. 20-21 in 2012.

Creative Memories presents these weekends for the experienced and the novice scrapbooker. All participants must bring their own scrapbooks and materials. Scrapbooks and materials can be purchased for an additional fee.

Registration and classes begin Friday evening at 6 p.m. and continue all day Saturday. There will also be scrapbooking all day Sunday, for those who want to stay late. The park is offering a package for $105 plus tax for two nights lodging for two, all meals on your own, and there will be a free continental breakfast Saturday and Sunday mornings.

The scrapbooking registration fee is $45 and includes a goody bag and instructions.

Greenbo Lake State Resort Park is on KY 1, 18 miles north of Interstate 64 from the Grayson exit, or 8 miles south of U.S. 23, the Country Music Highway on KY 1. Greenbo Lake features the Jesse Stuart Lodge with 36 rooms, convention center and Anglers’ Cove Restaurant. The park has a 225-acre lake for boating and fishing, tennis courts, and 25 miles of multi-use trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding. The campground is open April 1 through Oct. 31. Greenbo’s amphitheater features musical concerts and plays during the summer and fall.

Kentucky Crafter's Corner Online Shopping

2011-11-15T11:30:00.002-05:00

by: Jane Artisan

Rocking Chair Gourd

Jane Artisan‘s One of a Kind Holiday Gift Guide

Do you prefer to do your shopping from the ease and comfort of your own home?

Today's featured place in the Holiday Gift Guide is a strictly online store. Kentucky Crafter's Corner was established in 2009 as a way to share the love of making and using handcrafted items. Working out of the beautiful mountains of eastern Kentucky this online store features many handcrafted items made by the artisan's of Kentucky who want to share their beautiful creations with you.

Kentucky Crafter's Corner sells handmade crafts, quilts, quilt patterns, quilt work kits, and even novels all made by Kentucky artisans. These are unique one of a kind handmade gifts for any age group. So whether you want to make your own quilt, purchase one for a friend or family member, or shop for crafts you will find everything you need at this online store!

Hard-carved Holiday Ornaments

They have a wonderful online catalog that can be found on their website at Kentucky Crafter's Corner

So get your holiday shopping started and don't miss out on their free shipping for the holiday's from November 1st until December 15th, no coupon or code required.

All photos taken from the Kentucky Crafter's Market website and may be purchased there

Artistic Wood Art

2011-11-14T12:00:00.002-05:00

by: Jane Artisan

www.artisticwoodart.com

Jane Artisan‘s One of a Kind Holiday Gift Guide

Looking for a truly one of a kind gift that is handcrafted with precision and only the finest materials?

At Artistic Wood Art, located along the Battlefield Trial in Irvine Kentucky, you will find the place for made-to-order gifts for that special someone as well as a variety of stock handcrafted plaques .

Artistic Wood Art is a business created by James Fitzgerald. He is a retired Tool and Die maker.In his trade, he has developed skills to be extremely accurate with a keen eye for detail and puts these qualities in each piece of artwork. Now retired, he enjoys his true passion for creating extremely high quality detailed art projects.

Using a 4x magnification, Jim carefully cuts each piece by hand on quality birch wood. He then sands and assembles the items. You can see his handcrafted plaques or request your own personalized item on their website or facebook.You may also contact directly for pricing at 606-723-9346.

Great gift ideas at Kentucky Market Pavilion!

2011-11-11T12:00:00.000-05:00

by: Jane Artisan

Jane Artisan's one of a kind Holiday Gift Guide

Looking for a place with a variety of gift ideas?

Kentucky Market Pavilion, located on the Red River Gorge Trail, has numerous great gift ideas by various Kentucky artisans. They are a new facility that markets local arts, crafts, and foods. They have a large variety of items from jewelry, toys, baskets, meats, cheese, books, cards, woodworking, candles, aprons, soaps, cookies, Ruth Hunt Candies, wind chimes, and much more!

They also host many community events. In the summer to late Fall, there are outdoor produce auctions and farmers markets.

If you’re looking for something to make you holiday dinners special they carry a variety of Browning’s Country Hams and numerous jams and cook books. They also have new holiday items in stock including festive decorations and ornaments.

If you’re looking for that perfect gift for a family member or a friend look no further, visit Kentucky Market Pavilion located on the Red River Gorge Trail in Owingsville KY today!

You can also visit their Facebook page to view some of their amazing inventory!

All photos courtesy of Kentucky Market Pavilion.

Holiday shopping with KAHT!

2011-11-10T11:30:00.000-05:00

KAHT

by: Jane Artisan
KAHT

It may not be snowing yet but the holiday shopping season has begun!

Looking for gift ideas? Shop creatively and find that one of a kind item at the artists shops featured right here on the KAHT trails. We have a variety of artist’s who make jewelry, pottery, wood crafting, candy, and many more unique items that are sure to make great gifts for any age group.

For the next few weeks I will take you through, “Jane Artisan‘s One of a Kind Holiday Gift Guide” by featuring a new artist each day on the KAHT page. Be sure to check in each weekday to learn about the artist and the unique gift opportunities you can take advantage of in each of their shops. Check in tomorrow for the first featured artist.
Let the holiday shopping begin………………

Artists and children turn Frankfort farmland into sculpture garden

2011-11-08T12:00:00.003-05:00

by: Mary Meehan
Herald Leader

FRANKFORT — Condos, duplexes, twisty metallic skyscrapers: Kentucky birds have never spied such an array of housing. Affixed to brightly colored spindles of metal rising over wild grass, the birdhouses, built mostly by kids and teens, became part of the latest installation at the Josephine Sculpture Garden this week.
And visiting artist Bridget Beck couldn't think of a better site for her work.

"This place is just amazing and beautiful," Beck said as volunteers helped kids ages 2 to 12 saw, paint and drill pieces of wood into their versions of the perfect avian home.

Beck's piece — built to be climbed on and featuring a poet's corner, with a chair and a writing desk — reflects the mission of this unique Central Kentucky art venue.

"We are interested in creating an environment where kids can just be free, and they can get dirty and build stuff and let their imaginations run wild," Melanie VanHouten said.
She and her husband, B.J. Duval, planned for 10 years to make Josephine's an artistic haven and inspiration on land that used to be her grandparents' farm. Her mission for the park mirrors her description of a childhood spent on the farm, and the park is named in honor of her grandmother.

Barren River Presents Caveman Chorus ‘Blast From the Past

2011-11-07T12:00:00.002-05:00

by: Jamie Avery

Department of Parks

LUCAS, Ky. – Listen to sweet sounds of tenor, lead, baritone and bass in barbershop harmony, as several quartets from The Caveman Chorus perform at Barren River Lake State Resort Park on Nov. 19.

For the grand finale, it’s a “Blast From the Past” as The Caveman Chorus unites with singers from years gone by and with youths from surrounding schools to sing in perfect harmony.

Barren River State Resort Park is offering dinner from 5-7:45 p.m. and the 8 p.m. show for $35 per couple (plus tax and tip), or $20 per person (plus tax and tip). Tickets for the show only are $8 per person. Receive a $2 discount for pre-purchase of a package. Contact Jamie Avery at 1-800-325-0057 or jamie.avery@ky.gov for more information.

Barren River State Resort Park is surrounded by rolling, tree-covered hills, on the edge of a beautiful 10,000-acre lake. The park has 51 lodge rooms, 22 cottages and 99 campsites. Enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of an upscale fish camp in the Driftwood Restaurant. If you are looking for something to do during your visit, you can play on the 18-hole golf course, hike along a nature trail, visit the marina to rent a boat, check out a fishing pole or sports equipment, browse the gift shop, or just enjoy a peaceful seat overlooking the lake.

The resort is 44 miles southeast of Bowling Green. Take Interstate 65 to the Cumberland Parkway east, to US 31E south.

KHS to Participate in Frankfort Candlelight Tour

2011-11-04T12:00:00.000-04:00

by: Chelsea Compton

Kentucky Historical Society

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Nov. 1, 2011) — The Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) will offer free admission and host free events during downtown Frankfort’s annual Candlelight Tour on Thursday, Nov. 10, through Saturday, Nov. 12, at the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History and Old State Capitol.

With Veterans Day and the opening of the Kentucky Military History Museum on Friday, Nov. 11, KHS and the City of Frankfort chose a 2011 Candlelight theme of “Celebrations of Service.”

Thursday and Friday night’s activities take place from 5-9 p.m. at the Center for Kentucky History, and include a Lionel train display and holiday shopping at the 1792 Store. Musical performances Thursday begin at 6 p.m. with the Westridge Elementary School Choir, followed by the Swing Canaries and The Thoroughbred Chorus. Also Thursday, Gigi’s Cupcakes will be on-site selling military-themed cupcakes, and the KHS HistoryMobile will be parked on Broadway with its current exhibit, “Kentucky’s Abraham Lincoln.” On Saturday, the Lionel train display and 1792 Store shopping continue from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Kentucky Historical Society is also participating in the Nov. 12 Kentucky Book Fair with a special presentation titled “The Civil War: After 150 Years, Why are we Still Fascinated?” at noon in the Old State Capitol, House chamber. Moderated by state historian Dr. James Klotter, the panel will consist of Charles Bracelen Flood, Brian D. McKnight, James A. Ramage, Andrea Watkins and Donald A. Clark. This event is also free and open to the public.

For more information about events at KHS during the Candlelight Tour, contact Julia Curry at julia.curry@ky.gov or 502-564-1792, ext. 4414, or visit www.history.ky.gov/candlelight.

Kentucky Arts Council selects 21 high schools to participate in Poetry Out Loud

2011-11-03T12:00:00.002-04:00

By: Ed Lawrence
Arts Council

FRANKFORT, Ky. —The Kentucky Arts Council has selected 21 high schools to participate in the state competition for the Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation. This is the seventh year of the program, which encourages high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization and recitation.

The selected schools are:

School	City	County

Allen Co./Scottsville High School	Scottsville	Allen
Ballard High School	Louisville	Jefferson
Beechwood High School	Ft Mitchell	Kenton
Boyd Co. High School	Ashland	Boyd
Carroll Co. High School	Carrollton	Carroll
Fairview High School	Ashland	Boyd
Franklin Co. High School	Frankfort	Franklin
Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky	Bowling Green	Warren
Grant Co. High School	Dry Ridge	Grant
Greenwood High School	Bowling Green	Warren
Harlan Co. High School	Baxter	Harlan
Hart Co. High School	Munfordville	Hart
Hazard High School	Hazard	Perry
Heath High School	West Paducah	McCracken
Leslie Co. High School	Hyden	Leslie
Lone Oak High School	Paducah	McCracken
Mercer Co. High School	Harrodsburg	Mercer
Ohio Co. High School	Hartford	Ohio
Reidland High School	Paducah	McCracken
Russell Co. High School	Russell Springs	Russell
Western Hills High School	Frankfort	Franklin

Poetry Out Loud begins at the classroom level. Winners advance to a school-wide competition, then to the state competition and ultimately to the national finals. Last year, more than 300,000 students participated in the Poetry Out Loud program in 50 states, five U.S. territories and the District of Columbia.

The winner of the Kentucky state finals, to be held in March 2012 in Frankfort, will receive $200 and an all-expenses-paid trip with an adult chaperone to Washington, D.C., to compete for the national championship. The state winner’s school will receive a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books. The first runner-up will receive $100, with $200 going to his or her school library. The program culminates with the national finals in Washington, D.C., May 13–15, 2012. A total of $50,000 in awards and school stipends will be awarded at the national finals.

“We are very pleased to be able to continue this program. Our Kentucky champions have been finalists in the national competition in five of the six years of Poetry Out Loud,” said Lori Meadows, executive director of the Kentucky Arts Council. “Maybe the 2012 national champion will be a student from one of these 21 Kentucky schools.”

For additional information about Poetry Out Loud in Kentucky, contact Rachel Allen at rachel.allen@ky.gov or 502-564-3757, ext. 486. For a general overview of the Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest, go to www.poetryoutloud.org.

The Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, creates opportunities for Kentuckians to value, participate in and benefit from the arts. Kentucky Arts Council funding is provided by the Kentucky General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Kentucky State Parks Feature Thanksgiving Day Buffet

2011-11-02T12:00:00.000-04:00

By: Gil Lawson

Department of Parks

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Kentucky State Park restaurants are preparing for one of the busiest days of the year – Thanksgiving Day.

The Thanksgiving Day buffet will be served Nov. 24 at all 17 resort park restaurants, a tradition for the parks and many families across Kentucky.

“Our Kentucky State Park resorts are proud to provide this special holiday meal for our guests,” said Parks Commissioner Gerry van der Meer. “Our staff looks forward to being part of the Thanksgiving tradition for many families.”

The buffet will include soups, cheeses and salads for starters. Entrees include turkey and dressing, baked ham, carved roast beef and fried chicken. Vegetables include old fashioned candied yams, country-style green beans and mashed potatoes with giblet gravy. There will be a variety of desserts including pecan pie and pumpkin pie.

The cost for the buffet will be $17.95 plus tax (drink included) for adults; $7.95 for children ages 6-12, and children 5 and under are free.

The buffet will operate from noon to 8 p.m. local time. For more information about state parks and other park events, including discounts and special offers on lodge rooms and cottages, visit www.parks.ky.gov

Kentucky State Parks Offer Free Admission to Some Museums and Historic Sites for Veterans

2011-11-01T12:00:00.001-04:00

By: Gil Lawson

Department of Parks

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Several Kentucky State Park museums will be offering free admission to veterans and current members of the military on Veterans Day, Nov. 11.

The free admission is good for those on active military duty, retired members of the military, veterans, members of the National Guard and reservists. Proof of military service is required.

“This is a small token of our appreciation to the men and women who have served or currently serve in the armed forces,” said Parks Commissioner Gerry van der Meer. “We appreciate their tremendous sacrifice for our country.”

The parks with museums or historic homes that will be open on Nov. 11 and offering the free admission to current and former members of the military include:

Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park, Pioneer Museum, Mount Olivet

Fort Boonesborough State Park, Richmond

Jefferson Davis State Historic Site, Fairview

John James Audubon State Park, Henderson

My Old Kentucky Home State Park, Bardstown

Old Fort Harrod State Park, Harrodsburg

Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site, Perryville

Waveland State Historic Site, Lexington

Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site, Wickliffe

For more information about these and other Kentucky State Parks, including lodging discounts for current and former members of the military, visit www.parks.ky.gov

Lake Cumberland Hosting Murder Mystery Dinner

2011-10-31T12:00:00.000-04:00

by: Robert Myers

Department of Parks

JAMESTOWN, Ky. -- If you love good food and the thrill of solving a “crime,” Lake Cumberland State Resort Park needs your help!

The park is presenting a Murder Mystery Dinner Theater on Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. CST.

Random Acts theater group will put on a fun-filled, heart-pounding “CSI” murder mystery. Come prepared to assert your investigative skills and solve the crime!

The price for the dinner theater only is $35 per person. The dinner theater and lodge room accommodations Thursday night are $140 per couple, or $105 per individual.

Call the park at 1-800-325-1709 for information and reservations.

Lake Cumberland State Resort Park near Jamestown has a lodge, cottages, Rowena Landing Restaurant, disc golf course, indoor pool and hot tub, gift shop, fishing, picnic areas and hiking trails. Lake Cumberland State Resort is 45 miles west of Somerset. Take the Cumberland Parkway to US 127 and go south through Jamestown to reach the park.

Pennyrile Forest Hosting Veterans Day Weekend Event

2011-10-28T12:00:00.000-04:00

by: Rebecca Clark

Department of Parks

DAWSON SPRINGS, Ky. – Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park is inviting everyone to come out and help salute our Veterans! This Veterans Day Weekend, Nov. 11-12, visit the park to hear veterans tell their stories of service to our country.

This program is free for all to attend. Veterans are invited to come and tell their stories and bring their memorabilia. Mike Freeland, a World War II veteran, will be on hand to begin the story telling on Friday. He will also teach a workshop on writing your story and do a book signing on Saturday.

Registration is from 5-6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 11. There will be a session on the “Experience of War Stories” at 7 p.m. That session will continue Saturday at 10 a.m. Then at 1 p.m., Freeland will conduct a session on “How to Write Your Story.” He will hold a book signing at 3 p.m.

Lodging discounts are available. Call the park at 1-800-325-1711 for details and reservations.

Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park is 20 miles northwest of Hopkinsville, on KY 109 N. From the Western Kentucky Parkway, exit at Dawson Springs and take KY 109 south. Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park is nestled within Pennyrile State Forest. Park facilities include a lodge, cottages, restaurant, campground, 18-hole golf course, 56-acre lake, rental boats, playgrounds, tennis-basketball court, miniature golf course, hiking trails and meeting rooms.

Craft Show at Rough River

2011-10-27T12:00:00.006-04:00

by: Michael Ricks

KAHT Archive

Department of Parks

FALLS OF ROUGH, Ky. – Rough River Dam State Resort Park will host a craft show Nov. 18-19, just in time for holiday shopping.

The show will feature a variety of crafts including art, photography, purses, books, baskets, handmade soaps, home cooked food and much more.

The show is open 1-5 p.m. CDT on Friday, Nov. 18, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 19.

The park is offering a special lodge room rate for the show of $59.95 plus tax a night for Friday and Saturday. Call 270-257-2311 for information and reservations.

Rough River Dam State Resort Park is on KY 79 near Leitchfield. From the Western Kentucky Parkway, exit on KY 79 north from Caneyville or exit on KY 259 N at Leitchfield and travel to the park via KY 54 from Leitchfield. Driving south, take KY 79 south from Hardinsburg and U.S. 60.

Barren River Offers Youth Boot Camp

2011-10-26T12:00:00.002-04:00

by: Jamie Avery

Department of Parks

LUCAS, Ky. – ATTEN-HUT! Kids ages 6 to 16 can report to duty Nov. 5 for this fun morning of "boot camp" at Barren River Lake State Resort Park.

Barren River’s drill sergeants will have the troops squared away in no time. The "recruits" will be participating in fun and challenging activities. Past events have included activities such as PT, paintball, map and compass reading, obstacle course, radio communications, and drill and hand signals. After training hard all morning, they will “fall in” to final formation and march back to be dismissed to lunch.

The event starts at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 1 p.m. Participation is free, but registration is required. For more information, contact Jamie Avery at 1-800-325-0057 or jamie.avery@ky.gov

The park is surrounded by rolling, tree-covered hills, on the edge of a beautiful 10,000-acre lake. The park has 51 lodge rooms, 22 cottages, and 99 campsites. Enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of an upscale fish camp in the Driftwood Restaurant. If you are looking for something to do during your visit, you can play on the 18-hole golf course, hike along a nature trail, visit the marina to rent a boat, check out a fishing pole or sports equipment, browse the gift shop, or just enjoy a peaceful seat overlooking the lake.

The resort is located 44 miles southeast of Bowling Green. Take I-65 to the Cumberland Parkway east, to US 31E south.

International Classic Cuisine French Night Nov. 5 at Greenbo Lake

2011-10-25T12:00:00.000-04:00

by: Cary Lyle
Department of Parks

GREENUP, Ky. – Greenbo Lake State Resort Park’s Anglers’ Cove Restaurant will be featuring its International Classic Cuisine French Night on Nov. 5.

The menu will include chicken cordon bleu, pork tenderloin Diane, beef Burgundy, French veal chops, French-style green beans, lyonnaise potatoes, quiche Lorraine, French leek pie, zucchini de Provence, catfish, French soups and salads, assorted desserts, pudding, cobbler and brioche served at the table.

Served from 5 to 9 p.m., the meal costs $14.99 for adults or $6.99 for children 12 and under. Drink, tax and tip not included.

The International Classic Dinner on Dec. 3 will feature Mexican Night.

Greenbo Lake State Resort Park is on KY 1, 18 miles north of Interstate 64 from the Grayson exit or 8 miles south of U.S. 23, the Country Music Highway, on KY 1. The park features the Jesse Stuart Lodge with 36 rooms, a convention center and Anglers’ Cove Restaurant. The park also has a 225-acre lake for boating and fishing, tennis courts, and 25 miles of multi-use trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding. The campground is open April 1 through Oct. 31. Greenbo Amphitheatre features musical concerts and plays during the summer and fall.

Carter Caves To Host Mystery Dinner Theater Nov. 4-5

2011-10-24T12:00:00.000-04:00

by: Coy Ainsley
Department of Parks

OLIVE HILL, Ky. – Carter Caves State Resort Park will host a mystery dinner theater based on “The Addams Family” TV show, Nov. 4-5.

In this spoof of the popular TV show, the family is gathered for a reunion. Wednesday is home from college, her parents are worried because she is not her usual depressed, gothic self, and she is engaged to Eddie Munster. Morticia, Gomez, and Grandmama are strongly opposed to this union, while Fester is somewhat sympathetic – he’s such a romantic. Someone "offs" the poor kid Eddie, and his cousin Marilyn Munster, along with the help of the audience, must try to solve the crime.

“The Addams Family Mystery” will be performed by Fantastical Theatricals. The show is a Gypsy Productions murder mystery parody by John R. Logue. “The Addams Family Mystery” replaces a previously announced show based on “The Brady Bunch” TV show.

The cost for the dinner and show is $34.95 plus tax per person and $29 per child 12 years and under. The park is also offering a package that includes the dinner, show and an overnight stay in Lewis Caveland Lodge for just $131.95 plus tax per couple.

Seating starts at 6:45 p.m. for each performance. Call 1-800-325-0059 for reservations and information.

Carter Caves State Resort Park features a lodge and vacation cottages. The lodge restaurant offers a variety of food for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. There’s also hiking, camping, horse camping, golf, mini-golf, fishing, horseback riding and cave tours. The park in northeastern Kentucky is 4 miles off Interstate 64 between Grayson and Olive Hill (exit 161).

Moonbow Trail Trek Oct. 29 at Cumberland Falls

2011-10-21T12:00:00.000-04:00

by: Bret Smitley
Department of Parks

CORBIN, Ky. – The 21st annual Moonbow Trail Trek, which will be held Saturday, Oct. 29, at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, offers nature lovers the opportunity to combine a challenging hike with a chance to view some beautiful scenery.

Cumberland Falls is called the “Niagara of the South” because of its 125-foot-wide curtain of water. Sometimes at night, when conditions are right, mists from the falls produce a faint rainbow, known as a moonbow. The next moonbow may be visible after dark Nov. 8-12.

The Moonbow Trail Trek takes hikers during daylight hours to see the falls and other natural formations, including cascading streams, tower cliffs and house-sized rock formations. There is a 7-mile trek for the most adventurous hikers and a 4.5-mile trek for those with less experience. The 7-mile hike departs between 8:30 and 10 a.m. EDT, and the 4.5 mile trek leaves between 10 and 11 a.m.

Availability is limited and participants must be preregistered by Oct. 26. Participation is limited to the first 100 people to register.

Check-in stations will be staffed throughout the hike and sweeps will be conducted to ensure safety. The Moonbow Trail Trek is not recommended for children under 10 years old or solo hikers. The cost is $10 per person and includes a T-shirt. Participants should bring a day pack, hiking boots, extra socks, a flashlight, batteries, rain gear, a first aid kit, a warm jacket, and enough food and water to last six to eight hours.

Cumberland Falls State Resort Park near Corbin has a lodge, cottages, the Riverview Restaurant, a campground, and hiking trails. For more information and to register for the Moonbow Trail Trek, call 1-800-325-0063 or 606-528-4121 or email Bret Smitley at BretA.Smitley@ky.gov.

Greenbo Lake Offers ‘Tales Of Suspense: An Evening Of One-Act Scary Plays’ Oct. 28

2011-10-20T12:00:00.000-04:00

by: Stephanie Poplin
Department of Parks

GREENUP, Ky. – Greenbo Lake State Resort Park, in partnership with the Paramount Arts Center, presents a dinner theater Oct. 28 featuring “Tales Of Suspense: An Evening Of One-Act Scary Plays.”

The dinner theater starts at 6:30 p.m. in the park’s conference center. Dinner includes choice of rib-eye or tilapia, soup, salad, two vegetables, drink and dessert.

Tickets for the dinner and show are $35 per person plus tax. Reservations must be made by Oct. 21, by emailing stephanie.poplin@ky.gov or calling the park at 1-800-325-0083.

Greenbo Lake State Resort Park is on KY 1, 18 miles north of Interstate 64 from the Grayson exit or 8 miles south of U.S. 23, the Country Music Highway, on KY 1. Greenbo Lake State Resort Park features the 36-room Jesse Stuart Lodge, a convention center and Anglers’ Cove Restaurant. The park has a 225-acre lake for boating and fishing, tennis courts and 25 miles of multi-use trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding. The campground is open April 1 through Oct. 31.

Nomination forms available for 2012 Kentucky Governor’s Awards in the Arts

2011-10-19T12:00:00.000-04:00

by: Ed Lawrence
Arts Council

KAHT Archive

The Kentucky Arts Council is accepting nominations for the 2012 Governor’s Awards in the Arts. The awards, which will be presented at a public ceremony in October 2012, are the state’s highest honor in the arts, recognizing individuals and organizations with extraordinary achievements and contributions in the arts.

The nine award categories (Artist, Business, Community Arts, Education, Folk Heritage, Government, Media, Milner and National) recognize the broad range of support the arts enjoy in Kentucky. Any individual, organization or business may make nominations.

Nomination forms are online at http://artscouncil.ky.gov/Opportunities/GovAwards.htm. The Kentucky Arts Council welcomes all questions regarding this program. For more information, contact Dan Strauss at dan.strauss@ky.gov or 888-833-2787, ext. 474.

The presentation of the 2011 Governor’s Awards will be Oct. 20 at 10 a.m. EDT in the Capitol Rotunda. The event is free and open to the public. For more information about the Governor’s Awards in the Arts and the recipients of the 2011 awards, go to http://artscouncil.ky.gov/KentuckyArt/GovAward2011.htm.
The Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, creates opportunities for Kentuckians to value, participate in and benefit from the arts. Kentucky Arts Council funding is provided by the Kentucky General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts

THE HORSE - Acclaimed Exhibition Opens This Weekend

2011-10-18T12:00:00.000-04:00

by: Kentucky Horse Park

KAHT Archive

LEXINGTON, Ky. (October 17, 2011)—The Kentucky Horse Park’s International Museum of the Horse (IMH), in collaboration with the American Museum of Natural History, is set to open its newest exhibition, The Horse, from October 22, 2011, through April 6, 2012.

The eternal bond between horses and humans is explored in the largest equestrian traveling exhibition ever assembled. The Horse graphically portrays the horse’s impact on trade, transportation, labor, warfare, culture, and sports. It showcases spectacular fossils, models, dioramas, and cultural objects from around the world, including many from the American Museum of Natural History’s world famous collections.

Bill Cooke, director of the Kentucky Horse Park’s International Museum of the Horse, stated, "The American Museum of Natural History is truly one of the world’s great natural history museums, and they did a masterful job in developing an exhibition that not only illuminates the timeless union between humans and horses, but does so in an amazingly entertaining way.

"We are also excited that this will be our first blockbuster-level exhibition while schools are in session. I have no doubt that both teachers and their students will love The Horse."

The New York Times called this exhibition "charming and illuminating" and "an uplifting example of how horses enrich our lives." The New York Post said, "You absolutely must see it."

More than 140 artifacts and cultural objects from around the world will be on view, including a complete Samurai saddle from Japan, a full suit of 15th-century German horse armor, and Native American horse accoutrements. Bringing the exhibit to life are a stunning 220-square foot diorama that depicts the horse’s ancestors, a high-definition video that captures in slow motion the rippling muscles of a Thoroughbred race horse, and an interactive video of a life-size horse where visitors can investigate a horse’s pulmonary and digestive systems and other biological traits.

The Horse is organized by the American Museum of Natural History, New York, in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage, United Arab Emirates; the Canadian Museum of Civilization, Gatineau-Ottawa; The Field Museum, Chicago; and the San Diego Natural History Museum. Curator of the exhibition is Ross MacPhee.

For more information on The Horse, go to www.amnh.org/exhibitions/horse/, www.imh.org, or www.kyhorsepark.com.

Admission to The Horse is included with park admission, or a "museums only" ticket may be purchased for $8 for adults or $4 for children ages 7-12, which also includes admission to the entire International Museum of the Horse, the Al-Marah Arabian Horse Galleries and the American Saddlebred Museum.

Park Hours and Rates: Through November 6 (and March 15-April 6, 2012), the park is open seven days a week. Admission is $16 for adults, $8 for children 7-12. From November 7 to March 14, the park is open Wednesdays through Sundays. Winter admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 7-12. Children age 6 and under are always admitted free of charge. Admission includes the International Museum of the Horse – a Smithsonian Affiliate, and the American Saddlebred Museum.

First Lady Jane Beshear Announces Adventure Tourism Agreement for Brush Mountain Trail in Harlan County

2011-10-17T09:56:00.000-04:00

by: Parry Barrows
First Lady Jane Beshear's Communications Office

KAHT Archive

Equestrian Trail Will Connect Harlan County and Cumberland Gap

HARLAN, Ky. – A new equestrian trail in Harlan County in southeastern Kentucky will connect to Cumberland Gap National Park, First Lady Jane Beshear announced today.

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission, Kentucky Division of Water, the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet and the Harlan County Fiscal Court recently reached an agreement that will allow officials in Harlan County to develop the state’s latest adventure tourism opportunity, which will be called the Brush Mountain Trail.

“This is an excellent example of state and local agencies working together to develop another outstanding adventure tourism destination for Kentuckians and our guests,” Mrs. Beshear said.

“The Brush Mountain Trail development adds to the existing wide range of first-rate tourism venues in this region and will help to increase the number of tourists to the area and boost local economies.”

The planned nine-mile long trail will connect Harlan County to Cumberland Gap National Park, which already boasts an expansive system of equestrian and hiking trails. Officials hope the trail will attract equestrian tourists from all over the region.

“This is a beautiful place for riding and hiking and will help bring more tourists to this area,” said Tourism, Arts and Heritage Secretary Marcheta Sparrow. “I’m glad our agency and the others could reach an agreement to help get this trail developed.”

The trail will follow the historic route of Sherman Hensley, who moved supplies up and down the Cumberland Mountain range to and from Hensley Settlement, an early 1900s settlement preserved by the National Park Service. Along the way, travelers will pass through Martins Fork Wildlife Management Area and State Natural Area and Shillalah Creek Wildlife Management Area.

The idea for the trail sparked on the local level and has received support statewide.
“In 2004, several citizens came to my office and spoke to us about creating horse trails,” said Harlan Judge-Executive Josesph Grieshop. “When Governor Beshear was elected and First Lady Jane Beshear had interest in horse trails, our opportunity came about.”

State and local government officials worked together for more than two years planning the trail system before signing a memorandum of agreement between agencies. The Harlan County Fiscal Court will soon begin to develop the trail in cooperation with state agencies.

"This is very good news for all the folks who like to ride horses and enjoy the beauty of our area,” said Rep. Rick Nelson, of Middlesboro.

Officials expect to open the equestrian trail to users during the first half of 2012.

Moonbow Trail Trek Oct. 29 at Cumberland Falls

2011-10-14T00:00:00.000-04:00

by: Bret Smitley

Department of Parks

Availability is limited and participants must be preregistered by Oct. 26. Participation is limited to the first 100 people to register.

Craft Show at Rough River Nov. 18-19

2011-10-13T00:00:00.000-04:00

by: Michael Ricks

Department of Parks

FALLS OF ROUGH, Ky. – Rough River Dam State Resort Park will host a craft show Nov. 18-19, just in time for holiday shopping.

The show will feature a variety of crafts including art, photography, purses, books, baskets, handmade soaps, home cooked food and much more.

The show is open 1-5 p.m. CDT on Friday, Nov. 18, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 19.

The park is offering a special lodge room rate for the show of $59.95 plus tax a night for Friday and Saturday. Call 270-257-2311 for information and reservations.

October Is a Great Month to Adventure Outdoors in Kentucky!

2011-10-12T10:00:00.002-04:00

by: Elaine Wilson

Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Council

During the month of October, Kentucky will showcase its unbridled passion for adventure and competition through several noteworthy events.

Checkpoint Tracker Adventure Racing will host its national championship Oct. 21 at Kentucky’s Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area.

The 24-hour race will cover more than 100 miles as competitors trek, mountain bike and paddle their way through one of the state’s top destinations for outdoor recreation. Racers will encounter unique terrain that will challenge their navigation skills at every turn. (www.checkpointtracker.com/adventure_racing_championship)

The state is also host to the USA Canoe and Kayak National Wildwater Team Trials, Oct. 14-16 on the Russell Fork River in Pike County. This competition determines the American team for the 2012 World Championship to be held in La Plagne, France. Practice sessions are scheduled for Friday, Oct. 14, with competitions taking place on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 15-16. The competition includes a 500-meter sprint race in addition to the standard 2-mile race. (http://www.USAwildwater.com)

Besides these great spectator events, Kentucky also has a few other events for those who want to participate in some early fall adventures:

Knott County Fall Trail Ride, Oct. 7-9 at the Mine Made Adventure Park in Leburn – This event hosts thousands of riders and horses for a weekend of riding and activities. Camping is available for $15 per person for the weekend (children 12 and under are free). (www.knottcountyadventure.com/horseback-event.html)

Orienteering Day, Oct. 8 at Taylorsville Lake State Park – This family-friendly event takes place beginning at 10 a.m. and costs $10 for adults and $8 for students. (www.olou.org/schedule.html)

3rd Annual Holler Crawlers Haunted Forest Ride, Oct. 22 at Wilderness Trail Off-Road Park – This year’s Haunted Forest Ride is sponsored by the Office of Adventure Tourism, and representatives will be at the event answering questions about other outdoor adventure opportunities in the state. Plus, ATV celebrity TV host Brian Fisher will be on site filming for his new series, the “Keepin’ It Real Tour.” This event is free. (www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=124162760988434)

So whether you want to play or watch (or both), Kentucky’s got a ton of offerings in the month of October. For more information about adventure activities, visit getoutKY.com or facebook.com/KYOutdoorAdventure.

About Kentucky Outdoor Adventure and the Office of Adventure Tourism: Kentucky is home to more than 12,000 hiking, biking and horseback riding trails and campsites; thousands of miles of rivers and more coastline than Florida; the longest cave system in the world; and nearly 900,000 acres of national forests – and that’s just the beginning of the list. The Office of Adventure Tourism aims to highlight these adventure opportunities so that others can experience Kentucky’s one-of-a-kind attractions.

Natural Bridge Celebrates 85th Anniversary on Nov. 5

2011-10-11T10:00:00.000-04:00

by: Brain Gasdorf

Department of Parks

SLADE, Ky. – Come to the Hemlock Lodge for a little history, live music and great food during the Nov. 5 celebration of Natural Bridge State Resort Park’s 85^th anniversary as a state park.

Historic pictures and memorabilia will be on display from 1-4 p.m. In an effort to build the park’s historic collections, guests are invited to bring in historic photos or memorabilia related to Natural Bridge. The park will scan images on site and return the originals.

The Brushfire Bluegrass Band will perform from 4-5:40 p.m. in the Hemlock Lodge lobby.

A special buffet will be served 4-9 p.m. at the Sandstone Arches Restaurant. Buffet items will include pinto bean soup, potato and corn chowder, fresh salad bar, Hot Brown casserole, chicken and dumplings, grilled pork chops, fried catfish, carved beef roast, stewed tomatoes, Southern style green beans, fried potatoes, cornbread, rolls, banana pudding, red velvet cake, fruit cobbler and an Ale-8-One cake.

Since this is the Ale-8-One soft drink’s 85^th anniversary year as well, free Ale-8-One bottled soft drinks will be served to diners by an actor portraying G.L.Wainscott, founder and inventor of Ale-8-One.

To highlight the celebration, special guest Wilson Francis will take you back in time for a presentation at 7:30 p.m., focusing on the early history of Natural Bridge State Resort Park and the surrounding area. Francis served for 25 years as park naturalist and park manager at Natural Bridge.