Department of Parks
Battle of Blue Licks Reenactment Will Be Aug. 19-20

MOUNT OLIVET, Ky. – A tribute to the last battle of the Revolutionary War fought in Kentucky will be held on Aug. 19-20 at Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park near Mount Olivet.

This year’s Revolutionary War and Battle Reenactment Celebration at Blue Licks Battlefield recalls the approximately 70 pioneer settlers who died here on Aug. 19, 1782. Daniel Boone fought at Blue Licks and lost a son. Although the British and their Native American allies soundly defeated the Kentuckians, it marked the end of any serious British threat to Kentucky and the west.

There will be battle re-enactments at 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.  The Gov. Isaac Shelby Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution will be co-hosting a memorial service at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday at the monument commemorates the battle. There will be a cannon firing demonstration by the 71^st Highland Regiment from Elizabethtown at noon each day.

This year's celebration features a pioneer encampment open to the public and a variety of local crafters and food vendors. There will be demonstrations and programs throughout the weekend.

Visitors will be able to see a portrayal of pioneer Simon Kenton and his wife by Mike and Nancy Rumping on Saturday evening. There will also be performances by John Tierney and the Natural History Education Company, which is a live animal demonstration. Other demonstrations include Native American and pioneer weaponry, fiber spinning and weaving, pioneer cooking, tomahawk throwing competitions and more.

Neal Hammon will be signing copies of his book, "Daniel Boone and the Defeat at Blue Licks," inside the park lodge at the new gift shop. The Pioneer Museum will also be open during the weekend. There is an admission charge for the museum.

The park also has a restaurant open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

For more information regarding the battle reenactment and programming during the weekend, contact park Naturalist Paul Tierney at 859-289-5507, ext. 2017.

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The Kentucky State Park System is composed of 52 state parks plus an interstate park shared with Virginia. The Department of Parks, an agency of the Commerce Cabinet, operates 17 resort parks with lodges -- more than any other state. Each year, Kentucky parks draw 7 million visitors and contribute $317 million to the economy. For more information on Kentucky parks, visit our Web site at http://www.parks.ky.gov