Department of Parks
Labor Day Weekend 2011 at Kentucky State Parks
FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Kentucky State Parks invite you to spend the Labor Day weekend at a state park this year.
All lodges, cottages, restaurants, campgrounds, golf courses, historic sites, swimming pools, picnic areas and playgrounds will be open during the holiday weekend, Sept. 2-5. Resort parks will be offering recreational programming.
All 31 Kentucky State Park campgrounds will be open, including the four equestrian campgrounds at Dale Hollow, Taylorsville Lake, Carter Caves and Pennyrile Forest.
Several parks will be holding special events. Some of the events include:
Barren River Lake State Resort Park, Lucas
Barren River will offer a variety of activities for all ages during Labor Day weekend. Tie-dye bandanas, homemade ice cream, canoeing, arts and crafts, guided hikes, scavenger hunts and games are just a few examples of what will be offered this year. Kids ages 7-12 who love nature can become a Junior Naturalist and receive a certificate and a Junior Naturalist patch (call for details). You can also go horseback riding, play golf, go on a hike, enjoy a walk or run on the 2.5 mile paved trail, or borrow a fishing pole to get hooked on fishing. For more information contact Jamie Avery at 1-800-325-0057 or jamie.avery@ky.gov
Carter Caves State Resort Park, Olive Hill
Carter Caves will host its “Cave-In Movie” on Sept. 3, featuring “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” at 6 and 8:30 p.m. Bring your own chairs for this movie inside a cave. Admission is $4 per person. Carter Caves will also host “Pickin’ at the Caves” on Sept. 5. Bring your instruments to gather and play music with other local musicians. Enjoy the tunes that local talent has to offer. The music will be in and around the lobby of Lewis Caveland Lodge from 7-9 p.m. Arrive early and enjoy a country meal in the Tierney’s Cavern Restaurant. Call 1-800-325-0059.
Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, Corbin
Cumberland Falls will offer various recreation programs for the entire family. Activities such as archery, arts and crafts, nature activities, folk dancing and others are scheduled throughout the weekend. On Sunday, Sept. 3, musician Eric Heath will be performing at the pavilion at 7:30 p.m.
Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park, Burkesville
Dale Hollow will be the site of the 25th Annual Singing by the Lake on Sept. 2, 3 and 4. Gospel groups will be performing at 7 p.m. each night. Admission is free.
E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park, Louisville
E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park will host the NBL BMX Grand Nationals Sept. 2-4. This Bicycle Motocross national competition attracts riders from the entire country. The three-day competition on a newly reshaped BMX track will include a Future Stars Clinic on Wednesday, Aug. 31, at noon and other related practice sessions, and the All Challenge Championship on Friday. All practices and races are open to the public. For more information, visit www.nbl.org or www.derbycitybmx.org
Fort Boonesborough State Park, Richmond
Fort Boonesborough will host the Kentucky Blood Center blood drive in the Recreation Hall of the campground Sept. 3 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. All donors will receive a T-shirt, a gift and be entered into the door prize drawings for gift certificates from the park and area businesses. Open to the public.
Greenbo Lake State Resort Park, Greenup
Greenbo Lake will have a full recreation program for the Labor Day weekend. There will be crafts, hayrides, mini-golf, nature programs and more. Get outside and enjoy the last full weekend of summer. Greenbo Lake has over 25 miles of multi-use trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding, to go along with fishing and boating.
Jenny Wiley State Resort Park, Prestonsburg
Jenny Wiley State Resort Park will be offering recreation and nature activities along with arts and crafts. Don’t forget to join us at our Dance Pad located in the campground for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night folk and country line dancing. It’s open to all ages – no dance experience needed. While you are at the park, be sure to rent a pontoon boat or canoe and enjoy Dewey Lake. Also, if your family loves a good challenge, be sure to sign up for the Family Fun Bowl taking place on Saturday, Sept. 3. Battle other families in fun challenges to see who will walk away with a weekend getaway package. On Sunday, Sept. 4, the park will host a pet show. Be sure to bring your favorite pet, no matter the species.
John James Audubon State Park, Henderson
John James Audubon State Park will host potter and storyteller Albert Bauman on Sunday, Sept. 4, from 1-2:30 p.m. at the Campground Shelter. Children can create and take home their own clay pot. Naturalist Scott Shupe will entertain visitors Sunday, Sept. 4, with his exotic reptiles at the Campground Shelter from 4-5 p.m. Besides enjoying the speakers, park guests can decorate their bikes, wagons or anything else for their own Labor Day parade throughout the campground Saturday, Sept. 3, from 2:15-3:45 p.m. Other weekend activities include tie-dye T-shirts, water balloons, fishing and more. Contact the park at 270-826-2247 for more information.
Kenlake State Resort Park, Aurora
Kenlake will host the H&R AGRI-POWER Kenlake Country Concert on Sept. 3, featuring Mark Chesnutt and Mark Wills. Don't miss this incredible night of music, beginning at 6 p.m. CST and also featuring Bush Hawg and the Justin Hatcher Band. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, and coolers for this big night of country music on Kentucky Lake! General admission is $25; stage seats $40. Rooms are available at Kenlake, Kentucky Dam Village or Lake Barkley. For concert information email dk.howard@yahoo.com, call 270-293-6641 or visit www.kenlakecountryconcert.com
Lake Cumberland State Resort Park, Jamestown
Lake Cumberland will have a full schedule of programs for Labor Day weekend. Activities include youth archery, handmade pottery, recycled crafts, guided tours and more. On Saturday night at the campground amphitheater, naturalist Scott Shupe will present his "World of Reptiles" show at 8 p.m. CDT.
Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park, Dawson Springs
Pennyrile Forest will have a full schedule of programs for Labor Day weekend. Naturalist-guided hikes, arts and crafts, landscape photography and a concert are just a few of the things on the agenda. Nashville recording artist Matt Snook will be performing on Sunday, Sept. 4, at 7 p.m. behind the lodge.
For more information about Kentucky State Parks or to make lodging and camping reservations, visit www.parks.ky.gov
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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