Department of Parks
State Parks Make A Great Labor Day Weekend Place To Go

FRANKFORT, Ky. – What better way to spend the last holiday weekend of the summer than at a Kentucky State Park? Labor Day weekend is Sept. 1-4 and many state parks are hosting special activities.

Here is a listing of some of the events planned for the weekend. For camping reservations, call 1-888-459-7275 and for lodge and cabin reservations call the park or 1-800-255-PARK. You may also make reservations for camping, lodges and cabins online at www.parks.ky.gov All resort parks feature full-service restaurants.

Barren River State Resort Park (Lucas):

Pack your tropical shirts and grass skirts and follow the summer breezes to Barren River Lake State Resort Park's end of summer luau.  There will be a variety of "tropical" games ranging from a coconut toss, hula contest, limbo contests, whatever floats your boat and crafts as well.  Activities will take place at the beach and lodge. Live musical entertainment by Rick Arnold will be Saturday night. For more information, call 1-800-325-0057.

Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park (Buckhorn):

Buckhorn will be celebrating the end of summer "Labor Day Celebration Weekend" with a variety of recreational, and nature activities, including Karoke on Sunday night, which will be free and open to the public. For information, call 1-800-325-0058.

Carter Caves State Resort Park (Olive Hill):

The park will host cave tours and canoe trips through the weekend. Last chance of the season to tour Bat and Saltpetre caves before they close down for the season. A free dance for all ages will be held Friday at 8 p.m. at the pool shelter house. Door prizes. A movie night will be held Saturday in Cascade Cave. Shows at 6:30 and 9 p.m. $4 per person. Bring a chair. A program on snakes of Kentucky by the Kentucky Reptile Zoo will be held Sunday at 8 p.m. at the amphitheatre. $3 for adults, children 12 and under free. For information, call 1-800-325-0059.

Dale Hollow State Resort Park (Burkesville):

A variety of family activities, such as crafts and games are scheduled Friday through Monday. For information, call 1-800-325-2282.

E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park (Louisville):

Teen Night at the pool on Saturday, Sept. 2 from 7-9:30 p.m. The party will be hosted by local radio station KISS FM-98.9.  Cost is $5 per person.  Free food, prize giveaways, contests, music, and dancing.  For information, call (502) 429-7270.

Fort Boonesborough State Park (Richmond):

The park will be hosting a blood drive on Saturday. Donors will get a T-shirt, a putt-putt certificate and become eligible for door prizes. For information, call 859-527-3131.

General Butler State Resort Park (Carrollton):

The Goldenrod Gala Arts and Entertainment Festival will be Saturday 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Handmade arts and crafts including baskets, candles, soaps, woodcrafts, dulcimers, quilts, pottery, walking sticks and more. Living history performances, Pioneer Tractor Club exhibit, food and children’s games. For information, call 1-866-462-8853.

Greenbo Lake State Resort Park (Greenup)

On Friday, Sept. 1, at 10 a.m. the “Clay Man” will help guests make their own pot. Crafts and tye-dye t-shirts on Saturday and an evening hayride at 7 p.m. For information, call 1-800-325-0083.

Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park (Gilbertsville):

Regular games, crafts and activities. Weekend will include 1800 Victorian era theme.  “Bentgrass” Bluegrass Band will perform at the campground Saturday evening.  A Victorian tea introducing new chef James Lindsay will be held Sunday afternoon along with parlor games and children’s activities from 2-4 pm in the Lodge meeting room.  Open to the public. Cozy Critter Farms petting zoo and train will be at the campground Sunday night. For information, call 1-800-325-0146.

Kincaid Lake State Park (Falmouth)

Boston Steel Day on Saturday. Craft show and fish fry and other food at the gift shop parking lot 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 859-654-3531.

Lake Cumberland State Resort Park (Jamestown):

Scott Kelley's Natural History Education Company will be performing a live animal show Saturday at 8 p.m. (CT) at the campground. Other weekend activities will include Night Golf on Sunday night, kid’s bingo, balloon launcher, pool games, pinewood derby car race, beaded jewelry, night hike, and youth archery. For information, call 1-800-325-1709.

Natural Bridge State Resort Park (Slade):

On Friday and Saturday nights, the park will host Appalachian square dancing and clogging on Hoedown Island, 7-10 p.m., $2 per adult.  On Sunday there will be live country music with the Appalachian Troubadours on Hoedown Island at 7 p.m. Free. For more information, call 1-800-325-1710.

Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park (Dawson Springs):

The weekend will be filled with lots of fun games, naturalist programs, and arts and crafts.  For information, call 1-800-325-1711.

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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