We are excited to announce that we are just about ready to go for our 37th Annual Festival!

The award-winning Bluegrass in the Park Folklife Festival returns this year for a weekend of live music, children’s activities, food, folklife displays and more.  Bluegrass in the Park Folklife Festival has been named a Top 20 Event in the Southeast by the Southeast Tourism Council and a Top 10 Event by the Kentucky Tourism Industry Association.  The event has been featured in several local and regional publications, including Southern Living, Kentucky Monthly, Kentucky Living, Midwest Living and others.  Be sure to mark your calendar so that you will not miss a single thing.  And remember, this will also mark the 37th year of FREE admission!  Y’all Come!

Schedule:

Friday, August 11, 2023

4:00pm – 10:00pm: Food Vendors  

Tom’s Smokin’ BBQ
R&L Concessions — Bloomin’ Onion with Lemon Shake Ups
Paradise Pizza
Harbor House — Ice Cream treats
Freshly Popped Popcorn — Bluegrass volunteers will be selling freshly popped corn and bottled water. All proceeds will benefit Bluegrass in the Park.  

7:00pm : Fox on the Run 5K    

Fox on the Run is a 5K run/walk for The Shelter for Women and Children in Henderson, KY. We house homeless women and children in the tri-state area.
Waterfront in Downtown Henderson, Corner of 2nd Street and Water Street, Henderson, KY
Register at runsignup.com

4:00pm - 10:00pm: Music

4:00 - 4:50pm: Cecil Jackson & Dry Ridge
5:00 - 5:50pm: Kings Highway
6:00 - 6:50pm: Kentucky Shine
7:00 - 7:50pm: Cecil Jackson & Dry Ridge
8:00 - 8:50pm: Love Sick Blues
9:00 - 9:50pm: Kentucky Shine  

Saturday, August 12, 2023

8:00am – 10:30am: Breakfast in the Park

Join us for breakfast on Saturday morning between 8:00 am and 10:30 am. Breakfast is provided by Hometown Roots, Roast Coffee Bar, and Casey Todd, and is served by volunteers from Henderson Rotary.  The menu includes biscuits and gravy, eggs, sausage patty, roasted potatoes, coffee, orange juice, apple juice, and milk to satisfy the heartiest appetites! Music provided by Maggie Hollis. Cost: $12.00 per person for adults; $6.00 for children 12 and under.

11:00am – 10:00pm: Food Vendors

Tom’s Smokin’ BBQ
R&L Concessions — Bloomin’ Onion with Lemon Shake Ups
Paradise Pizza
Harbor House — Ice Cream treats
Freshly Popped Popcorn — Bluegrass volunteers will be selling freshly popped corn and bottled water. All proceeds will benefit Bluegrass in the Park.     

8:00am – 10:30pm: Music

8:00 – 10:30am: Maggie Hollis
10:30 – 11:50am: Caney Creek Gang
12:00 – 12:50pm: Ridgetop Ramblers
1:00 – 1:50pm: Kings Highway
2:00 – 2:50pm: Green River Revue
3:00 – 3:50pm: The Kody Norris Show
4:00 – 4:50pm: David Peterson & 1946
5:00 – 5:50pm: Ridgetop Ramblers
6:00 – 6:50pm: Kings Highway
7:00 – 7:50pm: Green River Revue
8:00 – 8:50pm: The Kody Norris Show
9:00 – 9:50pm: David Peterson & 1946    

9:00am – 3:30pm: Flippin’ and Flyin’ Disc Golf Tournament (includes 2 rounds)

Registration for the Disc Golf Tournament begins at 7:30 am at the Clubhouse at the Atkinson Park Municipal Golf Course. The tournament will be played at both Atkinson Park and Henderson Hills. The entry fee is $45 for non-PDGA members. There will be a lunch break between rounds.

10:00am – 6:00pm: Artisan Merchants 

10:00am – 4:00pm: Folklife

Petting Zoo
Debbie Taylor of Equestrian Enterprises (Utica, KY) will be back with her menagerie of animals. Come by and see what new friends you can make in the corral area.

Pottery
Do you like getting your hands dirty? Well, this is the event for you! Come by and let Albert Bauman (Nazareth, KY) show you how to be creative!

Butter Making
Linda Coleman (Sacramento, KY) will be demonstrating the old-fashioned way to make butter. Stop by and turn the churn paddle and sample what real butter tastes like.

Henderson County Public Library
Juanita Daugherty and the staff of the Henderson County Public Library will be demonstrating old-fashioned games and activities for children and their families to participate in. Stop by and learn some “new” old games that are still fun today!

Quilting
Priscilla Rowland (Henderson, KY) will demonstrate the art of hand quilting. Stop by and see her beautiful creations and learn a craft you can travel with!

Kentucky Wheelman
Members of the Kentucky Wheelman will display vintage bicycles and related items. Come and see the interesting antique bicycles and those dressed in the bike fashion of yesterday!

Crime Stoppers
Earl Brandon with the Henderson Crime Stoppers will have information available and you also have the opportunity to make a donation to win a gift card. Proceeds assist the Crime Stopper program in the Henderson area.

Food Preservation
The Henderson County Extension office will display information on various ways to preserve food. Come by for recipes and other informative information.

Basketmaking
Ginger Wilson (Henderson, KY) and friends will be displaying beautiful baskets. Stop by and give basketweaving a try.

Woodworking
Peter Chevalier (IN) will be demonstrating wood crafting the old fashion way. Stop by and see his beautiful creations.

Frontiersman
New to the Folklife section this year are Ron Coleman and Randy King (McLean & Ohio Co., KY). Come by and see what these Mountain Men are up to. They definitely stand out with their buckskin attire, fur skins, tents, primitive cooking utensils, etc. They also will get everyone’s attention when they demonstrate their long rifles (firing blanks of course).

Date: Friday, August 11, 2023 - Saturday, August 12, 2023

Location: Audubon Mill Park - 123 N Water St, Henderson, KY 42420

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