Celebrating 250 Years With A BANG!

Independence Day Celebrations

Robert Moore
Herald Staff
[email protected]

There are lots of local celebrations for America’s 250th birthday coming up, including two full days of music and history at the Kentucky Historical Society in Frankfort. The KHS campus has three sites in historic downtown Frankfort: the Old State Capitol, the Kentucky Military History Museum and the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History, which serves as KHS headquarters and includes a signature museum, library and research center, object and archival collections, museum store, and more. KHS is an agency within Kentucky’s Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, a Smithsonian Affiliate, and holds full accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums.

The Kentucky Sestercentennial Commission was established to plan and implement events leading up to the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Kentucky commissioners consult on the multi-faceted statewide commemorations reflecting Kentucky’s role in the United States of America’s first 250 years. The commission is administrated by the Kentucky Historical Society.

Here is a schedule for just a few of the events, including local celebrations as well as events in Danville, Lawrenceburg and Lexington.

Friday, July 3
• Picnic in the Park at Old Fort Harrod State Park (100 South College Street). Celebrating America’s 250th with a reading of the Declaration of Indepedence at 11:30 a.m. at the Fort Harrod stairs and Larry Sanders and Borderline under the Osage orange tree at noon. 859-734-3314 or Facebook @fortharrod.statepark.

• Liberty Hall-er America250 Music Festival in downtown Frankfort. At least six musical acts—including Cole Chaney, the Local Honeys, Hancock and Shouse, Mash Grass, Violet and the Newsroom and Jeri and Nat—are scheduled to play on the two stages during the daylong festival—including the Local Stage at Ward Oates Amphitheatre (520 West Main Street, Frankfort, at the south end of River View Park) which opens at 1:30 p.m. and the Main Stage at Bourbon on the Banks Pavilion at Riverview Park (404 Wilkinson Boulevard, Frankfort) which opens at 4 p.m. The music starts at 2 p.m. at the Local Stage. More details are available at visitfrankfort.com/america-250-music-festival.

• Patriotic Concert at Gratz Park (250 West 3rd Street, Lexington). Enjoy a thoughtful program celebrating America. Bring your blankets, lawn chairs and a picnic or enjoy dinner from a variety of food trucks. The preshow featuring Young at Heart starts at 5 p.m. Main show with the Lexington Philharmonic starts at 7:30 p.m. lexingtonky.gov.

• Montgomery Gentry Concert featuring Eddie Montgomery at Millennium Park (1000 Cunningham Drive, Danville). Concert featuring Eddie Montgomery, a member of the Grand Ole Opry and Kentucky Music Hall of Fame who has five No. 1 country radio hits as part of Montgomery Gentry. Starts 7 p.m. danvillekentucky.com.

• Fireworks Show at Royalty’s Marina (2095 Normans Camp Road, Harrodsburg). Fireworks start at dusk. 859-748-5459 or [email protected] or Facebook @Royalty’s Marina.

• Fireworks at Anderson-Dean Community Park (1501 Louisville Road). Food trucks on site. Pool will be open until fireworks end. Bring your chairs, blanket and family. Fireworks at dusk. 859-734-9167 or [email protected] or andersondeancommunitypark.com or Facebook @ andersondeancommpark.

Saturday, July 4
Independence Day
• 50th annual Bluegrass 10,000, 5K and Fun Run (Corner of Main Street and North Limestone, downtown Lexington). USATF-certified 10K course in downtown Lexington. 5K is a shorter course using part of the 10K route which runs at the same time as the 10K. Fun Run is a one-mile course running through downtown into Thoroughbred Park and joining with the Bluegrass 10K for the finish. Homes and businesses along race route are encouraged to decorate to celebrate the race. Schedule: 10K Race starts at 7:25 a.m. for 10K wheelchairs and 7:30 a.m. for 10K runners. 5K Race starts 7:30 a.m. Fun Run starts 8:30 a.m. lexingtonky.gov.

• Kentucky Celebrates America250 at Kentucky Historical Society Campus (100 West Broadway Street, Frankfort) and Capital Plaza Hotel Green Space (405 Wilkinson Boulevard, Frankfort). Free, daylong celebration of American history and Kentucky heritage featuring genealogy workshops, gallery talks, living history performances and fireworks finale set to music. Guests can explore the Kentucky Historical Society and the Martin F. Schmidt Research Library, Commonwealth Hall, the Keeneland Gallery and the Old State Capitol grounds. Free hot dogs on the Old State Capitol lawn while supplies last. Dance Lessons with the Capital City Historic Dancers. Oral History Listening Booth sponsored by Walmart and America250, a free copy of the Register of the Kentucky Historical Society, and a scavenger hunt. Kids’ activities in the Cralle Day Garden, including historic games, giant checkers, Jenga, cornhole and Hands-on History Passports for collecting stamps across all activity stations. Quill-and-ink signings of a replica Declaration of Independence. Kentucky Corps of Longriflemen firing demonstrations. Chautauqua performances featuring Henry Clay, Charlotte Dupuy, Abraham Lincoln and Loretta Lynn, funded in part by Kentucky Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Live music includes Bluegrass by Kentucky Blue throughout the afternoon, followed by a mainstage performance by country artist Walker Montgomery. The night closes with a stirring program featuring the Louisville Orchestra, with Dr. Everett McCorvey singing the National Anthem and “America the Beautiful,” and Ben Sollee performing “My Old Kentucky Home.” Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. history.ky.gov/america250ky.

• Lexington’s Fourth of July Festival and Art Market. Festival locations: Robert F. Stephens Courthouse Plaza (120 North Limestone, Lexington) and Phoenix Park (100 East Main Street, Lexington). Art Market location: Henry A. Tandy Centennial Park (251 West Main Street, Lexington). Enjoy live music and children’s activities, or shop for arts and crafts and get a good spot to watch the parade. Food and beverage vendors on-sites. Festivities take place before, during and after the parade. Hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. lexingtonky.gov.

• Reading of the United States Declaration of Independence at Old Fayette County Court House (215 West Main Street, Lexington). Everyone is invited to gather on the stairs of the old Historic Lexington Courthouse to commemorate the reading of the founding document of the United States. Those in attendance will be invited to read aloud a short portion of the Declaration. Starts 10 a.m. lexingtonky.gov.

• Danville Fourth of July Parade (downtown Danville). Let your patriotism shine during this military-themed parade honoring service members and different military branches from the course of the United States’ 250 years of history. Parade begins at 11 a.m. danvillekentucky.com.

• Lexington Fourth of July Parade (Main Street Lexington from Midland Avenue to North Mill Street) .Parade entrants are decorating their floats in celebration of America’s 250th birthday. Parade starts at noon. lexingtonky.gov.

• Cornishville Community Picnic at Cornishville School (Cornishville Road). Hotdogs and hamburgers provided. Please bring side dish or dessert. Prize drawings with proceeds benefiting various projects of the Cornishville Community Committee and help support community events throughout the year. Activities include Pedal Tractor Pull for ages four to 12 with three different weight classes, firetruck tour, Facebook @Cornishville Community Committee.

• Fireworks at the Mackville Community Center (10651 Main Street, Mackville). Live music, games—cornhole, horseshoes, volleyball and badminton, marbles, card games, croquet and playground—and concessions—pulled pork sandwiches, hot dogs, chips, watermelon, popcorn, ice cream and drinks. Get a ticket for a chance at door prizes with drawings every 15 minutes. Bring your lawn chairs. Fun starts 6 p.m. Fireworks start at dark. Facebook @MackvilleCommunityCenter or 859-262-5535.

• Fireworks Show at Millennium Park (1000 Cunningham Drive, Danville). Event schedule; Paint the Park sponsored by the Art Center of the Bluegrass from 9 a.m to 1 p.m. Bounce houses, face painting, food trucks starting at 3 p.m. Cornhole tournament at 5 p.m. Blue Groove Jazz on the Main Stage at 6 p.m. Micheal Fly and the Sound on the Main Stage at 7 p.m. Fireworks scheduled to start at 9:30 p.m. danvillekentucky.com.

• 23rd Annual Lights Over Herrington at the Kennedy Bridge. Biggest fireworks shows in Mercer County starts at dusk. lightsoverherrington.com.

• Fourth of July Fireworks at Herrington Lake Marina (136 South Homestead Lane, Lancaster). Fireworks start 10 p.m. 859-548-2282 or email [email protected] or visit online at herringtonlakemarina.com or Facebook @herringtonmarina.

• Lawrenceburg’s 4th of July Firework Celebration at Anderson County Community Park (1026 County Park Road, Lawrenceburg). Fireworks display scheduled to begin at approximately 9:45 p.m. Alcohol and private fireworks prohibited. 502-598-7512 or visitlawrenceburgky.com.

• Lexington Fourth of July Fireworks Extravaganza (intersection of West High Street and Oliver Lewis Way, Lexington).Fireworks display will feature an extra special grand finale in honor of America’s 250th birthday. Starts 10 p.m. lexingtonky.gov.

Have any events planned? Let everyone know by posting it on the Weekender. Email events to [email protected].

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