What’s Happening In Summer 2025
Robert Moore
Herald Staff
[email protected]
The official start of summer happens Friday, June 20, but forget the calendar. Summer is here. Here is a guide to what’s happening in Mercer County this summer. With everything happening—including Nappy Roots headlining the Heart of Kentucky Juneteenth Festival, Old Fort Harrod celebrating its 100th birthday as a state park, the first ever Downtown Harrodsburg Summer Shuffle and the 2025 Lights Over Herrington fireworks show—it’s more than high temperatures that makes summer the hottest time of year in Mercer County.
Lake Season
Herrington Lake (file image).
Summer is the peak of lake season, with everything building towards the Lights Over Herrington fireworks show—the biggest event in Mercer County—on Friday, July 4. Most of the marinas are open. In addition to boat ramps, many of them offer carryout dining as well as live entertainment. Here is a rundown on what local marinas have to offer, courtesy of herringtonlakeky.com.
• Pandora Marina (125 Pandora Drive, Harrodsburg). Gas, restaurant (dine-in and carryout), rentals. Open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Contact: 859-748-9121. Facebook @Pandora Marina.
• Chimney Rock Marina and Restaurant (250 Chimney Rock Road, Harrodsburg). Gas, dining, boat slip rentals, boat rentals and bait. Hours: Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Tuesdays through Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Mondays. Boat ramp is open 24 hours a day. Contact: 859-748-7625 or text: 859-361-0132 859-748-7625 or visit online at chimneyrockmarina.com or Facebook @Chimney Rock Chimney Rock Marina and Restaurant.
• Freeman’s Cane Run Marina and RV Park (326 Cane Run Camp Road, Harrodsburg). Boat launch, slips, rental, campground Hours: Ramp always open for fishing. Contact: 859-748-5487 or email [email protected] or Facebook @Cane Run Marina and RV Park.
• Royalty’s Marina (2095 Normans Camp Road, Harrodsburg). Gas, snacks, boat rentals. Hours: Fridays from 2 to 8 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Contact: 859-748-5459 or email [email protected] or Facebook @Royalty’s Marina.
• Sunset Marina and Resort (325 Sunset Lodge Road, Lancaster). Gas, dining, shop, snacks, camping, boat slip rental, boat rental, floating cabin rental, cottage rentals. Check weekend schedule for lakeside karaoke. Hours: Fridays from 5 to 8 p.m., Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. Contact: 859-548-3591 or visit online at sunsetmarinaandresort.com or Facebook @Sunsetmarinaandresort.
Sunset Marina will feature live music by Radio 80 on Saturday, June 7, starting 8:30 p.m.
• Kamp Kennedy Marina, Restaurant and Campground (4646 Kennedy Bridge Road, Lancaster). Gas, restaurant, shop, rental venue, boat slips, boat rentals and campsites nightly and long-term RV. Hours: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays from 10 a.m to 9 p.m., Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pizza available from kitchen for one additional hour. Contact: (859) 548-2002 or email [email protected] or visit online at kampkennedymarina.com or Facebook @kampkennedymarina.
• Herrington Lake Marina (136 South Homestead Lane, Lancaster). Gas, dining, shop, boat slips and rentals. Hours: Gas only Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Sundays from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Contact: 859-548-2282 or email [email protected] or visit online at herringtonmarina.com or Facebook @herringtonmarina.
• Mid Lake Marina and Campground (238 Cedar Lane, Harrodsburg). Gas, restaurant (dine-in and carryout), boat slip rental, shop, full hookup campground. Were unable to open Memorial Day weekend due to flooding. Contact: 859-748-8888 or Facebook @MidLakeMarina.
• Coffey’s Cove Marina (1354 Taylor Road, Danville). Ramp only. Contact: 859-324-1236.
• Gwinn Island Resort and Marina (1200 Gwinn Island Road, Danville). Ramp only. Contact: 859-236-4286.
• Bryant’s Camp (766 Bryant’s Camp Road, Lancaster). Boat ramp, indoor boat storage at Herrington Boat Storage, live bait. Renovating cabins and restaurant but ramp is open and live bait available. Contact: 859-339-5452 or email [email protected] or Facebook @Bryants Camp Updates.
• The Cove Marina (305 Red Gate Road, Lancaster). Ramp open only. Contact: 859-304-1430 or [email protected] or Facebook @TheCoveHerrington.
Farmers Markets
Becky and David Reilly visited the stand operated by Denise Motley at the Market on Main Street in July 2024 (File image).
It’s the busiest time of year for the Mercer County Farmers Market as well. In addition to the market that happens every Saturday starting at 9 a.m. at the Stable at Mercer County Fairgrounds (560 Linden Avenue), markets will also be held at Olde Town Park (126 South Main Street) from 5 to 7 p.m. starting Tuesday, June 3, through Aug. 26, and at Burgin (308 Main Street, Burgin) from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. starting Thursday, June 5, through Aug. 21. farmersmarketmercer.square.site or Facebook @Mercer County Farmers Market.
The Mercer County Field to Fork Swap (670 Beaumont Plaza) happens on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month through October from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. weather pending. The next market is scheduled for Saturday, June 14. Facebook @Mercer County Field to Fork Swap.
Old Fort Harrod State Park
Last year, Harrodsburg celebrated its 250th birthday. This year, Old Fort Harrod State Park (100 South College Street) celebrates its 100th anniversary as a state park. While the outdoor drama “James Harrod: The Battle For Kentucky” has been canceled due to this year’s Bourbon Brood cicada invasion, summer 2025 still promises to be a very busy season at Old Fort Harrod.
Magician and banjo player Dave Cottrell appeared at for the Picnic in the Park at Old Fort Harrod on Friday, June 6, at noon.
The 41st season of Mercer County’s oldest live entertainment series, Picnic in the Park returns Friday, June 6, with magician Dave Cottrell at noon. The series will run through July. Here is the line-up. 18th century balladeer Jon Hagee performs Friday, June 13; singer-songwriter Lightning Rod Wilson on Friday, June 20; David Stahl, the Piano Doctor on Friday, June 27; Larry Sanders and Borderline on Friday, July 4; Ol’ Elkhorn Pickers Club on on Friday, July 11; Next of Kin on Friday, July 18; and native flute maker and musician Fred Keams will close out the season on Friday, July 25.
Here are other summer events at Old Fort Harrod.
• 16th Annual Settlement and Raid on Saturday, June 14, and Sunday, June 15. Full scale re-enactment, with settlers, natives, traders and living history both days.
• 13th Annual Pioneer Days Festival from Thursday, Aug. 14, until Sunday, Aug. 17, with the Big Jack Pearson Memorial Car Show on Saturday, Aug. 16.
For more information about Old Fort Harrod, call the park at 859-734-3314, email [email protected] or visit them on Facebook @fortharrod.statepark.
Nappy Roots at Juneteenth
Nappy Roots performing at the 2004 NBA All-Star Jam Session. Image by Amin Eshaiker via Wikimedia Commons.
Nappy Roots, the Southern-fried hip-hop group from Bowling Green, will be the headliners at the Heart of Kentucky Juneteenth at West Lane Park (345 West Lane). Best known for their hit songs “Po’ Folks,” “Awnaw,” “Found’ The Globe” and “Good Day,” Nappy Roots are scheduled to perform on Saturday, June 21, at 9 p.m.
Also new this year is the Freedom Swing Golf Tournament at Old Bridge Golf Course (1 Old Bridge Road, Danville) on Thursday, June 19, starting at noon. Here is the full schedule, according to the Juneteenth website.
Thursday, June 19
• Freedom Swing Golf Tournament at Old Bridge Golf Course (1 Old Bridge Road, Danville). Lunch is served at noon with T-off at 1 p.m.
Friday, June 20
Events at West Lane Park (345 West Lane)
• Opening prayer by Terry Dunn at 5 p.m.
• Miss Juneteenth Pageant at 6 p.m.
The 2024 Miss Juneteenth and her court. From left: Miss Congeniality Jaley Bowman Miss Juneteenth Tamya Haygood and Runner-Up Phoenix Yates. (File image).
• Line Dancing with Patti at 8 p.m.
• Motown Night at 9 p.m.
Saturday, June 21
• Prayer walk at 9 a.m.
• Little Miss and Mr. Juneteenth at 10 a.m.
• Black Falcon Army/W.E.C.E.P. at noon.
• D1 Academy Kids Olympic Games at 12:30 p.m.
• Blue Print Corn Hole Tourney at 1 p.m.
• Speaker—John A. Moore at 1 p.m.
• Larger Than Life Studios at 2 p.m.
• Speaker—Terry Dumphord at 4 p.m.
• Juneteenth Spades Tourney at 4 p.m.
• Speaker—Maya McCutchins at 4:30 p.m.
• Uniqueness Modeling at 5 p.m.
• Speaker—Jason Dunn at 6 p.m.
• Maya the Violinist and Friends at 7 p.m.
• DLY2 (Neo Soul) at 8 p.m.
• Nappy Roots at 9 p.m.
For more information, email [email protected] or visit online at juneteenthky.com or their Facebook page @JuneteenthKY.
Other Events
The Downtown Harrodsburg Summer Shuffle happens Saturday, June 28. Hosted by hosted by the Harrodsburg-Mercer County Tourist Commission, the event joins the Shamrock Shuffle in March and the Santa Shuffle in December.
Just like those events, you can enter to win a gift basket valued at over $500 by visiting six of the nine participating locations, which include Blackbird Bakery & Cafe, LaFonda Mexican Restaurant , Lemons Mill Brewery, Old Owl Tavern and Owl’s Nest, Olde Bus Station Restaurant, Papa Smoke Pizza, Sitbe Cider, the Local, and the Vault—Harrodsburg.
Visit the Downtown Harrodsburg Summer Shuffle Facebook page for more announcements on live music, food and drink specials, giveaways.
Other summer events include:
• “The Sound of Music” at Ragged Edge Community Theatre (111 South Main Street). Runs for two weeks, Friday through Sundays, starting Friday, June 20.
• The Family Firework Fellowship is a free fireworks show on Sunday, June 28, from 7-10 p.m. at Devine’s Corn Maze, 623 Talmage Mayo Road. The event is sponsored by the Mercer Baptist Association.
• Cruz on Chiles at Auto Kustoms (123 South Chiles Street). Open to all makes and models vehicles. Music, food trucks and more on Saturday, July 5, from 5 to 8 p.m.
• NEW EVENT: Fun and Sun Fest at Anderson-Dean Community Park (1501 Louisville Road) Saturday, July 12, from noon to 6 p.m.
• Friday Night On Main at Olde Town Park (126 South Main Street) on Friday, July 18. Live music as well as food and shopping from 5 to 10 p.m.
• The 198th Mercer County Fair and Horse Show (560 Linden Ave). America’s longest running horse show kicks off Saturday, July 19, and runs for a week, concluding Saturday, July 26.
• Rhythm Rising at Terrapin Hill Farm (7695 Mackville Road). Drumming, movement, sound healing, therapeutic and rhythm-centric workshops, live performances runs Thursday, July 31, through Sunday, Aug. 3.
• The 127 Yard Sale runs Thursday, Aug. 7, through Sunday, Aug. 10. The four day yard sale happens along at locations along U.S. 127 and across Mercer County.
• Cruz on Chiles at Auto Kustoms (123 South Chiles Street). Open to all makes and models vehicles. Music, food trucks and more on Saturday, Aug. 2, from 5 to 8 p.m.
• Friday Night On Main at Olde Town Park (126 South Main Street) on Friday, Aug. 8. Live music as well as food and shopping from 5 to 10 p.m.
Have any events planned? Let everyone know by posting it on the Weekender. Email events to [email protected].
