FRANKFORT, Ky. – Three Kentucky State Park events were among the Top Ten festivals and events for winter in a contest sponsored by the Kentucky Tourism Council.
The three events were the Christmas Candlelight Tours at My Old Kentucky Home in Bardstown, the Eagle Watch Weekends at four resort parks in January and February and the annual Crawlathon at Carter Caves State Resort Park near Olive Hill in January.
A panel of impartial judges selects the Kentucky Tourism Council “Top Ten” events for each season. Criteria for selection include popularity of the event, its impact on the local tourism economy as well as cultural and historical significance.
The candlelight tour at My Old Kentucky Home will be Nov. 24-25, Dec. 1-2 and Dec. 8-9 this year. This event features tours led by guides dressed in Christmas period costume at Kentucky’s most famous home – Federal Hill mansion. The house is decorated for the holidays as it would have been in the 1800’s. Guests are served refreshments after the tour. For information, contact the park at 502-348-3502.
The Eagle Watch Weekends have become very popular over the last three decades. These excursions offer travelers a chance to view the American Bald Eagle from land and water. Experts are also available to offer information about these birds and their habitat through a cooperative program with the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The parks and dates for the Eagle Watch Weekends are:
Dale Hollow State Resort Park (800-325-2282): Jan. 19-21, Jan. 26-28, Feb. 16-17.
Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park (800-325-0146): Jan. 19-21.
Lake Barkley State Resort Park (800-325-1708): Jan. 26-28.
Kenlake State Resort Park (800-325-0143): Feb. 2-4.
These resorts offer lodges, cottages, and restaurants. Registration is required for the Eagle Watch Weekends. Call the parks for details and fee information.
The Crawlathon at Carter Caves State Resort Park celebrated its 25th anniversary last year and continues to attract crowds willing to get dirty while caving. Canoeing, pit plunging, cave photography are just some of the offerings during the weekend, which will take place Jan. 26-28, 2007. For information, call the park at 1-800-325-0059. Carter Caves has a lodge, cabins, restaurant, campground and 20 miles of hiking trails.
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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