Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday that is observed on the last Monday of May (this year on May 26). This holiday commemorates U.S. men and women who have died in military service to their country. It first began to honor Union soldiers who died during the American Civil War. After World War I, it expanded to include those who died in any war or military action.
HENDERSON, Ky. -- Memorial Day weekend at John James Audubon State Park in Henderson will be full of outdoor activities like fishing and hiking, as well as playing bingo and learning how to make a clay pot. One of the weekend’s highlights will be a parade of patriotically decorated bicycles, scooters, wagons, strollers and other modes of transportation.
Scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. on Sunday May 25, the parade will wend its way through the park’s expansive campground. Bring your wheels to the campground shelter at 2 p.m. to decorate them with red, white and blue balloons, streamers and crepe paper.
Other highlights of the weekend include getting to know live native reptiles better at 2 p.m. on Saturday and fishing on Recreation Lake starting at 9 a.m. Monday.
All the weekend’s activities are free and open to the public.
Here’s the complete schedule of activities planned for Audubon’s Memorial Day weekend:
Friday, May 23
10:00 AM Sand Art – Make intriguing patterns using layers of colored sand that you pour into decorative plastic containers. Take this artful project home with you to brighten up your own space. Activity Location: Campground Shelter. Length: 1 hour. Ages: 7 and up.
2:00 PM Eagle Glen Trail Hike – Join one of our naturalists on a hike along the Eagle Glen Pet Trail and learn more about the wildlife and plants that call Audubon Park their home. Make sure to wear your hiking shoes. Activity Location: Begin at the entrance to the Campground. Length: 1 to 1.5 hours. Ages: All and children under 8 need adult supervision.
7:00 PM S’mores – As the sun is beginning to set, come and sit by the fire and eat a s’more or two and enjoy a bit of recorded Bluegrass music. This will be a tasty end to an early summer day. Activity Location: Meet at Campground Shelter. Length: 1 hour. Ages: All.
Saturday, May 24
10:00 AM Hands-On-Clay – Have you ever wanted to make a clay pot on a potter’s wheel? Everyone can join Albert Bauman as he dazzles you with his clay creations. Albert is a potter, storyteller, and musician who will help you make a clay pot that you’ll be able to keep. Activity Location: Campground Shelter. Length: 1 hour plus. Ages: All.
2:00 PM Remarkable Reptiles – Reptiles are often feared and misunderstood animals. We’ll take a closer look at a few live native reptiles. We’ll discover what makes them different from other animals and their important role in nature. Activity Location: Campground Shelter. Length: 45 minutes. Ages: All ages.
4:00 PM BINGO – Bring out the whole family and enjoy an hour of bingo! We will play a variety of bingo games including traditional, coverall, and more. Come test your luck and possibly win a prize. Activity Location: Campground Shelter. Length: 1 hour. Ages: Adults and supervised children are welcome.
Sunday, May 25
2:00 PM Memorial Day Parade Preparation - Meet at the Campground Shelter to decorate your bicycles, scooters, wagons and floats for the Memorial Day Parade. We’ll have lots of red, white and blue streamers, balloons and crepe paper. Cool lemonade will be served to quench your thirst. Where? Campground Shelter. How Long? 1-½ hours. Who? All ages.
3:00 PM Memorial Day Campground Parade – Everyone loves a parade, and you will too when you join us for a real live parade around Audubon’s Campground. Bring your bicycles, tricycles, scooters, motorcycles, wagons and strollers for a red - white & blue celebration! Where? Campground Shelter. How Long? 45 minutes. Who? All ages.
Monday, May 26
9:00 AM Fishing Fun – Join us for fishing fun on the lake. We provide the equipment. All you need to bring is the desire to learn how to fish and a little bit of luck. Activity Location: Meet at the Boat Dock on the Recreation Lake. Length: 1.5 hours. Ages: All. Children under the age of 10 must be accompanied by an adult.
Audubon State Park is located at 3100 US Hwy. 41 North, near the banks of the Ohio River just north of Henderson. The park boasts a museum with the world’s largest collection of Audubon’s wildlife art. The museum also features exhibits about the painter’s life in Henderson, where he came with his family to operate a small mercantile business and devote himself to exploring the surrounding wilderness and sketching the wild birds he found there. The park has four picnic shelters and offers overnight accommodations in six cottages and a 69-site campground, as well as hiking, fishing, golf, tennis and other outdoor activities.
For more information, call the park at 270-826-2247.
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The Kentucky State Park System is composed of 53 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.