CADIZ, Ky. – The newly renovated Lake Barkley State Resort Park will host the first Kentucky Blue Moon Celebration on May 31-June 1.
An event like this doesn’t happen every day. In fact, it won’t happen again for another 33 months. The occasion is the second full moon during a single month – in this case the month of May. The term blue moon refers to the second full moon in the same month. The term has special meaning in Kentucky thanks to Bill Monroe’s famous 1947 song “Blue Moon of Kentucky.”
On Thursday afternoon and throughout the day on Friday, Lake Barkley guests will have the skies at their fingertips in an inflatable planetarium, provided by the Fisk-Vanderbilt NASA Roadshow.
By a representation of the night sky projected onto the planetarium dome's interior, visitors can learn about the Sun-Earth-Moon system, the solar-system planets and their motions, the constellations and Greek mythology, the nature of stars and many other celestial phenomena in a fun and informative manner.
Later Thursday evening, Dr. David James, Roadshow astronomer, and local amateur astronomers will have high-power telescopes available to bring to life the full “blue” moon and many other celestial sights.
On Thursday evening, the Paducah string band “Bawn in the Mash” will provide “blue moon” tunes in a concert at Barkley’s Beach while moonlight boat tours (for ages 13 and above) provide visitors opportunities to view the rising full moon from the waters of Little River.
Additional lunar leisure activities, astronomical arts and crafts, and planetary pleasures will round out this two-day event. For more information, email jenny.howard@ky.gov or call 1-800-325-1708.
Lake Barkley State Resort Park near Cadiz features a lodge, cottages, campground, restaurant, 18-hole golf course, marina, swimming, fitness center, hiking trails and planned recreation. The resort is 29 miles west of Hopkinsville. Take U.S. 68W to KY 1489.
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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