New Fly Fishing Event Headlines Busy Spring in Harrodsburg, KY

PRLog (Press Release) - Feb. 17, 2013 - Kentucky’s oldest town gets very lively in the spring, with events at the fort, on the river and in the village. See Harrodsburg’s Calendar of Events (http://www.harrodsburgky.com/wtd_calendar.html).

Learn fly fishing from Orvis experts

Spring brings a new Intro to Fly Fishing workshop to Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, the largest restored Shaker settlement in the U.S., on Sat., April 27. Orvis experts will teach beginning fly angling techniques in two hands-on half day seminars: casting techniques, tackle basics, practical fly fishing knots and more with time to practice casting on Shaker Village ponds. Info: www.ShakerVillageKy.org/events_calendar.

Family play time

Enjoy Breakfast with the Babies at Shaker Village on April 13, 20 and April 27, with a kid-friendly buffet followed by a hands-on introduction to the newest additions to the farm family: lambs, kids, chicks and more. Take a pony ride, play tug-of-war and have sack races on the lawn.

Sheep Shearing at Shaker Village takes place April 27 through May 18. Watch a flock of sheep get sheared and then learn how the Shakers created colorful wool shawls and other textiles through spinning and weaving demonstrations.

At Old Fort Harrod State Park (http://parks.ky.gov/parks/recreationparks/fort-harrod/def...), costumed interpreters bring the fort’s blockhouses to life with blacksmithing and broom making and other demos.  Feed the sheep, climb the ancient Osage Orange tree , play at the Little Tikes fort-themed playground. And let the kids spend their mad money at the fort’s gift shop, known for its array of affordable, kid-pleasing items.

At the Ragged Edge Community Theatre (http://www.raggededgetheatre.org), catch a production of “Little Women” on the children’s stage, April 19-21 and 26-28. It is an affordable family outing ($8/adults, $7/seniors, $6/kids 12 and under) for quality theatre in a cozy setting.

One if by land, two if by river

Free Spring Guided Nature Hikes return to Shaker Village every Saturday, April 6 to June 1. See what’s blooming across the Village’s 3,000 acres and hike into some out-of-the-way and photo-worthy spots to see wildflowers, waterfalls and wildlife.

Shaker Village offers two different riverboat excursions on the Kentucky River aboard the authentic 115-passenger Dixie Belle sternwheeler. From April 27 to Nov. 3, cruise through the scenic Kentucky River Palisades, along a stretch of river with high limestone cliffs and untouched natural beauty. See the oldest exposed rock in Kentucky and High Bridge, an engineering marvel built in 1877.

Book a Wildlife Cruise to the Blue Heron Rookery on May 4, 11 or 18 for an up-close view of a breeding colony during nesting season. Led by an experienced birding authority, this Dixie Belle outing takes guests to the colony – inaccessible by land and consisting of 30-40 nests – which is located along the Kentucky River Palisades.

Musical magic

Visit Shaker Village on May 25 and 26 for the Chamber Music Festival of the Bluegrass, featuring New York’s Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. It’s a weekend of world-acclaimed chamber musicians performing concerts in a restored barn, special suppers and more. Concert times and locations: www.ShakerVillageKy.org/chamber_music_festival.

Besides these events, Harrodsburg has plenty to fill a weekend: live music at Eddie Montgomery’s Steakhouse (yes, Eddie of country music duo Montgomery Gentry) and the Kentucky Fudge Company; shopping area antique malls and downtown specialty shops; watching movies at the Twin Hills Drive-In Theatre.

Book a stay at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill (a 10 percent discount is offered on selected overnights); the Beaumont Inn – a former school for young ladies that combines hotel amenities with bed and breakfast ambience; the nearby all-inclusive Bright Leaf Golf Course; or other lodging option. Visit www.HarrodsburgKy.com for details.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Karen Hackett (mailto:khackett@harrodsburgky.com), Executive Director

Harrodsburg/Mercer County Tourist Commission

800-355-9192 or 859-734-2364

HI- and LOW-RES photos available.

ABOUT HARRODSBURG, KY (http://www.harrodsburgky.com/) | Founded in 1774, Harrodsburg is Kentucky’s oldest city but it’s far from staid. Amidst four National Register Historic Districts and 250 square miles of gently rolling pastures is a town that bursts with historic charm in its superlative attractions: Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, the largest restored Shaker community in America; Beaumont Inn, the state’s oldest family-operated country inn; Old Fort Harrod State Park – where Kentucky was born – with full-scale replica fort that stands as a tribute to the first permanent settlement west of the Allegheny Mountains; an authentic sternwheeler, the 115-passenger Dixie Belle, which gives an up-close view of one of the most unique ecosystems in the country at the geologically ancient Kentucky River Palisades, a channel of steep gorges and 200-foot tall limestone outcroppings that unfold in scenic splendor; an early American drug store at the circa 1865 Dedman’s Drugstore, home of the Kentucky Fudge Company and the shop’s original soda fountain. Located in the heart of Kentucky’s famed Bluegrass region, Harrodsburg is affordable and family-friendly and has a hometown atmosphere, with streets lined with architectural treasures, shops given over to period crafts and restaurants dishing up traditional Southern cooking. Unique. Historic. Authentic. Harrodsburg.

Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/12081388/1