Harrodsburg’s Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill Shakes Things Up

HARRODSBURG, Ky. - March 5, 2015 - PRLog -- Get ready to get active at Shaker Village of  Pleasant Hill (http://www.ShakerVillageKy.org). The 3,000-acre landmark destination, located in Harrodsburg and comprising The Historic Centre, The Farm and The Preserve, is shaking things up to present new dynamic and interactive programming while preserving the heritage and presenting the story of the Kentucky Shakers. From meeting local working artists and taking a variety of hands-on workshops to trundling into the fields on hay rides and departing the Village for bourbon tours and more, Shaker Village emphasis is now on active fun.

“The 2015 calendar is built on and expands upon successful active programming we’ve been ramping up these last few years,” said Amy Bugg, director of marketing and communications. “We want to share 3,000 acres of discovery with our guests by offering events, workshops and daily programming that allow them to experience the property in new and interactive ways.”

Authentic experiences

New for spring are workshops on the “Journalism, Literature & Art” behind Shaker spirit drawings; “Shaker Simplicity,” including an opportunity to make a Shaker broom; and learning how to make a “Garden Trellis” with Village farmers.

Shaker Village will also offer changing seasonal photography and art exhibits in the Centre Family Dwelling, including “Listening to the Silence,” the Bill Berryman Art Exhibition running March through mid-May. Additionally, guests may now launch their own canoes, kayaks and other non-motorized vessels right at Shaker Landing, where the 115-passenger Dixie Belle sternwheeler departs for wildlife excursions.

More active fun is had with these popular Shaker Village events: Sheep Shearing (April 4-25); Breakfast with the Babies (April 4, 11, 18 and 25); and Fresh Food Adventures. On March 28, this culinary outing features dinner with Master Chef Dan Wu and local mixologist Mary Robin Spoonamore. On April 18, the dining adventure will be “After the Races with Marksbury Farm.” For May 9, “Spring Greens in the Garden” is featured, with a chance to meet the Village gardener and experience a seed-to-table meal.

Big, bold fun

Returning to Shaker Village is the [Un]Pleasant Hill Trail Run Series, kicking off on April 25 with a 5-mile trail run, a challenging course over turf and gravel on rolling hills and alongside rock walls. Paddle + Yoga Weekend takes place May 15-16, featuring candlelight yoga, standup paddle boarding and standup paddleboard yoga. On May 23-24, the Chamber Music Festival of the Bluegrass comes back to the Village, this time with an expanded lineup from New York’s Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. In addition to concerts in the barn and special suppers, PBS will be onsite filming “Live From Lincoln Center” – representing the first time the internationally syndicated program is filmed outside of Lincoln Center.

To round out the roster, Shaker Village will offer these visitor favorites: waterfall photography hikes; wildlife cruises to the Blue Heron Rookery; wildflower hikes; night hikes; stargazing in the West Family Amphitheatre; even happy hour on the lawn.

Visit Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill (http://shakervillageky.org/) and click on the Calendar of Events to see details about all the new adventures, workshops and special events visitors can experience. Visit www.HarrodsburgKy.com to see all the reasons to visit Harrodsburg.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Amy Bugg (mailto:abugg@shakervillageky.org), Director of Marketing and Communications

Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill (http://shakervillageky.org/)

800-734-5611 ext. 1570

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

Harrodsburg-Mercer County Tourist Commission (http://www.HarrodsburgKY.com)

800-355-9192 or 859-734-2364

ABOUTSHAKER VILLAGE OF PLEASANT HILL (http://www.shakervillageky.org) | Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to preserve and maintain the site of the Shaker community that once existed at Pleasant Hill. Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill is committed to presenting a relevant and thoughtful understanding of the Pleasant Hill Shaker experience and providing guests with opportunities to discover how the powerful life lessons of sustainability, community and ingenuity learned from this community can be beneficial to their own personal story. Onsite services at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill include overnight accommodations, dining and beverage services, three craft stores, the Dixie Belle riverboat, exhibits in historic buildings, a farm and garden area, and a 3,000-acre nature preserve. www.facebook.com/ShakerVillageKy

ABOUT HARRODSBURG (http://www.HarrodsburgKY.com), KY | Sitting amidst four National Register Historic Districts in the heart of Kentucky’s famed Bluegrass region is Kentucky’s oldest city – one of the coolest places in history. Harrodsburg is full of the unexpected. A full-scale replica fort in Old Fort Harrod State Park commemorates the first permanent settlement west of the Allegheny Mountains. Providing an up-close view of one of the most unique ecosystems in the country, the geologically ancient Kentucky River Palisades, is the authentic 115-passenger Dixie Belle sternwheeler. Eight bourbon distilleries and a dozen wineries are a short drive away. There are horseback riding trails, backroads and byways for bicycle enthusiasts, and outdoor water sports from kayaking to skiing. Harrodsburg is home to Beaumont Inn, the state’s oldest family-operated country inn, and Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill – 3,000 acres of discovery at America’s largest restored Shaker community. It is one of Best Choice Reviews’ “50 Best Small Town Downtowns in America”; one of Smithsonian Magazine’s “20 Best Small Towns to Visit in 2014” – the only Kentucky city on the list; and one of BBC NEWS Magazine’s “Five hidden US Travel Destinations.” Authentic, affordable, family-friendly – and full of the unexpected. This is Harrodsburg. www.HarrodsburgUnexpected.com, facebook/Harrodsburg (https://www.facebook.com/pages/HarrodsburgMercer-County-Tourist-Commission/260238942507)