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Imagine sitting down in a local restaurant and seeing Abe Lincoln, complete with top hat, eating at the next table. To add to the effect, imagine three more Lincolns, in full dress, seated around the dining room. That's not an uncommon occurrence during the Hodgenville Lincoln Days Celebration every October, when Abe look-a-likes come from all over the region to compete for the honor of most closely resembling our beloved sixteenth President, who by-the-way, was born just south of Hodgenville almost two hundred years ago.
In this land of festivals, fairs and other gala events, magic moments like the above are likely to occur at any time. People in the Heartland know how to celebrate, and experience the kind of joy that can only be found in an old fashioned, small town get-together where the whole community, young and old, comes together to celebrate. For instance, on a recent Friday night in Elizabethtown hundreds of parents and grandparents lined up with their little ones at Freeman Lake for the "kids ride free" night at the annual "Heartland Festival". At dusk, scores of hot air balloons participated in a "balloon glow" that lit the sky, as well as the looks of joy on the children's faces. The next day they were all at the big parade.
Not to be out done, each year the neighboring town of Radcliff has its own special celebration called "Hooray for Heroes" where the community pays tribute to those who serve or have served our country.
Other great examples of Heartland spirit can be found at events like the "Sacajawea Festival" in Cloverport. Here, the memory of Sacajawea, the only woman who took part in the Lewis and Clark expedition, is kept alive with parades, games, booths and a Princess Sacajawea contest.
At the Annual Bluegrass 101 Bluegrass Festival at the Bullitt County Fairgrounds, bands begin playing on Friday evening, and the foot-stomping fun continues until late Saturday night. In Leitchfield, during the Tribal Crossroads Pow Wow, folks come from far and wide to celebrate Native American music and traditions.
Since 1776, the people of Bardstown have been making Kentucky's finest Bourbon. Their dedication to this art gave Bardstown the title of Bourbon Capital of the World. Each year, the Kentucky Bourbon Festival honors this rich history with a weekend of delicious food and great entertainment, with a healthy dose of Kentucky hospitality.
During the Septemberfest Coca-Cola Memorabilia convention in Elizabethtown, folks come from miles away to buy, sell and trade Coca-Cola® collectibles and enjoy banquets, a fun game night and other events that relate to serious collecting. The week-long Meade County Fair includes a parade, carnival, agricultural exhibits, youth contests, horse shows, baby contests and more. First celebrated with six hams and a handful of visitors in 1970, over 6000 pounds of hams are now needed to serve the 50,000 visitors at the annual Marion County Country Ham Days, an Oinkalicious experience for the entire family.
And when the temperatures begin to drop and the leaves start to change, people travel from all corners to the Washington County Sorghum Festival where they can chat with friends, sample country foods, or shop among the many arts and crafts booths.
The annual celebration of old and new is held the first week of October and is attended by more than 20,000 people. The festival is centered around the grass-like sorghum plant found throughout the region, and the product - molasses - made from its juices.
These are just a few of the many, many events that fill each year's festival calendar in the Heartland. No matter what your preference, you'll find something here to turn an ordinary weekend into a special time for you and your loved ones. Honest Abe!
