Heart of Kentucky
Holiday Festival…

There’s no time better to spend a weekend in the true Heart of Kentucky than during the holidays. Whether it’s good food, fun festivals, unusual sights or great shopping for gifts made with tender, loving care, Springfield and Lebanon have it all.

Enjoy parades, visits with Santa, neat activities, quaint shops and, most of all, hospitality that comes with a visit to these quaint rural communities Dec. 5-7 in 2008.

 The finest handmade arts and crafts will be on display and for sale at the historic Opera House on Main Street in Springfield. Crafters from all over Kentucky will have goods available for great gifts and live music and visits with Santa will take place during the sale.

Take the kids to Graham Memorial Park in Lebanon to drive by or walk the paved trails through a holiday wonderland of lights and decorations. Young and old will be delighted by the moving scenes, large blow-up igloos, toy soldiers, arches and more. It’s free and open each night.

For more information, call 270.692.9358.

Historic Penn’s Store is a virtual time machine. Stuck in the 1800s, this is the oldest country store in America being run continuously by the same family. Warm your hands over the potbellied stove. Get a ‘loney sandwich with cheese and buy some nifty trinkets for gifts. It will be all gussied up for your visit that Saturday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday from 1-5 p.m. Light refreshments will be served and holiday decorations and gifts will be discounted.

For more information, 859.332.7715.

Friday, Dec. 5

Dickens Christmas

Lebanon, Ky.

Feel the holiday spirit with a walk through historic downtown Lebanon to see an old-fashioned Community Christmas Tree lighting, listen to the uplifting sounds of children singing and taste some wild recipes in the chili cook-off.  Store hours are extended for convenient shopping!

♥Singing on the Courthouse Steps — 6 p.m.

♥Lighting of the Community Christmas Tree (14 ft. tall!) — 7 p.m.

♥Strolling carolers — 6-7 p.m.

♥Free hot dogs, cider and hot chocolate — 5:30-7 p.m.

♥Chili Cook-Off. Buy one bowl then try them all! The proceeds go to a local charity — 5:30-7 p.m.

♥Carriage rides along historic Spalding Avenue — 5:30-8:30 p.m.

♥Live Nativity scene at Lebanon United Methodist Church — 6:30 p.m.

♥Marion County Cloggers on Main Street — 5:30-7 p.m.

♥Dickens Christmas Parade — 7 p.m.

♥Visits with Santa immediately following parade.

For more information, call 270.692.6002 or 270.692.9594.

Ruley Holiday Light Show

Loretto, Ky.

Throughout the weekend each night, visit the Ruley family’s outlandish holiday light show at 165 Stringtown Rd., Loretto KY 40037.

Started as a hobby, the show covers two acres and has 300,000 lights and dozens of holiday displays, including giant stars and wreaths, the Grinch, helicopter and train scenes and more. The show begins at 6 p.m. and lasts until midnight each night. It’s astonishing!

Fore more information, call 270.865.5242. 

Saturday, Dec. 6

Christmas in the Country

Bradfordsville, Ky.

Visit this booming hamlet in the southern portion of Marion County and see an old-fashioned down home Christmas celebration that includes a Christmas Bazaar all day Saturday, a community Christmas parade at 3 p.m. and a scrumptious ham and turkey supper starting at 4:30 p.m.

The performing Arts Center will feature various Christmas scenes depicted by local actors and music arranged and performed by local ensembles at 7 p.m.

This oasis nestled in the knobs takes visitors back to gentler times when the sidewalks weren't so long and everyone smiled and said, “Merry Christmas” as you passed.

For more information, call 270.337.3796.

Sunday, Dec. 7

All roads lead to Lebanon, the geographic center of the state and the true

Heart of Kentucky! Call 270.692.0021 or e-mail VisitLebanonKy@windstream.net

for more information or a FREE Welcome packet.