2020-01-02 12:19:52
Attention music lovers and barbecue enthusiasts: Come celebrate in a region that reveres the art and tradition of both.
A SENSORY EXPERIENCE
Lose yourself in sensory experiences. See John James Audubon’s exquisite The Birds of America. Feel the serenity of the outdoors at Mahr Park Arboretum. Hear the upbeat picking of bluegrass music. Smell smoky, seasoned mutton that has slow-cooked all day. Go ahead, lick your fingers. The locals won’t judge – they know how good the barbecue is!
Accompanying music and mutton are craft beers from Henderson Brewing, fruit and fine wines from Boucherie and Farmer & Frenchman, and refined bourbon made at the O.Z. Tyler Distillery, whose heritage stretches back to 1885.
BIRTHPLACE OF BLUEGRASS
The old homeplace. A new museum. A Hall of Famer who created a new sound. Musicians from around the world who come to jam where he performed. Make no mistake: You’re in Bill Monroe Country, and it is a magical, musical tour of the legacy of the “Father of Bluegrass Music.”
Another “father” also left his mark here: W.C. Handy, “Father of the Blues.” Celebrate him at one of the nation’s largest free music festivals.
One visit and you’ll sing Monroe’s tune: “I’m going back to old Kentucky/where the skies are always blue.”
Regional Highlights
Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum, Owensboro: Follow bluegrass music’s timeline from pre-origination through the rock ‘n' roll invasion to today’s sounds.
Dawson Springs: Kentucky’s first Trail Town is an outdoor lover’s paradise, with horseback riding, hiking, canoeing/ kayaking, fishing, hunting and biking.
Farmer & Frenchman Vineyard & Winery, Henderson: Enjoy vineyard-to-table cuisine, craft wines, a French farm vibe, killer views and overnight guest cabins.
Bill Monroe Museum, Rosine: This new museum completes a bluegrass pilgrimage that also includes Bill’s Homeplace, gravesite and Uncle Pen’s cabin.
John James Audubon State Park, Museum & Nature Center, Henderson: The wildlife artist and naturalist’s life and times are recalled through his art.
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