This new year, there are just as many new and exciting things to do as there are traditional Henderson activities. If you are looking for places to explore, fun events, new food, and ways get your family up and outdoors, this is the perfect guide.
Attend a Festival:
- The W.C. Handy Blues and Barbecue Festival (unfortunaltey we are booked for 2018) is held for 4 days in June. It has become one of the largest free music festivals in the nation, and celebrates the life and legacy of Henderson native W. C. Handy through lots of music, food, and good company!
- The Sandy Lee Watkins Songwriters Festival held in July showcases some of Nashville’s biggest singer/songwriters through intimate acoustic performances. It creates an up-close experience for attendees, along with a chance for them to learn the stories of how and why from the songwriters themselves.
- Bluegrass in the Park, held in August, features live bluegrass music, food, folklife displays, children’s activities, and more.
Learn About Our History (along with yours!):
- Visit the John James Audubon Museum and State Park for one of their arts and crafts events, workshops, trail tours, or unique exhibits!
- Visit the Community Room to see the exhibited history of Henderson, or attend one of their walking tours, such as Taste of Henderson, Fernwood Cemetery, or Bird Statue Tour.
- Research your roots in Henderson through the Historical & Genealogical Society. You can find information such as bible records, churches, census records, cemeteries, family pages and a brief history of The Depot.
Venture Outdoors:
- Go canoeing through the Sloughs Wildlife Management Area. Divided into wetlands, woodlands, ridges, and open fields, this area is the perfect spot for fishermen, campers, hikers, and nature enthusiasts. Visit https://www.techiecamper.org for all your camping gear reviews.
- Enjoy live racing from early July through Labor Day at Ellis Park Race Course, or attend one of their special events such as wiener dog races, ostrich races, and camel races.
- Explore Henderson’s nature scenes by taking a walk on the Atkinson Park Riverwalk, through the Sandy Lee Watkins Community Park, or visit the Audubon Wetlands Boardwalk. During the spring and summer, this trail has the best up-close views of wetland wildlife.
Explore Art & Culture:
- Check out the OVAL Gallery at The Citi Center Building is a myriad of yearly exhibits that include fine arts, fiber works, mixed media, and photography.
- Visit the Rotunda Gallery located on the top floor of the library is a historic space that offers rotating nature and art exhibits.
- See a live performance at the Preston Arts Center at HCC. Top vocalists, children’s science shows, and many other exciting shows visit each season.
Try New Flavors:
- Have a date night at Farmer and Frenchman Winery, where you can dine on the deck, sample wines, and see the fully refurbished 1940’s tobacco barn.
- Visit the Henderson Farmers Market at the Fairgrounds from May-October. It is the place to go for fresh produce, local honey, delicious jams, and more!
- Try different local restaurants in our ever-growing food community. Here, you can find a taste of everything from barbecue, seafood, sandwiches, and ethnic cuisine.
Treat yourself:
- If you’re looking for a new piece of furniture to put the finishing touch on your home, visit Alles Brothers Furniture Company who has been furnishing Henderson homes for 115 years.
- Handmade soaps and lotions are a couple of sweet-smelling ways to treat yourself. Lucia Soaps Etc LLC is the hot spot for local, handmade soaps and lotions!
- If furniture and soaps don’t hit the spot, there are lots of local boutiques and shops that are guaranteed to do the job. The Gold Mine, J Petals Flower Shop & Gifts, Paisley’s, Sweet Peas Gift Shop, Third Street House, Tip Top Design Company, and Victoria’s Boutique are some of the boutiques and shops that Henderson has to offer.
Henderson is home to a number of special events and unique activities year round. For more information on the latest happenings and can’t-miss experiences, check out our community calendar, and be sure to check it throughout the year for new and updated events.
Book a stay at the L&N Bed and Breakfast.
Blog produced by Henderson County Tourist Commission
Avid bargain hunters from all over will be flocking to Kentucky for the famous 400-mile yard sale that stretches from east to west along Highway 60. From sunup to sundown during October 5 through 8, take a drive down country roads to see what interesting deals you can find.
Another outdoor market event that draws in thousands of people is the annual Arts & Crafts Festival at Audubon State Park going on October 7 and 8. The festival brings in over 100 unique vendors. Woodworking, artistic items, weaving, seasonal decor, quilts, handmade, and let’s not forget kettle corn and all the other tasty treats! It’s a great time to buy one-of-a-kind gifts for the holidays, and to watch artisans at work! Wooden statues made from chainsaw artists are a favorite of festival-goers. Admission is free, but you’ll need cash for parking.
Looking for a more frightening outing that also supports a good cause? The 11th annual Terror on the Trail is full of scary goblins and ghouls. Two nights of thrilling fun on October 20 and 21, beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 a piece and worth every penny, as the proceeds of the event go towards kids with medical expenses. This year’s recipients are Erich Gilbert, a freshman in high school with cerebral palsy who is wheelchair bound, and Adeline Grace, the 8-week-old daughter of Brad and Whitney Alsup. The proceeds will go to helping with the purchase of van lift for Erich’s family and for an aortic correction surgery for
The Depot Community Room’s most popular tour of the year, the Spooks and Legends Haunted Tour, is set for Saturday, October 28. Listen to these eyebrow-raising stories of actual people that lived in Henderson centuries ago! You will find yourself trapped in the plots of murder mysteries, haunted buildings, crimes that might just make your skin crawl! This tour is based on actual people and events that are recorded in Henderson’s History. Two walking tours will operate on Saturday, beginning at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the Depot Community Room at 101 North Water Street.
Don’t forget to take the kids out for to do what they love doing most, collecting candy! As always, trick-or-treating will take place in downtown Henderson from 3 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. After the trick-or-treat, make your way to your favorite Halloween party, including community activities at Henderson General Baptist Church, First United Methodist Church, and Community Baptist Church.
The L&N Bed and Breakfast located less than one block from the Henderson KY Riverfront Walking Trails is perfect for walking and or running. Our local tourism commission produced this article telling us how visitors and residents in our community can use this trail. 
May is 
We’re bicycle friendly at L&N Bed and Breakfast and welcome groups of up to 8 to overnight with us in our beautiful, cozy 4-bedroom turn of the century inn. 
