FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, August 25, 2008

For more information contact:
Bill Clary

(502) 564-4696

CELEBRATE AGRITOURISM MONTH

AT A FALL FESTIVAL OR EVENT NEAR YOU

              FRANKFORT, Ky. — September is Agritourism Month. As the month ushers in the cooler temperatures and colorful foliage of autumn, there are numerous fall festivals and other activities to enjoy all across Kentucky.

              “I encourage everyone to attend an agritourism event and enjoy a day in the country,” Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer said. “You and your family can spend quality time having fun together and enjoy good homegrown Kentucky Proud food while at the same time supporting Kentucky’s hard-working farm families.”

              Labor Day weekend is the traditional start of fall festival season in Kentucky. That’s no different this year with the Mandolin Farm Bluegrass Festival on Friday, Aug. 29 to Sunday, Aug. 31 in Flemingsburg. Listen to live bluegrass bands under a covered pavilion and browse vendors’ booths. Visit www.mandolinfarmbluegrass.net.

              The Froggy 104.9 OwenFest is Saturday, Aug. 30 at Elk Creek Vineyard in Owenton. It will feature a day of live music along with a hot dog eating contest, 5-kilometer run, fishing tournament, and crafts and farmers’ markets. Visit www.elkcreekvineyards.com.

              Another vineyard, Equus Run in Midway, will host its Tunes in the Vines series with free concerts from 3-5 p.m. on Aug. 30 by acoustic guitarist Ben Brown and Sept. 6 by gypsy blues band Alma Gitana. A week later, on Sept. 13, the band Scandalous will play a Concert at the Vineyard. Advance concert tickets are $23.50, including a buffet dinner. Visit www.equusrunvineyards.com.

              Here’s a brief rundown of some other events throughout Agritourism Month in Kentucky:

• Pumpkin Days starts Sept. 6 and runs Saturdays through Oct. 25 at Christian Way Farm near Hopkinsville. Visit www.christianwayfarm.com.
• The first-ever Ruby Moon Arts Festival is 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 13 at Ruby Moon Vineyard and Winery in Henderson. Stroll through the vineyard and look at works of art offered for sale by members of the Henderson Society of Art. Visit www.rubymoonwinery.com.

• Evans Orchard and Cider Mill in Georgetown will host its Apple Festival Sept. 13-14 with the fruit available in every form imaginable, along with country music, crafts, pony rides and a petting zoo. Evans Orchard will follow with its Harvest Festival Sept. 20-Oct. 26 from 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Saturdays and noon-5:30 p.m. Sundays. The festival features pumpkin picking and even a pumpkin throwing contest. Visit www.evansorchard.com.
• The Trimble County Apple Festival is Sept. 13-14 at Bray Orchard and Farm Market in Bedford. For more information, call (502) 255-3607.
• Autumn Fest is Sept. 13 through Halloween at Bi-Water Farm and Greenhouse in Georgetown. Hours are 9 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon-7:30 p.m. Sunday. Visit www.biwaterfarm.com.
• Kinman Farms Fall Festival is Sept. 15 through Halloween at Kinman Farms in Burlington. Hours are 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Call (859) 689-2682.
• Haunted Hayrides will be given at Sandyland Acres in Petersburg from Sept. 19 through Halloween between 7-11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Visit www.sandylandacres.com.
• The A-Maze-ing Corn Adventure is open from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. every weekend from Saturday, Sept. 20 through the end of October at Farm Haven in Union. In addition to the corn maze, there will be a hayride farm tour, a petting zoo, a cabin museum and a gift shop. Visit www.unionmaze.org.
• The Apple Days Festival at Boyd Orchards in Versailles is Sept. 20 from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sept. 21 from noon-6 p.m. The festival features a corn maze, hayrides, music, pony rides, farm animals, and a donkey and dog show. Boyd Orchards’ Scarecrow Festival will follow Sept. 27 from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sept. 28 from noon-6 p.m. Visit www.boydorchards.com.
• The 10thAnnual “R” Farm Pumpkinfest in Maysville is Sept. 27 from 10 a.m-6 p.m. and Sept. 28 from noon-6 p.m. The 130-acre working farm will feature horse-drawn wagon rides, a corn maze, live entertainment, craft vendors and a pumpkin patch for picking. Visit www.r-farm.com.
• Baldwin Farm in Richmond will host Pumpkins and More from Sept. 27 through Halloween. Visit www.baldwinfarmsky.com.

The Kentucky Farms Are Fun Web site is an online directory of Kentucky farm attractions that enables consumers to search for agritourism adventures by activity, region or county. Check it out at www.kentuckyfarmsarefun.com.

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To visit the Division of Agritourism Web site, click here.