Bar B Q Festival, Kentucky

The Bar B Q Festival 2011 is all about good food and good fun. When the second weekend in May arrives, barbecue mavens from around the globe come to Owensboro to fire up the grill and make some food history at one of the best-attended events in Kentucky.

Bar B Q Festival History and Facts

Barbecue has always been a big deal in Kentucky, but the first official International Bar B Q Festival didn't happen until 1979. The greatest grillers and heartiest appetites had a place to gather and celebrate this tasty hobby. The festival also was started as way for local nonprofits to raise some money and strengthen the community in the long run.

Since the beginning of the festivals, barbecuers have competed to win the Governor's Cup, which is given the top team. The quest for a cup is more than something to watch—it's also something to savor. Festival-goers are welcome to sample the entries, and amateurs can get into the fun by entering the Backyard Cook-Off.

Beyond the barbecue, the festival features a full schedule of live music. The other things to do include carnival rides, arts and crafts, and a classic car shows. The International Bar B Q Festival Kentucky also is a favorite of shoppers, who enjoy the Kentucky-made crafts.

Tickets to the Bar B Q Festival 2011

Ticketing is pretty simple with the International Bar B Q Festival Kentucky—you don't need any tickets to enter the festival. The teams who participate in the cook-off pay an entry fee before the festival starts. If you're planning to eat, of course, you'll need to bring some extra money for your food. Tickets are required for the carnival rides, and bundles are a smart way save some money and have more fun in the process.

Directions to the International Bar B Q Festival

Bar B Q Festival 2011 takes place throughout downtown Owensboro, in Northern Kentucky. If you're coming from the west, from places like Evansville, Indiana, or St. Louis, take Interstate 64 east until you reach I-164. Follow until exit 29A and follow the sign that says Evansville/Henderson. This road, which is U.S. 41, should be followed until you reach the Audubon Parkway, exit 77. Follow the U.S. 60 bypass into town.

From Louisville, head west on I-64 until you reach U.S. 231. Take this road until you reach U.S. 60 West, which will take you towards downtown Owensboro.

Interstate 65, from Nashville in the south and Bowling Green in the North, also leads to the International Bar B Q Festival Kentucky. From the interstate, catch the William Natcher Parkway. This will merge with the U.S. 60 Bypass (East), which also is U.S. 231 North. Follow until U.S. 60 and Owensboro.

Lodging near the Bar B Q Festival

Several Kentucky hotels are ready to welcome festival-goers. After a full day at the International Bar B Q Festival, it will be nice to have somewhere comfortable to get some rest.

The Holiday Inn Express at 3220 West Parrish Avenue has 70 comfortable guestrooms, with four handicapped rooms. Each room has a flat-screen TV, along with a microwave and miniature refrigerator. Guests have access to a complimentary breakfast to kick start their day, fresh-baked cookies, and the outdoor pool for having some fun in the sun.

The Sleep Inn, at 51 Bon Harbor Hills, also serves a hot breakfast in the morning boasts an indoor heated pool along with a fitness center. The 64 guestrooms have HDTVs and high-speed Internet access.

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Kentucky State Fair

The Kentucky State Fair has all the hallmarks you'd expect for a state fair—agricultural contests, fun food, and a full schedule of events. The state's official fair draws more than 600,000 people to Louisville, who come to join in the fun. For eleven days in August, the schedule of Kentucky State Fair events is packed with fun for all ages.

Kentucky State Fair History and Facts

The Kentucky Exposition Center is one of the largest state fair facilities in America. Its 400 acres are home to more than 1 million square feet of exhibit space and an arena that can seat up to 19,000 people. It shares a parking lot with Six Flags Kentucky and, the expo center is close to the airport and downtown Louisville attractions.

The first fair took place in 1816, making it one of the first in America. The current fairgrounds opened much later in 1956, and received an extensive remodeling in 2007. The name, originally the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center, was shortened to the Kentucky Exposition Center to reflect its broader mission. When the Kentucky State Fair isn't on the schedule, the grounds hosts concerts, sporting events, and other big shows.

Tickets to the Kentucky State Fair

General admission tickets are discounted for kids 12 and under and visitors above the age of 54. Infants and toddlers, two and under, can always enter the fairgrounds for free. Additional tickets are required for the rides. Discounted tickets can be purchased in advance, and for the grandstand events at the Kentucky State Fair 2011.

You'll also need to buy tickets if you'd like to see the World's Championship Horse Show, one of the most popular Kentucky State Fair events year after year.

Directions to the Kentucky State Fair

The Exposition Center is officially located at 937 Phillips Lane in Louisville, right at the junction of Interstates 264 and I-65. From either interstate, follow the signs that say Fair/Expo Center. From I-65, take exit 131B, which is Phillips Lane. The interstate heads south from Indianapolis and continues to Nashville, with the Kentucky State Fair right in the middle. I-264, the Watterman Expressway, connects to I-64, which heads from Saint Louis east to Lexington.

Lodging near the Kentucky Fair

Many Louisville hotels are clustered in this part of town. If one of the Kentucky State Fair events runs late, it will be nice to have accommodations nearby, especially ones that are easy to find. Candlewood Suites Louisville Airport is located at 1367 Gardiner Lane, a quick drive from the fairgrounds. Designed for extended stays, this hotel offers all the comforts of home, including kitchen space and expansive floor plans for all 100 of its suites. Guests will find a fitness center and laundry facilities available for common use, as is a 24-hour convenience store.

The Holiday Inn Louisville Airport is less than a mile from the Kentucky Fair. Beyond the guestrooms, you'll find an indoor heated pool and fitness center, along with a cafe and lounge. The 106 guests incorporate twenty-first-century design and technology with a large LCD TV, leather chair, and pillow-top mattresses. High-speed Internet is provided for free to all guests.

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Hullabalou Music Festival, Kentucky

Hullabalou Music Festival 2011 is one of the premier live music events in all of Louisville and one of the best events in Kentucky as well. Held at Churchill Downs in June, the multiple-day festival brings the energy to a venue usually known for its horse races.

Hullabalou Music Festival History and Facts

The three-day festival, which debuted in 2010, features more than 65 acts over the course of three days. The mix of musicians includes the top names in country as well as big names in classic rock and other hit makers. The festival grounds at Hullabalou Festival Louisville are full of vendors selling Kentucky crafts and fresh, local cuisine.

Tickets to the Hullabaloo Music Festival

Several options are available for tickets. General admission gives you access to all of the festival stages. You also could upgrade to reserved seats at the Hullabalou Stage and lawn seats for the other four stages. VIP tickets give you even more—access to hospitality areas, shady places to relax, and discounts for food and drinks. You'll also have a reserved seat in the main stage area, within the first 30 rows for the Hullabalou Music Festival 2011. For all three of the ticket options, you could purchase a single-day pass or a full three-day festival ticket.

Directions to the Hullabalou Festival Louisville

Churchill Downs is located at 700 Central Avenue, easy to access from I-65 or I-264. From the south, including Nashville and the Louisville airport, take 65 until you reach I-264 west, which is the Watterson Expressway that leads into down from Lexington. Take Exit 10-Third Street/Southern Parkway. Continue until Central Avenue.

From I-65 south, coming from either Indianapolis or downtown Louisville, exit at 132, Critterden Drive. Take a right at Central Avenue, about a 1.5 miles from the highway. If you're coming from the west, from St. Louis or New Albany, head to Louisville on I-264 and Exit 9. Turn left onto Taylor Boulevard and right onto Central Avenue and the home of the Hullabalou Music Festival.

If you're planning on parking at Churchill Downs, you'll need to purchase a parking pass in advance. Or you could park at one of the remote venues; the small fee includes a shuttle ride to and from the venue. Both of the remote parking lots, the Ford factory and the UPS facility, are located at Fern Valley Road, which is exit 128 form Interstate 65. Shuttle service also is available from two downtown venues—Jefferson Street near the convention center and the Galt House Hotel. Parking, but not shuttles, is available at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium, which is about a half-mile walk from Churchill Downs.

Lodging near the Hullabalou Festival Louisville

As one of the city's most famous attractions and close to two major interstates, it's no surprise that many Louisville hotels are located within minutes of Churchill Downs. One of these properties, the Garden Inn Louisville Airport is easy to find at 2735 Crittenden Drive. The nonsmoking guestrooms, recently refurbished, include flat-screen TVs as well as a chair and ottoman, and a king or two queen beds. Beyond the guestrooms, the Garden Inn features a pool and fitness room. Onsite dining and a 24-hour snack shop also are available to guests.

The Sleep Inn at 3330 Preston Highway is just over two miles from Churchill downs and the Hullabalou Festival Louisville 2011. The list of free amenities includes an airport shuttle, wireless Internet service, and local calls. A free morning paper and wireless Internet access can keep you connected. The hotel also has an outdoor pool and complimentary breakfast.

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Kentucky Events and Festivals

Kentucky events take place all year and can be characterized as family friendly. Most events in Kentucky are great places to enjoy live music, meet new people, and celebrate the rich history of the area. Especially popular is the Kentucky Derby festival which celebrates the Kentucky Derby horse racing event at Churchill Downs. You can also visit a Kentucky fair to learn more about the variety of farm animals that live in Kentucky.

Summer in Motion is one of the most popular Kentucky festivals and takes place in Ashland, KY. Some of the events to enjoy include fireworks, a petting zoo, and a large craft show. Every year the festival features interesting bands, many of which are very well known. The Beach Boys and Martina McBride are just two of the examples of musical guests who appeared at past Summer in Motion events in Kentucky.

If you are interested in Kentucky events relating to German culture, check out the MainStrasse Village Maifest in Covington every May for a fantastic celebration of heritage. Dark German beer is served out of enormous Oktoberfest style mugs and the heritage of the area is celebrated through traditional German music and handicrafts. Chances are good that you will find the perfect souvenir while browsing the collection of goods that festival vendors have for sale at Kentucky festivals.

The Kentucky Derby festival is more than just a horse race. The Kentucky Derby, which is affectionately known at the Run for the Roses, takes place on the first Saturday of May at Churchill Downs, arguably the most famous race track in the world.

The town spends the entire year getting ready for the Kentucky Derby festival and celebrates its start as early as April with a series of events. Two weeks before the event, crowds gather at the river’s edge in Louisville for a celebration of epic proportions. Some of the events that take place include fireworks, dances, demonstrations, and a hot air balloon race.

First time visitors to the derby festival may find the idea of the Great Bed Races strange, but enjoy the activity when they see just how fun the event is. The idea of the event is for a group of four or five people to push a bed on wheels through a race course and beat the other beds to the finish line. Although the bed races are the strangest of all Kentucky events, they are arguably one of the most exciting.

The Great Steamboat Race is another reason why people love to attend Kentucky festivals. A race course is set up on the Ohio River and the participants are famous steamboats of the area, such as the Cincinnati Belle and the Belle of Louisville. Festival goers can even ride aboard one of the boats as it competes in the race.

The East Kentucky fair is a free event held every year in late August that offers fun for the entire family. Some of the events at the Kentucky fair include a petting zoo, animal shows, and a bull riding competition. One of the main reasons why people visit the show is to see Kentucky livestock from all regions of the state. Two other Kentucky events happening at the fair include a fabulous fireworks display and the Battle of the Bands.

With Kentucky festivals happening all year, you will definitely find one that suits your tastes.

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