'Gardens That Swing' Garden Tour Will Be Held June 9

The Garden Club of Henderson Kentucky will host GARDENS THAT SWING IV, June 9. The semi-annual tour is held in conjunction with the W.C. Handy Blues and Barbecue Festival (June 11-19). The tour runs from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., rain or shine.

The tickets are $20 and can be purchased in advance from Third Street House in downtown Henderson and Maxine’s and Wildflowers in Evansville, Indiana. On the day of the tour, the tickets will be available for purchase at any garden on the tour or in Central Park where visitors can treat themselves to world-class barbecue and a day of live blues entertainment.

Gardens on the tour include:

• Jim and Anne Crafton, 726 S. Adams St.: A “Garden of the Season” winner

• Mary Jane Fulkerson, 607 Cherry St.: A charming example of how much can be done in a small space.

• Dr. Akhtar and Diane Yusufji, 4436 Deepwood Drive: Features perennials and a unique fountain.

• Nancy and Gray Hodge, 707 N. Main St.: A Henderson garden designed with pets in mind.

• Penny and Robbie Royster, 2163 Holloway Lane: Features a picket fence, swimming pool, koi pond, greenhouse and more.

• Owen and Joanne Wilkerson, 100 B. Eighth St.: This award-winning gardener does not allow health problems to deter her. See how an electric scooter and golf cart aid in the pursuit of her passion.

• Debbie and Charlie McCollom, 2829 Tippecanoe Trail: An extensive collection of shade plants and daring fence color are sure to delight.

• Rhonda Moats, 924 E. Knight Court: Learn about tilling a hillside and view a bridge built over dry creek bed.

• Rodger Brown Designs:, Thorne Ridge Subdivision: Featured outdoor spaces including outdoor kitchens, fireplaces, pavilions and patios.

For more information about the tour, please contact Marietta Peckenpaugh at (270) 860-8447. For more information about the W.C. Handy Blues and Barbecue Festival, visit www.handyblues.org.

"Blues in the Schools" Starts Next Week in Henderson

The Music Preservation Society’s "Blues In The Schools", featuring Fruteland Jackson, will be in schools throughout western Kentucky next week.

The program is an educational project for children, which teaches topics including the history of blues music, famous blues musicians, as well as writing, singing and performing.

The following schools will participate:

Monday, March 19:
8:30-9:30am – HCHS
10:30-11:30am – CLC
1:00-2:00pm – Bend Gate

Tuesday, March 20:
8:00-9:00am – East Heights
10:00-11:00am – South Heights
1:00-2:00pm – Chandler

Wednesday, March 21:
8:30-9:30am – Cario
1:00-2:00pm – Spottsville

Thursday, March 22:
8:30-9:30am – Jefferson
1:00-2:00pm – Niagara

Friday, March 23:
8:30-9:30am – North Middle School
1:00-2:00pm – South Middle School

This program is co-sponsored by LGE-KU.

Historic Downtown Walking Tours to Resume in April

The Depot Community Room’s monthly walking tours will resume in April. The guided tour highlights the exhibits in the Henderson Depot Community Room as well as historical homes and buildings in Henderson's Downtown area.

Tour dates will be:

April 7
May 5
June 2
July 7
August 4
September 1
October 6
November 3

The tours depart from The Depot at 101 N. Water Street at 10am. Approximate time: one hour. For parties larger than 15, please call ahead. Tour will be held as weather permits. Cost: Free.

For more information call (270) 830-9707 or visit www.hendersondepot.org

Photo credit: © Martin Studio

Henderson's Tri-Fest Celebrates Its 25th Year in 2012

What started out as a fundraising opportunity for our schools, churches and non-profit organizations in the spring of 1988 has grown into one of Henderson’s largest community festivals. This year’s Breakfast Lions Club Tri-Fest will be held April 20-22 in downtown Henderson.

The event will kick off Friday, with food booths opening at 11:00 a.m. and carnival rides opening at noon. The festival continues Saturday and Sunday with carnival rides, food and live entertainment. This year’s event features music by the Owensboro Symphony Orchestra and River City Quartet, to name a few. For a complete listing of scheduled performers, please visit www.hendersontrifest.org.

The slogan of the Henderson Breakfast Lions Club is “We Serve”; the Tri-Fest is our opportunity to give back a small portion and serve the community. Over the past 17 years the club has given more than $300,000 from proceeds of the Tri-Fest. In addition many thousands of dollars have been earned by local non-profits through their food booths.

For more information or to reserve a booth, please visit www.hendersontrifest.org or call (270) 831-1527.

Diane Earle to Perform Piano Recital

Diane Earle, chair of the Department of Communication and Fine Arts at Kentucky Wesleyan College, will present a piano recital Sunday, February 12, 3 pm, at Henderson Fine Arts Center. This program, called “Piano Valentines”, is a program of many varied styles of piano music, including pieces by Bach, Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Debussy, Bartok, Francaix, Gershwin, and others. Earle has performed in 27 states and 8 countries, and is preparing for concerts in Rome, Italy this summer.

This concert is a part of the On Stage Series sponsored by Henderson Fine Arts Center Guild. Everyone is invited to attend this free concert.

Henderson Fine Arts Center is located at Henderson Community College, 2660 South Green Street, Henderson.

Press Release submitted by Rachael Barr.

Two Henderson Music Festivals Win 'Top 20' Award for 2012

It’s an exciting year for two Henderson music festivals. The Southeast Tourism Society has named both the W.C. Handy Blues & Barbecue Festival and the Bluegrass in the Park Folklife Festival “Top 20 Events in the Southeast” for 2012.

The Southeast Tourism Society Top 20 Events publication receives extensive exposure in print media, web, television and radio in the U.S. and Canada. These events were nominated by the Henderson County Tourist Commission because of their impact on the community and the value each festival places on the history and culture of western Kentucky.

This year the W.C. Handy Blues & Barbecue Festival will be held June 9-16. The festival features some of the biggest names in blues, a Taste of Henderson Barbecue Cook-off, a Mardi Gras-style street strut parade and weeklong community events.

Bluegrass in the Park will be held August 10-11. The event includes a fantastic mix of bluegrass music, several sporting events, an outdoor pole-vaulting competition, and an accompanying Folklife Festival with activities for both children and adults.

For more information on these events and others in the area, please visit www.hendersonky.org or call (270) 826-3128.

Carolina Chocolate Drops To Play in February at Fine Arts Center

If you’ve got a hankerin' for some foot-stomping, knee slapping banjo beat, with a simmering old-time Bluegrass flavor, then look no further! The Carolina Chocolate Drops are coming to town with banjo, fiddle, guitar, snare, kazoo, jugs, and bones in tow. The performance will be held at the Henderson Fine Arts Center, February 9 at 7:30pm. The center is located at 2660 South Green Street, Henderson, KY.

You’re sure to be on your feet and clapping along as soon as the Chocolate Drops take the stage and turn up the energy! The Carolina Chocolate Drops are the newest and youngest players in a long lineage of string bands. Come and experience Bluegrass like you've never heard it before! To watch videos of the band, click here.

For information please go to www.haaa.org or call for tickets (270) 826-5916.