All special events are subject to change and may be cancelled or postponed by the Kentucky Department of Parks due to unforeseen circumstances. Please confirm event schedule prior to arrival for date, time and fee information, especially if you plan to visit a Kentucky State Park for a specific event. Event details and contact information for all 52 Kentucky State Parks can be found on this website.
Carter Caves Crawlathon
1/25/2008 to 1/27/2008
The Crawlathon is somewhat unique among caving events in that it provides beneficial activities for anyone interested in caves and caving without reguard to their level of expertise. Examples of the trips offered include, wild caving trips, canoing, pit plunging, vertical workshops, proper techniques of caving workshops, kids trips, etc. The weekend also includes Friday and Saturday night presentations on cave topics and of course the squeezebox competition. Crawlathon is a weekend packed full of adventure, excitement, friends, family and memories. Registration deadline: 1/15/2008. Event time: 4pm to 12pm.
Valentine Dinner Theatre
2/15/2008 to 2/16/2008
Spend some time alone in a naturally beautiful setting nesteled away in the foothills of Eastern Kentucky. Romance that special someone in your life with a nice dinner followed by a magical theatrical performance. There will be a Friday and Saturday night show. Admission to the dinner and the show is $29.95 (+tax) per person. Event time: 7pm to 9:30pm.
The Iron Furnace Road Rally
3/9/08 to 3/11/08
Kentucky State Parks presents their first spring Road Rally sponsored by Greenbo Lake State Resort Park and Carter Caves State Resort Park. This Road course includes visits to beautiful covered bridges, train tunnels, steel bridges of the past, a 20 ton boulder dislodged from a massive earthquake almost 200 years ago, private tours of Grayson Lake Dam & the Greenup Locks & Dam, and of course a visit to 5 Iron Furnaces which were an important part of Kentucky's industry of the 19th century. Join us for a fascinating 2 day tour to areas of Eastern Kentucky that very few people know about. See flyer or visit website: http://www.scenicroadrallies.com/photos.asp?category=69
Registration price: $70.00 if package not selected. Package price is $281.22 single & $343.79 double. Both packages include registration. Packages include 2 night's lodging at Greenbo Lake, 1 night's lodging at Carter Caves, dinner Sunday, Monday, & Tuesday, Breakfast Monday & Tuesday.
Event times: Sunday, 2pm - 8pm, Monday and Tuesday, 9am - 8pm.
Easter Weekend
3/22/2008 to 3/23/2008
We will have family oriented programs throughout the weekend including easter egg coloring, a nature walk and Saturday evening enertainment. On Easter day we will be serving our Easter Buffet and will have our annual egg hunt with over 1,000 eggs for children 12 and under. Tours of Cascade and X-cave will be on a regular schedule. Event time: 9am to 3pm.
Becoming an Outdoors-Woman: Group Caving Trip
04/04/08 to 04/06/08
The Kentucky Department of Parks and the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) have joined forces to conduct a special series of Becoming an Outdoors Woman workshops at various resort park sites across the state in 2008. The Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) workshops teach hands-on outdoor skills to adult women in a safe, supportive atmosphere. BOW is a non-profit, non-membership program offered through KDFWR with weekend workshops designed especially for women who are beginners, so no experience is necessary. All equipment is provided and course instruction is offered by patient, trained and enthusiastic instructors. Each event promises to be unique in highlighting each Parks focal point.
If you are interested in participating or finding out more about these workshops please contact the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources at 800 858-1549 or visit their web-site at fw.ky.gov
Wildflower & Campers Appreciation Weekend
4/25/2008 to 4/27/2008
This weekend has been set aside as a special weekend for campers. Those camping this weekend will be charged the regular camping rate on Friday night and will receive Saturday night camping free! Special rates will apply to campers for min-golf and cave tours. Some of the recreational prorams include a Smokey Lake canoe trip, crafts, homemade ice cream, and a live performance on Saturday Night. For Wildflower Weekend we will have several wildflower walks and programs to show guests the beautiful array of the wildflowers of Carter Caves.
Kentucky Backcountry Event "Blooming Karst Trek"
5/3/2008
Trillium, hepatica and spring beauties are just a few of the wildflowers that cover the hills and valleys of Carter Caves. During this trek you will see two amazing natural bridges, enjoy scenic views of Smoky Lake and see many wildflowers in full bloom. In the afternoon you will trek into the beautiful Horn Hollow valley where you leave the comforts of daylight and enter the dark, wet environment of Horn Hollow Cave (cave portion is optional). After reaching the surface we will hike back to civilization and the comforts of life. A dependable flashlight, sturdy shoes, a pack lunch and a couple of bottles of water is required for the trek. The fee includes the guided hike, cave trip, a souvenir walking stick and a Carter Caves hiking stick medallion. The fee is $20 per person. The trip meets at the Welcome Center at 9:30 a.m. The trek is approximately 6 miles and 4-5 hours in length. Pre-registration is required. Call the Recreation Department to register at 606-286-4411.
Kentucky Backcountry Event "Bat Cave Extreme"
5/31/2008
This is an extreme cave excursion into our longest cave on the park, Bat Cave. The trip is considered strenuous and will include stooping, bending, climbing and crawling through dark, wet and muddy cave passages. Cavers encounter passages that require long hand and knee crawls and some belly crawls. Do not attempt this trip if you are claustrophobic, have a bad back, bad knees, or if you are not in good health or shape. You must be 15 years or older to participate. Headlamps and kneepad rental is included on the trip. Required equipment includes: A helmet with a chin strap, a backup flashlight with new batteries, long pants & shirt, sturdy boots that cover the ankle, at least two bottles of water, a pack lunch which is cave friendly (meaning it will not smash in your pack while crawling) and a pack to carry your equipment in. The fee is $20 per person. Meets at the Welcome Center at 9:30 a.m. Pre-registration is required! Call the Recreation Department to register at 606-286-4411.
Kentucky Backcountry Event "Bat Cave Extreme"
7/12/2008
This is an extreme cave excursion into our longest cave on the park, Bat Cave. The trip is considered strenuous and will include stooping, bending, climbing and crawling through dark, wet and muddy cave passages. Cavers encounter passages that require long hand and knee crawls and some belly crawls. Do not attempt this trip if you are claustrophobic, have a bad back, bad knees, or if you are not in good health or shape. You must be 15 years or older to participate. Headlamps and kneepad rental is included on the trip. Required equipment includes: A helmet with a chin strap, a backup flashlight with new batteries, long pants & shirt, sturdy boots that cover the ankle, at least two bottles of water, a pack lunch which is cave friendly (meaning it will not smash in your pack while crawling) and a pack to carry your equipment in. The fee is $20 per person. Meets at the Welcome Center at 9:30 a.m. Pre-registration is required! Call the Recreation Department to register at 606-286-4411.
Pioneer Life Week
7/21/2008 to 7/27/2008
A week dedicated to the Revolutionary War, The War of 1812 and the settlement of lands around the Ohio River. Reenactors, musical entertainment and many historical programs brings this rich heritage back to life. The pioneer camp is open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday - Saturday and 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Sunday. Other programs include lantern tours of Saltpetre Cave, tomahawk throwing, black powder rifle demonstrations, spinning and weaving demonstrations, primitive fire making, and pioneer clothing interpretation. Saturday is County Fair Day which includes displays of flintknapping, arrowheads, old time machinery, woodcarving, appalachian toys and games. We will also have a pie auction, pioneer vittles tasting and a seed spittin contest. Event time: 9:30 am to 3:30 pm.
Bil Lepp "Liar" Comedy Dinner Show
8/22/2008 to 8/23/2008
This will be a night full of good food (buffet style) and comedy from the "Side Splitting Funny Man." Bil Lepp, a preacher and five-time champion of the West Virginia Liars Contest, will be on stage to entertain you this evening. He tells original, hilarious tales that will bring a smile to the face of even the most ill humored person. The cost for the dinner and show is $29.95 plus tax per person and $24.95 plus tax per child 12 yrs and under.
Fraley Mountain Music Gatherin
9/3/2008 to 9/7/2008
Traditional musical instruments such as the dulcimer, fiddle and guitar are used to tell stories about life long ago along the foothills of Eastern Kentucky. Wednesday night is a free concert in the Campground. Thursday open stage concert in the ampitheatre. Friday afternoon includes open stage, banjo gatherin & dulcimer gatherin. Friday night concert in the Ampitheater. Saturday afternoon includes open stage, ballads, storytelling, fiddle gatherin & guitar gatherin. Saturday night concert in the Ampitheater. Sunday morning there will be a musical gatherin in the campground. Event time: 8pm to 12pm.
Kentucky Backcountry Event "4 C's Trek"
9/27/2008
Test your endurance into the backcountry of the park on the Carter Caves Cross Country Trail! This 7.5-mile loop excursion is on moderately difficult terrain. It highlights swinging bridges, views of the secluded Smoky Lake and a passage through Shangra La Arch. The leaves should be in the midst of changing for this beautiful fall hike! Required equipment includes a sack lunch, good hiking boots, several bottles of water and a backpack to carry your equipment in. The fee includes the guided hike, a walking stick and a Carter Caves walking stick medallion. The fee is $20 per person. The trek is approximately 7.5 miles and 5-6 hours in length. Meets at the Welcome Center at 9:30 a.m. Pre-registration is required! Call the Recreation Department at 606-286-4411 to register.
Carter Caves Haunted Trail
10/10/2008 to 10/11/2008
The ghouls and goblins have risen from the underground world at Carter Caves to scare you silly on these two weekends. If you dare come and take the walk through out 1/2 mile haunted trail and don't forget to bring your "Mummy." Our past trail survivors consider Carter Caves Haunted Trail as one of the best Haunted trails in the region. Admission is $7 per person for the trail. Concessions will be available at the beginning of the trail. The trail is not reccommended for young children. Transportation to and from the trailhead will be provided by the park. Ticket sales are each event night from 7:30pm - 10:00pm at Carter Caves Public Pool.
Carter Caves Haunted Trail
10/17/2008 to 10/18/2008
The ghouls and goblins have risen from the underground world at Carter Caves to scare you silly on these two weekends. If you dare come and take the walk through out 1/2 mile haunted trail and don't forget to bring your "Mummy." Our past trail survivors consider Carter Caves Haunted Trail as one of the best Haunted trails in the region. Admission is $7 per person for the trail. Concessions will be available at the beginning of the trail. The trail is not reccommended for young children. Transportation to and from the trailhead will be provided by the park. Ticket sales are each event night from 7:30pm - 10:00pm at Carter Caves Public Pool.
Halloween Campout Celebration & Ghost Stories in the Cave
10/24/2008 to 10/25/2008
Campers come join us for our 5th annual Halloween Campout Celebration. Special activites include site-to-site trick or treating, pumpkin carving contest, spooky mini golf, and a campsite decorating contest. On Saturday night you can imagine yourself encased in total darkness with only the sounds of bats flying through the air. Sounds like a perfect place to spend your Halloween Evening with our Ghost Stories in a Cave Program. Bring along a chair and your imagination. Event time: 8pm to 10pm.