Calendar of Events
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.
Eagle Watch Weekend 2008
1/25/2008 to 1/27/2008
A success story of species conservation and education in the United States, the American Bald Eagle is a spectacular bird with a captivating history. Enjoy watching this bird from land and from the water during Lake Barkley’s Eagle Watch Weekend. This annual event includes boat and van eagle-viewing tours, live bird-of-prey programs, conservation and education exhibits, and more.
Download brochure and registration form (pdf file).
Barkley Sweetheart Weekend
2/15/2008 to 2/17/2008
Your sweetheart will never forget this magical weekend on the romantic waters of Lake Barkley. Musical memories, an unforgettable boat tour, fine dining, and relaxing accommodations will add this weekend to your future stories together. Lodging packages will be available, so get them while you can and woo your special someone at Barkley Lodge! Registration fee and package price is to be announced. Registration deadline is 1/31/2008.
Springtime Celebration
3/21/2008 to 3/23/2008
Celebrate the beginning of spring at Barkley Lodge and Lake Barkley's Fitness Center. The turn of the season is a great time for hitting the trails, getting out on the lake and plenty of other Equinox enjoyment! The Easter Bunny will visit us again at Lake Barkley for egg coloring, holiday crafts, souvenir photo opportunities, and our traditionally egg-ceptional egg hunt!!!
Barkley Backcountry Weekend
3/28/2008 to 3/30/2008
Get outdoors at Lake Barkley! On Friday night and throughout the day on Saturday, we'll have outdoor experts and demonstration gear on hand, share principles of Leave No Trace hiking and camping, cook up some campfire meals together, discover public backcountry areas in Kentucky, and learn about the issues of conservation and backcountry concern. Activities will continue at Barkley Lodge through Saturday evening. Registration deadline: 3/15/2008. Contact: Jenny Howard at Jenny.Howard@ky.gov.
Barkley Backpacking 101
4/5/2008 to 4/6/2008
Interested in spending a night under starry skies and a day surrounded by woods and water? Setting out on an overnight backpacking trip and investing in the gear to do it can be a chore - unless you've been on one of Barkley's Backpacking 101 Weekends! Join the Park Naturalist on Saturday morning for a one-night camping trip where we provide the gear, the experience, and the memories! Registration is limited, so call ahead and reserve your spot.
Earth Week
4/12/2008 to 4/19/2008
Lake Barkley is once again celebrating Kentucky and National Earth Week with a full week of nature hikes and boat tours, regional history and folk life programs, nature arts, guest speakers, live animal presentations, trail and shoreline cleanups, live entertainment, astronomy, and more! Experience, learn, and enjoy during Barkley's Earth Week festivities!
Campers Appreciation Weekend
4/25/2008 to 4/27/2008
Lake Barkley loves campers! From improvements on several sites to a refurbished amphitheater to the slew of camper-focused activities, we're sharing our appreciation to those who appreciate our beautiful wooded campground. But that's not all - this weekend, you'll get two nights for the price of one! Games, crafts, and entertainment will round out the weekend's campground focus.
Barkley Backpacking 101
5/3/2008 to 5/4/2008
Interested in spending a night under starry skies and a day surrounded by woods and water? Setting out on an overnight backpacking trip and investing in the gear to do it can be a chore - unless you've been on one of Barkley's Backpacking 101 Weekends! Join the Park Naturalist on Saturday morning for a one-night camping trip where we provide the gear, the experience, and the memories! Registration is limited, so call ahead and reserve your spot.
4th of July Weekend at the Beach
7/4/2008 to 7/6/2008
The tradition continues along Barkley's waters…the largest fireworks display in the area, a talented regional line-up of live music, beach games for the whole family, snacks and food vending, and a cool swim in the lake. And that's just to kick off the weekend! Lake Barkley is the place to be for Independence Day!
Barkley Dash - 5K Run & 2mi Walk
10/04/2008
Lake Barkley is bringing back the 5K! Enjoy a challenging run along the rolling roads of Lake Barkley or stroll the route casually on a 2-mile walk. Pre-registration is required by September 27th, 2008. Fee includes lunch and a souvenir T-shirt. Prizes awarded to top 5K competitors.
Barkley Backpacking 101
10/18/2008 to 10/19/2008
Interested in spending a night under starry skies and a day surrounded by woods and water? Setting out on an overnight backpacking trip and investing in the gear to do it can be a chore - unless you've been on one of Barkley's Backpacking 101 Weekends! Join the Park Naturalist on Saturday morning for a one-night camping trip where we provide the gear, the experience, and the memories! Registration is limited, so call ahead and reserve your spot.
Barkley Backpacking 101
10/25/2008 to 10/26/2008
Interested in spending a night under starry skies and a day surrounded by woods and water? Setting out on an overnight backpacking trip and investing in the gear to do it can be a chore - unless you've been on one of Barkley's Backpacking 101 Weekends! Join the Park Naturalist on Saturday morning for a one-night camping trip where we provide the gear, the experience, and the memories! Registration is limited, so call ahead and reserve your spot.
Barkley Tales Storytelling Festival
10/31/08 - 11/02/08
We all have a story to tell and you might get your chance as Lake Barkley invites you to our first Storytelling Festival. Tell your story, share the joy of storytelling with others, and hear and learn from nationally-known master storytellers. Open to everyone and suitable for all ages, the festival will feature Halloween tales, children's yarns, and workshops for adult and young storytellers.
Barkley Backpacking 101
11/8/2008 to 11/9/2008
Interested in spending a night under starry skies and a day surrounded by woods and water? Setting out on an overnight backpacking trip and investing in the gear to do it can be a chore - unless you've been on one of Barkley's Backpacking 101 Weekends! Join the Park Naturalist on Saturday morning for a one-night camping trip where we provide the gear, the experience, and the memories! Registration is limited, so call ahead and reserve your spot.
Barkley Bash
12/31/2008 to 1/1/2009
Lake Barkley will be ringing in the New Year with fine dining, live music and dancing, and various lodging packages. Join us for this festive start to 2009!