Don’t forget that this weekend, May 14 and 15, Nicholasville will host the annual Kentucky Wine & Vine Fest. There are several fun events scheduled: I read on the website that there’s to be a grape stomp which is scheduled for Saturday afternoon – reckon we could film a new Lucy episode?; a tour of a couple of wineries, Chateau du Vieux in Danville and Springhill Winery and Plantation in Bloomfield, where lunch will be served; wine tastings, including Kentucky (ten Kentucky wineries are participating), domestic and international wines; a class on blending wines (I’m going to this one – seems like a good chance to learn a little more about that process, while hopefully educating me on what to look for in a blended wine). The good part is that the tastings will be paired with food samplings from Euro Wine Bar. There will also be good music, Dixieland, string and jugband; arts and crafts; an auction and dinner at Nicholasville’s own Chrisman Mill Winery; and a Run for the Merlot. Considering that Nicholasville is home to the first commercial vineyard in the United States, it’s only fitting that we get to host this festival. The Kentucky Wine & Vine Fest has been named by the Kentucky Tourism Council as one of the top 10 festivals and events in Kentucky; this is my first year attending, but I’m thinking it should be a lot of fun. Let’s just hope the weather cooperates and doesn’t spoil the fun.
by Wilma on April 20, 2010
Berea, considered by many to be the Folk Arts and Crafts Capital of Kentucky, is now home to the Berea Center for the Arts. Opened by Sune Frederiksen, owner and operator of Berea’s Main Street Café (and art repository), the new gallery is displaying fine arts and crafts handcrafted by juried artists. The center, located in what was once a movie theater, has been extensively renovated, but still contains the old balcony, now being used for live music, poetry reading, workshops, and artistic displays. Art aficionados and other Bluegrass tourists will no doubt find the gallery a popular destination as there will be occasions when artists will be on site to demonstrate their skills (for more information, check the calendar at www.berea-center-arts.com or call 859 985-8891). The center has a great location at 315 Chestnut Street, within walking distance of both Old Town and College Square, and is open Wednesday to Saturday, although private showings can be arranged for other days.
For those of you who are visiting the Bluegrass region for the first time, Berea has long been recognized as the place to go for handcrafted arts and crafts. Home to the Kentucky Artisan Center, Old Town Artisan Village, and Warren May’s Woodworking Shop, Berea also hosts several festivals, both international and local, focused on the arts. The Berea Craft Festival is traditionally held in June and October at the historic Indian Fort Theater, while the Berea International Festival is held over Mother’s Day weekend. Berea is also home to Boone Tavern Hotel, owned and operated by Berea College. The hotel has recently undergone extensive renovations, and the accommodations, while modern in every respect, have maintained their integrity and charm.
Berea is a beautifully historic town, located only a short drive from downtown Lexington.