Labor Day Weekend in Hardin County: Pick a Lane Saturday

Key Takeaways

• Saturday, September 5 has cross country under the lights at Elizabethtown Sports Park (first race 2 PM, varsity boys at 9:30 PM), Finley Fest at Brewer Nation in West Point, Spirits, Squatches and Stories at Fort Duffield, and Little Shop of Horrors at The PAC, all on the same day
• The Hardin County Annual Stand Down for veterans is Friday, 10 AM to 2 PM, at the Goodwill Opportunity Center, free and open to the community
• Football: Bardstown at John Hardin Thursday at 7:30, LaRue County at Elizabethtown Friday at 7:30, Warren East at Central Hardin Friday at 8
• Fort Knox closes the Wilson gate Friday through Monday and Brandenburg Saturday through Monday; Chaffee stays open
• The downtown walking tour ends September 10, and the HCS Board of Education hears the proposed 65.2 cent levy Tuesday, September 8 at 6 PM

Summary

Jon O'Brien opened his Events segment with a warning rather than a pitch. Labor Day weekend in Hardin County is busy, and Saturday in particular is so full that nobody will get to everything. His list ran from a night cross country meet to a bluegrass festival in West Point, a haunted history evening at Fort Duffield, and a musical at The PAC, all on September 5.

It matters because the holiday weekend also brings practical changes people can trip over: two Fort Knox gates close for the long weekend, the downtown walking tour has only two Thursdays left, and the school board's tax levy hearing lands the following Tuesday with public comment on the table.

Full Article

"We've got a busy Labor Day weekend coming up for us," Jon said, and then spent the next ten minutes proving it.

Saturday is the day to plan around. Cross country under the lights at Elizabethtown Sports Park starts with a 2 PM race and runs late, with varsity girls at 8:45 PM and varsity boys at 9:30 PM. Parking is 8 dollars in advance or 10 the day of. "Make sure if you want to go out there and check that out, that you pay that parking fee," Jon said.

Across the county in West Point, Finley Fest at Brewer Nation runs bluegrass from 4 to 8. Admission is 20 dollars, kids 12 and under are free, and Jon pitched it as a good evening to bring the family. Then there is Spirits, Squatches and Stories at Fort Duffield. Jon asked whether anyone on the panel had ever hiked or biked up there. Nobody had. "It still has remnants of the historic fort up there at the top of the hill," he said. "You look down on the Salt River and it makes sense that that was a good spot for a fort." Little Shop of Horrors plays The PAC at 7 PM Saturday, and the show runs through September 13 for anyone who cannot make it that night. Scott Lucas, working behind the scenes this week, added at the close that his wife is in the cast.

"There's a lot of stuff on Saturday, so you can't do it all," Jon said. "You've got to kind of pick."

Football is spread across two nights. Bardstown visits John Hardin on Thursday at 7:30, which gives that game the night almost to itself. Friday brings LaRue County at Elizabethtown at 7:30 and Warren East at Central Hardin at 8. Rachel Brantingham, whose seven year old is playing quarterback this season, said she plans to take him to some of these games so he can see what the sport looks like as players get older.

The item Jon asked people to give real weight is Friday's Hardin County Annual Stand Down, 10 AM to 2 PM at the Goodwill Opportunity Center on West Dixie Avenue. It is free and open to the community, with housing eligibility screenings, health screenings, legal help, benefits, employment, utility assistance and food. "If you're a veteran having a hard time, or if you know one, this is a very useful thing to go check out," Jon said.

Fort Knox visitors should read the gate schedule before driving. Chaffee stays open around the clock. Wilson is closed Friday through Monday and Brandenburg is closed Saturday through Monday. "Make sure if you're trying to get up to Knox that you don't go those ways," Jon said, "because you will not be able to get there."

Two items from Nate Bryan's list rounded out the week. The Charles W. Logsdon downtown walking tour has only two Thursdays left before it ends for the season on September 10. It starts at 7 PM at 40 Public Square under the cannonball, it is free, and it runs about an hour to an hour and a half with a refreshment at the end. Jon said the volunteers wear period attire in this heat, which is its own kind of commitment. And on Labor Day itself, Heartland Mini Golf hosts a chalk art event, one of the few things open on the holiday. Jon has been asked to draw. "I can't even draw a stick figure," he said.

Looking ahead, the Hardin County Board of Education meets Tuesday, September 8 at 6 PM on a proposed general fund levy of 65.2 cents. Public comment is accepted. Volleyball is well underway across the county as well, and Jon said the full schedules are on the this-week page.

His closing note was practical. It is hot. "If you're going out this weekend, and even tonight, stay hydrated."

Never miss what's happening in Hardin County. Create a free account and you'll get the weekly events email and every new article the moment it drops. No password, no spam, just your county.