Episode S2026E32 · 🎡 Cecilia Days + 🌻 Sunflower Festival · August 2 – 9, 2026
Your full week of things to do, brought to you by Hardin Local Weekly.
📺 This Week's Episode — S2026E32
This week on Hardin Local Weekly: Rachel sits down with Steve Ames of Snow Dogs Food Truck — the shaved ice, the award-winning hot dogs, and the fundraising program for schools, churches, and ball teams. Plus Cecilia's big double-header weekend — Cecilia Days and the Sunflower Festival — back-to-school giveaways across the county, Jon's full events rundown, Nate's Business Buzz, and Rachel's Housing Market Update. Live Tuesday at 1 PM on Facebook and YouTube.
🎡 The Big One This Week — Cecilia's Double-Header Weekend
Cecilia is the place to be. Cecilia Days kicks off Friday at 6 PM with fish plate dinners, BBQ sandwiches, and the Baby Contest, with the Little Miss/Master, Princess, Jr. Miss and Miss Cecilia contests at 7:30. Saturday is the full classic: church breakfast 7–10 AM, the 10 AM parade, BBQ chicken dinner, live music, tractor games, car show, magician, bingo, auction, pedal tractor pull, Cecilia's Got Talent at 7, and the evening presentations including a tribute to Dennis Parrett. Meanwhile the 6th Annual Sunflower Festival at Thomas Dairy Farm & Market runs its second weekend — 150,000-plus sunflowers across five acres, and admission includes a bloom to take home.
📍 Cecilia Ballpark & Cecilia Baptist Church (Cecilia Days) · Thomas Dairy Farm & Market, 4625 Leitchfield Rd (Sunflower Festival)
🌻 Sunflower Festival: Friday & Saturday 10 AM – 7 PM, plus Sunday — check the farm for Sunday hours
🚨 Hardin Local Special Report
At least 67 Flock license plate cameras are watching Hardin County roads. Phil sat down on camera with the police chiefs running them and asked every uncomfortable question, including what happens when one of their own abuses it — with all three agencies' written policies, on the record. The quick version is free to read; the full report unlocks with a free Hardin Local account.
🎪 Next Weekend — August 14–15
Organized by the White Mills Civic League: Touch-A-Truck, the Rubber Duck River Race, fireworks Friday night, then Saturday's 10 AM parade (new route), car & tractor shows, the world-famous secret-recipe BBQ chicken dinner, live music, and a 2 PM auction. Free admission most of the weekend.
⚾ In town for a tournament?
Playing at Elizabethtown Sports Park this weekend? We built a local's guide just for you: where to eat between games, things to do with the team, rainy-day backups, essentials, and hotels.
Monday – Friday, August 3–7 · The new drive-thru coffee stand opens with one free small drink per person during Community Hours: 7–8 AM, 12–1 PM, and 5–6 PM daily. Swag Day Saturday — free T-shirt with a large drink while supplies last.
2:00 – 7:00 PM · More than 150,000 sunflowers across five acres, 20-plus varieties — admission includes one bloom to take home.
10:00 AM – 3:30 PM · Locally grown foods, plants, and handmade items.
Noon – 5:00 PM · Art, crystals, oddities, and other mystical-themed goods.
2:00 PM · Free · The second annual women's shop-and-network afternoon with local vendors and businesses.
Corvettes of every generation start rolling in around 4:00 PM — food, cold drinks, and family-friendly fun.
3:45 – 6:00 PM · Hosted by A.S. Coomer — bring your poems.
4:00 – 7:00 PM (or while supplies last) · Free · Free backpacks filled with school supplies to start the year prepared and confident.
1:00 – 2:00 PM · Gentle movement, balance, and relaxation — beginners welcome.
5:00 PM · Free · Miniatures, paints, brushes, and instruction provided — all skill levels.
6:00 – 8:30 PM · $8 cash at the door · No experience necessary, all ages welcome.
1:00 PM · Free · The full week of Hardin County events with Jon, Nate's Business Buzz, Rachel's Housing Market Update, and more — live on Facebook and YouTube.
1:00 – 3:30 PM · Free · Kentucky Career Center – Lincoln Trail connects job seekers with employers online — have a PDF résumé ready to upload.
4:00 – 7:00 PM · Local food trucks line up for the evening.
5:00 – 8:00 PM · Dinner from the trucks at the market.
Bring your bike and gather for the weekly motorcycle meet-up.
Music bingo night at the entertainment venue.
9:00 AM – Noon · Local produce, baked goods, meats, and handmade items — plus free ice cream from the 4-H Trailer while supplies last.
9 AM – Noon and 5 – 8 PM · $25 · Two projects: a small wallet with key ring and a magnetic bookmark with pen holder — three fabric choices.
5:00 – 8:00 PM · Midweek food truck evening.
6:30 – 8:30 PM · Test your country music knowledge, bingo-style, over food and drinks.
7:00 PM · The series kicks off — a different featured movie every Wednesday in August.
Classic car evening — bring your ride or come admire.
9:30 AM · Guests welcome · This month's program: "Tropical Splendor: Costa Rica's Gardens and Natural Wonders."
9:00 AM (ages 2–3, with parent) · 10:00 AM (ages 3–4) · Thursday mornings through September 10.
6:00 – 7:00 PM · Anyone curious about the club's community service work is encouraged to attend.
6:00 – 9:00 PM · Free · Live music from Forging The Fable, food trucks, and drinks in the historic garden.
7:00 – 8:00 PM · Stories and reenactments of notable figures from Elizabethtown's past.
Weekly trivia night.
Jimmy on the 1s and 2s — the crowd becomes the entertainment.
6:00 PM · Fish plate dinners and BBQ sandwiches, plus the Baby Contest — then the Little Miss/Master, Princess, Jr. Miss and Miss Cecilia contests at 7:30 PM.
10:00 AM – 7:00 PM · Photo ops among 150,000-plus sunflowers — one bloom to take home with admission. Info at thomasdairyfarmandmarketky.com.
5:00 – 8:00 PM · $25 · Make a Love Shack-inspired three-piece bookmark set.
7:00 PM · Two-day UPCI Sages Ministry gathering — fellowship and worship, continues Saturday morning.
Live music at the tavern.
8:30 PM · Live music to close the night.
All day · Breakfast at Cecilia Baptist 7–10 AM ($6, supports student ministries) · Parade 10 AM from Cecilia Ballpark · BBQ chicken dinner from 11 · John Langley Music 12–2 · tractor display & games at noon · car show & judging 1–2 · magician Aaron Harp 2–3 · bingo 3 · cake & donation auction 4–5:30 · pedal tractor pull 5:30–7 · Cecilia's Got Talent 7–8:30 · drawing, Honorary Mayor, Citizen of the Year, and a tribute to Dennis Parrett at 8:30 · vendors all day. Details: Cecilia Ruritan Club.
8:00 AM – Noon · Locally grown produce, baked goods, and handmade items.
8:30 AM – Noon · Free · Free bread, snacks, and non-perishables — no ID, registration, or income requirements.
9:00 AM – Noon · High school / middle school tournament, limited to 12 players — sign-up through Elite Beach Academy.
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM · Free admission · Handmade crafts, boutique items, home décor, and unique gifts — supporting the Empowered Life Group.
10:00 AM – 7:00 PM · Cut one sunflower to take home with admission.
10:00 AM – Noon · Free · Invasive species identification and control, plus native plant replacements for a healthier landscape.
5:30 AM – 11:00 PM · Free 7 Brew T-shirt with a large drink purchase, while supplies last.
4:30 – 6:00 PM · Free · Weekly community meal, open to anyone who'd like a warm plate.
Doors 5:00 PM · Dinner 6:00 PM · Annual auction fundraiser benefiting Elizabethtown Football.
Members free · $10 non-members · Live music benefiting Room in the Inn of Hardin County's shelter and assistance programs.
The UPCI Sages Ministry gathering continues with morning worship and fellowship.
Live music at the tavern.
8:30 PM · Live music to close the night.
The sunflower fields are open Sunday — check thomasdairyfarmandmarketky.com for Sunday hours.
6:00 – 9:00 PM · B. Robbins and the Resonance perform live — school-supply donations accepted for local schools (backpacks, pencils, crayons, pens, notebooks), or drop off during normal business hours.