Historic Washington, KY 

  In 1775 at 17, Simon heard about Kain-tuck-ee canelands 6 to 15 feet high. In 1784 he built his station, the first defense against Indians in northern Kentucky. The great frontiersman settled Washington and Maysville, saved Daniel Boone's life during a Shawnee attach and protected the settlers over 200 years ago.

  Simon missed his niche in the Kentucky history books, probably due to the political power of his friend, Daniel Boone whose friend, Filson wrote about him. But it was Simon Kenton who opened up the dark and bloody ground, clipping off Shawnees with his long rifle as they tried to cross the Ohio River into their favorite hunting ground. He opened up the wilderness for hundreds of pioneers who settled in Kentucky between 1785 and 1800.

            32nd  Annual Simon Kenton Harvest Festival

September 20 & 21, 2008  



For information on 2007 Festival contact Cherri Gentry - or Duff Giffen
E-mail cgentry@maysvilleky.net or duffgiffen@cityofmaysville.com 
Phone 606-564-9419

Rediscover Old Washington, Kentucky, during our 31st annual Simon Kenton Harvest Festival.  This year's festival will be full of educational fun for the whole family.  Children can  participate in pioneer games.  Adults will enjoy demonstrations and presentation about pioneer life.  listen to Dulcimers and eat authentic period foods prepared by local non-profit groups.  Festivities begin on Saturday at 9:30 a.m.  and on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.  The festival will kick off with the march of the Simon Kenton Kin. who gather from several states each year for their family reunion, from the Log Visitor's Center to Paxton Inn.   They will be led by members of the Mason County Junior ROTC.  Once there, an opening ceremony will take place consisting of a flag raising, 21 gun salute and taps, as well as remarks by various speakers.  Shops usually open at 10:00 a.m. during festivals.  

There will be a "Corn Husking Bee", which requires participants to shuck as may ears of corn as possible in a given time in order to win.  

Children will have the opportunity to carve pumpkins, teepee building, participate in games such as tug-of-war, build log cabins and make cornhusk dolls.  For every activity they participate in, the children will earn "wampum," the form of currency used in frontier days, which they can exchange for frontier style toys in a shop set up at this event.  

During the weekend experience first person presentations when Mel Hankla, will portray the festival's namesake, Simon Kenton.  And on Sunday, Mike and Nancy Rumping will be portraying Squire and Jane Boone.  Other presenters include:  John Tierney's "Grandma Kept a Buckeye in Her Purse" and hear stories he shares from the frontier days.   Hear Mr. Bob Anderson, of the Lewis and Clark "Corps of Discovery" speak on his three year trip following his grandfather's original steps over 200 years ago.  Principal Chief Gary Hunt  will speak about the Piqua Shawnee Indians.  

Period demonstrations will be held at the historic sites and museums.  Learn how to cane a chair, watch quilters and more.  The Homemakers will be doing demonstrations on Crocheting, Knitting, Quilt Making and Flower Arranging.  They will have a display with information about food preservation.  The Farmers market will be set up across from the Visitors Center.  Jennifer Gleason of Sunflower Sundries will be set up in Paxton Inn.  Jennifer will be making Cornbread from corn our visitors will be grinding; she will also make jam and mustard.  Local Artists will be set up in the Washington Meeting House.  Authentic quality hand crafting artisans will be demonstrating their trades.  Come watch William Stewart as he handcrafts his latest colonial long rifle, and learn how powder horns were carved.  Bill Pritchard will be displaying his hand crafted long rifles.  Glen and Merline Maynard will be selling and demonstrating hand crafted woodcarvings.  Parker Custom Knives will be displaying custom hand made knives along with other vendors.  

And with all the activity taking place on the streets of Old Washington, one cannot forget the shops, many museums and other features of the village.  Visit Washington's antique and specialty shops, many of which are in historic buildings.  Among the shops you will find antiques, furniture, estate jewelry, Antique Lustres, period cut glass, other glassware, Fiesta, Carousel horses, Hadley and Bybee pottery.  There are lamp shop, brass shop and framing shops as well as jewelers working on site many days in their shop.  The Marshall Keys Tavern will have a special pioneer menu as well as bag lunches available for take out.  Visitors can sit on one of the hay bales around the 1700s village and enjoy the ambience of Old Washington.  The Ice Cream Shop and Restaurant will have sit down dining in their Rosemary, Nick & George Clooney Room and will also be set up outside preparing made to order floats.  Inside enjoy Ice Cream, Milkshakes, Hamburgers, Hotdogs, Cheese, Chili Cheese and French Fries, Nachos, Chicken Nuggets, Sandwiches, Salads, Sides, Drinks and Desserts.  Come Rediscover Old Washington, Kentucky.  This will truly be a family event.  

Washington which was settled by Simon Kenton in 1786 and still has many of the original log cabins that were here in 1790 when Washington was the second largest town in Kentucky, second only to Lexington, is nestled, 4 miles south of the banks of the Ohio River and Maysville, 50 miles northeast of Lexington, KY, 50 miles west of Portsmouth, Ohio, and 51 miles east of Cincinnati, Oh, (take the Wilder Exit #77 off I-275 onto Route #9 - also known as the AA Highway), then turn right at the light by Wendy's onto US 68, turn left at second light up into Old Washington. Washington is 1 mile south of the AA Highway on US 68. Plan a weekend in Washington, (now part of Maysville).  You will be welcomed!  Visit our website: www.washingtonky.com  - Go to the Map link, there you can put in your address on Mapquest and print driving directions.    

One may reach Washington by crossing over the Simon Kenton Bridge into Kentucky from Aberdeen, Ohio, or the new Harsha bridge just outside Aberdeen coming from Ripley, or travel US 68, now known as the Simon Kenton Highway from Lexington to Washington.

If you need directions you may call 606-759-7423 and we will guide you here. 

                                       

                                  SIMON KENTON HARVEST FESTIVAL – 31st    Annual Event
                                                       2007 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS  

Town Crier: Loretta Roe        

Saturday – September 15                                                                                            Location:
9:30             Opening Ceremony – Town Square -                                                         Corner of Paxton Inn     
                    Kenton Kin, Flag Raising, 21 Gun Salute - Simon Kenton VFW 
10:00           Executive Board Meeting - Kenton Kin (Private)                                         Old Church Museum 
10:00           Crochet Demonstration - Mason County Homemakers                                Harriett Beecher Stowe 
10:30           Grinding Corn & Food Demonstration by Sunflower Sundries                      Paxton Inn Kitchen 
                   Golden Needle Quilt Club - Quilts on Display-Quilting Demonstrations         Paxton Inn
11:00           Kenton Kin Annual Meeting - Public Welcome                                            Old Church Museum 
11:00           Corn Husking Bee                                                                                       Mefford Fort 
12:00           Flower Arranging - Mason County Homemakers                                         Harriett Beecher Stowe 
12:00           Jennifer Gleason Making Blackberry Jam                                                     Paxton Inn Kitchen
1:00            Mel Hankla as Simon Kenton                                                                       Old Church Museum 
1:00            Morehead Mountain Strings Dulcimer Club                                                   Court House Porch
2:00            Principal Chief - Gary Hunt of the Piqua Sept. of the Shawnee Indians           Old Church Museum 
2:00            Knitting Demonstration - Mason County Homemakers                                  Harriett Beecher Stowe 
3:00            Jennifer Gleason Making Lavender Soap                                                       Paxton Inn Kitchen
3:00            Grandma Kept a Buckeye in per Purse - John Tierney                                   Old Church Museum 

 All day: Food preservation, pumpkin carving, tee pee building, gourd painting, Pioneer Games
William Stewart and Bill Pritchard Colonial long rifle display and powder horn carving       Between 
                                                                                                                                         Moose/Haughaboo         
Dulcimer - Randy Lester                                                                                                  Broderick's Lot 
Ohio River Valley Art Guild art display                                                                         Washington Meeting House
Farmers Market -                                                                                           Lot across from our Log Visitor's Center 
                      
Sunday – September 16                                                                                                 Location: 
 Most Shops open 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. 
1:00         Grandma Kept a Buckeye in per Purse - John Tierney                                       Old Church Museum   
1:00         Mountain Mist Dulcimer                                                                                    CPA Porch - Log House  
1:00         Corn grinding and food demonstrations by Sunflower Sundries                           Paxton Inn Kitchen 
1:30         Pumpkin Painting - Mason County Homemakers                                               Harriett Beecher Stowe 
2:00         Jennifer Gleason making Red Raspberry Jam                                                     Paxton Inn Kitchen
2:00         Mike and Nancy Rumping as Squire and Jane Boone                                        Old Church Museum 
3:00         Mountain Mist Dulcimer                                                                                    CPA Porch - Log House
3:00         Crochet Demonstration - Mason County Homemakers                                      Harriett Beecher Stowe 

All day: Food preservation, pumpkin carving, tee pee building, gourd painting, Pioneer Games 
Dulcimer - Randy Lester                                                                                                 Broderick's Lot
Ohio Valley Art Guild art display                                                                                  Washington Meeting House 
   
Activities:
Pioneer Trading Post - 3 Wampum trades for a Toy - 1 Toy per child                Haughaboo Lawn next to Mefford Fort 
Cornhusk Doll Making                                                                                                      Front of Grace Church
Log Cabin Building - All Day - Both Days                                                                         Front of Grace Church 
Corn Husking Bee                                                                                                             Mefford's Fort 
Tug-of-War                                                                                                                      Court House Lawn                
Chair Caning Demonstrations - Both Days                                                                         Albert Sidney Johnston 
Gourd Demonstration - Painting, Sawing                                                                            Front of Phyllis Garage Door 
Tee Pee Building - Claudia Moose                         Meeting House or Between Visitor's Center & Simon Kenton Shrine 
Wood Carvers, Glen & Merline Maynard                                                                           Inside Simon Kenton Shrine 
Blacksmith (if weather is cool enough)

Vendor Setups:
Bramels & Fraley's                                                                                                              Mefford's Fort Lawn 
Little Red Hen                                                                                                                     Front of Grace Church 
Alta Hinton - Jams, Jellies - Old Tyme Canning Instructions (crocks & sealing wax)             Carousel Shop Lawn 
Anita’s 150 Fragrances Soy Candles, Lotion, Shampoo, Conditioner, Body Wash               Inside Phyllis’ Lamp Shop
Jackson's Fodder Shocks, Pumpkins, Gourds & other natural decorations                           Carousel Shop Lawn                                                                            
Food:
Marshall Keys Tavern 
Ice Cream & Sandwich Shop 
Haven's Chapel - Plate Lunch & Dinner 
Washington Methodist Church - Desserts - Saturday only 
Knights of Columbus - Steak Sandwiches 
John Fee Foundation - Fried Chicken, Fried Fish 
Power Cheer Central of Flemingsburg - Carmel Apples, Kettle Corn, Cider 
AM Vets - Bean Soup and Corn Bread 
             
Previous Year's Simon Kenton Festival Press Release
By: Phyllis Helphenstine 

Once upon a time there was a great pioneer hero named Simon Kenton who opened the northern gateway into Kentucky for hundreds of settlers between 1785 and 1800. It is in his honor that the village known as the "Log Cabin Capital of the Area", Washington, Kentucky, has for the past 31 years has held the "Simon Kenton Harvest Festival". Kenton Kin from far and near converge on Old Washington located on US 68, 4 miles south of Maysville where they meet to exchange genealogy, dozens of Living Historians set up camps to represent the 18th century for the public, demonstrate frontier Kentucky life and skills of the pioneers including tomahawk and knife throwing competitions, blacksmithing, firepit ironware cooking, candle making, games and much more.  There will be a 1786 Muzzleloader Rifle competition featuring the Kentucky Flintlock Longrifle that won Kentucky. During the weekend will be various reenactments and frontier street skits. On Saturday see Mel Hankla portray Simon Kenton for the presentation of a lifetime! The descendents will have an  18th century Frontier Church Service in the Log Cabin Church on new US 68 10:00 AM on Sunday morning.  Combine these special activities with the hourly entertainment, festival food, antique and craft shops. In the atmosphere of the beautiful pioneer village of Historic Washington you are guaranteed a wonderful time! FREE admission.

One may reach Washington by crossing over the Simon Kenton Bridge into Kentucky from Aberdeen, Ohio, or the new bridge between Aberdeen and Ripley, or travel US 68, now known as the Simon Kenton Highway from Lexington to Washington.
Quality craft, antique, and food vendors will be set up in Washington.  

This happy couple are previous winners of the Pet Contest.

Sunday: Trolley will leave the Log Visitor's Center for the Church Service at 9:30 for the Frontier Church Service at 10:00.   The Historic Washington Shopkeepers Association sponsors this event, with the support of the, city of Maysville. 

The carousel shop, Fiesta ware, jewelry, antique lamp shop,  Civil War items, dollhouse shop, framing shops and galleries, pottery: Mary Hadley, Bybee and custom crocks, Cat’s Meow, graniteware,  paper doll books, John Deere & Coca-Cola collectibles, paperweights, a good selection of antique and craft shops all flourish in the village – most are open year round. There are several special events throughout the year with the next being the 40th annual Frontier Christmas December 1st and 2nd. 

Today three of Washington's log cabins house museums: C1787 Mefford's Station, prior to C1790 Simon Kenton Store Shrine, and the prior to 1790 Log Visitor's Center (606)-759-7411, where books like "The Frontiersman" and Simon Kenton Scouts" are sold.  Tour guides wearing long dresses, white aprons and dust caps and men in period costume conduct tours of the nine museums and throughout the village.  The "Log Cabin Learning" tour taking place in 3 of the original log cabins and depicting a day in the life of a pioneer child is a very popular school field trip for schools in the tri-state area.  Washington is also included on the "Underground Railroad" and "Covered Bridge" tours.  Other museums on tour are: the Harriet Beecher Stowe Slavery to Freedom Museum, 1807, Paxton Inn C1800, the Albert Sidney Johnston Home c1797, the Old Church Museum 1848, and the Presbyterian Church 1870.  Washington's newest museum, The Carriage House, has a wonderful display of horse-drawn carriages with admission of only $1.00 and everything the owners receive they give to the Alzheimer's Foundation.

Washington which was settled by Simon Kenton in 1786 and still has many of the original log cabins that were here in 1790 when Washington was the second largest town in Kentucky, second only to Lexington, is nestled, 4 miles south of the banks of the Ohio River and Maysville, 50 miles northeast of Lexington, KY, 50 miles west of Portsmouth, Ohio, and 51 miles east of Cincinnati, Oh, (take the Wilder Exit #77 off I-275 onto Route #9 - also known as the AA Highway), then turn right at the light by Wendy's onto US 68, turn left at second light up into Old Washington. Washington is 1 mile south of the AA Highway on US 68. Plan a weekend in Washington, (now part of Maysville).  You will be welcomed!

 

                                       

                                  SIMON KENTON HARVEST FESTIVAL – 30th Annual Event
                                                       2006 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS          

Saturday – September 16
10:00              Opening Ceremony – Town Square     Welcome – Mayor David Cartmell &                                                                                                      State Representative Mike Denham                                                                                                     Flag Raising & 21 Gun Salute honoring
MC: Radio Personality James “Doc” Shires                                   Simon Kenton by Am Vets
                                                                                                    Star Spangled Banner – Brenda Manning   
 
11:00              Kenton Kin Meeting – Washington Meeting House
11:00              Gun Powder Creek Band – Ben Pedigo & Family – Bluegrass Music -Town Square
12:00              Arthur Whitman’s Upfront Band – Vocalist – Brittney Kay
12:30              Frontier Costume Contest – Town Square
1:00                Pet Dog & Cat Contest
1:00-2:00        Mel Hankla portraying Simon Kenton in Meeting House - Public Welcome
1:30                Irish Revue – St. Patrick’s Concert Choir
2:15                Sherri’s Arts & Dance Students – (Great Dance Revue/Many Acts)
2:30 –4:00      1786 Muzzleloader Rifle Competition at Federal Hill
3:00                “Fancy Free Cloggers” – Ages 8 to 80 – and 
                       “Breakup” Cloggers (Just returned from performing at Disney World)
4:00                “KY Express” – Traditional Country 
5:00                 Indian Skirmish on Old Main Street

Sunday – September 17

9:30-9:45        Trolley Leaves Log Visitor’s Center for Log Church Service 
10:00              Frontier Church Service – Log Church on new US 68 
12:30              Grace Church Choir – Town Square    
  1:30              Libby Estill
  2:00              “4 Heaven’s Sake” –  Lexington Group in Concert - Featuring Judy Gallenstein
  3:00              Stars of Renfro Valley Barn Dance
  4:00              Country Tap/Cloggers

Both Days:

10:00-5:00      Antique, Craft & Specialty Shops in Historic Buildings line Old Main Street
10:00-5:00      Antique, Craft & Food Vendors on Street
10:00-5:00      Frontier Encampment & Demonstrations & Various Frontier Skits & Indian Skirmishes on street
11:00-5:00      Articles from Duncan Tavern in Paris for Sale in Paxton Inn
                       John Parker Tobacco Press – Harriet Beecher Stowe Museum
                       Guided Tours by Costumed Guides from Log Visitors Center, Video, Souvenirs & Books
                       Museums: Simon Kenton Store, Albert Sidney Johnston & Mefford's Fort Open with Guide inside   

For more information: Mary Jo Chandler 606-724-5700 – E-mail: mjchandler_2000@yahoo.com  

The Historic Washington Shopkeepers Association sponsors this event. The City of Maysville and the Washington Shopkeepers are not responsible for accidents or injury. 

Simon Kenton Kin

On the third weekend in September from near and far, the Kenton Kin converge on Old Washington to honor their ancestor, the Frontiersman, Simon Kenton.  The Kenton family meets at 11am on Saturday to exchange genealogy and visit with family. Along with the Kenton family group, dozens of Living Historians will set up camps to represent the 18th century for the public. They will demonstrate frontier Kentucky life and skills of the pioneers including  tomahawk and knife throwing competitions, blacksmithing, firepit ironware cooking, candle making, games and much more.  Articles for sale include colonial clothing, antler knives and powder horns, children's games, jewelry and rock candy.  There will be a 1790's black powder competition featuring the Kentucky Flintlock Longrifle that won Kentucky. During the weekend will be various reenactments and frontier street skits. See Mel Hankla portray Simon Kenton for the presentation of a lifetime! Our 18th century Log Cabin Church Service begins at 10 AM on Sunday morning. Combine these special activities with the hourly entertainment, festival food and colonial tavern, Sunday parade, antique and craft shops. In the atmosphere of the beautiful pioneer village of Historic Washington you are guaranteed a wonderful time!
Come join us on September 16th and 17st from 10 a.m. both days at the 30th annual Simon Kenton Frontier Festival.  Free Admission to this Family Friendly Event.  Contact person is Jon Hagee, (pictured on left) at jhagee@mail.com or 
(859) 271-2918.
Web Sites: Simon Kenton Frontier Festival http://frontierfolk.org/festival.htm
                                              Kenton Kin: http://frontierfolk.org/k-kin.htm

c

Simon Kenton Parade in Washington, Kentucky

Simon Kenton Festival Pet & COSTUME CONTESTS IN WASHINGTON, KY

   No Entry Fee.  All Classes.  
1st Prize $10, 2nd Prize $5, 3rd Prize Ribbon.

There is a contest for "The Cutest Cat". 

Dogs have more categories with winners for:

1. Smallest Dog

2. Largest Dog

3. Best Dog Trick

4. Cutest Dog

5. Any Animal in Cutest Costume

6. Exotic Pet (no snakes!)

COSTUME CONTESTS:

1. CHILD UNDER 12 IN FRONTIER COSTUME

2. WOMAN IN FRONTIER COSTUME

3. MAN IN FRONTIER COSTUME

4. COUPLE IN FRONTIER COSTUME

5. INDIAN COSTUME

 

 

 

BACK                            HOME