Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park and the Calvert Area Development Association (CADA) have partnered to give residents and visitors plenty to celebrate during the weekend of the total solar eclipse.
The festivities will kick off at 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18 with an “Evening on the Terrace” bourbon tasting on the terrace of the KDV lodge. The event will offer live bluegrass music entertainment, light hors d’oeuvres and bourbon and craft beer tastings, courtesy of Paducah Bourbon Society and Paducah Beer Werks, respectively.
CADA President Cindy Riley said tickets are required to attend the event, which will serve as a fundraiser to benefit the organization. Tickets are $20 and include all events on the terrace for the evening.
“Todd Blume, the owner and brewer at Paducah Beer Werks, is going to be there doing the craft beer,” Riley said. “And Brian Shemwell will be there for the bourbon tasting. He’s a bourbon enthusiast.”
Those hoping to eat a full meal can visit Harbor Lights Restaurant at KDV for a full barbecue buffet.
Eclipse-related events gear up in full the following day with a series of informational sessions devoted to the cosmos. Dr. Benne Holwerda will provide a little educational entertainment at the park.
Holwerda is an Associate Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Louisville. He received his M.S. from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, and his Ph.D. from the University of Groningen and in part with the Space Telescope Science Institute. His research focuses on the structure and evolution of galaxies.
Holwerda will be giving two “Great American Eclipse” talks during the weekend. He will also be on hand for a “Breakfast with the Professor” event, beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 19 at Harbor Lights Restaurant. “Lunch with the Professor” will be held at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 20 at the restaurant, as well. Eclipse discussions will be held at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday in the KDV Convention Center.
“Really nice guy,” Scot Ratzlaff, park manager for KDV, said. “ … He’s got a very pleasant personality, and he’s going to be really good up on stage. So that’ll be the nice thing about it. Benne will be around during the eclipse; there will be some guys around with shirts on that say ‘Ask me about the eclipse,’ (to give tips and knowledge on the event).”
Other events for the day weekend include kayak demonstrations from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at the old state park beach. That night Calvert City will provide an opportunity for families to gather for an outdoor showing of “ET: The Extraterrestrial,” beginning about dark on the old beach. Members of the Louisville Astronomical Society will be on hand during the event to host telescope viewing, as well.
Events will culminate with the main attraction Monday, the eclipse itself.
“People are here for the eclipse, they’re not here to do some activity for me,” Ratzlaff said. “… And I understand that. They’re here to get out on the lake so they can see the sun, and we’re excited about that. It is pretty cool, considering in seven years we’re going to have another partial come back through.”
Ratlaff said park staff was working to accommodate the influx of visitors associated with the event, too, which he said personnel expect to compare to a particularly busy July 4 weekend. Park rooms were booked, however Ratzlaff said reservations continually rotated. Still, there was a waiting list for the weekend. He and staff are excited to see it fill, and look forward to putting the park’s best foot forward for guests.
“We’re doing the best we can to prepare for it, because we know there’s going to be a lot of people in the neighborhood,” Ratzlaff said. “We totally expect that. … The lake is an awesome spot for it, because you’re going to be in an unobstructed view, so I’m sure there’s going to be boats out on the water. … We expect to be very busy with folks coming in.
“Which is great,” he added. “I mean when it comes right down to it, it gets boring on the park when there’s nobody here. We’re here to help people have fun, that’s our goal. So we’re excited to have a bunch of people here, and have a bunch of people that can come see western Kentucky.”
For more information about KDV eclipse weekend events and plans, visit parks.ky.gov.