Georgetown, Kentucky may be considered a small town, but it’s got big-time appeal for all ages. If you haven’t read our Travel Guide to Georgetown, Kentucky, don’t miss it. You’ll find everything from Bourbon Distilleries to Fine Dining. We enjoyed ourselves so much the first time we visited, we went back to check out some of the activities we had missed. This time we arrived on a weekend with two special events! How is that for luck? Thankfully, these are recurring events, so be sure check out the Georgetown Kentucky Website to see when you can participate too! Of course, there are plenty of activities you can experience every day. Here’s our Guide to Georgetown, Kentucky Fun.
Fun Activities in Georgetown, Kentucky
1. Festival of The Horse-– One of the most beloved Fall festivals in Georgetown is the annual Festival of The Horse, which has taken place each Fall for the past 37 years. Georgetown is located in the heart of Thoroughbred Country so it’s no surprise horses are celebrated. But that’s not all that’s celebrated at the festival! It’s an event for every member of the family; including pets. Main Street is blocked off to traffic, allowing vendors to gather and share their wares to an eager crowd. An abundance of food trucks lines both sides of the street with offerings of everything from tacos to barbeque and local beer. Local and regional crafts and goodies are offered, along with pet adoptions from the local Humane Society.
Kids will have a blast with the featured Carnival Rides located down the street from the main festival, while the entire family can enjoy the live entertainment. Pets are welcome and Critter spent a good part of her morning following people with dogs and stopping to pet them. Bring a chair and sit along the sidewalk to view one of the multiple parades that occur during the three-day festival. They’ve got everything from a Pet Parade to a Colt & Filly Children’s Parade to the annual Grand Parade and Horse Show. Entrance to the Festival is free, although purchases made from vendors cost extra.
2. Seed to Feed Dinners-Want to experience a six-course gourmet meal in a lovely al fresco setting? The Seed To Feed Dinners are perfect for a romantic date night, a girlfriend’s getaway, or a night with friends. Each dinner is themed (ours was lamb) and offered in a different location in the Georgetown Area. The meal is prepared by Chef Justin Thompson, owner of Local Feed, and a guest chef. The food highlights local meats and produce and is prepared with in-season offerings. Proceeds from the dinners benefit several Scott County Charities including the Old Friends Retired Thoroughbred Farm, the Scott County Habitat for Humanity, and Royal Spring Park.
On the night I attended our guest chef was Mark Jensen of Middle Fork Kitchen Bar in Lexington, Kentucky, and our venue was Royal Spring Park. The event began at 6:00 PM with an all-inclusive Happy Hour featuring a cocktail bar, bourbon tastings from Bourbon 30, and hors d’oeuvres. On a side note, I need to find their Rum Punch Recipe made with fresh Elderberries and Blackberries. It’s very tasty! At 7 PM we found ourselves seated at tables beautifully decorated with rustic decor in preparation for our first course. We munched our way through everything from Rillettes with Beet Confit and Buttermilk Cabbage to a Minced Meat Tart with Lamb Powder and Blackberry Mint Salad. Since I didn’t know anyone at the dinner, I was a little worried about attending a six-course meal by myself. I needn’t have worried. I was soon chatting with my tablemates and having a wonderful time. This is a great way to try new dishes, meet new friends, and help charities at the same time. Be sure to come hungry!
3. Kentucky Horse Park– If you love horses, this a must visit site. This park encompasses 1,229 acres and houses the International Museum of the Horse, the American Saddlebred Museum, a working horse training farm, and an Equine Theme Park. Start the day with a walking tour of the property. Along the way, you will find the “Big Barn.” Not only is it a big barn, it contains the biggest horses. Stop by to say hi to the draft horses and Clydesdales who inhabit the barn. Across the path from the Big Barn is the Parade of Breeds Horse Show. Held daily at 11:00 AM and 2 PM, you can learn the history of some of the different breeds, from the rare American Cream Draft Horse, so named for her cream coat and amber eyes, to the Gypsy Vanner, named for their owners, the Romany (or Gypsies.) After the show, visitors have a chance to pet the horses and ask their trainers questions.
If you have children, they’ll want a chance to visit the Kids Barn. Designed for ages thirteen and younger, the barn is filled with interactive and hands-on exhibits. Kids can learn all about a horse’s anatomy, the basics of horse nutrition and digestion, and how to stay safe when handling and riding horses. There are one to two horses in the barn the kids can pet, which rotate often. There’s also a daily Groom and Shine presentation offered at 2:45. After watching a demonstration by a trainer, kids are allowed to take turns grooming the horse. When you’ve finished exploring the barn, take one of the two daily trolley rides pulled by the resident draft horses. There are held at 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM from Mid-March through the 1st of November. Each tour lasts 8 to 10 minutes and gives a brief history of the Park.
When you are ready for a break, stroll down to the playground and picnic area. Visitors are welcome to bring picnic lunches and there’s a toddler playground and a playground for older children. The price of admission includes the second day free and children five and under are free.
4. Josie’s of Georgetown We are always on the lookout for restaurants which serve good Gluten Free food. If you travel and have food allergies, you’ll soon learn this if iffy. We were thrilled to learn Josie’s new Georgetown location. (Note: It’s located in the Old Sam’s restaurant on Lexington Road. Because it still had the Sam’s Billboard, I drove by it twice before finding it.) When we arrived my daughter stated, “This place is packed. It must be good.” Once inside we waited a few minutes for a table-no reservations are taken- and then sat down to look at the menu.
I chose the Grilled Pimento Cheese on Gluten Free Bread with a fries and slaw teaser since Brittany couldn’t decide what she would like to order. (She claimed she needed the Grilled Pimento Cheese.) She finally went with the 3 stack of Gluten-Free Pancakes. Critter got the Two-Two Special. It was a breakfast special that came with two eggs, two pieces of bacon or sausage, and a biscuit. We ordered it minus the biscuit. We soon saw why the restaurant was packed. The food was delicious. My daughter declared her pancakes were “so good she couldn’t believe they were gluten-free.” Then, kept eating because she claimed, “I never get gluten-free pancakes that taste this good.” The Grilled Pimento Cheese was delicious as well. It was warm and gooey and the bread was perfectly toasted. The cheese was so good I didn’t notice the bread was gluten-free.
The interior of Josie’s is cozy and homey. You’ll feel like you are sitting in Grandma’s kitchen. It’s also kid-friendly. Critter was given a placemat and crayons as soon as we were seated, offered a high chair, and soon had a kid’s drink. The noise volume in the restaurant was loud enough no one noticed we had a child. This is the perfect place to meet a friend for a long, leisurely lunch or take the family for a meal.
We enjoyed our time in Georgetown once again and can see why it is known for its pure small-town charm. Have you visited Georgetown, Kentucky? What is your favorite activity?
How fun! I haven’t been to Kentucky but I’ve always wanted to go. It sounds like such a fun place to visit – these pictures are so awesome!
I want a Seed to Feed dinner! I’ve always wanted to visit Kentucky and the surrounding area’s.
If I was ever in that area I would love to visit the horse park it sounds incredible
It’s so pretty. I never made it to Georgetown when I lived in KY.
Wow this sounds so fun. There’s just so much to do here! I’ve always wanted to visit this part of the country.
There is so much to do. I’ve been to Kentucky and I’ve always wanted to ride a horse. Then top it off with some of these good eats.
I love finding new places to visit. I would be torn between Seed to Feed and the horse park being my favorite. I’ve only been to a small town in Kentucky, I need to add this to my list.
I love that there are so many things that you can do in Georgetown! I didn’t know that there’s a festival of the Horse there. It sounds really fun. The food looks amazing as well.
There are still so many states we need to visit as a family. We’ve never been to Kentucky before but I guess this has to get bumped up in our travel bucket list. Georgetown looks like a really great destination.
It looks so fun to be in Georgetown for the families. There are so many activities for kids and for the whole family. – Franc
I haven’t gotten to spend a whole lot of time in Kentucky. It looks like I am missing out!
Kentucky is just such a down to Earth state. Plus their food is on point!
We’ve never been to Kentucky before. It looks like we need to go though! Looks fun!
The Kentucky Horse park isn’t something to miss. We loved it there when we went!
I’ve never heard of Georgetown, but it looks like a great place to visit! I’ve only ever driven through Kentucky on our way to other places. Perhaps we should take a stop!
What a wonderful place! I’ve never been to Kentucky but would love to visit there someday!
This looks like a lot of fun! My son would love the horse barn at the Kentucky Horse Park. This would be a really great family trip.
This looks like so much fun and the pics of the food is making me hungry! My bf and I love visiting small towns.
There definitely seems to be a lot to do in Georgetown! I love how most of the activities involve or include food, since that is the true way to my heart.
This looks like such a fun town to visit. THere is so much to see and do here. I would love to take the family on a vacation here.
I am always drawn to places like this, the old town charm, home cooked meals, farms, fresh produce and friendly people. I love the Seed to Dinner campaign. That’s so wonderful to be able to support other charities and get a good, delicious meal at the same time.
Kentucky is always a wonderful state to visit and so many great things to see and enjoy.
I have been to Kentucky but not Georgetown. I would love to go back and spend a day or two there to check out a few of these places. I love Clydesdales and romantic dinners so you know what’s on my list!
This does look like a great area to have fun as a family. All that food looks delicious! I’ve never been to Kentucky before.
I have only drove through, but would love to go back to explore more. The Seed to Feed Dinner sounds like something that my husband and I would love to take full advantage of.
In a few years we are planning a trip to Kentucky and Tennessee and I am trying to get a list together of places to visit. I will definitely pin this to check out a few of the places you’ve mentioned here.
This looks like a neat place that visit. That grilled cheese looks yummy and I love that they offered gluten free bread.
Seed to Feed sounds like my kind of fun. And grilled pimento cheese? Georgetown sounds absolutely delicious
I would love to add Georgetown KY to my bucket list. I had no idea there was so much fun going on there. I think the Seed to Feed Dinners sounds like a blast.
I was born in Kentucky and spent several summers there and I’ve never been to Georgetown. Love that Seed to Feed dinner benefiting local charities. What a tasty way to support some awesome organizations!
Thanks for sharing another great southern town. Since I started reading your posts on towns in the south, my list of places to travel with the family has grown considerably.
I’ve never been to Georgetown, but I have been to Kentucky. I think the next time we get there, we’ll have to visit.
That grilled cheese looks so good. I have never been to Georgetown, KY before, but would love to visit someday.