Perryville commemoration is Oct. 6-8
Published 9:55 am Thursday, October 5, 2023
- A parade on Saturday morning kicks off the weekend events at the Perryville Commemoration. Photo by Fiona Morgan
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By Fiona Morgan
Perryville Battlefield is celebrating its 161st anniversary Oct. 6-8, starting with events in downtown Perryville on Friday and Saturday, and events at the Perryville Battlefield State Park on Saturday and Sunday.
Downtown events are coordinated by Main Street Perryville. Events start at noon Friday, and the bourbon chase comes through Perryville around 3 p.m. Living History can be found all day Friday and Saturday at the Karrick-Parks House and throughout downtown.
Ryan Raikes will be at Magnolia Manor on Friday at 6 p.m. for free music. Downtown, there will be food, vendors, horse and carriage rides, and more.
The kids’ corner is free this year, with inflatables, a corn maze, and rock-climbing wall. There will be a Pullin’ in Perryville Kids Pedal Tractor Pull, where kids aged 3-10 can take their chance at winning their age class. This new event is in memory of Dickie Mayes.
The downtown parade starts at 11 a.m. Saturday, and $50 prizes will be given to the best decorated float, best decorated vehicle, and best decorated animal. For information on the pageants and other events, go to downtownperryville.com/perryville-commemoration.
The downtown Perryville schedule is below:
• Friday:
noon – Event Opens
3 p.m. – Bourbon Chase
6 p.m. – Live Music (Baril Park).
• Saturday:
11 a.m. – Parade
noon – Pageants start (Baril Park); and Jessamine County Heel Tappers (E. Third Street).
2 p.m. – Corn Hole Tournament (Smith Street); and Street Fighting (Merchants Row).
4 p.m. – Pedal Tractor Pull
6 p.m. – Live Music (Baril Park)
9 p.m. – Ghost Walk
The Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site will have a living history and commemoration on October 7 and 8 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be tours, living historians showing rifle and cannon demonstrations, and civilian life, and lectures. The event is a commemoration and not a battle reenactment.
There will be free museum admission Saturday and Sunday. For more information on the event go to www.PerryvilleBattlefield.org.
The full schedule of battlefield events is below:
• Saturday:
9 a.m. – Living History Area, and Museum Opens.
11 a.m. – Larry Peterson, Author: Book Signing and Lecture, Decisions at Perryville, at Civil War Hall.
noon – Memorial Service and Wreath-Laying at Union and Confederate monuments
1 p.m. – Don Elmore portrays Confederate General Simon Bolivar Buckner, at Civil War Hall.
2 p.m. – Artillery Demonstration (along Maney’s fence near living history area)
3 p.m. – Bryan Bush portrays Union Veteran Colonel John Beatty at Perryville, at Civil War Hall.
4 p.m. – Gerald Fisher, Author: Book Signing and Lecture, Guerilla Warfare in Kentucky, at Civil War Hall.
• Sunday:
9 a.m. – Living History Area and Museum Open
10 a.m. – Artillery Demonstrations (along Maney’s fence near history area)
11:30 a.m. – Nature Walk given by the Office of the Kentucky Nature Preserve
2 p.m. – Artillery Demonstrations (along Maney’s fence near living history area)
3 p.m. – Living History Area Closes.
People can also take guided battlefield tours Saturday and Sunday, where they will learn about the opening attack. Saturday tours are 1 p.m. with Park Manager Bryan Bush; and a 3 p.m. extended tour with Guide Bill Nelson.
Sunday tours are 10 a.m. with Park Manager Bryan Bush; and a noon extended tour with Guide Bill Nelson. People can meet the tour guides at the large cedar tree across the street from the museum.
