Roughly 18 miles northeast of Lexington lies the relaxing and friendly location of your next fun southern vacation: Paris, Kentucky. The city has a storied history that dates back to 1775 when Joseph Houston settled the first station in the area. In 1789, the city was chartered under the name Hopewell, named after the hometown of Lawrence Protzman, who originally owned much of the local land. In 1790, a petition surfaced to change the name of the city to Paris and later that year it was changed.
The infrastructure began to grow and by 1830, the city's population grew to over 1,200 residents. The Civil War brought action to the area, the town remained mostly intact. The 20th century saw continued growth in Paris, and the area became a can't-miss destination due to its charm, natural surroundings and great activities. Currently the population is around 10,000 people and it's commonly known as the “Thoroughbred Capital of the World”.
Paris may be a smaller community, but don’t let that fool you. There are a plethora of fun activities and locations to enjoy. The city is home to some great historical landmarks like the Hopewell Museum and the Bourbon County Courthouse. You’ll encounter stunning natural surroundings that are ideal for outdoor activities like taking photographs, hiking, biking, fishing and so much more. In addition there are great boutique shops to explore and restaurants that have a little something for everyone. To get the full experience of this community, make sure to visit during one of their big events like the Paris Crawfish Festival.
Even though this is the inaugural year of the Paris Crawfish Festival, it is already creating some major local buzz. Taking place on May 14th, this event is for all ages and they are expecting a few thousand people in attendance during this initial run. At the festival you’ll encounter, games and activities for kids, live music, a wide selection of foods and so much more. Find out for yourself why the residents of Paris love their community and get a taste of it at the Paris Crawfish Festival. ResortsandLodges.com got the opportuntiy to speak to Brian Dickens, Representative for the Paris Crawfish Fesival, to talk about this great event.
RAL: Tell me a little bit about the event.
BD: This is the first year the event has taken place. Paris Landing is a new Glamping Resort & Event and Adventure Center. We hope to draw a couple of thousand people for our first year. Our guest will be of all ages and backgrounds. We are a family-friendly event.
RAL: What makes the festival unique?
BD: Unique because we will be selling delicious fresh crawfish. And having live entertainment in a beautiful outdoor setting on the water, helps as well.
RAL: Take me though what attendees can expect to find at the festival.
BD: The overall atmosphere of the festival is fun and casual. We have a ton of great food, awesome live music, fun, children’s activities, pageants, crawfish races and many other food choices than crawfish. This is a festival with something for everyone!
RAL: What can attendees expect to find for local lodging?
BD: We have some great options at Paris Landing. Paris Landing is a premier Kentucky destination and event center. They offer accommodations and dining as well as charming bed and breakfasts in the area to choose from. Some of the unique accommodations are located on working thoroughbred horse farms, on beautiful Stoner Creek and others in downtown settings.
RAL: What does the festival mean to the community?
BD: Great fun for a small, charming, and “Mayberry” Like town. The festival gives the community the opportunity to show off local galleries, antique shops, and the beauty of Paris and Stoner Creek. It brings in visitors from a wide region including Tennessee, West Virginia and Ohio.
In addition to being a great showcase for our community, the festival brings a lot of extra foot traffic to local businesses. They appreciate and welcome the boost in sales. Everyone in town welcomes this fun time of year.
RAL: Why should people come to the festival?
BD: Stoner Creek is a hidden gem, and we offer a nostalgic experience chance to Glamp in Luxury tents. Our events are designed to appeal to all ages and offer fun and excitement and an event that people will look forward to returning to year after year.
For more information about the Paris Crawfish Festival, please visit their website.