News
February, 2023
The Women of Georgetown, Kentucky
Georgetown showcases women throughout March Women’s History Month
To celebrate Women’s History Month, Georgetown/Scott County Tourism is featuring one local woman a day through March in its “Women of Georgetown” series. The series will be published across Georgetown’s social media platforms, sharing insights, achievements and inspiration of community leaders, business owners and professionals on its G-town Unwound blog, Facebook page and Instagram feed.
December, 2022
KTIA Names Lori Sauncers 2022 Member of the Year
Lori Cooper Saunders was named KTIA Member of the Year during the Kentucky Travel Industry Association's annual meeting in November in Lexington, KY. Saunders is the executive director of the Georgetown/Scott County Tourism Commission, a position she has held since 2016.
November, 2022
Celebrate Independently Owned Businesses on Small Business Saturday
Small Business Saturday takes place on November 26 this year, providing an opportunity to discover, celebrate and support small businesses. More than four dozen distinctive and independently owned small businesses are located in Georgetown, lining the streets of the downtown and adding color, vibrancy and activity to the historic district.
September, 2022
Super 8 by Wyndham Georgetown Wins 2021 Super Pride Award AND 2022 TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Award
Super 8 by Wyndham Georgetown today announced it has been recognized by Wyndham Hotels and Resorts as a Super 8 Pride Award winner AND by TripAdvisor as a 2022 Travelers’ Choice Award winner. These awards celebrate top performing hotels that have received outstanding guest reviews from travelers around the globe, and as challenging as the past two years have been, Super 8 by Wyndham Georgetown stood out by consistently delivering positive and accommodating experiences to their guests.
August 25, 2022
The 41st Annual Festival of the Horse Gallops into Kentucky Horse Headquarters
The 41st Annual Festival of the Horse gallops back into Kentucky Horse Headquarters the weekend of September 9-11, bringing with it all-new street performers, Kentucky craft vendors, local headlining musicians, a craft beer garden, all of your favorite festival foods, family-fun activities like Fox Creek Amusement rides as well as the Toyota Grand Parade of Horses, the Georgetown Community Hospital Colt & Filly Review Parade and more at this free-admission event that celebrates the role of the horse and its heritage.
August 2, 2022
Senator Leads Effort to Help Kentucky & Georgetown Tourism
Get Back on Its Feet
COVID-19 had a devastating impact on most of the world’s industries and economies. One of the hardest hit was the travel and tourism industry, with trillions of dollars in lost spending and pandemic fallout contributing heavily to unemployment.
June 7, 2022
Georgetown Celebrates Juneteenth
June 18 celebration takes place at Ed Davis Park
Georgetown goes all in for Juneteenth with a celebration taking place on Saturday, June 18, at Ed Davis Park and featuring a full afternoon and evening of food, fun, music and more. All are invited to come join in the festivities of this important national day of observance. MORE
August 17, 2021
Popular celebration brings wealth of Kentucky crafts and musicians
for their big anniversary year!
The 40th Annual Festival of the Horse gallops into Kentucky Horse Headquarters the weekend of September 10-12, bringing with it more Kentucky craft vendors than ever before. Expect the fest to be back in full swing in anticipation of marking its 40th anniversary, with local headlining musicians, a variety of awesome vendors, a craft beer garden, all of your favorite festival foods, family-fun activities like Fox Creek Amusement rides as well as the Toyota Grand Parade of Horses, the Georgetown Community Hospital Colt & Filly Review Parade, Horse Show & Games and more at this free-admission event that celebrates the role of the horse and its heritage. MORE
July 7, 2021
Elkhorn Creek Float Fest Returns for a Third Year
Full day float on Kentucky’s longest creek with music, food, prizes, more
The third annual Elkhorn Creek Float Fest takes place Saturday, August 7, at Peninsula Park in Scott County. This family-friendly event features a full day float from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Kentucky’s longest and loveliest creek and includes music, food and prizes and a chance to learn about local waterways. MORE
July 16, 2020
Festival of the Horse Moves to 2021 for Triple Celebration
Festival combines with sister-city and friendship garden fetes for grand event
Georgetown/Scott County Tourism has made the decision to reschedule this year’s Festival of the Horse, originally set for September of 2020. Instead, the Tourism office will throw its energies and resources into and the spotlight onto a triple celebration in the fall of 2021. This will include the 40th anniversary of the Festival of the Horse, a chance to honor Georgetown’s sister-city of Tahara, Japan – a relationship marking its 31st year in 2021– and recognizing Yuko-En on the Elkhorn, the Official Kentucky-Japan Friendship Garden, hitting 21 years in 2021. MORE
May 1, 2020
Celebrate National Travel and Tourism Week with us
It may be stay-at-home time, but National Travel and Tourism Week calls for a celebration that honors the thing we love to do most: travel, explore, learn, discover. MORE
April 6, 2020
Yuko-En on the Elkhorn is a Different Kind of Spa Visit – And What is Needed Now
As people look for scenic spaces to stroll outdoors and maintain safe social distancing, Georgetown, KY invites fresh air seekers to visit a pocket of paradise designed specifically for this purpose: Yuko-en on the Elkhorn. MORE
March 31, 2020
Kentucky destination reaches out as world hits ‘pause’
KY’s Horse Headquarters shares news, virtual tours, Insta-worthy images, recipes, tips for the times, locals’ acts of kindness and more MORE
March 13, 2020
CORONAVIRUS update in Georgetown, Kentucky
A statement from Lori A. Saunders, Executive Director, Georgetown/Scott Tourism, regarding COVID-19 MORE
NOVEMBER 21, 2019
Celebrate Small Business Saturday By Shopping Local For The Holidays
Contact: Natalie Partin
This year’s Small Business Saturday, set for Nov. 30, is an opportunity to discover, celebrate and support Georgetown’s many small businesses. A promotion launched in 2010 by American Express to encourage people across the country to support small, local businesses, it is a day to recognize all contributions small businesses make to the local community, including economic development, jobs, charitable donations and more. MORE
NOVEMBER 12, 2019
Kentucky’s Grandest Greek Revival-Style Mansion Lights Up For The Holidays
Contact: Natalie Partin
Ward Hall will be resplendent with the glow of countless candles during its annual Christmas Candlelight Tours, this year taking place Dec. 6, 7 and 8 and Dec. 13 through 17. The mansion is located not far from downtown Georgetown, whose picturesque Victorian-era streetscapes, decorated storefronts and holiday window displays, illuminated by the glow of the lamp posts, turn it into a charming Kentucky Christmas town each year. MORE
AUGUST 14, 2019
The 39th Annual Festival of the Horse Gallops into Kentucky Horse Headquarters
Contact: Natalie Partin
The 39th Annual Festival of the Horse gallops into Kentucky Horse Headquarters the weekend of September 6-8, bringing with it more live music than ever before. MORE
JULY 24, 2019
A Cup of Common Wealth Opens Georgetown Location
Contact: Laura Shrake
A Lexington-based coffee shop has expanded to Georgetown and is set for Grand Opening ceremonies on Friday, July 26, 2019. These festivities will include a ribbon cutting with the Georgetown / Scott County Chamber of Commerce at 10 a.m., as well as other events throughout the day. MORE
JULY 18, 2019
2019 Horsey Hundred Yields Record-Breaking Attendance
Contact: Natalie Partin
Hosted on the grounds of Georgetown College since 1983, Horsey Hundred tops its registration high after its 2019 event on May 24-26. This leading central Kentucky cycling event continues to expand its participation with 2,740 riders from 33 states, Canada, Great Britain and New Zealand, and makes a substantial economic impact on its host community of Georgetown/Scott County. MORE
JULY 15, 2019
Rescheduled Elkhorn Creek Float Fest Returns for Second Year
Contact: Natalie Partin
The second annual Elkhorn Creek Float Fest – cancelled in late May – has been rescheduled for Saturday, Aug. 3, at Peninsula Park in Scott County. This family-friendly event features a full day float from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Kentucky’s longest and loveliest creek and includes music, food and prizes and a chance to learn about local waterways. MORE
MAY 6, 2019
Bike-Friendly Georgetown Welcomes Horsey Hundred Participants
Contact: Natalie Partin
Since Georgetown College began hosting the Horsey Hundred in 1983, the event continues to increase the number of cyclists on Scott County roads as more and more participants discover this bike-friendly community. Sponsored by the Bluegrass Cycling Club, it is now a leading central Kentucky cycling event, bringing visitors from 35 different states and Canada. MORE
MAY 1, 2019
Downtown Georgetown Concert Series Celebrates 10 Years
Contact: Natalie Partin
Georgetown lets the good times roll beginning May 25 with the kick-off of its annual Party in the Park event and continuing through Sept. 5 with pop-up parties on the square as part of the celebration for the 10th anniversary of its Downtown Georgetown Concert Series. MORE
APRIL 24, 2019
Four Family-Fun Festivals Headline Summer Calendar
Contact: Natalie Partin
Family fun festivals rule summertime entertainment in Georgetown and feature traditional bluegrass music, a float on Kentucky’s longest creek, the model horse world brought to life with spectacular equine performances, and a three-day equestrian extravaganza. Events are set for June, July and September this summer. MORE
APRIL 17, 2019
National Travel and Tourism Week Celebrates All That Travel Is
Contact: Natalie Partin
May 5 through 11 is National Travel and Tourism Week in 2019, and destinations across the country, including Georgetown/Scott County, are celebrating all the reasons #TravelMatters each day. MORE
MARCH 12, 2019
A deliciously epic week returns to Georgetown, KY
Contact: Natalie Partin
Hot browns, hot dogs, and hot, hot deals – 17 local Georgetown hotspots heat up springtime with the 2nd Annual #GtownEats Week, March 23 through 30. #GtownEats Week returns with delicious vengeance as local Georgetown restaurants, bakeries and drinking establishments offer exclusive items and meal deals – only available during this designated week. MORE
FEBRUARY 21, 2019
Georgetown Tourism Evaluates 2018, Predicts Constant Progression
Contact: Natalie Partin
Georgetown/Scott County Tourism spent a very busy 2018 bringing visitors to its many attractions and lodgings, raising its profile among social media users and motorcoach operators, hosting travel media, organizing events and proactively spreading the word about the city as an enticing destination through speaking engagements, advertising and promotional campaigns, and editorial stories whose publication alone represented a potential circulation/readership of more than 40 million. MORE
FEBRUARY 5, 2019
Harness the Fun in Kentucky’s Horse Headquarters
Contact: Natalie Partin
Harness the fun in Kentucky’s Horse Headquarters at these horse-centric events: Keeneland Spring Meet, Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event and the Horsey Hundred and venues: Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farm and Whispering Woods Riding Stables. MORE
NOVEMBER 21, 2018
Preview Party at Country Boy Brewing Celebrates Broadcast Premiere
Contact: Natalie Partin
Georgetown and Scott County have starring roles in an episode of KET’s production of “Downstream,” and everyone is invited to a Preview Party on Sunday, Dec. 9, at Country Boy Brewery & Taproom to celebrate. MORE
NOVEMBER 9, 2018
My Old Kentucky Foam Raises Its Glass in Georgetown
Contact: Natalie Partin
Kentucky’s newest craft brewery celebrates its official ribbon cutting and open house Nov. 14 at 1 p.m. on Georgetown’s East Main Street. My Old Kentucky Foam was just a dream two years ago, but now, that dream has four walls and a hot brick oven. MORE
NOVEMBER 6, 2018
Discover, Celebrate and Support Small Businesses
Contact: Natalie Partin
Small Business Saturday, set for Nov. 24 this year, is an opportunity to discover, celebrate and support small businesses. American Express launched the promotion in 2010 to encourage people across the country to support small, local businesses. Nearly four dozen independently-owned businesses are located in downtown Georgetown, including shops, boutiques, art galleries and antique stores; restaurants and other eateries; salons; even an Irish pub and a small-batch bourbon hub. MORE
NOVEMBER 1, 2018
Meet Hometown Teams at Smithsonian’s Traveling Exhibition
Contact: Natalie Partin
The Smithsonian’s Hometown Teams traveling exhibition comes to the Georgetown & Scott County Museum Nov. 17 through Dec. 27, 2018. A Grand Opening will take place on Nov. 17 and two programs featuring special guests are scheduled for mid-December. The exhibit examines the many roles sports play in American society and how they shape our lives, unite us and celebrate who we are as Americans. It will examine sports on both a national and local level. MORE
OCTOBER 22, 2018
Three Weekends, Four Christmases
Contact: Natalie Partin
Celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Southern Lights Holiday Festival at the Kentucky Horse Park with a weekend getaway that also includes the charm of small-town holiday events and activities – a tree lighting, open houses, candlelight tours and live theatrical performances of seasonal classics. Visit www.GeorgetownKy.com to see the Calendar of Events. MORE
SEPTEMBER 18, 2018
Field of Dead Horses Author Visits Georgetown
Contact: Natalie Partin
Kentucky author Nick Allen Brown will visit Georgetown on the weekend of Oct. 5-7 to make two special appearances. The author of Field of Dead Horses, a page-turning mystery set in Georgetown, will discuss and read from his book at Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farm and at the Scott County Public Library. MORE
AUGUST 13, 2018
The 38th Annual Festival of the Horse Gallops into Kentucky Horse Country
Contact: Natalie Partin
Horse lovers will want to head to downtown Georgetown this fall when the 38th Annual Festival of the Horse gallops into Kentucky Horse Country the weekend of September 7-9. A free-admission event celebrating the role of the horse and its heritage, the festival is packed with fun, including the Grand Parade of Horses, Horse Show & Games, live entertainment, craft beer garden, arts and crafts, tasty food options and family-fun activities like Fox Creek Amusement rides and so much more. MORE
AUGUST 3, 2018
Fall Festivals, Brewery Bazaar and Farm-to-Table Dinner Events
Contact: Natalie Partin
A special evening at the birthplace of bourbon kicks off a busy fall calendar in the midst of Kentucky Horse Country when Chef Justin Thompson hosts the Sept. 7 Seed to Feed Dinner at Royal Spring Park. The same day, the 38th Annual Festival of the Horse gets underway. Also on the calendar: Evan’s Orchards’ Fall Festival beginning Sept. 16, the Oxford Antique Market on Sept. 22 and Country Boy Brewing’s Fall Bazaar on Oct. 7. MORE
AUGUST 3, 2018
New Tipsy Cow Bar Celebrates Its Grand Opening
Contact: Natalie Partin
The Tipsy Cow, Georgetown’s newest bar and entertainment venue, will hold its Grand Opening on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 3 and 4. The event goes lives at 1 p.m. on Friday with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony with the Georgetown-Scott County Chamber of Commerce. That evening Whiskey Creek will perform on the Tipsy Cow stage at 7-9 p.m., followed by Bedford Band, playing 10 p.m.-1 a.m. On Saturday, a full lineup of live music kicks off with Red River Revival, 4-6 p.m.; Tyler Halsey and Stealing Thunder, 7-9 p.m.; and Branden Martin, 10 p.m.-1 a.m. MORE
JULY 31, 2018
Street Fair, Live Blues and Gospel Music, Pig Roast, Old-Fashioned Basket Meeting
Contact: Natalie Partin
New Zion, a historical and influential African American community in Scott County, celebrates 150 years since its founding on Friday, Aug. 24, through Sunday, Aug. 26, at 122 New Zion Road. The celebration includes live blues music; a street fair with arts and crafts vendors, pig roast, fried chicken and more; an old-fashioned basket meeting with Sunday morning and evenings services and home-cooked dinner; and Back to Basic Gospel Singing. MORE
JUNE 26, 2018
Dramatic 2017 Economic Impact of Tourism
Contact: Natalie Partin
Tourist activity in Georgetown/Scott County generated $119,195,515 in direct tourist spending in 2017. As a result, each of Scott County’s 18,421 households effectively saved more than $1,000 each. According to the 2017 Economic Impact of Kentucky Tourism report released by the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, Scott County netted a 5.5 percent increase in 2017, continuing a growth trend in the county and statewide that has held for more than five years. MORE
MAY 23, 2018
New Elkhorn Creek Float Fest Paddles into Georgetown, KY
Contact: Natalie Partin
The inaugural Elkhorn Creek Float Fest takes place Sat., June 9, at Peninsula Park in Scott County. This new, kid-friendly event features a full day float from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Kentucky’s longest creek and will be filmed by KET’s Downstream Production for a feature about Georgetown. Click here for more details. MORE
MAY 11, 2018
The Party Returns to Downtown Georgetown With Annual Concert Series
Contact: Natalie Partin
It’s a party, it’s a party – a Georgetown party! Georgetown, Kentucky celebrates the summer with their much-anticipated concert series featuring popular bands, local food trucks, beer garden, and new to this year, themed nights. The Party on the Square concerts will take stage in downtown Georgetown once a month from May through September with two big events kicking-off and wrapping-up the series. MORE
MAY 8, 2018
Seed to Feed Dinners Bring Kentucky Celebrity Chefs, Celebrated Author to Georgetown
Contact: Natalie Partin
From the garden to grill to the table, Georgetown, KY boasts an exciting annual event series featuring renowned chefs, delicious, farm-fresh cuisine and unique Georgetown settings. The four 2018 Seed to Feed dinners will dish up appetizing fare from June through October at some of the area’s most popular attractions. MORE
MAY 2, 2018
Scott County Honors Local Vietnam War Veterans with Museum Exhibit
Contact: Natalie Partin
The Georgetown and Scott County Museum will soon feature a new but historic exhibit remembering Scott County residents who served their country in the Vietnam War. MORE
MARCH 28, 2018
Three Exciting Events Triple Springtime Fun in Georgetown, KY
Contact: Natalie Partin
A trio of exciting events returns to Georgetown this spring: The Kite & Culture Festival and Land Rover Kentucky Three Day Event both take place in late April and the Horsey Hundred cycles through town Memorial Day Weekend. MORE
MARCH 12, 2018
Eat Your Way Through Georgetown During #GtownEats Week
Contact: Natalie Partin
Irish kisses, free cupcakes and discounted delectables – 16 local Georgetown hotspots have cooked up exclusive meals and deals during #GtownEats, an 8-day culinary celebration for local Georgetown restaurants, bakeries and eating establishments that takes place March 24 through 31. Stop in for special offerings – only available during this designated week – and snap a pic of something yummy. Share it on social media and be entered to win dinner for two at one of the participating restaurants. MORE
FEBRUARY 9, 2018
Downtown Georgetown Reviews 2017, Celebrates a Prosperous Year
Contact: Natalie Partin
With the guidance of Georgetown/Scott County Tourism, Downtown Georgetown prospered in 2017 as a shopping and dining mecca, community gathering spot, must-see visitor attraction, hub for history, and implementer of growth. Through additional advertising campaigns and marketing strategies, the downtown area of Georgetown fostered its own culture and has emerged as a very desirable destination for locals and visitors. MORE
JANUARY 25, 2018
Georgetown Tourism Reviews 2017, Anticipates Continued Growth for 2018
Contact: Natalie Partin
Georgetown/Scott County Tourism spent a very busy 2017 bringing visitors to its many attractions and lodgings, raising its profile among social media users and motorcoach operators, hosting travel media, organizing events and in general spreading the word about the city as an enticing destination through speaking engagements, advertising and promotional campaigns, and editorial stories whose publication alone represented a potential circulation/readership of more than 3 million. MORE
NOVEMBER 15, 2017
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas in Georgetown, KY
Contact: Natalie Partin
Unwrap the joys of a small-town Christmas this year. A parade and tree lighting in the heart of downtown, holiday musicals, candlelight tours, a reading of The Polar Express in a train car, shopping at locally-owned shops and boutiques and a festival with three miles of lights – Georgetown is pure small-town charm, especially during the holidays. MORE
OCTOBER 23, 2017
Georgetown, KY Celebrates Small Business Saturday
Contact: Natalie Partin
Shop small and celebrate your community with the small businesses that make it special – this is the mission of Small Business Saturday, a promotion launched by American Express in 2010 to encourage people across the country to support small, local businesses. With dozens and dozens of independently-owned shops and boutiques, galleries and restaurants – many located in its picturesque Victorian-era downtown, Georgetown makes it easy to support this annual shopping tradition, set for Saturday, Nov. 25, in 2017. MORE
SEPTEMBER 26, 2017
Georgetown Welcomes the CP National Horse Show Oct. 31-Nov. 5, 2017
Contact: Natalie Partin
The CP National Horse Show, a 6-day hunter/jumper event consistently ranked by the North American Riders Group as one of the top shows in the United States, takes place at the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park beginning Tuesday, Oct. 31. A full array of hunter divisions, Junior & Amateur Owner Jumpers, the top Open Jumpers from the USA and around the world, and the ASPCA Maclay National Championship will be featured. MORE
AUGUST 29, 2017
The Festival of the Horse Returns for 37th Year in Georgetown, Kentucky
Contact: Natalie Partin
The Annual Festival of the Horse located along Main Street in historic downtown Georgetown takes place on September 8-10, 2017. This three-day event consists of live entertainment, art & craft exhibits, local & regional food options, multiple parades, Fox Creek Amusement rides, horse games, and a youth & open horse show. MORE
AUGUST 24, 2017
‘Best’ Barbeque, Beer, Horseback Riding and Bargains in Kentucky
Contact: Natalie Partin
Four venues with locations in Georgetown, KY, have been awarded “Best In Kentucky” plaques by Kentucky Living magazine. This annual contest, sponsored by the magazine, invites readers to select what they consider to be the very best in Kentucky in a number of categories, including best tourism attraction, family getaway, music festival, arts and crafts fair and more. MORE
AUGUST 14, 2017
Georgetown, KY Welcomes Fall with Festival of the Horse, Seed to Feed Dinners
Contact: Natalie Partin
The 37th Annual Festival of the Horse kicks off fall fun in the midst of Kentucky Horse Country. This event celebrating the role of the horse and its heritage takes place in Georgetown and features a chili cook-off and family-friendly activities. MORE
AUGUST 8, 2017
Geocaching Trots Its Way Into Scott County, Kentucky
Contact: Natalie Partin
Grab your handy compass and geographical map for Scott County’s GeoTrot: Geocaching in Horse Country event on Saturday, August 12th. Spend the entire day navigating along country roads passed charming horse farms to some of the most historical locations in Scott County, Kentucky. MORE
MAY 23, 2017
Georgetown/Scott County Tourism Contributed Nearly $178 Million to Local Economy in 2016.
Contact: Natalie Partin
The Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet released earlier this month the Travel and Tourism Industry’s Economic Impact for 2016. The results concluded that Scott County generated approximately $178 million in total tourist spending for the area, which is an increase of 16.1% over 2015. MORE
FEBRUARY 3, 2017
Georgetown/Scott County Tourism Creates Passport in Efforts to Spread Love to Downtown Businesses.
Contact: Natalie Partin
The month of February kicks off a time of love and admiration in Georgetown, Kentucky. Georgetown/Scott County Tourism presents the town’s first “Love Your Downtown” Passport during February 6-28th hoping to encourage locals and frequent guests to visit the wide variety of Downtown Georgetown businesses. MORE
JANUARY 12, 2017
Horsey Hundred Generates an Impressive Economic Impact on Scott County, KY.
Contact: Natalie Partin
With the 40th annual Horsey Hundred in sight, the Georgetown/Scott County Tourism Commission reflected on the previous year’s event by conducting the 2016 Horsey Hundred Economic Impact Analysis. The first ever cycling event analysis was prepared by University of Kentucky’s Assistant Professor, Dr. Jason R. Swanson, who found that this two-day event contributed more than $623,000 in direct and in-direct expenditures throughout Georgetown and Scott County. MORE
