State-Journal.com - Volunteers needed for Equestrian Games

Frankfort Tourism Director Joy Jeffries still believes all 900 hotel and bed and breakfast rooms in the capital will be booked for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

But with 197 days remaining until the games begin Sept. 25 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, only 25 percent of the rooms in Frankfort have been reserved, Jeffries said Wednesday afternoon.

Among the expected visitors will be 150 from Australia.

Jeffries doesn’t think Frankfort will be “overrun with visitors because most of them are going to be at the Horse Park a lot of the time.”

Regardless of the number of international guests, Frankfort is going to have a two-week party atmosphere for the community to celebrate the games, Jeffries says.

The games go from Sept. 25 to Oct. 10, “and we have quite a few events planned,” says Doug Howard, chairman of the local events committee for the World Equestrian Games.

“So far everything is going great and we’re asking organizations to send us their daily activities and special plans.

“Our kickoff is Friday evening, Sept. 24. Farmers Bank and Downtown Frankfort are being very gracious in letting us piggyback onto their final summer concert on the Old Capitol grounds.”

On the morning of Sept. 25, a Mustang Car Club will cruise Central Kentucky. Mustang owners from Louisville, Lexington and Cincinnati are expected to participate, Howard says.

The cruise ends around 1 p.m. at River View Park where cars will be displayed.

Motown is also coming to downtown Frankfort Sept. 25-26.

The Temptations will bring “My Girl” and “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” to the Grand Theatre for special Alltech Fortnight Festival performances.

Tickets range from $65 to $90 and are available through the theater’s Web site, www.grandtheatrefrankfort.org, or by calling its office at 502-352-7469. The ticket office is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Another big music day is Saturday, Oct. 2.

“It’s going to be like a summer concert series all in one day on the Old Capitol lawn,” Howard says. “We’ll have six bands playing, starting about noon. We’re expecting a thousand to 2,500.

“We’re trying to work it out where we have a big concert at 8 p.m. in the Grand Theatre. Then after the final concert of the day, we’re wanting to have a jam session to coincide with the Bill Monroe centennial celebration.”

Before the Oct. 2 concerts begin, “a kids fest will be held from 10 a.m. to noon,” Howard says. “We’re hoping to have a steeple chase thing for kids to run through and face paintings.”

Other activities planned include:

>”A Very Brilliant Party” Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 at Liberty Hall Historic Site and the Orlando Brown House.

“The evening includes a 19^th century style dinner, a tour, wine and hors d’oeuvres,” Howard says. “Tickets are $75 each and the fundraiser is limited to 75 guests per night.”

>Bourbon tasting and tours Sept. 30 at Buffalo Trace, followed by “most likely a bluegrass band and cash bar,” Howard says.

>Contra dance Oct. 1 at the Buffalo Trace Clubhouse. “There will be a well-known band and caller,” Howard says.

>Clog Fest Oct. 3 from noon to 5 p.m. at River View Park pavilion.

>Bourbon tasting and tours Oct. 7 at Buffalo Trace.

Max and Cathy Thomas are recruiting volunteers to help with local events.

“We have 30 so far and our goal is 100,” Max Thomas says. “We want to put Frankfort in the spotlight and our volunteers will be ambassadors for our community.”

Each volunteer will get a World Equestrian Games T-shirt, he says.

To volunteer locally or for more information, call the tourism office at 875-8687.

Local organizations planning other WEG events should contact Howard at 229-9034 or dchoward5@yahoo.com.