Carson Park connects Paducah’s equestrian history with a seasonal visitor experience. In 1936, the park was donated to McCracken County for horse shows, county fairs and horse training. In the heart of Paducah, the grounds include the McCracken County Fairgrounds and a historic racetrack.
Equestrian Tradition and Summer Festival
From October to May, you can watch public harness training at Carson Park every day. Since this offering is seasonal, it’s best to check before your trip. The McCracken County Fair is a week-long summer tradition featuring rides, classic fair food, dachshund races, games, prizes and vendor booths. Dates and programs are subject to change. Training and the fair offer two different reasons to experience the park: regular viewing opportunities during part of the year and a summer festival with a varied program.
Quilts, Murals and History in Paducah
You can explore the Paducah Wall to Wall Murals on a self-guided walk along the downtown concrete floodwall. More than 60 life-size panoramic murals depict Paducah’s history; they were created by Robert Dafford and the Dafford Murals Team. The National Quilt Museum offers another way to experience craftsmanship and design. Its collection consists of quilted artworks created after 1980 by contemporary quilters from across the United States and around the world. The museum has 30,000 square feet of exhibition space and a collection of 320 contemporary quilts. Exhibitions, educational offerings and programs focus on contemporary quilting.
Paducah has been part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network as a Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art since 2013. The city’s museums also tell different parts of its history: the Hotel Metropolitan is a museum dedicated to African American heritage. Mrs. Maggie’s Memories is a living history experience there, featuring personal stories about the history of the historic African American hotel and ending with a piece of homemade chess pie. Dates for this experience may vary. The Whitehaven Welcome Center is a restored 1860s mansion with period furnishings and memorabilia about Alben Barkley. The Paducah Railroad Museum focuses on equipment and memorabilia from the history of railroads in the United States.
Rivers, Trails and Nature Watching
Paducah lies at the confluence of the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers. In the River Discovery Center, the Founders Room screens the film “Rivers: Heart of a Nation,” and the center offers views of the confluence. An audiovisual presentation of the Mississippi River watershed lets visitors select departure and destination cities to compare routes, elevations and total distance traveled.
Trails and seasonal wildlife viewing offer other perspectives, too. The Environmental Education and Recreation Area at Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge has paved, gravel and unpaved trails for hiking and wildlife viewing. Depending on the season, you may see nesting songbirds, wildflowers, amphibians, white-tailed deer, waterfowl and bald eagles; sightings are not guaranteed. The Clyde F. Boyles Greenway Trail is more than five miles long, runs through Paducah and connects city parks, the McCracken County trail system and the riverfront landscape. It connects to the approximately 1.5-mile McCracken County trail system via the Bob Leeper Pedestrian Bridge.
Local Produce and Events
The Paducah Homegrown Farmers’ Market offers local produce such as fruit, vegetables, meat, eggs and dairy products, as well as crafts, baked goods and food from local vendors. Offerings and seasonal operations may vary. The Lower Town Arts & Music Festival brings together local visual arts, regional live music, food and craft beer. Free annual paddling events with kayaks are held on the Clarks River and Ohio River in Paducah-McCracken County. Event availability and registration are subject to change.
Discover more destinations: Calloway County, Marion County, Estill County, Daviess County, Floyd County, Taylor County, Nelson.
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