Black Patch: Annual Festival In A Small Town
Angel Simmons
When you hear the word festival, what do you expect? Do you expect it in a small town like Princeton, Kentucky? Have you ever even heard of Princeton, Kentucky?
Princeton, Kentucky is a small town about an hour north of Murray, Kentucky. Every year this small town with a population of about 6,000 hostess the Black Patch festival.
Photo by Daniel Woosley of an old tobacco barn
Tracing its history all the way back to 1937, the 5-day tobacco festival has been compressed into a weekend celebration to recognize the local businesses and achievements of the people in town.
Ever since the Black Patch War, which affected the Princeton region greatly, the locals have celebrated the harvest of the dark tobacco by having this festival. Dark tobacco is just unwashed tobacco with higher levels of nicotine. As the name suggests, the dark tobacco appears black and is harvested in sections called patches. This, of course, is where the festival gets its name.
Photo by BlackPatch Heritage Festival Facebook Page
The festival takes place on the first Saturday after Labor Day and they close down the downtown area for this event.
After the downtown area is closed down for the festivities, the event begins with a parade featuring the local high school band, the winners of the pageants in or around Princeton, the local fire department, and many businesses.
Photo by BlackPatch Heritage Festival Facebook Page
The festival allows each business, big and small, to come together and share what they do in their profession or even as a hobby outside of their work.
There are always dozens of games to take part in: cake walks, bottle toss, pick a duck, mazes and many others. Attendants have the opportunity to win prizes like stuffed animals, bunnies, fish and whistles.
If you care more about the food options, there are typical festival foods, but some favorites are the funnel cakes and the deep-fried Oreos. A refreshing drink might be helpful to chase those sweet treats–perhaps a soda or lemonade twist.
This event is family-friendly and offers an opportunity for quality family time and the opportunity to explore a new town while you learn about the history thereof. This is a festival you would not want to miss, even if you just go for the food.
