Recreation and Culture

Available to area citizens are a wide range of recreational and cultural activities.  The Henderson area is home to some of the finest duck and goose hunting in the United States, as well as many other outdoor activities.

Audubon State Park is home to the John James Audubon Museum.  John James Audubon, the world famous wildlife artist, lived in Henderson and operated a business.  The museum holds an extensive collection of Audubon’s works.  The facility hosts visitors from all over the world who come to view Audubon’s works and study his life.  Lodging and camping accommodations can also be found at the Park.

Municipal parks provide areas for picnicking, golfing, tennis, soccer, swimming, softball and baseball.  For the fisherman, several area lakes are available, and other water sports may be enjoyed on the Ohio River.

Community activities include music, theater, and art.  Cultural activities play a major role in the everyday lives of Hendersonians.  The 1,000-seat Henderson Fine Arts Center, located at the Henderson Community College, provides quality entertainment with many of the top acts in the Untied States performing on a regular basis.  The summer is highlighted by the W.C. Handy Blues and Barbecue Festival.  The festival is held to honor the memory and celebrate the life of W. C. Handy, known as the “Father of the Blues”.  Handy lived in Henderson and it is here that he honed his musical skills.  Many of the top names in blues music perform at the event.  Also, teams come from all over the Tri-State Area to cook and sell barbecue in "The Taste of Henderson Barbecue" festival.  Henderson considers itself the barbecue capital of Kentucky.

Henderson County High School participates in all major team sports offered by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association.  The school is continually in contention for state titles in several sports.

The recently expanded Henderson Public Library is one of the finest libraries in the area, with well in excess of 100,000 volumes.  The library was built in the early 1900’s with the assistance provided in the form of a grant from Andrew Carnegie.

2010 Summer Concert Series

All events are on the riverfront in downtown Henderson. Except for July 4th, all concerts start at 7:00 PM on Friday night.

The 4th of July concert starts at 7:00 PM, concessions open at 5:30 PM, and the fireworks show starts at 9:00 PM.

Planning Commission – The first Tuesday of each month, beginning at 6:00 PM.

Note: A Board Meeting is held prior to the Planning Commission Meeting, beginning at 5:15 PM.

City Board of Zoning Adjustment  – The second Wednesday of each month, beginning at 5:30 PM.

Park Board – The third Thursday of each month, beginning at 5:00 PM, at the Municipal Center, 222 First Street, on the second floor. There are no meetings in June or December.

Human Relations Commission – The third Wednesday of the following months: January, March, May, July, September, and November. Each meeting begins at 7:00 PM.