History Center Closed - Fall Break
2025-10-20 - 2025-10-25
We will be closed for Fall Break Oct. 20-25th.

Annual Día de los Muertos Festival
2025-11-01 15:00 - 20:00 UTC | Oldham County History Center, 106 North 2nd Avenue #St, La Grange, KY 40031, La Grange, KY, 40031, US
Oldham County History Center Hosts Annual Día de los Muertos Festival – November 1

The Oldham County History Center will present its festive Annual Día de los Muertos Festival on Saturday, November 1, 2025, from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the History Center campus, 106 North 2nd Avenue, La Grange. This colorful, family-friendly event is free and open to all.

Day of the Dead is a time-honored Mexican holiday that celebrates the lives of loved ones who have passed away, blending remembrance with festive community traditions. The History Center’s event will feature beautiful altars (ofrendas), traditional music and dance, face painting, a parade, vendors, and authentic food offerings.
Guests are invited to join in a joyful celebration of remembrance, culture, music, and community. Festivities include:
3:00pm – Face painting, live mariachi music, vendors, food trucks, altar displays (ofrendas)
4:00pm – Community Parade through historic downtown LaGrange, everyone is welcome to walk and celebrate together. More info below.
5:30pm – Cultural dance performances and additional music
6:30pm – La Catrina Contest. (More info below.)

Day of the Dead Community Parade at 4:00pm
The parade will begin at the Oldham County History Center campus in downtown LaGrange, at the corner of Main Street and Second Avenue. The parade route will go west down Main Street, turn right onto 5th Avenue, right onto West Jefferson Street, right onto South Walnut Avenue, right onto Main Street and back to the History Center campus.
Everyone is welcome to participate and walk in the parade. Respectful Day-of-the-Dead cultural dress and props are encouraged but not required. Vehicles, horses, and bikes are not permitted. Strollers are permitted. Registration is not required to walk in the parade.

Day of the Dead La Catrina Contest at 6:30pm
One of the most iconic symbols of Día de los Muertos is La Catrina, a tall, elegant skeleton figure wearing a long, elaborate dress and wide-brimmed hat. First popularized by Mexican artist José Guadalupe Posada in the early 1900s, La Catrina serves as a reminder that death is the great equalizer—regardless of status or wealth, everyone is a skeleton in the end. Over the years, La Catrina has become a beloved emblem of the holiday, blending beauty, artistry, and cultural tradition.
The Oldham County History Center’s La Catrina Contest invites participants of all ages to embrace this tradition by dressing in creative costumes inspired by La Catrina. Contestants are judged on creativity, authenticity, craftsmanship, and presentation. Prizes will be awarded for first, second, and third place in three age categories: Children (under 13), Teens (13–18), and Adults (19 and up).
Registration is required to participate in the contest – sign up here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/day-of-the-dead-festival-catrina-contest-tickets-1635643215889?aff=oddtdtcreator

History Center Closed - Observance of Thanksgiving
2025-11-26 - 2025-11-28 | Oldham County History Center, 106 North 2nd Avenue #St, La Grange, KY 40031, La Grange, KY, 40031, US
We will be closed November 26th – 28th.

History Center Closed - Winter Closure
2025-12-24 - 2025-12-31
We will be closed December 24th – 31st.

Special Exhibit: The Thoroughbred
2026-04-22 10:00 - 16:00, 2026-04-23 10:00 - 16:00, 2026-04-24 10:00 - 16:00, 2026-04-25 10:00 - 14:00, 2026-04-29 10:00 - 16:00, 2026-04-30 10:00 - 16:00, 2026-05-06 10:00 - 16:00, 2026-05-07 10:00 - 16:00 (Africa/Abidjan) and 10 more dates | Oldham County History Center, 106 North 2nd Avenue #St, La Grange, KY 40031, La Grange, KY, 40031, US
View The Thoroughbred: Horses, People, and Farms of Oldham County

This Special Exhibit is now on view at the Oldham County History Center, and free with museum admisison.

River Tales Over Cocktails: Harlan Hubbard
2026-04-23 17:00 - 20:00 (Africa/Abidjan) | Captain’s Quarters Riverside Grille, 5700 Captains Quarters Road, Prospect, KY 40059, Prospect, KY, 40059, US
History Cocktail Cruise with Jessica Whitehead of the KY Derby Museum

Part 1 of our River Tales Over Cocktails history cruise series aboard the CQ Princess. Boarding begins at 5:00pm at Captain’s Quarter’s on River Rd. Part 1 will feature Jessica Whitehead, Senior Curator of the Kentucky Derby Museum speaking on her book “Driftwood: The Life of Harlan Hubbard.”

Ask A Master Gardener
2026-04-25 10:00 - 12:00 (Africa/Abidjan) | Oldham County History Center, 106 North 2nd Avenue #St, La Grange, KY 40031, La Grange, KY, 40031, US
Garden Workshop and Native Plant Seed Giveaway

Join Master Gardner Jan in our Colonial Garden. Bring your garden gloves and tools, and your questions, as we prep our garden for the 2026 planting season.

Hats, Horses, and History
2026-05-03 10:00 - 13:00 (Africa/Abidjan) | Rob Morris Education Building, 207 West Jefferson Street, La Grange, KY 40031, La Grange, KY, 40031, US
A Kentucky Derby Encoire

SUNDAY MAY 3RD | 10AM-1PM | FREE, ALL-AGES EVENT
*** A LA CARTE DERBY BRUNCH ***
ALL PROCEEDS SUPPORT FUTURE PROGRAMS AT THE HISTORY CENTER

Derby Hat Contest | live music | cash bar | kids activity station | live auction of restored 1800s carriage | featured speaker: Jo Ross | vintage Frank Olive hat display | free museum and Thoroughbred exhibit admission | Kentucky Derby souvenirs and local art

207 W Jefferson St, LaGrange KY 40031
www.oldhamkyhistory.com

Barnyard Fun!
2026-05-09 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-05-16 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-05-23 10:00 - 12:00 (Africa/Abidjan) | Oldham County History Center, 106 North 2nd Avenue #St, La Grange, KY 40031, La Grange, KY, 40031, US
Hands-On-History for children, and children-at-heart!

Join us in the Dahlgren Pioneer Barn each week for a new hands-on activity that bring history to life! This event is free, open to the public, and no registration is required.

Hidden History Walking Wine Tour
2026-05-15 18:00 - 19:30 (Africa/Abidjan) | Oldham County History Center, 106 North 2nd Avenue #St, La Grange, KY 40031, La Grange, KY, 40031, US
Explore the Hidden History of LaGrange

With a beverage in hand, explore the history of LaGrange on a walking tour based on the book by Oldham County History Center Director, Dr. Nancy Stearns Theiss.
A to-go-glass of wine will be served at the beginning of the tour and is included in your ticket cost. Tour meets in front of the history center fountain.

Public Archaeology Dig
2026-05-17 11:00 - 14:00 (Africa/Abidjan) | Oldham County History Center, 106 North 2nd Avenue #St, La Grange, KY 40031, La Grange, KY, 40031, US
Work alongside professional archaeologists and explore a dig site dating back to the mid-1800s

Step into the past during a hands-on Public Archaeology Dig on Sunday, May 17, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the historic Duncan Homestead site in La Grange.
This unique educational experience offers participants the opportunity to work alongside professional archaeologists and explore a site dating back to the mid-1800s. Attendees will learn proper excavation techniques, discover how artifacts are identified and preserved, and gain insight into everyday life in 19th-century Oldham County.
Designed for history enthusiasts, the dig provides an engaging, interactive way to connect with local heritage. Participants will actively take part in uncovering history while receiving expert guidance throughout the process. Professional archaeologists will teach participants to how to survey and excavate a site, and how to date and collect found artifacts. All found artifacts will enter into the Oldham County History Center’s collection, helping us better understand this era of our County’s history.
