The 34th Annual Harrodsburg Heritage Days Festival kicks off at 4 p.m. on Friday, May 15th.  Both indoors and on the grounds of the Harrodsburg Community Center.   The Saturday, May 16th Harrodsburg Heritage Days Parade kicks  off at 2 p.m. on West Popcorn Road and makes its way through the center of Harrodsburg. 

The 2019 parade was  headed up by the Grand Marshals team of Deward and Sandy Strain and feature 2019 Miss IU Claudia Hernandez.  Miss IU is sponsored by Kiwanis Club of Bloomington.  The parade also included over 40 youth, music, community and business units.  The announcement was made by Clear Creek Township Trustee Thelma Kelley Jeffries who is serving as parade chair and Festival Director Paul Strain. 

Deward and Sandy Strain are lifelong residents of Harrodsburg.  Deward grew up on what is now First Street and attended Harrodsburg Elementary.  Sandy moved to the Monroe County town situated twelve miles south of Bloomington in 1961 after she and Deward marred.  Both are retired from Indiana University and both are members of the Harrodsburg Church of Christ. Deward and Sandy have been active in the Harrodsburg Heritage Days Festival since its founding and continue to actively volunteer this year.

“We’re happy to announce that Kiwanis is making it possible for us to have Miss IU in our parade,” Jeffries added.  “For the past six years, Kiwanis Club of Bloomington has sponsored her in the parade and this year the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office is providing the vehicle.”  Hernandez is a third year graduate student at the IU School of Optometry.  Immediately after the parade, she’ll be at the Burnham Auditorium in the Harrodsburg Community Center signing free photos during the Harrodsburg Association Community Fish Fry.  The fund raising fish fry features fish and tenderloin sandwiches and home-made desserts served by the volunteers of the Harrodsburg Association.  The proceeds benefit the Harrodsburg Community Center.

Other activities scheduled for the two-day event include kiddie rides and games, art and craft booths, food vendors, a live auction and baby contest as well as live entertainment by The Old & Gold Band, Bloomington Brass Band, Guardian Martial Arts and The Hey, Hey Band.  Admission to the festival grounds is free. 

For details on the Harrodsburg Heritage Days Festival and Parade, call Jeffries at 812-824-7225, Strain at 812-824-9806 or visit www.harrodsburgheritagefestival.o

We are now taking applications for booth rentals at the 2020 Heritage Days Festival happening on May 15-16, 2020.  Find applications for vendor booths, food booths and parade entries at the top of our page.  Thank you for visiting.

The Harrodsburg Heritage Days Association was formed in 1986 for the  purpose of promoting community spirit and to participate in projects  that help perpetuate, preserve, and record the history of the  Harrodsburg area. The Harrodsburg Heritage Days Association is a group of volunteers who are dedicated to the enrichment of the community and future of the Community Center. If  you're interested in becoming a member of the association, please contact us.