Looking for the best things to do in Taylorsville, Kentucky this summer? Spencer County is filled with family-friendly events, outdoor activities, live music, and small-town festivals all season long. Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or exploring close to home, there’s something happening nearly every week.
From the beloved Taylorsville Farmers Market to the Spencer County Fair and Fourth of July celebrations, summer here is all about community, connection, and unforgettable local experiences.
Weekly Favorites You Don’t Want to Miss
Taylorsville Farmers Market
One of the most popular summer attractions in Spencer County, the Farmers Market is your go-to for fresh produce, local goods, and handmade items.
If you’re looking for a way to experience Taylorsville Lake State Park beyond the usual trail walk, the park’s Permanent Orienteering Course is one of the most interesting ways to do it. It turns the landscape into a puzzle—one that invites you to slow down, pay attention, and actually see the terrain instead of just passing through it.
Why This Course Stands Out
The course is available year‑round and includes 13 mapped control points, all located south of the main park road. Each checkpoint is marked by a brown post with a unique number, making it clear when you’ve found the right spot. The start and finish are easy to find too—just south of the park shelters.
It’s flexible: go solo, go with a friend, bring the kids, or turn it into a casual competition. No reservation, no fee, no pressure.
This map uses the standard orienteering color system, which makes it a lot more intuitive than most people expect:
Brown shows the shape of the land—hills, dips, and contour lines
Green & white show forest density
Yellow marks clearings
Blue is any water feature
Black covers manmade structures and rock features
Your route is marked in purple:
A triangle for the start
Numbered circles for each control
A double circle for the finish (same as the start)
Your job is simply to visit them in order. The fun comes from choosing how to get from one to the next.
The Real Appeal: You Start to Notice Everything
Orienteering changes the way you move through the park. Instead of just following a trail, you start scanning ridgelines, tree lines, clearings, and creekbeds, matching what’s in front of you with what’s on the map.
It can be surprisingly absorbing—and surprisingly calming.
A favorite tip from the course map: if you ever feel disoriented, just head due north until you reach the park road. Clean and simple.
A Good Fit for Just About Anyone
The course works well for:
Families looking for something active and inexpensive
Scouts and youth groups
Couples exploring the park for the first time
Friends who want something outdoorsy but different
Locals who’ve done every trail and want a new challenge
It’s exactly the type of approachable, low‑barrier outdoor activity the state loves to see communities highlight.
What to Bring
Nothing fancy—just:
Comfortable shoes
Water
Sunscreen and bug spray
Optional: a compass (but you don’t need one to start)
Long pants are helpful if you plan to leave the trail to reach a control point.
Ready to Try It?
Pick up or download the map, start near the park shelters, and give yourself permission to explore at your own pace. Whether you’re competitive or just curious, orienteering at Taylorsville Lake State Park is an engaging way to get outside and experience the landscape in a fresh way.
Welcome to the America250 Little Miss Liberty Spencer County Contest!
This fun and patriotic contest celebrates creativity, pride, and the voices of our young girls (ages 0-12) in Spencer County. Contestants should live or go to school in Spencer County. There is no formal live pageant — just submit a photo, a short video (30 seconds or less), and join us for the live winner reveal on July 4th at 4pm in the Main tent on Main Street in Taylorsville, KY!
Age Categories (Age on July 4, 2026)
Tiny Miss Liberty (0–4)
Mini Miss Liberty (5–8)
Little Miss Liberty (9–12)
There will be one winner for each category, and one overall winner. There are no prizes and no participation gifts. There will be a certificate for each winner and the pride of being recognized in front of their community.
How to Participate
Upload Patriotic Photo (REQUIRED) JPG or PNG only. Please upload one clear full body photo of the contestant in her most patriotic outfit or theme.
Upload the link to your 30 second or less, unlisted YouTube 30‑Second Video: “What Freedom Means to Me” (REQUIRED) Double check video viewing permissions before you submit. Tips: Have a friend check by sending the link to them. Try to keep your child’s face the main focus of the video. The video does not need to be fancy, just genuine.
Civil War Spencer County: Sites, Stories, Cemeteries & the Buffalo Soldier From Little Mount
Spencer County’s Civil War era lives on in roadside markers, church steeples, quiet cemeteries, and in the brief but remarkable life of a Buffalo Soldier whose headstone still stands in Little Mount. This guide takes visitors from downtown Taylorsville to the rural ridges where history survives in stone, soil, and story.
1) Downtown Taylorsville: Markers That Tell the War
The Courthouse Burned (January 1865)
A historical marker on the courthouse lawn explains how guerrillas set fire to the Spencer County Courthouse during one of the final, chaotic months of the Civil War. Federal scouts pursued the raiders toward Mt. Eden the next morning, but the courthouse was lost—though its records survived.
All Saints Catholic Church (Established 1830)
Just a short walk from the courthouse stands All Saints Catholic Church, Spencer County’s only Catholic parish. Founded in the 1830s, the parish witnessed the courthouse burning and remains one of the county’s oldest continuously active religious institutions.
Local tradition: Parishioners have long repeated this story. The night of the Courthouse burning by Confederate raiders, the city fathers were meeting within All Saints Catholic Church. Somehow they recieved word that the courthouse was to be attacked and so they all ran to collect the record books from the hall. As they ran back to the church with their arms full of papers and books the raiders arrived and because to chase them with bulltefire! A stray bullet struck the church steeple! While the story is not formally documented, it remains one of the community’s most enduring tales and can be verified by the staff at the church. It was just a legend until the original steeple was damaged in a storm. The steeple was taken down and rebuilt on the front of the church. As this was done, a civil war bullet was indeed found and was interred in the structure as it was rebuilt.
Guerrilla Quantrill in Wakefield
Five miles south of Taylorsville, a wayside on KY‑55 marks the spot where William Clarke Quantrill—the infamous guerrilla leader—was ambushed in May 1865. He attempted to flee, was shot and paralyzed, and taken into custody.
How Quantrill reached Louisville: After being wounded in the Wakefield ambush, Quantrill was carried under military guard to the U.S. Military Prison Hospital in Louisville, where he died on June 6, 1865. No surviving documentation specifies how he was transported (wagon, ambulance, or otherwise), only that he was captured in Spencer County and died in Louisville several weeks later.
2) Cemeteries: Where Civil War‑Era Kentuckians Rest
Spencer County’s cemeteries preserve the lives of frontier settlers, enslaved and free African Americans, and families divided by the war. Many of these resting places sit on rural hillsides or behind churches that still serve their communities today.
Little Mount Colored Cemetery (Little Mount) — Historic African American cemetery and burial site of Buffalo Soldier Lewis T. Baker.
Little Mount Cemetery — Adjacent to the Colored Cemetery, with numerous 19th‑century burials.
Pleasant Union Cemetery (Little Mount) — A small rural cemetery historically associated with the Little Mount community.
Elk Creek Baptist Church Cemetery — One of the county’s larger traditional cemeteries.
Riverview Baptist Church Cemetery — Located along Louisville Road in the Cox’s Creek area near the county line.
Briar Ridge Christian Church Cemetery — A historic cemetery on the eastern side of the county near Taylorsville Lake.
Valley Cemetery (Taylorsville) — The city’s principal cemetery, located one mile west of town.
Patrick McGee Pioneer Cemetery (Waterford) — A small pioneer cemetery containing some of the county’s earliest settlers.
Carlin Family Cemetery (Normandy) — A private family burial ground on rural property east of the Normandy community.
Yoder Farm Cemetery — A small private or semi‑private family cemetery without published coordinates.
The Old Taylorsville (Pioneer) Cemetery Historic narrative accounts describe early burials here from the 1830s onward. African American burials were historically located on the southern slope while white burials clustered toward the west. Over the decades the cemetery saw damage, vandalism, and neglect, though local efforts have periodically restored portions of the grounds.
3) Spotlight: Buffalo Soldier Lewis T. Baker (1887–1910)
Lewis T. Baker was born in Spencer County in January 1887 to A.B. (“Oscar”) Baker and Mary Avery Baker. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1909 and was assigned to Troop M of the 10th U.S. Cavalry, one of the original “Buffalo Soldier” regiments.
The 10th Cavalry served across the American West, in Cuba during the Spanish‑American War, and in the Philippines. In 1909 the regiment was posted to Fort Ethan Allen in Vermont, where Baker served until his death “in the line of duty” on August 7, 1910, at age 23.
His body was returned home and buried in Little Mount Colored Cemetery, where his headstone reads:
“L.E.W.I.S. T. B.A.K.E.R. CO. M. 10 U.S. CAV.”
His story links Spencer County directly to the national history of African American military service.
4) Notable 19th‑Century Figures of Spencer County
Richard Taylor – Founder of Taylorsville
In 1799, Richard Taylor donated 60 acres at the fork of Brashear’s Creek and the Salt River to establish Taylorsville. Early trustees included Robert Jeffries, George Cravinston, Philip W. Taylor, and Benjamin Bourne.
Captain Spier Spencer – County Namesake
Spier Spencer, leader of the Kentucky “Yellow Jackets,” was killed in the 1811 Battle of Tippecanoe. Spencer County, founded in 1824, honors his name.
George Gilmore Gilbert (1849–1909)
Born in Taylorsville, Gilbert became a lawyer, served as Spencer County’s prosecuting attorney, then in the Kentucky State Senate, and represented Kentucky in the U.S. House of Representatives for four consecutive terms (1899–1907).
5) Self‑Guided Heritage Tour (Half‑Day)
Courthouse Lawn (Downtown Taylorsville): Begin with the “Courthouse Burned” marker.
All Saints Catholic Church: Walk uphill to the church built in the 1830s and explore parish history.
Wakefield (KY‑55): Visit the Quantrill ambush marker.
Little Mount: Explore the Little Mount Colored Cemetery (Lewis T. Baker’s grave), Little Mount Cemetery, and surrounding ridge‑top community.
Every December, Taylorsville’s Main Street transforms into a winter wonderland for Christmas on Main, a beloved local tradition hosted by the Spencer County-Taylorsville Chamber of Commerce. This year’s celebration will take place on Saturday, December 13, 2025, and promises an evening full of small-town charm, holiday cheer, and family fun—all at no cost to attendees.
A Parade Full of Spirit
The festivities kick off with Santa’s Parade at 6:00 PM, traveling the short but lively route from Water Street to Jefferson Street. While it’s not the longest parade you’ll ever see, its cozy scale is part of the magic—neighbors waving from sidewalks, local businesses joining in, and the excitement of seeing Santa arrive to officially start the night.
Christmas Tree Contest
Before the parade, from 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM, families can stroll through the Chamber Hall, which will be decked out with beautifully decorated trees by local businesses and organizations. Visitors can cast their votes for the People’s Choice Award, making this contest a fun way to celebrate community creativity.
Santa’s Special Visit
After the 6pm parade, children can head to the Chamber of Commerce Hall for a treasured Spencer County tradition: a visit with Santa himself. Each child receives a goody bag and a small gift, along with the chance for a photo with the jolly man in red. This experience is reserved for Spencer County residents, ensuring local families feel the warmth of a hometown holiday.
Crafts, Snacks, and Holiday Joy
Meanwhile, the Early Learning Center on Reasor will be buzzing with activity. Kids can dive into festive crafts, play games, and enjoy treats like hot cocoa and snacks—all provided by generous local sponsors. It’s a perfect spot for families to relax and soak in the holiday spirit together.
More Holiday Fun in Spencer County
If you’re looking for even more ways to celebrate, Spencer County has plenty of festive events to enjoy:
Holiday Market on Main – Nov 29, 10 AM–3 PM at Events on Main Shop handmade gifts, seasonal décor, and enjoy treats while supporting the Spencer County Educational Foundation.
Christmas Home Tour – Dec 7, 6 PM–8 PM Tour beautifully decorated homes in Taylorsville for inspiration and holiday cheer. Tickets: $15.
Mark your calendars, invite your neighbors, and come experience the magic of Christmas on Main. It’s a night where community shines brightest—under twinkling lights, laughter, and the promise of holiday cheer.
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