Almanac | Mt. Sterling
Court Is in Session Mt. Sterling hosts a festival that dates back nearly 200 years. October Court Day takes place on the third Monday in October, with festivities actually beginning the prior Saturday and Sunday. More than 80,000 people from all parts of the country visit the city for the three-day event. Court Day derives from the early 1800s when the Kentucky General Assembly decreed that each county should meet once a month to hold court and decide on business. As years went by, court day became more of a trading day in Montgomery County. Today, the festival features a variety of live music, food, craft booths and an abundance of unusual antiques, collectibles and handmade furniture.
Shop – Dine – Discover Been downtown lately? The Mt. Sterling Downtown Merchants group invites you to take a look at what’s going on. Members meet to discuss how downtown Mt. Sterling can remain vital, with a number of activities and special events planned each year. Two of the annual events planned are a Spring Fling shopping extravaganza and an Open House Christmas Tour. “Our motto is Shop – Dine – Discover, and we want people to become reacquainted with all the unusual shopping opportunities and good restaurants that Mt. Sterling has to offer,” says Roberta Gilbert, spokeswoman with the Mt. Sterling Downtown Merchants and owner of The Plaid Rabbit. “There’s good parking and a scenic setting down here. Come visit us again.”
Fast Facts ■ Mt. Sterling serves as the county seat of Montgomery County. The current courthouse is the sixth to be located in downtown Mt. Sterling. ■ Confederate Gen. John Hunt Morgan captured Mt. Sterling in 1864, and his troops overnight stole $65,000 from Farmers Bank on Main Street. The money has never been found. ■ Kentucky’s largest sycamore tree soars 85 feet above the ground and is rooted on the George Donaldson Farm in Montgomery County. ■ Montgomery County is home to 35 industries that employ more than 5,000 area residents. ■ The Mt. SterlingMontgomery County Airport Fly-In Breakfast & Air Show has been feeding the stomachs and imaginations of participants since the mid-1960s. The event takes place the last Sunday of August.
SEE MORE ONLINE | For more Fast Facts about Mt. Sterling, visit imagesmtsterling.com.
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