BEDFORD – Bedford’s upcoming Limestone Heritage Festival is not an isolated event, but rather the culmination of the celebration of the area’s rich history throughout June, which is Limestone Month.
Lawrence County has been known nationally as Limestone Country since the early 1800s, due to the area’s history with limestone quarrying and carving.
Stone from the Stone Belt, a 35-mile long area spanning Lawrence and parts of Monroe County, has been used to help construct iconic buildings across the country, such as the Empire State Building, Chicago’s Tribune Tower, the Pentagon, and the new Yankee Stadium.
The festival, which will take place Friday, June 23 and Saturday, June 24 this year, will include food trucks, live music, a fireworks display, and the annual parade. Details are available at www.DowntownBedford.org
The festivities will include the 2023 Photography Contest:
Friday, June 23 and Saturday, June 24 in the meeting room of the Lawrence County Museum. Entries will be accepted from 4-8 p.m. on Thursday, June 22. The show will be open from noon until 8 p.m. on Friday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.
Photos should be mounted but can be framed if you choose Images should be at least a 5×7 print and no larger than 11×14. Images should be single frame / not composite or heavily modified
Contest Details
New this year will be a Youth Division for those under the age of 16. They will compete in the same three categories as the adults and the same ribbons will be awarded. The People’s Choice winner in the Youth Division will win a $50 prize. This is a judged contest and the public will have an opportunity to vote on their favorite as well.
A $5 entry fee for each photograph will be charged and awards will be given for first,
second and third places in each of the three categories: Limestone in Nature, Limestone in Architecture and General Limestone. The People’s Choice winner will receive a $100 prize.
There will be a subcategory of Limestone in Architecture in the Downtown Area. The area includes anything within 3 blocks of the downtown square, from 12th Street on the north to 19th Street in the south, from F Street in the east to M Street on the west. Those entering this category, both adult
and youth, give permission for Bedford Revitalization, Inc. (BRI) to use their photographs in the publication of a 2024 calendar.
For more information, contact Jeff Routh at 812-278-0448.
Limestone carving exhibit
The festival will also include a limestone carving exhibit, Friday, June 23, 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. and Saturday, June 24, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Downtown Depot (corner of 14th & J Street).
Admission to the exhibit is FREE and those who attend will have the chance to see limestone carving demonstrations, purchase raffle tickets to win a limestone birdbath and cast their vote for the People’s Choice award.
Raffle tickets are $1 each, or $5 for six.
Those who would like to submit their limestone creation to be showcased can do so by contacting Terry Kirkman at 812-797-0867.
