By Jennifer Jahn
NKyTribune staff writer
The Gaines Tavern History Center, located at 150 Old Nicholson Road in Walton, is gearing up for a full season of community events, history lessons, and family activities in 2026. Organizers say this year’s schedule reflects the center’s ongoing mission to preserve local history while creating opportunities for the community to gather and connect.
The Gaines Tavern History Center 2026 season is off to a great start. It began with their first planning meeting at the end of March and then a call to the community for a day of spring cleaning on May 2. Windows were washed, furniture polished, and rooms staged. Wake Up Walton sent a group of volunteers to spruce up the landscape.
That volunteer effort helped prepare the historic property for another year of programs centered on Kentucky history, local heritage, and hands-on family fun.
The season officially opens Sunday, June 14, from 2–4 p.m. with “Kentucky’s Abraham Lincoln.”
Visitors can enjoy an Abraham Lincoln look-alike contest, historic displays, and children’s crafts. Organizers hope the opening event will introduce new visitors to the history center while welcoming back longtime supporters.
On Sunday, July 12, from 2–4 p.m., the focus shifts to trains and railroad history. The afternoon will feature displays of train memorabilia along with guest speaker Bobby Denny, who will share insights and stories connected to the region’s railroad past.
Women’s history will take center stage during the August 9 event, “Corsets, Croquet and Crusades,” held from 2–4 p.m. The program will highlight the role of women in Kentucky history and explore how their contributions shaped communities across the state.
The center will celebrate local roots during the “History of Walton” event on Sunday, September 13, from 2–4 p.m. Historical photographs and displays will offer visitors a glimpse into the city’s past and the people who helped build the community.
Autumn activities arrive Sunday, October 11, from 2–4 p.m. with “Fall at the Gaines House and Celebrate Kentucky Parks.” Families can enjoy pumpkin painting, music, and craft vendors as the grounds take on a seasonal atmosphere.
Later that month, the popular Gaines Ghost Walk returns Thursday, October 29, from 6–8 p.m. Guests will hear stories about the historic house and those who lived there, both past and present, during an evening tour designed to blend local lore with history.
The year concludes with two holiday traditions in December. A Christmas Tea will be held December 6 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $30 per person. The Christmas Open House follows on December 13 from 1–5 p.m. and will include live music, tours of the decorated house, and door prizes.
Organizers say the season is about more than preserving a historic building — it is about creating a gathering place where history comes alive through storytelling, shared experiences, and community involvement. Throughout the year, residents and visitors alike will have opportunities to step inside Walton’s past while making new memories together.
For more information about events and the Gaines Tavern History Center, visit the Center’s official page, Gaines Tavern and History Center.