View source for Tri-Fest

'''Tri-Fest''' is an annual charitable festival held every April in [[Henderson, Kentucky]]. Established in 1988, it's one of the largest annual festivals held in [[Kentucky]] and generates over $100,000 in annual direct and indirect support to charities in western [[Kentucky]] and southern [[Indiana]]. The Henderson Breakfast Lions Club originated and continues to organize the festival as a means to raise funds for local [[Charitable organization|charities]]. Tri-Fest raises funds for local charities in two ways:
# The Breakfast Lions Club generates revenue from the sale of tickets and [[Concession stand|concession booth]] fees to for-profit businesses. A portion of these funds are allocated to organize the following year's Tri-Fest. The bulk of this revenue, however, is donated to local charities.
# The organizers welcome local not-for-profit charities to set up food and educational booths. These charities keep 100% of their profits to support their organizations. Charities have included local schools, churches, an [[Human Immunodeficiency Virus|HIV]] care group, a local hospital, and other service, civic, and faith groups.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.courier-journal.com/features/2005/04/02/ky_1.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120724080107/http://www.courier-journal.com/features/2005/04/02/ky_1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-07-24 |title=2005 Scene Festival Guide |last=Reed |first=Gege |newspaper=The Courier-Journal |accessdate=2007-02-08}}</ref> Food items offered to Tri-Fest patrons have included pork chop sandwiches, [[lemonade]], [[apple dumpling]]s, [[corn dog]]s, [[hamburger]]s, and the dubious [[deep fried Twinkie]].
Tri-Fest primarily takes place over one weekend in downtown Henderson with much of Main Street and Central Park converted into a pedestrian festival site. A range of live entertainment usually centers on the Central Park stage. Through the years, however, the event has expanded to events throughout the preceding weeks and now include sports tournaments, a 12K/36K bike ride, a [[beauty pageant]], and an art contest. The event culminates with [[fireworks]] over downtown Henderson on the [[Ohio River]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.courierpress.com/ecp/gleaner_news/article/0,1626,ECP_4476_4624741,00.html |title=Tri-Fest Fun Almost Here |last=Stinnett |first=Donna B. |publisher=Evansville Courier and Press |date=2006-04-16 |accessdate=2007-02-08}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>
Tri-Fest took a hiatus in 2020 and 2021, making its usual annual return April 22–24, 2022.
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
*[https://hendersonbreakfastlions.org Henderson Breakfast Lions Club (organizers of Tri-Fest)]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070817185436/http://www.hendersontrifest.org/ Tri-Fest Home Page]
[[Category:Festivals in Kentucky]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Henderson County, Kentucky]]
[[Category:Lions Clubs International]]
[[Category:Henderson, Kentucky]]