OAK GROVE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – People who have to been to a festival in Oak Grove may have seen the city’s adorable mascot, Pearl the Squirrel. If not, there will be plenty of chances to see the squirrel in 2024, according to Scarlett Mayfield, Events, Marketing and PR manager of Oak Grove Tourism.

Get to know Pearl

Pearl the Squirrel came about when Oak Grove’s festivals began to gain more popularity. She was created soon after, inspired by the squirrels that grace the parks in the city.

“As the festivals flourished, it became apparent that we needed a vibrant symbol to capture the essence of our unique park-based celebrations,” Mayfield said. “Pearl is a true crowd pleaser and steals the spotlight at every festival.”

In the upcoming year, Oak Grove Tourism hopes to bring Pearl to more events and festivals. Pearl may also be featured in a weekly TikTok video called Wednesdays with Pearl. Although Oak Grove is a small community, Pearl and the team at Oak Grove are excited for upcoming events, and festivals to bring families together.

2024 Festivals and Events

Oak Grove’s festival season will kick off with the highly anticipated Spring into Summer Festival on May 27-28. Mayfield told Christian County Now that this is Oak Grove’s biggest event and planning is already underway. The free festival will have carnival rides, food, live music, and live shows.

A newer event returning in July will be the Kentucky Bourbon Bands and Wine Festival. Along with local distilleries, wineries, and breweries, there will be food trucks and live music for participants to enjoy. “This year, we are excited to add a couple new things to it, and watch it grow,” Mayfield said.

In September, Oak Grove will host their annual Butterfly Festival, which Mayfield describes as a cool family event. Last year, the Butterfly Festival saw it’s largest turnout yet, and Mayfield expects it to grow more this year as over 2,000 butterflies are released.

Around the holidays, Oak Grove plans to bring back the holiday classics like Santa’s Workshop, a Halloween haunted house, and more. With a supportive community, she believes Oak Grove is moving in the right direction.

“I love seeing people’s enjoyment at our events as our team progresses and works hard,” said Mayfield.

For more information about these events, call Oak Grove Tourism at 270-439-5675 or visit their office on 105 Walter Garrett Lane.

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