Where better to celebrate the nation's 250th birthday and the spirit of 1776 than the only place in America named 76?

SEVENTY SIX, Ky. – The 250-year history of the United States of America has been written not only in places like Philadelphia, New York and Washington, but in every community in the country – including the historic community of Seventy Six in Southern Kentucky.

So, where better to celebrate the spirit of 1776 than the only place in America named Seventy Six?

That’s the question being asked – and the invitation being issued – by folks in Clinton County, who are staging what looks to be the area’s biggest celebration ever and one of the more interesting celebrations of America’s semi-quincentennial on the weekend of July 3 and 4.

The schedule includes free concerts by country, bluegrass and Americana music stars; a huge fireworks show; golf tournaments, a 7.6-mile race, and historical and patriotic presentations that will highlight the contributions of Seventy Six and the county to the history of Kentucky and the nation.

Seventy Six is best known today for 76 Falls on Lake Cumberland, and the 76 Falls Country Club on KY 3062 (off KY 90) will be the site of free concerts by rising and established music stars.

Colton Bowlin (Photo by Sommer Daniel)

On Friday, July 3, the 8 p.m. headliner will be Colton Bowlin of Albany, whose album “Grandpa’s Mill” has been called one of the best country albums of the year. The opening acts, starting at 6 p.m., will be locals Kristen Hunter and Thomas Oesterreicher, who is part of the Thomas extended family who made music for decades at Renfro Valley and much of Kentucky.

The free concert Saturday, July 4, will begin with EmiSunshine at 6 p.m., followed by award-winning singer-songwriter Larry Cordle and his reunited Lonesome Standard Time band at 7. The headliner at 8 will be Chris Knight of Slaughters, Ky., long a big and popular voice of rural America.

The 76 Falls Country Club will start its weekend schedule with the “Battle of 76” golf tournament at 1 p.m. CT Friday. On Saturday at 8:30 a.m., it will host “The Spirit of 76 at 76,” limited to 76 players.

At 8:30 a.m. Saturday, scores of runners are expected for a 7.6-mile race from the 76 Falls Recreation Area on Lake Cumberland to the public square in Albany, where the Clinton County High School Alumni Band will perform. From 8 to 10 a.m., VFW Post #1096 on Hopkins Street in Albany will host a free breakfast, limited to veterans, active military and reserve and their spouses.

Seventy Six no longer has a post office, but for more than a century it was one of the leading communities in the region, and it produced many political and business leaders, including the Semple family, whose members were early leaders of the republic and state of California, and Sen. Ed P. Warinner, who was a leader in the Kentucky legislature and state Republican politics in the 1950s.

Seventy Six Baptist Church

The history of the community and its families will be highlighted at the historic Seventy Six Baptist Church, founded in 1822, and at the Mount Union Christian Church near 76 Falls. At these and other locations, there will be portrayals of historical figures in period costumes, and Uncle Sam on stilts.

At noon on Friday and Saturday, poet, author and former Clinton County school superintendent Rudy Thomas will give a walking lecture on “The Importance of Place,” about the development of Seventy Six, starting at the 76 Falls Recreation Area and going less than half a mile down KY 3062 to the Mount Union Christian Church, which will be the alternate site of the weather is inclement.

At 1:30 each day at Mount Union, former Eastern Kentucky University provost Rodney Piercey Jr. will lecture on Benjamin Franklin’s role in the American Revolution. His brother Terry will display and discuss part of his extensive collection of Native American artifacts (this is on Indian Creek!) and their sister Vickie Piercey May will demonstrate how to spin wool on their grandmother’s spinning wheel.

Lt. Garlin Murl Conner

At 3 p.m. each day, Mount Union will host a screening of the KET-aired documentary, From Honor to Medal: The Story of Garlin M. Conner, an hour-long film about local resident Murl Conner’s heroism in World War II and the unusual but successful effort to get him the Medal of Honor 20 years after his death, followed by a panel discussion including State Treasurer Mark Metcalf, a veterans’ advocate.

The Seventy Six Baptist Church, at the junction of KY 734 and KY 639, will have different programs each day, and a quilt display both days. On Friday from 1 to 3 p.m., speakers will discuss local history and families. Gospel singing will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, with the Tim Riddle Singers, the Cross Brothers from Byrdstown, Tenn., Ryan Thomas, and the Albany Community Chorus. At 3 p.m. Carl Sasser will serve his homemade ice cream until it's all gone, and there will be more discussions of family history.

Rain or wind will prevent rides.

From 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday at the 76 Falls Country Club, there will be children’s activities, including patriotic temporary face tattoos, cornhole and a vintage bag toss. From 5:30 to 8 p.m., weather permitting, the ReMax hot-air balloon will offer tethered rides at a lot near the country club.

Following the Chris Knight concert, the crowd will be treated to a huge show from LT’s Fireworks.

The Spirit of 76 Celebration is a project of the Clinton County Community Foundation and is funded almost entirely by private donations and sales of commemorative items, including a keepsake program with many historical articles and photographs. Articles are being published on the Celebration website, AlbanyKySpiritof76.blogspot.com, and its Facebook and Instagram pages.