MSU to host Kentucky Food Tasting Festival in conjunction with Smithsonian FOOD Exhibit

MURRAY, Ky. – Murray State University Libraries, in collaboration with Racer Dining by Sodexo, is excited to announce the Kentucky Food Tasting Festival, a unique culinary event that will be held on Sept. 9 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on the Murray State University Quad. The festival is being hosted in conjunction with the Smithsonian FOOD Exhibit at the Wrather West Kentucky Museum.

Attendees can sample a variety of foods showcasing highlights of American and Kentucky cuisine and view Smithsonian's FOOD exhibit, carefully curated by Murray State University students. The festival will include music, lawn games and five immersive food stations.

The event is open to both students and the general public. Murray State students are invited to attend using their meal plan, with flex and meal swipes accepted. Community members are invited to join the celebration at a cost of $15 per person. For more information and to purchase a ticket, please visit bit.ly/foodexhibit.

As a special incentive, attendees who visit each food station and take the time to explore the Smithsonian FOOD Exhibit at Wrather West Kentucky Museum will be entered into a drawing for exciting door prizes. Wrather Hall will remain open on the evening of Sept. 9 until 7 p.m.

“It’s a real treat for visitors whenever Kentucky Humanities helps engineer a collaboration between Wrather Museum and Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, and we’re absolutely delighted by our most recent one, ‘FOOD,’ that is open to the public for the fall 2024 semester,” said Dr. Jeff McLaughlin, Murray State University Libraries Special Collections and Exhibits director. “All of our companion programming came together through the efforts of Murray State students, either those in the museum studies minor or paid workers at the museum, and they have gained valuable experience that will help prepare them for careers in cultural institutions after graduation. There’s something for the entire community here, and we especially encourage parents of school-aged children in particular to bring the family out to enjoy a Smithsonian exhibit right here at home.”

For more information and to purchase a ticket, please visit bit.ly/foodexhibit. In the case of inclement weather, the celebration will be moved indoors at Pogue Library. 

Wrather Hall opened in 1924 as the first permanent building on Murray State’s campus and served as a central hub for campus life. In 1982, it was rededicated as the Wrather West Kentucky Museum, which today continues to preserve the history and culture of west Kentucky and the Jackson Purchase. Following a major renovation in 2022, Wrather remains a vital part of Murray State University’s heritage, hosting both permanent and rotating exhibits, free of charge, to the public. The museum is open Monday through Friday from noon to 4 p.m., with additional hours on select evenings and weekends. Class visits can be scheduled by appointment via Meg Smith (msmith223@murraystate.edu).

This event and future programming are made possible through the generous support of local sponsors. For more information on sponsorship opportunities or to support the Wrather West Kentucky Museum, contact Brandon Anderson, director of development for Murray State University Libraries, at banderson26@murraystate.edu or 270-809-3001.