A free screening of “Clear Day Thunder: Rescuing the American Chestnut” will be held tonight, October 18, at Owensboro Community and Technical College. The documentary details how to preserve the famous holiday tree.
The screening will begin at 5:30 p.m. at OCTC’s Blandford Lecture Hall. The program is a partnership among OCTC, the Owensboro Museum of Science and History (OMSH), the Western Kentucky Botanical Garden, the Kentucky Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation, and the Joe Ford Nature Center.
OMSH Executive Director Kathy Olson said the documentary dives into the history of the original Chinese Chestnut trees that were brought to America, outside of their natural habitat.
“This film is a way to introduce the importance of what happened to the American Chestnut and now the activities to revitalize the American Chestnut, which are interesting,” Olson said.
The documentary — featuring interviews with scientists, volunteers, and notable figures such as Barbara Kingsolver, Chuck Leavell, Dolly Parton, and Jimmy Carter — underscores the importance of this historic conservation effort.
There will also be a panel discussion from people who work to revitalize the Chestnut tree, Olson said.
She noted that there will be plenty of information for people to take away from the evening, no matter their age. Olson said anyone interested in biodiversity or botany, or wanting to ensure the tree can continue to provide chestnuts to roast on an open fire, should attend.
“What would Christmas be without chestnuts roasting on an open fire? The chestnut is very popular in foods and traditions,” she said. “This is just very interesting, especially going into the holiday season.”
