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From the Spoonbread to the Woolly Worm: Kentucky fall festivals you don’t want to miss

By Harriett Hendren
In this file photo, Joan Rush, left, of Atlanta, checks out the price tag of the fountains as fountain maker Mary Martin, of Nolensville,Tenn., shows some models to her at the Spoonbread Festival in Berea. Rush bought the fountain.
In this file photo, Joan Rush, left, of Atlanta, checks out the price tag of the fountains as fountain maker Mary Martin, of Nolensville,Tenn., shows some models to her at the Spoonbread Festival in Berea. Rush bought the fountain. MARK CORNELISON LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER

Kentuckians love to celebrate, especially in the Fall, when communities across the state honor the many things that make Kentucky special.

At the World Chicken Festival in London they’ll fry up meals in the world’s largest stainless steel pan. Thousands of pounds of country ham are served at Ham Days in Marion County.

Looking for unique art? The St. James Court Art Show in Louisville features hundreds of vendors, while the South Elkhorn Christian Church Fall Festival showcases the work of lots of craftspeople.

Fall fest season is already in full swing. Make the most of it with this list of events around the commonwealth.

Black Gold Festival. Sept. 20-22. Downtown Hazard. Parade, crafts, music, food. Blackgoldfestival.com.

Walker Montgomery will perform Sept. 21 at Berea’s Spoonbread Festival and Sept. 28 at the Casey County Apple Festival.
Walker Montgomery will perform Sept. 21 at Berea’s Spoonbread Festival and Sept. 28 at the Casey County Apple Festival. Rich Copley rcopley@herald-leader.com

Spoonbread Festival. Sept. 21-23. Memorial Park and Berea Community School, Berea. Hot air balloon glow, parade, spoonbread eating contest. Spoonbreadfestival.com.

Appalachian Heritage Music Festival. 5-9 p.m. Sept. 21-22. Pine Mountain State Resort Park, Pineville. Live music, workshops for guitar, dulcimer, banjo. Parks.ky.gov.

Hatfield-McCoy Heritage Days. Sept. 21-23. Downtown Pikeville. Live music, food, arm wresting. Tourpikecounty.com.

HarvestFest. 4-10 p.m. Sept. 22. Downtown Danville. Live music, food. Danvillekentucky.com/event/harvestfest.

Casey County Apple Festival. Sept. 27-29. Downtown Liberty. World’s Largest Apple Pie, vendors, live music including a concert by Walker Montgomery at 9 p.m. Fri. Caseycountyapplefestival.org.

Chicken is deep fried in the “world’s largest skillet,” a tradition continued to this day, at the 10th annual World Chicken Festival in London, Ky., Sept 24, 1999. It can cook 882 chicken quarters at a time.
Chicken is deep fried in the “world’s largest skillet,” a tradition continued to this day, at the 10th annual World Chicken Festival in London, Ky., Sept 24, 1999. It can cook 882 chicken quarters at a time. Charles Bertram cbertram@herald-leader.com

World Chicken Festival. Sept. 27-30. Downtown London. World’s largest stainless steel skillet, fried chicken, live music, crafts. Chickenfestival.com.

Morgan County Sorghum Festival. 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Sept. 28, 29; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 30. Downtown West Liberty. Sorghum making, parade, food, crafts. Morgancountysorghumfestival.com.

Marion County Country Ham Days. 6-10 p.m. Sept. 28; 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Sept. 29; 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 30. Downtown Lebanon. Country ham breakfast; Pigasus Parade on Sat.; hot air balloons. Hamdays.com.

Cave Run Storytelling Festival. Sept. 28-29. Twin Knobs Campground, Morehead. Daily admission $6-$25. Fri., Sat. evening performances $5-$10. Full weekend $10-$45. Caverunstoryfest.org.

Anderson County Burgoo Festival. Sept. 28-30. Downtown Lawrenceburg. Food, music, crafts. Kentuckyburgoo.com.

Wayne County Heritage Festival. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 29. Mill Springs, Wayne Co. Historic gristmill, animals, artists, music. Waynecountykentuckyhistoricalsociety.org.

HarvestFest. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 29-30. Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, Harrodsburg. Hayrides, honey, breads, jams, live music. Included in village admission: $14, $10 seniors, $7 ages 6-12. Shakervillageky.org.

St. James Court Art Show. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 5, 6; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 7. St. James and Belgravia courts, Louisville. More than 700 artists, food, music. Free admission. Stjamescourtartshow.com.

Kentucky Wool Festival. 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Oct. . 5, 6; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 7. Falmouth. Sheep shearing, herding, food, crafts. $5. Kywoolfest.org.

Kentucky Apple Festival. Oct. 5, 6. Downtown Paintsville. Fried apple pies, music, crafts. Kyapplefest.org.

Paint Lick Village Fest. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Oct. 6. Downtown Paint Lick. Fried apple pies, Music, food, car show. Kentuckytourism.com/paint-lick-village-fest-2018.

Hoptoberfest. 2-7 Oct. 6. East Kentucky Expo Center, Pikeville. Craft beers from around the world. $10-$50. Hoptoberfestky.com.

Washington County Sorghum Festival. Oct. 6-7. Downtown Springfield. Sorghum Shuffle 5K, food, live music. Springfieldkychamber.com/sorghum-festival.

The Abraham Lincoln statue in downtown Hodgenville, Ky., where the Lincoln Days Festival will be held again, this year.
The Abraham Lincoln statue in downtown Hodgenville, Ky., where the Lincoln Days Festival will be held again, this year. Charles Bertram cbertram@herald-leader.com

Lincoln Days. Oct. 6-7. Downtown Hodgenville. Lincoln and Mary Todd look-alike contest, parade, food, music. Lincolndays.org.

Battle of Perryville Commemoration. Oct. 6-7. Perryville Battlefield, Perryville. $7-$10 general admission. Perryvillebattlefield.org.

Garvin Gate Blues Festival. Oct. 12-13. Oak St. and Garvin Place, Louisville. Live music on two stages, food and craft vendors. Free admission. Garvingatebluesfestival.com.

Hundreds of people turned out each year for the Mount Sterling Court Day Festival.
Hundreds of people turned out each year for the Mount Sterling Court Day Festival. Tricia Spaulding Herald-Leader

Mount Sterling Court Days. 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 12-15. Downtown Mount Sterling. More than 1,000 vendors, guns, knives, antiques. Mtsterlingcourtdays.com.

Mary Queen of the Holy Rosary Fall Festival. 4-11 p.m. Oct. 12, 13. Mary Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish, 601 Hill N Dale Dr. Music, food, drinks. Maryqueenschool.org/mqhr-fall-festival.

Trigg County Country Ham Festival. Oct. 12-13. Downtown Cadiz. Food, crafts, music. Hamfestival.com.

Harrodsburg Oktoberfest. Oct. 12-14. Downtown Harrodsburg. Arts, beer, music, food. Artscouncilofmercer.com/oktoberfest.

South Elkhorn Christian Church Fall Festival. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 13. 4343 Harrodsburg Rd. More than 150 craft booths, baked goods, food vendors. Southelkhorncc.org.

Kentucky Guild of Artists & Craftsmen Fall Fair. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 13, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 14. Indian Fort Theatre, Berea. $5, free for ages 12 and younger. Kyguild.org.

Bardstown Arts, Crafts & Antiques Fair. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 13, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 14. Downtown Bardstown. Art, antiques, food, music. Bardstownmainstreet.com/arts-and-crafts-fair.

The Secretariat Festival celebrates the iconic 1973 Triple Crown winner, shown here winning the final leg of the feat at the Belmont Stakes.
The Secretariat Festival celebrates the iconic 1973 Triple Crown winner, shown here winning the final leg of the feat at the Belmont Stakes. Bob Coglianese

Secretariat Festival. Oct. 13-14. Saturday events at The Thoroughbred Center, 3380 Paris Pk. Sunday events at Keeneland, 4201 Versailles Rd. Tours, Secretariat merchandise. Secretariat.com.

Salt Festival. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 19. Big Bone Lick State Historic Site, Union. Demonstrations of pioneer traditions, food, crafts. Parks.ky.gov.

Lee County Woolly Worm Festival. Oct. 19-21. Downtown Beattyville. Food, crafts, woolly worm races, parade. Heartofthekentuckyriver.com/woollywormfestival.

This story was originally published September 4, 2018 at 2:05 PM.

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