JULY Twin Lakes National Fiddler Contest , Leitchfield: Lots of prize money at stake for this contest held on the town square and in conjunction with the Leitchfield Fiddling Festival. Glier’s Goettafest , Covington (July/Aug) : Two weekends of live music, family fun and lots of goetta. Taste why the locals love this spicy German breakfast sausage so much. Master Musicians Festival , Somerset: Musicians of every stripe — country, blues, bluegrass, newgrass, Celtic, jazz, rock and roll, and more — gather with songwriters for two days of outdoor concerts. Freedom Fest , Murray: A homegrown weekend celebration charged with patriotic spirit and filled with family fun, from the parade to fireworks. Balloons & Tunes , Falmouth: Live music plus hot-air balloons taking to the sky equals an amazing evening, one with tethered balloon rides, food trucks and watching hot-air balloon pilots set up and ignite their balloons. SEPTEMBER Best of the Bluegrass , Georgetown: Three days of headlining musicians, a parade, arts and crafts, a craft-beer garden, festival foods, family activities and bourbon in celebration of Georgetown as the Birthplace of Bourbon. The Black Gold Festival , Hazard: Kentucky’s second-largest festival features the Black Gold Bike Show, Road Hazards Extreme Team Stunt Show, Black Diamond Street Rod Show, antique appraisals and more. Kentucky Bourbon Festival , Bardstown: 60+ distillers, 200+ brands and expressions, exclusive single-barrel selections, the chance to meet Master Distillers, workshops, panel discussions, a bourbon marketplace and more. Jerusalem Ridge Bluegrass Festival , Beaver Dam: Held at the Bill Monroe Homeplace, this four-day festival rocks with over 20 bands playing bluegrass music on stage atop the actual Jerusalem Ridge. Cave Run Storytelling Festival , Rowan County: A magical weekend with enchanting tales spun along the banks of the lake, featuring world-renowned storytellers, food and family activities. Banana Festival , Fulton: Bring your spoon — it’s the world’s largest banana pudding in the Banana Capital of the World, plus music, a parade, kids’ activities, a car show, food and crafts. Bourbon and Beyond , Louisville: The World’s Largest Bourbon, Food & Music Festival. Enough said. World Chicken Festival , London: The world’s largest stainless steel skillet, Colonel Sanders look-alike ambassadors, the 84 Lumber Chicken Invasion and plenty of music, family fun and chicken. Logan County Tobacco & Heritage Festival , Russellville: Tobacco-judging contest and reenactment of the 1868 Jesse James robbery, plus fan favorites like the Festival Queen's Pageant and historical walking and cemetery tours. Legends of Bourbon County Festival , Paris: Celebrates the history, culture and legacy of Bourbon County’s thoroughbred industry with a variety of activities, live entertain-ment, educational events, farm tours and more. Lincoln Days , Hodgenville: Lincoln look-alikes, pioneer games, a parade, 5k and 10k Railsplitter Runs, an art show, a classic car show and more. Millstone Festival , Richmond: Voted “Richmond’s Best Annual Event,” with music, food and crafts booths. Mistletoe Art Stroll , Madisonville: Christmas-tree lighting, caroling and street performers round out an evening of downtown strolling and shopping artisan-made goods and local business specials. Southern Lights , Lexington: Three miles and over a million twinkling lights outline holiday vignettes at Kentucky Horse Park, plus Holiday Village, model trains and photos with Santa. Christmas Jubilee and Parade , Sandy Hook: Have yourself a merry little Christmas at this hometown holiday celebration that includes live music, a parade, pictures with Santa and a petting zoo. Paramount Arts Center Festival of Trees , Ashland: A spectacle of lavishly trimmed trees, model trains, homemade crafts and vintage treasures, the Candy Cane Café, and more: It’s Ashland’s annual 10-day holiday extravaganza. NOVEMBER/ DECEMBER Christmas at Kentucky Kingdom , Louisville: It’s a holly jolly holiday with 1.5 million lights, hundreds of trimmed Christmas trees and the largest snow-tubing hill in Kentucky. Christmas in London , London: One of Kentucky’s most Christmassy towns pulls out the holiday stops for an utterly magical season: Christmas markets, ice-skating and holiday events. AUGUST NIBROC Festival , Corbin: A variety of entertainment, contests and games for children, crafts, food and activity booths, plus a parade and carnival over three full days. Bluegrass in the Park Folklife Festival , Henderson: Famous for outstanding bluegrass music, plus folklife exhibits, kids' activities and more in a park overlooking the Ohio River. Manchester Music Fest , Manchester: Free admission, cold beer, a variety of food and non-stop music. Maysville Oktoberfest , Maysville: Break out the lederhosen! Everything German: traditional music and folk dancing, bier, cuisine, wines and schnapps. Summer Vibes Music Festival , Franklin: Headlining musicians, a beer garden, food trucks, merch and more. Lake Cumberland Raft Up , Monticello: Go big or go … you know the drill. Suit up and help break their world record for the world’s largest boat raft-up. SCAN FOR MORE ON KENTUCKY EVENTS OCTOBER Halloween/Fall Festival , Cynthiana: Halloweentown, Kentucky. Kentucky’s spookiest town and one of the country’s top fall destinations hosts a monthlong Halloween and fall festival, kicking off with Witches Day Out and including ghost walks, haunted houses, headstone tours and more. Greenup Old Fashion Days , Greenup: Get immersed in the beauty of fall decorations, nonstop music on multiple stages, delicious food, artisans and craft vendors, and free children’s fun. Photo: Christmas at Kentucky Kingdom, Louisville kentuckytourism.com/events 45
The Official Kentucky Visitor's Guide The Official Kentucky Visitor's Guide 2026: Page 45
