News & attractions
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EAST KENTUCKY PERTAINING TO
TOURISM AND SPECIAL EVENTS!!
The 2024 Pikeville Hillbilly Days festival will be Thursday, April 18 thru Saturday, April 20 in downtown.
The musical headliner will be Struggle Jennings with special guest Lakeview Music.
The courthouse stage will be hosted for the 39th year by the Kevin Prater Band.
The Hillbilly Pageant will be held April 13 at the Pike Central High School.
Hillbilly Days in early spring is one of the state’s largest festivals, specifically created to benefit the Shriners Hospital in Lexington, Visitors can enjoy food booths, arts and crafts , live music, a parade, and get in touch with Pike County’s rich history.
Ashland, Ky. has plenty of stately homes and businesses and tour arrangements can be
discovered by visiting the Ashland Tourism and Convention Bureau on Winchester Avenue, or by
checking www.visitaky.com.
Be sure to check out the majestic riverfront sculptures, the ongoing entertainment at the Paramount Arts
Center, and excellent dining establishments.
HILLBILLY TRAILS WILL THRILL TOURISTS
WITH 80 MILES OF OUTDOOR ADVENTURES
The ribbon cutting for the trail, was October 2 near the Flatwoods North Trail Head in Dorton. Now, the first phase of a remarkable designed to connect ATV trails throughout the region.
Stretching over an impressive 80 miles and rolling through a sprawling 6,000 acres of pristine wilderness, Hillbilly Trails offers riders a diverse range of terrains and challenging riding conditions. This extensive network of trails promises an unforgettable outdoor experience. Jerry Adkins, Director of Trail Development commented, “This is the biggest opportunity to bring adventure tourism in Pike County that we’ve ever seen” (Source:WYMT).
With its stunning natural landscapes and exhilarating trails, Hillbilly Trails is expected to become a major draw for adventure enthusiasts from far and wide.
The Pike County Sheriff’s Office has pledged to oversee patrols of the new trail to assure maximum safety.
This year’s Eastern Kentucky Booth at the Kentucky State Fair was the work of the tourism offices in
seven counties across the region. Letcher, Pike, Floyd, Johnson, Boyd, Carter, and Montgomery Counties
oversaw this year’s effort.
It has been announced that the Kentucky State Fair officials have recognized the Eastern Kentucky Booth as the best exhibit for the “Pride of the Counties” section of the 2023 Kentucky State Fair.
The booth featured a historic and rustic front porch stage upon which daily live entertainment by regional musicians
was presented throughout the two-week event. Local artisans put their works on display, offering coal jewelry-making workshops, painting tutorials, and chainsaw art displays.
This award highlights the collaborative efforts of tourism offices along the 120 miles of the U.S. 23 Country Music Highway, from Letcher County to Greenup County.
Judi Conway Patton, Chair of the Pikeville-Pike County Tourism CVB, underscored the significance of this achievement: “Our local talent is our greatest asset, driving tourism and economic growth in Eastern Kentucky. This achievement celebrates our collective success.”
Tony K. Tackett, Executive Director of Pikeville-Pike CountyTourism CVB, commented, “We are blessed to have such amazing partners within our Eastern Kentucky region. They get it. They understand that we all are in this together to make a brighter future for the region. Winning the Best Exhibit Award emphasizes our combined potential.”
“Letcher County Tourism was honored to be a part of the Eastern Kentucky Tourism Booth at the Kentucky State Fair,” said Missy Matthews, Chairwoman of the Letcher County Tourism Commission. “Our booth perfectly showcased the beauty our region has to offer while highlighting our local talented musicians and skilled crafters. We are proud to be a part of the 2023 Kentucky State Fair Pride of the Counties Best Exhibit award-winning team. The booth allowed people from all over the state to see what our region has to offer. Thank you to Tony Tackett for his vision and to each tourism commission and volunteer who made our exhibition possible.”
“The Kentucky State Fair has always been a huge opportunity to show more than 500,000 people all the great attractions, outdoor adventure, and music that Eastern Kentucky has to offer,” said Andrew Steele, Executive Director of Boyd County Tourism and Convention Bureau. “Working together as a region gave us the opportunity to staff a large 20×60 booth, which greatly expanded our exposure and allowed us to have
numerous interactions
with people looking for new destinations and unique itineraries. Nothing makes me happier than getting to show people what Eastern Kentucky truly looks like and break down stereotypes people have about our region! This expansive booth at the Kentucky State Fair captivated visitors, reflecting the richness of our tourism offerings. We wanted to showcase the variety of things that one can enjoy within our region, highlighting that we are more than just natural beauty. We offer live entertainment, a budding art scene, outdoor adventure, history, culture, and much more.”
“
It is such an honor to highlight these talented Eastern Kentucky individuals,” said Kayla Osborne Caldwell, Pikeville-Pike County Tourism CVB board member. “We have the opportunity to showcase the talent and beauty of our region and all it has to offer.”
Visitors numbers to the Eastern Kentucky booth soared and reflected a remarkable increase in engagement compared to previous years. The booth’s allure resonated strongly, drawing in larger crowds, and sparking heightened interest in the region. Notably, this year’s presentation included the inaugural showcase of Pike County’s Hillbilly Trails system, as well as Boyd County’s Rush Off-Road Trail System.
Double Kwik, SOAR , and Tourism Groups to Present
A Country Music Highway Tribute Concert Series
A trio of venues will host three separate music shows designed to accentuate the ongoing influence of Country Music Highway talent, with the first performance in downtown Paintsville on Saturday, July 29.
The Paintsville show will be held downtown near the intersection of College and Main Streets. Free admission will be augmented by arts and crafts and food.
The followup shows will be a free admission show in Whitesburg’s downtown Mountain Heritage Park Saturday,August 12. Next is the finale in Prestonsburg at the Mountain Arts Center set for Saturday, August 19,. This is a paid show with proceeds going to support arts and tourism in the area.
A handpicked group of performers will grace each stage, and the shows will be equipped with excellent sound and lighting.
The Paintsville performers include the Johnson Central High School Choir at 2 p.m., Ava O’Bryan, 2:20 p. m.; Aaron Mykal, 3:10 p.m.; The Chuck Robertson Project, 4 p.m.; Adalyn Ramey, 5 p.m.’ Solid Ground with special guest Don Rigsby, 6 p.m; Luke Trimble, 7 p.m.’ Eddie Jenkins and the 606 Sound, 8 p. m.; and the final show at 9 p.m. will feature Connor Dale and Rachel Messer.
At the Whitesburg concert, fans can enjoy the following performers/groups: Ben Fugate and the Burnin’ Trash Band, Cory Harris, Coaltown Dixie with Kris Preston, Pure and Simple Band with Mike Wright, and Solid Ground with special guest Don Rigsby.
The finale of the Tribute Show will be a paid admission presentation from the Mountain Arts Center in Prestonsburg.
The lineup includes: Devin Hale, Laurah Louisa, Dempsey and Hall, Corey Harris, Bek and the Starlight Revue, and Billie Jean Osborne’s Kentucky Opry.
Maysville Features Numerous Summer Tourist Attractions
Maysville, Ky. Is one of the oldest towns in Kentucky, and sponsors many tourist events in the summer of 2023. An 11-mile canoe and kayak journey down the Ohio River on Saturday, July 29. This event is known as the M2M Paddlefest. Participants will launch in Manchester, Ohio, east of Maysville and ends at Limestone Landing in Maysville. Two events in August are rooted in the German heritage shared by a large segment of Maysville citizenry. The Old Reliable Germantown Fair runs from Saturday, July 29 thru August 5, and will feature rides, events, animals, and family fun. Oktoberfest comes up Aug. 11 and 12 with Bavarian polka bands, Bavarian beer trucks, sauerkraut and bratwurst, wiener dog races, and polka dancers on every intersection.
Sandy’s Racing and Gaming Will Open in Fall of 2023
A 74,000 square foot sportsbook betting and gaming lounge is under construction in the Boyd County city of Ashland.
Chairman Larry Lucas touted the multi-million dollar project expected to bring new jobs, great gaming and entertainment, quarter horse racing, a sportsbook and dining to the Boyd County community.
Plans are for an opening date for Sandy’s Racing and Gaming in the fall.
RACELAND HOSTS HUGE CONCERT EVENT JULY 29
On Saturday, July 29 at the Raceland City Park, a free concert will be available to music fans starting at 12:45 p.m. and running until 10 p.m.
Dubbed as the Christmas In July Concert, this event is made possible by the Raceland-Russel Lions and Leos Club.
On the playbill is eleven different bands. Concessions will be available.
Performances begin at 12:45 with Sounds From The Gospel. Next will be Tim and Rachael Richmond and Family , beginning at 1 p.m.
These are the remaining bands that will perform at 45-minute set: Brady Ross, Andrea and Isabella, Lucy Russell, Trina Miller and Regina Ward, Simply Sounds, The Willis Twins, Marty Helms, Alexis Jiles and the Badmen, and Brady Ross and Route 23.
CHRIS STAPLETON TOPS COUNTRY MUSIC
FIELD AS 2023 ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Chris Stapleton has swept through many prestigious awards in country music for the past five years, but the 2023 Academy of Country Music’s top prize was snatched by Stapleton
Entertainer of the Year came home to the Stapleton family as he edged nominees Kane Brown, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Morgan Wallen, and Mirana Lamber
Noah Thompson, 2022 American Idol Winner will
showcase his talents at this June’s CMA Fest in
Nashville.