About the Appalachian Festival

Appalachian Festival Community

index2024

& Bluegrass Enthusiasts,

The countdown to the highly anticipated 53rd Annual Appalachian Festival has officially begun! For the love of the mountains, the Appalachian Festival is where our spirits soar, and our bonds deepen, so get ready to be immersed in a world of art, music, and culture that will ignite your senses and awaken your spirit. It's time to celebrate the rich traditions and stories of the Appalachian region in a vibrant and engaging way. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to connect with Appalachian traditions and create lasting memories.

Step back in time as you wander through the mountain village, where you can experience what life was like in the Appalachian Mountains. As you stroll along the Ohio River the walkways will be lined with artisan shops, mouthwatering food, and Pickin’ Porches. Share in the powerful rhythm and deep resonance of the drum as our Native American dancers share their culture and music with us.

Bring your family and friends to Coney Island for a knee slapping great Mother’s Day weekend outing! Fun for the whole family! All proceeds go to grants that give back to Appalachian communities.

Times are Saturday, May 11th-10:00 am-9:00 pm; Sunday, May 12th-10:00 am-6:00pm. The event location is at Coney Island Park, 6201 Kellogg Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45230

vendorapp

The Festival is this weekend...SET-UP DAY for Vendors:

Friday, May 10, 2024,

Come to the South West Gate to check in with Linda!

Enter Gate 1 off of Kellogg Ave. That will take you around the pond and to the west parking lot. Just drive all the way down to the Ohio River and you will see an entrance down by a covered pavillion that is volunteer and crafter check-in. Linda will be there to sign you in and get you everything you will need for the weekend!

9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Be sure to arrange to be there no earlier than 9:00 am on Friday, May 10! We will be open to check-in until 5:00 pm. You will stop and see Linda, she will have a spot all picked out for you!

Remember - Check-in is at the South West Gate along the river!

Highlights for the Appalachian Festival

Featured Music in 2024

This year the festival is featuring mountain music on three stages, with some of the greatest local bluegrass bands, including:

Ron Thomason & Dry Branch Fire Squad, Danny Burton & The Thunderbirds, Cecil Jackson & Dry Ridge, Sammy Adkins & Sandy Hook Mountain Boys, Wayfarers, Vernon McIntyre and Appalachian Grass, Forest Hills Bluegrass Band, Red Idle Rejects........... and regional favorites!

Storytelling is deeply rooted in Appalachian culture.

Storytelling is a huge component of Appalachian culture, you might even say it's the cornerstone of the entire cultural foundation. We will have new local storytellers telling all weekend. Stephen "Doc" Hollen, and Hanna Sue Cooper will be performing at Doc's Wagon Twain and it will be set up right by the living history area.

No experience is necessary for the Saturday night Fun Dance. This dance will be back at our Dance tent. During the weekend, local dance troupes will be performing a variety of energetic clogging and line dances on all our dance stages.

The Appalachian artisan shops, mouthwatering food, and Pickin’ Porches will be lining the walkways, as you take a stroll through various Appalachian traditions. The most popular area, the living history - Mountain Village, will feature this year, 2 Native American Drums, Southern Singers and Okandada. So be sure to check out our schedule and be sure to stop and see both drums and even join in the dance circle! It is a great time for all!

In the village we will also have demonstrators doing trades from the 1800s. There will be demonstrators doing tin smithing, blacksmithing, mountain distilling, broom making, soap-making, spinning, and more.