Paintsville to host apple, music festivals this weekend

By TONY FYFFE

BSN Editor

PAINTSVILLE — Downtown Paintsville will be the home of two festivals this weekend.

The Kentucky Apple returns after a two-year absence, while the second annual Alley Fest kicks off at the local entertainment venue Alley on Main.

“Apple Tradition with a Country A-Peel” is the theme for this year’s Apple Festival, which actually began last weekend with a host of pageants and continues today (Wednesday) with the opening of carnival rides at 6 p.m. and the opening of the flea market Thursday.

The first full day of activities and events begins Friday with the arts and craft tents on Court Street from 2nd to 3rd streets and 2nd Street from Court to Church streets from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; school activities from 9 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. at the courthouse; and the Ol’ Fashion Costume Contest, with registration at 10:30 a.m. and the contest at 11:30 a.m.

The annual Terrapin Trot starts at 1 p.m. at Our Lady of the Mountains School, and the Crank-It-Up Contest begins at 5 p.m. in the Citizens Bank parking lot on Broadway.

The flea and merchants markets will also be open on Friday.

The Johnson Central High School and Johnson County Middle School choirs will open the Music on the Street program at 12:30 p.m., followed by Nick Taylor at 3 p.m., Donald Ray and the Bear Fork Mountain Boys at 4 p.m., Another Shot at 5 p.m., Eddie Jenkins and the 606 Sound at 6 p.m. and Hailey Newman at 7 p.m.

Saturday’s schedule begins at 8 a.m. with the annual 5K Apple Run, with registration at 8 a.m. on the Dawkins Trail. The auto show begins with registration from 8 a.m. to noon on the Citizens Bank parking lot on Broadway.

The arts and crafts tents, and the flea and merchants market will also be open.

The Music on the Street program begins at 11 a.m. with the Paintsville High School and Middle School choirs, followed by Troy Burchett at 3 p.m., Idle Time at 4 p.m., Moonlight Mile at 6 p.m., Rachel and Conner Dale at 7 p.m., and Sean Whiting and the Big Badness at 8 p.m.

Exile will close the Apple Festival with a free concert from 9 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Alley Fest gets going on Thursday with a pre-party show featuring Broad Arrow at 6:30 p.m., River Tramps at 7:30 p.m. and Luke Trimble at 8:50 p.m.

Johnson County native Crystal Gayle and “American Idol” winner Noah Thompson will be the headliners for Friday’s night Alley Fest. Taking the stage prior to their shows will be Spooky Fish at 2 p.m., the Dreaded Laramie at 3 p.m., Grayson Jenkins at 4 p.m., Tyler Hood at 5 p.m., Mike and the Moonpies at 6 p.m., and Scott T. Smith at 7 p.m.

Gayle will take the stage at 8 p.m. followed by Les Masters at 9.m., and Thompson will close Friday’s shows beginning at 10 p.m.

Headliners for Saturday’s Alley Fest will be American Aquarium and John Michael Montgomery. Performing prior to them will be Bedford at noon, Andrew Crawford and Brandi Colt at 1 p.m., Wolfpen Branch at 2 p.m., Jordan Allen and the Bellwethers at 3 p.m., Logan Halstead at 4 p.m., Brett & Donnie at 5 p.m., Nicholas Jamerson and the Morning Jays at 6 p.m., and the Brothers Gillespie at 7:15 p.m.

American Aquarium will perform at 8:15 p.m., and Montgomery will take the stage at 10 p.m. Thompson will also be a special guest.

For pass information, visit alleyfest2022.com.