BY BUGS DIXON
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ, Ky. – Nestled in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains, the City of Inez will host the Appalachian Artist Festival on Friday, promising an event filled with art, music, food and community fun from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. around the Historic Martin County Courthouse.
Admission to the festival is free, making it a must-attend event for anyone interested in supporting local artists, enjoying fantastic music or just looking for a great day out in the beautiful city of Inez. The Appalachian Artist Festival is emblematic of the Renaissance that is currently being born in Martin County.
The festival, which celebrates the vibrant arts and crafts scene in the Appalachian region, will feature over 45 vendors. Guests can browse a range of products from local artisans – everything from handcrafted woodwork, original and 3D-printed art, to a charming flower bar. There will also be food, lemonade, icees and coffee to keep festival-goers refreshed throughout the day.
A rich lineup of local musicians will entertain the crowds throughout the entire day. DJ Fletch will provide sound and music between performances.
At noon there will be a ribbon-cutting to celebrate Martin County’s new Umbrella Alley. For a keepsake of the day, festival-goers can pose for photos with local photographer Michael Muncy on hand to capture the moments.
Don’t miss the “Meet the Cardinals” event at 6 p.m. Head football coach Josh Muncy will host the introduction of the 2023-24 Cardinal football team and cheerleaders. It’s a fantastic opportunity to show your community spirit and connect with the home team.
Schedule
11:00 a.m. – William Workman
11:35 a.m. – Jack Ward and the Postmen
12:00 p.m. – Ribbon Cutting for Umbrella Alley
12:20 p.m. – Sandy Valley Rose
1:00 p.m. – The MoonDogs
2:30 p.m. – Erin Grace Rudd
3:05 p.m. – Paige Maynard
3:40 p.m. – Bradley Goble & Chelsea Jude
4:15 p.m. – The Webb Twins
5:00 p.m. – Cody McCoy
6:00 p.m. – Meet the Cardinals
6:30 p.m. – Phill Barnett
7:35 p.m. – Tob Branham
8:15 p.m. – Jordan Lee King
9:30 p.m. – Jayce Turley and Cardinal Point
Cornhole Tournament
Turkey Creek Church of the Nazarene Teens will host a Cornhole Tournament, with an entry fee of $10 for a 2-person team, offering participants the chance to win a $100 first-place prize. Register before 11 a.m. Friday to secure your spot!
Food Vendors
Foodies are in for a treat with the wide range of vendors present. Cassady’s BBQ offers pulled pork sandwiches, nachos and baked potatoes, while Samurai Hibachi dishes up delectable chicken, steak and shrimp meals. Hometown Homemakers will be selling hotdogs.
Those with a sweet tooth can look forward to iced buttercream cookies from Connie Harless or a selection of coffee, croissants and cakes from Triple Cs. For a different take, visit Cricket Gess’s stand for pork skins and various fried fruit pies, or cool down with Sno Cones and drinks from Ice’d Up.
Classic festival food, such as home-cut fries and tempting funnel cakes, can be found at William & Lisa Workman’s booth. Martin County Kiwanis will be present with their classic refreshing lemonade stand, while Turkey Nazerene Church will offer free popsicles and water.
Information Booths
Several local organizations will be setting up informational booths to engage with the community. These include the Inez Dance Academy, James E Webb Musical Repair & Sales, Martin County 4-H, Martin County Health Department, Samaritan’s Purse: Operation Christmas Child, TorchLight Studios and Turkey Nazarene Church. In addition, the Martin County UK Extension Office will be providing a bounce house for toddlers, ensuring a fun time for the little ones.
Artists & Artisans
The Appalachian Artist Festival offers a bustling marketplace of local arts and crafts vendors, highlighting the rich diversity of Appalachian creative culture.
Art enthusiasts will be thrilled by the variety of visual art offerings from vendors such as Hefner Hare, Abstractiffany, Bird President, Bonnie Moore-Delong’s face painting and art, Chaotic Art, the Budding Staff Art by Ali and Kayla’s Inspired Art. Peruse the captivating collection of Megan Preston’s photography at Albums of MV. Other notable vendors include Jean Mend Griffey with her exquisite cards and paper art, Jessica Lea’s charming crochet items and Shelby Moore’s captivating paintings.
For those interested in handcrafted items and innovative creations, there’s plenty to explore at Brandon’s Mounting & Wood Plaques, Fletcher’s 3D, Inspired Creations, Misfit Customs, A-Z Tees and Tonya Young’s resin art, jewelry and photography. Joann Horn also offers an interesting variety of items to catch your interest. Visitors can marvel at Bentley Made’s unique woodwork and art made by Prestonsburg-based artist Brett Bentley.
Festival-goers seeking unique gifts or home decor will find plenty to choose from at Appalachian Blooms’ flower bar, Decorative Gourds, Little Kits Apothecary, Merlyn Made, Nan & Naes Flowerbucket Gifts & Crafts, Simple Soap Kitchen, Sunshine Soaps, Masterpiece Cafe and Sew N Sew Quilters.
For those looking to add a dash of color to their day, Musical Moonshine will be offering DIY and premade tie-dye. Kirsten Wells will be offering colorful hair extensions and temporary tattoos to get everyone looking festival-ready.
Local author Bradley Vanhoose will be at the festival signing and selling his books.
Featuring an assortment of unique, handcrafted and original items, these vendors capture the spirit of Appalachian craftsmanship, making the festival a must-visit for locals and tourists alike.
Come join the City of Inez at the Appalachian Artist Festival in Inez this Friday and celebrate the local talent and community spirit that make the Appalachian region so unique and vibrant.