BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — On most weekends, Inez is quiet enough that locals wave to one another from across the streets. But on Sept. 12 & 13, it transformed as music boomed from the stage on Court Street, children darted between carnival rides, and the line at the lemonade stand stretched into the crowd.
“I’ve really never seen this many people in Inez,” said Melissa Phelps, president of the Kiwanis Club, which has staged the Harvest Festival for 29 years. “Everyone seemed to truly enjoy — and that’s what it is all about.”
For two days, the town of about 500 residents swelled into the thousands. Families drove in from across Martin and Mingo counties and beyond, spilling onto sidewalks and filling parking lots. The festival brought music, food, carnival rides and contests. But its real achievement, residents said, was the sense of community that is not always visible in a region marked by economic strain.
The crowds were the biggest surprise. Food vendors reported sales that eclipsed last year’s numbers, with some running out of supplies both days.
“All of the vendors did well,” Phelps told her fellow Kiwanians in a post-festival meeting Thursday at Giovanni’s in Inez.
Among them was Harry Reed, a first-time participant who quickly sold through his book, Tongues of Deception. Later, he posted online that the festival had “exceeded his expectations.”
Local businesses in Martin County also benefited. Restaurants stayed full, gas stations saw steady traffic and shopkeepers experienced a weekend that felt like a holiday.
“When people come here for the festival, they spend money all over the county,” Phelps said.
For the Kiwanis Club, which organizes the festival as a civic tradition, the weekend yielded impressive results. Revenues totaled $64,940, fueled by $28,500 in sponsorships, $18,612 from carnival wristbands and steady vendor fees.
But expenses climbed to $53,300, including $30,000 for carnival rides.
“We did go in the hole on the rides about $12,000,” Phelps said, adding that sponsorships typically cover the deficit.
The Kiwanis lemonade booth was a standout. Staffed by members of the Kiwanis Club and the Martin County High School travel club, it took in a record $12,400. In return, the students received a $3,300 donation toward their own fundraising efforts.
“We couldn’t have made it without them,” Phelps said.
Even small details added up. The traditional Harvest Fest quilt netted $216 after costs. This year’s winner was Kelsey Harmon.
If there was one flaw, organizers agreed, it was the late-night schedule. By 8:30 Saturday, after hours of contests, parades and performances, families with children began heading home. That left fewer people for the final headliner, Nashville artist CJ Solar, whose 9 p.m. show capped the weekend.
Festivalgoer Mike Johnson explained the issue.
“I think by the time they came onstage, parents and the kids were worn-out and spent-out,” he said. “I know I was. And I was tickled to death at 8 o’clock when I was able to go to the car.”
Phelps offered a remedy.
“A lot of people started leaving about 8:30 or so on Saturday,” she said. “They were just tired. We should start our last act on Saturday at either 7:30 or 8. That’s the big change we need to do for next year.”
Otherwise, the weekend delivered on-promise. The parade down Main Street on Saturday drew a record crowd. The carnival, hayrides and pony rides ran at capacity, and people packed the business center parking lot for FTC wrestling and the Court Street stage area for live music.
The Kiwanis Club is already thinking about the 30th anniversary festival, which will take place next Sept. 11 & 12. The milestone year will bring both bigger crowds and new additions. Among them will be Harvest Fest t-shirts, after visitors stopped Phelps repeatedly to ask where they could buy one.
“So next year we need to order extra to sell,” she said.
Parking, vendor and carnival ride space will also be on the table as the Kiwanis Club reviews what worked and what strained the event’s capacity.
The larger picture, organizers say, is one of pride. For two days, Inez looked less like a quiet county seat and more like a county fairground alive with noise, color and a sense of belonging.
Phelps added a shoutout to festivalgoers, Kiwanis Club members, volunteers and sponsors.
“We are beyond grateful for the incredible support of everyone,” she said.
Harvest Festival’s Platinum sponsors provided the foundation for this year’s success. Foothills Communication, the Martin County Solar Project, The Mountain Citizen and Appalachian Regional Healthcare stepped up at the highest level, ensuring the festival had the resources to welcome thousands of visitors to Inez.
Gold Sponsors added another layer of strong community backing. The City of Inez, Martin County Fiscal Court and the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension each played a key role in supporting the event and helping it thrive.
Generous Silver Sponsors helped make the festival possible. America’s Quickmart, Appalachian Wireless, First State Bank, Jigsaw Enterprises, and Three Rivers Medical Center provided tremendously valuable contributions that helped bring two days of music, food and fun to downtown.
A wide circle of Bronze sponsors further strengthened the festival. Appalachia Reach Out, Big Sandy Health Care, Faris Family McDonald’s, Kentucky Farm Bureau, Kentucky Power, Martin County Health Department, Rite Value and Tommy’s Auto Mall showed their continued investment in the community through their support.
Finally, the Friends of the Festival offered crucial backing to ensure every detail of the weekend came together. Brown Food Service, Howell’s Recycling & Sanitation, Horizon Recovery, Martin County Tourism & Recreation, and People’s Bank all stood behind the event.