Appalachian Festival

12/05/2024

11/05/2024

You still have time to get here and see the Hills of Kentucky Cloggers!!! Weather is perfect today!

It’s May11th and that means we take stage at 4:45 for the Appalachian Festival! See you soon!

11/05/2024

Looking for something unique? Visit the Pin Oak Workshop

11/05/2024

Living History at the Appalachian Festival 2024.

10/05/2024

Hello Appalachian Enthusiasts,
This is Shanon Rice, President of the ACDA that organizes this Mother's Day Tradition! It is a beautiful day along the river, and we look forward to seeing you this weekend at Coney Island!

I wanted to take this opportunity, on behalf of the ACDA board of trustees, to clear the air about some rumors that have been going around regarding this being the festival's last year here at the park. I am sure it has been a little confusing especially when you heard that Coney Island was sold to MEMI earlier this year. We realize the heartbreak of hearing that it closed, but I am here to tell you that Coney is not closed, it just has new owners. We are so grateful to the new owners, MEMI, for letting us come back for this weekend to keep the Appalachian Traditions alive!

Now you may ask what does the future hold for the festival? We have been through a lot in the 53 years of existence and we are excited to say we are going to continue this tradition and MEMI would be happy to have us back in 2025.

If you see anything online that says otherwise, please share this information! MEMI have been amazing to work with and I look forward to a long lasting relationship.

We want this 2024 festival to create memories that will last for a lifetime and what better place to hold those memories then along the scenic Ohio River! Bring your friends and family for knee slapping good time. We are looking forward to seeing everything this weekend!

10/05/2024

We are proud to announce that
CONEY ISLAND will be serving Northern Yankee Moonshine products at the bar during The Appalachian Festival.
Be sure to try a cocktail made with their award winning spirits. Visit with us at The Pioneer Mountain Village and see our still display.

*********BIG NEWS- Product Alert *********
We are proud to announce that
CONEY ISLAND will be serving our products at the bar during The Appalachian Festival.
Be sure to try a cocktail made with our award winning spirits. Visit with us at The Pioneer Mountain Village and see our still display.

05/05/2024

Dear Festival Enthusiasts,

The countdown to the highly anticipated Appalachian Festival has officially begun! 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 like-minded individuals 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. Share in the powerful rhythm and deep resonance of the drum as our Native American dancers share their culture and music with us.

The Appalachian Festival is where our spirits soar and our bonds deepen, bring your family and friends!

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 www.appalachianfestival.org

04/05/2024

The countdown is on! Only 6 more days until our annual festival. Come celebrate Mother’s Day with us!

Celebrate the rich traditions and stories of the Appalachian region in a vibrant and engaging way at Appalachian Festival next weekend! Step back in time as you wander through the mountain village, where you can experience what life was like in the Appalachian Mountains. Bring your family and friends to Coney Island for a knee slapping great Mother’s Day weekend outing!

All proceeds go to grants that give back to Appalachian communities.

04/05/2024

The Appalachian Festival is a long time Mother's Day tradition for Cincinnati families. Come see us next weekend, May 11 and 12 at Coney Island.

04/05/2024

A Mother's Day weekend at a visit to Coney Island and the Appalachian Festival is a long time tradition for Cincinnati folks.

Music, living history, reenactors, storytelling, food and great vendors await y'all.

Come see us once again next Saturday and Sunday, May 11 and 12, 2024.

Make plans next week to come out to the Appalachian Festival at Old Coney Island. The Forest Hills Bluegrass Band will be performing two sets on Saturday, May 11. The first will be from 11-11:50 on the Proud Heritage Stage. The second set will be from 2-2:50 on the Up Close and Personal Stage.
We’ll be doing material from both of our CDs as well as some other favorites. We’ll have CDs for sale. Come say howdy!

16/04/2024

PSA 📢

We still have food and craft vendor space to fill!!!

You can download the application on our home page at www.appalachianfestival.org!

Do you or someone you know have a unique handmade product made in the Appalachia's? Are you spinning your wheels trying to get traction in the heavily saturated online market?

Jumpstart your summer with one of Cincinnati's first outdoor festivals of the season and be a part of one of the area's finest outdoor Mother's Day shopping experiences.

Continuing the tradition at Coney Island, we have opened our 2024 Vendor Applications...

​**We have extended our deadline and nixed the LATE FEES!**

Crafters hailing far and wide come to Coney Island featuring the finest mountain handicrafts, artwork and things you can't live without. So why not come and be a part of this amazing Appalachian Market and Mother's Day tradition! Be sure to share this post with your family and friends because this is one tradition that you can carry on and pass down to for generations to come. Help keep this tradition alive and be apart of Cincinnati history!

12/03/2024

We are still looking for food vendors for this year’s festival. If you would like to be a part of our festival, visit our website and fill out an application!

https://www.appalachianfestival.org/food

28/02/2024

Calling all Vendors,

Do you or someone you know have a unique handmade product made in the Appalachia's? Are you spinning your wheels trying to get traction in the heavily saturated online market?

Jumpstart your summer with one of Cincinnati's first outdoor festivals of the season and be a part of one of the area's finest outdoor Mother's Day shopping experiences.

Continuing the tradition at Coney Island, we have opened our 2024 Vendor Applications...

You can download the application on our home page at www.appalachianfestival.org!

​**We have extended our deadline and nixed the LATE FEES!**

Crafters hailing far and wide come to Coney Island featuring the finest mountain handicrafts, artwork and things you can't live without. So why not come and be a part of this amazing Appalachian Market and Mother's Day tradition! Be sure to share this post with your family and friends because this is one tradition that you can carry on and pass down to for generations to come. Help keep this tradition alive and be apart of Cincinnati history!

18/02/2024

The ACDA wants to thank everyone for their patience, for which we have Great News to start this week off the right way!

The Appalachian Festival is a Mother's Day weekend tradition in the Cincinnati region. Located along Cincinnati's scenic Ohio River at Coney Island, and we are excited to announce that we will continue that tradition at Coney Island for 2024!

We will once again transform Coney Island into an authentic mountain-life village celebrating the area’s rich Appalachian heritage. The festival will be this Mother's Day Weekend May 11 and 12, 2024.

Be sure to save the date and come out and enjoy the Ohio River, Coney Island, and Appalachian Traditions!

Look for more information to come!

25/12/2023

Let's spread joy this holiday season!

As you celebrate Christmas, we hope your day is filled with love and laughter. Whether you're celebrating with family or friends, remember to take a moment to appreciate the little things in life.

20/12/2023

Hello, Appalachian Festival Community

The news about Coney Island closing at the end of the year has brought up the question of what will happen to the Appalachian Festival?

Coney Island and their employees have been such a big part of the festival we cannot imagine what it is going to be like without them. We want to send out thanks and appreciation to everyone at Coney Island for all the great years! We will miss you!

However, this Mother’s Day tradition has seen many challenges from cancelations due to weather, the pandemic, and now in our 53rd year we are faced with the moving of the event. Know we are passionate about this event, and the ACDA Board is currently looking into new locations. It is going to be an exciting time to see where this journey will take the festival.
Keep an eye out for more updates after the New Year.

The ACDA Board wishes you a wonderful holiday. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from our family to yours.

25/10/2023

Calling all crafters, creators and food vendors. Apply to be a part of our 53rd Appalachian Festival by submitting a form today to reserve your spot!! We have already begun planning for 2024!

https://www.appalachianfestival.org/craft-exhibitors-demonstrators

14/09/2023

I am so excited to begin this day. I'll journey to Wilmore, Kentucky for the More Tales More Tales, Wilmore Storytelling Festival. It begins tonight with the Fibber's Feast with Storyteller Bil Lepp. Then we begin in earnest Friday evening and all day Saturday.

Bil will be joined by Paul Strickland, Laura Packer and yours truly, the ol mountain doctor, Stephen Doc Hollen.

Come see us!

23/08/2023

Check out this awesome event coming up on September 1st hosted by Urban Appalachian Community Coalition!!

Celebrate our Ohio River watershed and its Greater Cincinnati neighborhood cultures with live music, art and a heritage food tasting! This is a festival-style event features creative sharing by:

-Kari Gunter Seymour (Ohio Poet Laureate)
- Dick Hague
-Sherry Cook Stanforth
-Sara Moore Wagner
-Michael Thompson
-Tangled Roots
-The Farmer & the Crow
-Awarded Place Keepers artists
-And more!

$8 per person (advance)
$10 per person (at the door)
18 and under FREE

Visit link in bio to purchase tickets in advance.

Write to [email protected] if you have questions or want to register for a creative writing workshop earlier in the day with Kari Gunter Seymour.

27/06/2023

Be sure to learn more about the powerful exhibit brought to the festival every year by UACC...“Perceptions of Home: The Urban Appalachian Spirit”: Urban Appalachian

By Mike Templeton The 52nd Annual Appalachian Festival featured numerous exhibits that demonstrate the rich culture of Appalachia. Some of these exhibits allowed people to see some of the ways Appalachian life made it to places like Cincinnati during periods when people were migrating from the mount...

29/05/2023

Honoring the courage and sacrifice of Appalachian heroes 🇺🇸

Today, we pay tribute to those who have served and given their lives for our country. Join us in remembering the bravery and selflessness of our Appalachian veterans.

Share a photo or memory of a loved one who served in the comments below.

16/05/2023

Here is our volunteer coordinator, Pappy Mark’s presentation of Frisch's Big Boy’s generous gift basket that was raffled off amongst the volunteers at the The 52nd Appalachian Festival 2023.
Congratulations to Claire Hannah, volunteer raffle winner.
And a huge shout out to Frisch’s for helping to make this possible!!

If you’re interested in volunteering for next year, let us know! Send us a message through FB messenger with your name & email address and we’ll get that info over to our volunteer coordinator, Pappy Mark.

15/05/2023

Thank you so much to everyone who joined us at our festival this weekend! Looking forward to seeing you all again next year! ☀️⛰️