The Woolly Worm Festival , October 22-24th, 2021
Celebrating 34 years!
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Far from being a normal festival, the Woolly Worm Festival became a tradition rooted in Lee County’s culture. The woolly worm is believed to forecast the weather for the coming winter season. A woolly worm’s body has 13 segments-each corresponding to a week in winter. If a segment is light brown, that means the week will be mild. If a segment is black, that means a harsh, cold week. The worm acted as a weather predictor for many old time farmers who would harvest crop and cut firewood in preparation for the upcoming winter.
Plan a visit to Beattyville/Lee County. If you would like vendor information contact the Woolly Worm Festival Committee at (606) 464-2888.
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Woolly Worm Raceway
Be sure to race a woolly worm at the raceway located at the heart of the festival. Races will take place all day long each day of the festival. Win a pleminary race and you will be eligible to race your worm in the championship race on Sunday afternoon. Banded Woolly Bears, as they are property named are easy to find. In the fall months they can be found in leave piles, on lawn furniture, around wood piles, and even crossing back country roads. Don't worry if you didn't bring a racing woolly worm with you, just pick one up at the raceway.
Rules of Woolly Worm Racing:
1) The worm you are racing must be a Banded Woolly Bear.
2) Place your worm on the string below the starting mark until the whistle is blown.
3) when whistle sounds, let woolly worm go.
4) Once your woolly worm climbs past the starting mark on the sting, you are not allowed to touch him.
5) First worm to the top WINS! Winners are qualified for the Championship Race on Sunday.
6) Grand Champion Woolly Worm is the official weather predictor of the year!
Here are some tips that will help you take care of your woolly worm. After a weekend of racing, release him back into nature where you found him.
Rules of Woolly Worm Racing:
1) The worm you are racing must be a Banded Woolly Bear.
2) Place your worm on the string below the starting mark until the whistle is blown.
3) when whistle sounds, let woolly worm go.
4) Once your woolly worm climbs past the starting mark on the sting, you are not allowed to touch him.
5) First worm to the top WINS! Winners are qualified for the Championship Race on Sunday.
6) Grand Champion Woolly Worm is the official weather predictor of the year!
Here are some tips that will help you take care of your woolly worm. After a weekend of racing, release him back into nature where you found him.
- The first you’ll need is a container which can be as simple as a plastic cup.
- Cover the bottom of the container with 1/2 inch to 1 inch of soil. Use soil from the area you found the caterpillar in.
- Collect some grass and line the top of the soil with it.
- Gather leaves from the area you found the Woolly Bear in. Woolly Bears use leaves for food, you’ll want to gather a variety of the leaves in the immediate area. Place 2 to 3 leaves in the container.
- Every couple of days, replace with fresh grass and leaves.
- Place a few sticks inside the container for the Woolly Bear to climb on and to hide under as well.
- Place a lid over the container with holes poked through so the Woolly Bear can get air but not escape.
- Using a spray bottle mist the sides of the container and the surface of the leaves every three days. A few sprays is all you’ll need to keep him happy.
2021 Schedule is below...
Meet the Moonshiners and Friends at the "Shiners Tent & Tales"
Tent located at the Beattyville Town Square area near the Lee County Courthouse on Main Street.
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Come celebrate a part of out local heritage and enjoy the opportunity to meet some current and past cast members of Discovery Channel's Moonshiner show! They, along with their other Shiner friends will be hosting a "Shiners Tent" during the Woolly Worm Festival. They will be offering Moonshine related promotional merchandise, artifacts and displays. There will also be some time for "Storytelling" around the Moonshine Still on display.
Welcome Moonshiners to the Woolly Worm Festival The Beattyville Hillbillies Donnie and Teresa Steve Barker with the General Lee Biggins Peg Leg Stan Douglas Taylor Marge in Charge Jessica Reed, Whiskey Girl Moonshine Mamas Crazy Chuck |
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Outlaw Paranormal will be at the Woolly Worm Festival doing tours of the Congelton building, formerly the location of Gentry Congelton's Hardware and Undertaking store circa 1930s. With their paranormal equipment, they will be taking readings around the building to detect any trace of paranormal activity. Tour times are on Saturday of the festival at 10am, 12pm, 2pm, 4pm, and 6pm. Sign up at the tourist information front porch booth at the Beattyville Town Square. All participants must sign a waver. Donations appreciated. Youth 12 and under must be accompanied by and adult.
The Congelton Building, across from the Town Square on Main Street in Beattyville has a long history. Before there were funeral homes, families had to go to the hardware store and purchase all the hinges, knobs, and wood to make caskets for deceased loved ones. Beyond a hardware store, owner Gentry Congelton, went a step further to get his funeral director license in 1933 so he could prep and embalm. Bodies were transported up the elevator into a room. Once finished they were transported back down the hand propelled elevator and into the family wagon outside. The families would take their loved one back home for all night gatherings and home visitations. Will Outlaw Paranormal detect any otherworldly activity? We will see!! |
Corn Hole Tournament
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Saturday, October 23rd at 12pm
Beattyville City Park, River Drive, Beattyville KY Cornhole Tournament will be happening again this year at City Park. Anyone that wants to play is more then welcome! Bring your own partner! If you don’t have one, we can team you up with someone extra! 1st and 2nd place trophies will be awarded! $10 PER TEAM |
Lee County Youth Pet Show
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The Pet Show will be virtual this year and made possible by the Lee County Extension Office. Deadline to register is October 15th. Click the link and enter your contact information. Upload photos/videos in to the provided fields on the webpage.
CLICK HERE: PET SHOW REGISTRATION Pet Show Categories:
Purebred Dog/Puppy Miscellaneous Pet Best Costume Pets that look like their owners Most impressive Trick (Video) Unusual Places to Sit/Sleep Marvelous Markings Prettiest Cat/Kitten |
Woolly Worm 5K Run/Walk/Crawl (CANCELED FOR 2021)
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The Woolly Worm Festival 5K Race is always a good event to participate in. You can run, walk, skip, or crawl across the finnish line! It is scheduled for Saturday, at 8:00am from the Beattyville/Lee County Fire Department on HWY 11 North. Registration starts at 7:00am and the race will start at 8:00am. Early Bird Registration is $20.00 and Race Day registration is $25.00 to participate! For more information call (606) 464-5018 or email tammy.combs@lee.kyschools.us. All proceeds go to Lee County ATC HOSA/Health Science Programs.
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Woolly Worm Festival Parade, Saturday, October 23rd, 2021
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NOTICE: Parade Canceled for 2021What is a festival without a parade? The annual Woolly Worm Festival Parade starts at 1:00pm on Saturday of the festival. Floats will start from City Hall located on Railroad Street and travel up Main Street in Beattyville to the intersection of Main and HWY 11. Awards are given to the top three decorated floats. The parade showcases everything that Lee County can be proud of... Justice & Safety, Fire & Rescue, Health & Wellness, school groups, church groups, non-profits, businesses, pageant contestants, classic cars, motorcycles, hillbilly's... and more. If you would like to enter your organization info the parade call Don Begley Auto Sales at (606) 464-2961.
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Thunder on the River Offroad Show: Saturday, October 23rd, 2021
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The Thunder on the River Offroad Show is the 1st off-road show in the Slade, KY area. Over the last few years the Red River Gorge Area has seen a tremendous growth in offroading with the opening of the Daniel Boone Backcountry Byway, Boneyard Hollow Offroad Park and Hollerwood Offroad Park. There are also many off-road clubs that call this area their home, such as the Southern Four Wheel Drive Association, Kentucky Krawlers, ECO-OHV, Ohio River Four Wheelers, and Eastern Kentucky Offroad. Many locals in the area have ridden these trails for years and now it is becoming a major tourism economic boom. The Thunder on the River event welcomes everyone to the show with any off-road rig you would like to bring. This is a free event for anyone who would like to participate in or attend. Proceeds from the Offroad Show will benefit the Lee County Search and Rescue Team.
10:00am - Registration will be open behind the Beattyville Elementary School on HWY 11 South, Main Street Red Light. FREE registration per vehicle to participate. 11:00pm - Offroad Show Judging Begins. Door Prize giveaway to the participants who register. Free Decal to the first 30 who sign in registration. Anyone who shows up from last the 2019 event bringing their trophy will also receive a free Thunder on the River Decal. Silent auction items on display under the big tent till 4pm. DJ Music throughout the day. 4:00pm - Award Presentation for each class. Award Presentation of ticket raffle winners. Follow the event group page for details. Thunder on the River Group |
Woolly Worm Car Show: Sunday, October 24th, 2021
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One of the best car shows in the region can be found behind the Beattyville Elementary School on Sunday of the Woolly Worm Festival. Over 130 classic cars from all over the state are parked and pristinely displayed from 9:00am to 4:30pm. Registration is $15.00 and starts at 9:00am on Sunday of the festival. The annual event will feature a "Top 100" trophies, top motorcycles and miscellaneous, and numerous "Business Choice" awards. There is also a Best of Show Award. For more information on the annual car show call Josh Smith at (606) 464-2888.
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Woolly Worm Stage Entertainment Schedule 2021
The Woolly Worm Stage is located at the heart of the Woolly Worm Festival at the beginning of Main Street in Beattyville. Also on site with the Woolly Worm Raceway and the Woolly Worm Barn. Be sure to race your woolly worm. Win a heat race and get into the championship race on Sunday afternoon. Be sure to also sign up for all the prize drawings and non-profit raffles! Click the links for video performances by the bands!
Friday, October 22nd, 20216pm - OPENING CEREMONIES
6:30pm - Appalachian Troubadours 8pm - D Boone Pittman & the Fugitives |
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Beattyville/Lee County Tourism Stage Entertainment Schedule
The Tourism Stage is located near the Lee County Courthouse. Sound is provided by WSKVfm 104.9. The stage is sponsored by the Beattyville/Lee County Tourism Commission, WSKV Radio, H&P Cabin Rentals, the City of Beattyville, and the Lee County Fiscal Court. Be sure to join our Master DJ Ethan at the Tourism Stage each night at 7:00pm for street dancing! Click the links for video performances by the bands!
Friday, October 22nd, 202111am - James Overbee
12pm - Rachel Crowe 1pm - Dakara Cooper 2pm - Maddie Murray 3pm - Robert Overbee 4pm - The Jenkins Twins 5pm - 6:30pm- String Theory 6pm - Opening Ceremonies Woolly Worm Stage 7pm - Street Dance |
Saturday, October 23rd, 202111am - Shelby Marie Davis
12pm - Nicola Cassetta 1pm - Michael Stacey 2pm - Jacob Fultz 3pm - Slade Creek 4pm - 5:30pm - Lennie Centers & Centerline 6pm - 7:30pm - Black Powder Express |
Sunday, October 24th, 2021 |
Photo Gallery...
Blast from the Past...
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Woolly Worm Silver Anniversary 2012
The Woolly Worm Festival celebrated 25 years in October 2012. The 25th anniversary festival was dedicated to the World War II veterans of Lee County. At the opening ceremony, community leaders honored all the survivors as Kentucky Colonels. The festival was first initiated in 1988 when a group of people were sitting around in the Purple Cow dinner on Main Street thought up an idea for a festival that was culturally significant and would create tourism. In its 25 years, it has emerged as a nationwide event that attracts over 30,000 people and has a variety of special activities such as woolly worm races, craft displays, parade, pet show, festival food, car show and live entertainment on two stages in Beattyville, KY. During the milestone celebration, visitors enjoyed local musical talents like the Appalachian Troubadours, Lisa Briscoe Lacy, Clinton Fry Band, Harold Fouch & Alonzo Ambergery, and the Hilltop Pickers. People came from miles around to be entertianed by some larger names such as Common Ground and Brad Alford & Saddle Tramp. Special musical guest, sponsored by Bretagne Oil, was Russle Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out. They were fresh off the win of the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Male Vocalist of the Year for the second consecutive year. |