The Woolly Worm Festival , October 24-26, 2025

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. 

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.
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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.

Corn Hole Tournament 

Link to event Here! 
Saturday at 2pm
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

​Lee County 4H will be having our Pet Show in Person Friday at the Woolly Worm Barn. Registration will begin at 9:00 a.m. and Pet Show will begin at 10:00 a.m. You will find a list of categories below. If you have any questions you may their office at 606-464-2759. We look forward to seeing you then....
Pet Show Categories:
Cutest Cat/Kitten
Prettiest Puppy
All Creatures Great and Small
Most Impressive Trick
Best Costume
Most Unique Pet

Woolly Worm Festival Parade, Saturday

What 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. 

Woolly Worm Car Show: Sunday
UPDATE: New location, Lee County Middle High School Lot, Lee Ave, Beattyville, Ky 41311.

​One of the best car shows in the region is the car show at the Woolly Worm Festival. Over 100 classic cars from all over the state are parked and pristinely displayed from 9:00am to 4:30pm. Registration is $20.00 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. 

Woolly Worm Entertainment Schedule 2024

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! 
The Town Square 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 & Beattyville Main Street.  

Friday

1:00pm - Brett Nolan, Town Square
2:00pm - Sturgeon Creek, Town Square
3:00pm - Randon Neeley, Woolly Stage
3:00pm - Gram Durbin, Town Square
4:00pm - Michael Bellamy & Friends
4:00pm -Tim Estes, Town Square
5:00pm - Shelby Davis, Woolly Stage
5:00pm - Lola Ray Griffin, Town Square
6:00pm - Opening Ceremonies, Woolly Stage
6:00pm - Unleashed, Town Square
7:00pm - Appalachian Troubadours,Woolly Stage
  8:00pm - Tim Jewel & Ed Moore Band, Woolly Stage

Saturday

10:00am - Shelby Davis, Woolly Stage
11:00am - Scott Griffin, Town Square
11:00am - Cody Woody, Woolly Stage
12:00pm Shelby Davis, Town Square
12:00pm - Faded to Blacked, Woolly Stage
1:00pm - PARADE
2:00pm - Breathitt Community Band, Town Square
3:00pm - Kenny Stinson & Perfect Tym’n, Woolly Stage
4:00pm - Tina Taylor & The Rambling Gypsies, Town Square
4:00pm - Middle Fork Grass, Woolly Stage
5:00pm - Sturgeon Creek, Woolly Stage
6:00pm - Kenny Stinson & Perfect Tym‘n, Town Square
6:00pm - Hammertowne, Woolly Stage
8:00pm - Elvis Tribute Show by Charles Hobbs, Woolly Stage
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Sunday

12:00pm - Worship Service by Thompson Chapel, Town Square
1:00pm - Miller Famly, Woolly Stage
1:00pm - Lonnie & Edith King, Town Square
2:00pm - HIgher Vision, Woolly Stage
2:00pm - Bruce Gordon, Town Square
3:00pm - Patricia Montgomery, Town Square
4:00pm - Community Pickn’ & Grinn’, Town Square​

Photo Gallery...

Blast from the Past...
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.  
Beattyville/Lee County Tourism P.O. Box 738 Beattyville, KY 41311 (606) 464-5038