Kentucky Apple Festival
Encyclopedia
The Kentucky Apple Festival is an annual festival
held in Paintsville
, Kentucky
during the first Friday and Saturday in October. The festival was originally created in 1962 as a way to provide a market for the county's apple
production. The 49th Annual Kentucky Apple Festival will take place on October 7-8, 2011.
and apple orchard owner from Flat Gap
. Davis not only created the festival to promote the county's apple production, but to compete with the Johnson County Fair, which had been held annually since 1914. Eventually, the Kentucky Apple Festival became the more popular of the two and the Johnson County Fair became nonexistent.
trot (turtle race); multiple concerts; car shows; Ducky Derby (Rubber duck
race on Paint Creek
) and the Apple Festival Parade. One of the festival's largest and most popular events prior to 2009 was the Apple Bowl. The annual football game between Paintsville High School
and Johnson Central High School
was halted after 2008 due to the difference in the size of the two schools.
Festival
A festival or gala is an event, usually and ordinarily staged by a local community, which centers on and celebrates some unique aspect of that community and the Festival....
held in Paintsville
Paintsville, Kentucky
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 4,132 people, 1,681 households, and 1,079 families residing in the city. The population density was 786.1 people per square mile . There were 1,901 housing units at an average density of 361.7 per square mile...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
during the first Friday and Saturday in October. The festival was originally created in 1962 as a way to provide a market for the county's apple
Apple
The apple is the pomaceous fruit of the apple tree, species Malus domestica in the rose family . It is one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits, and the most widely known of the many members of genus Malus that are used by humans. Apple grow on small, deciduous trees that blossom in the spring...
production. The 49th Annual Kentucky Apple Festival will take place on October 7-8, 2011.
History
The first Kentucky Apple Festival was held on October 6, 1962 and was known as "Apple Day". It was guided by Elmon Davis, an officer at Citizens National BankCitizens National Bank (Eastern Kentucky)
Citizens National Bank is a bank headquartered in Paintsville, Kentucky and is the second largest independently owned bank in Kentucky, with total assets of $599.5 million...
and apple orchard owner from Flat Gap
Flat Gap, Kentucky
Flat Gap is an unincorporated community in Johnson County, Kentucky, United States. The community was named after the "flat gap" formed at the divide between the Lower Laurel and Mudlick Creeks. Flat Gap's first post office was established on February 26, 1873, with Henry Jayne as postmaster...
. Davis not only created the festival to promote the county's apple production, but to compete with the Johnson County Fair, which had been held annually since 1914. Eventually, the Kentucky Apple Festival became the more popular of the two and the Johnson County Fair became nonexistent.
Traditions
Although the majority of the festivities occur on the first Friday and Saturday in October, many events occur during the last week of September, adding up to over forty-five events. Traditional events include: Junior and Miss Apple Blossom pageant; school competitions in spelling, art, penmanship, and mathematics; old-fashion costume contest; terrapinDiamondback terrapin
The diamondback terrapin or simply terrapin, is a species of turtle native to the brackish coastal swamps of the eastern and southern United States. It belongs to the monotypic genus, Malaclemys...
trot (turtle race); multiple concerts; car shows; Ducky Derby (Rubber duck
Rubber duck
A rubber duck is a toy shaped like a stylised Yellow-billed Duck , and is generally yellow with a flat base. It may be made of rubber or rubber-like material such as vinyl plastic...
race on Paint Creek
Paint Creek (Johnson County, Kentucky)
Paint Creek is a tributary of the Levisa Fork in Johnson County, Kentucky. The stream is formed at the confluence of the Little Paint and Open Fork creeks. It is named for the colorful Adena Indian ideographs that were painted on white birch trees and rocks that once lined the stream.Paint Creek...
) and the Apple Festival Parade. One of the festival's largest and most popular events prior to 2009 was the Apple Bowl. The annual football game between Paintsville High School
Paintsville High School
Paintsville High School is a secondary-level school located in Paintsville, Johnson County, Kentucky and is part of the Paintsville Independent School District. Its student enrollment as of 2006 was 344 in grades 7 through 12...
and Johnson Central High School
Johnson Central High School
Johnson Central High School is a public secondary school located at 257 North Mayo Trail on the northwest side of Paintsville, Kentucky, United States. The school serves as the Johnson County School District's consolidated high school....
was halted after 2008 due to the difference in the size of the two schools.