Race a Worm, Make a Memory – 38 Years of Woolly Worm Festival Fun in Beattyville, KY

Woolly Worm Racing at the festival! Place your banded woolly bear on the string and see him climb!

Every October, the small mountain town of Beattyville, Kentucky, transforms into a celebration of color, community, and good old-fashioned fun at the annual Woolly Worm Festival. For more than 38 years, locals and visitors alike have gathered downtown to cheer on fuzzy woolly worms as they inch their way up strings in the infamous Woolly Worm Races—a lighthearted competition that’s as much about laughter as it is about predicting the coming winter.

Located just 20 minutes south of Exit 33 off the Mountain Parkway, Beattyville sits at the heart of Eastern Kentucky’s outdoor playground, surrounded by the Red River Gorge, Natural Bridge State Park, and miles of Appalachian beauty. The festival offers more than racing worms—it’s a full weekend of live music, handmade crafts, delicious food, and small-town hospitality that keeps people coming back year after year.

Plan Your Visit: Dates, Directions, and What to Expect

The 38th Annual Woolly Worm Festival takes place October 24th–26th, 2025, right in the heart of downtown Beattyville, Kentucky. Festival hours are 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.

📍 Location:
Main Street, Beattyville, KY – only 20 minutes south of Exit 33 off the Mountain Parkway, surrounded by the beauty of the Red River Gorge and Natural Bridge State Park.

🅿️ Parking & Directions:
Public parking areas are available near Main Street and along surrounding side streets. There will also be many opportunities for paid lot parking throughout town—and every dollar helps support local nonprofits, including the FFA, Boy Scouts, youth sports teams, and more. Early arrival is recommended, especially on Saturday during the Woolly Worm Festival Parade at 1:00 p.m.

🎶 Entertainment Lineup:
Three full days of live music fill both the Town Square Stage and the Woolly Worm Stage. Performances include regional favorites like Blake Anthony Ellege, Tony Pence & the Big Ugly, Dean Osborne, Southern Access, and many more.

🐛 Featured Events:

Pet Show – Friday at 10:00 a.m. (Woolly Worm Stage)

Festival Honor Ceremonies – Friday at 6:00 p.m. (Woolly Worm Stage)

Blake Anthony Ellege - Friday at 6:30 (Town Square Stage)

Cornhole Tournament – Saturday at 2:00 p.m., (Beattyville City Park)

Parade – Saturday at 1:00 p.m., Main Street

Hammertown - Saturday at 6:00pm (Woolly Worm Stage)

Tony Pence and The Big Ugly - Saturday at 7pm (Town Square Stage)

WoollyBooger 5K Run/Walk - 8:00am (Town Square) Sign Up Here! 

Car Show – Sunday at 9:30 a.m., LCMHS Lot, Lee Avenue

Community Church Service by Thompson Chapel at 12:00p (Town Square Stage)

Championship Woolly Worm Race – Sunday at 4:00 p.m., (Town Square Stage)

🛍️ Vendors & Shopping:
Over 150 vendor booths line Main Street offering crafts, jewelry, festival food, and Woolly Worm merchandise. Official festival souvenirs can be purchased at the festival headquarters located at the barn beside the Woolly Worm Stage. Many booths are hosted by local organizations raising funds for community programs, fire departments, and student clubs.

💡 Travel Tip:
Bring a lawn chair, your camera, and your sense of humor—because you’ll want to stay awhile. Whether you’re cheering for your woolly worm racer or tapping your foot to live music, the Woolly Worm Festival offers a perfect mix of mountain hospitality and small-town fun.

💡 Community Connectivity by PRTC
A special shoutout goes to PRTC – People’s Rural Telephone Cooperative, who will be providing a free Wi-Fi hotspoton Main Street during the festival! Be sure to stop by their booth and say hello. PRTC is a local rural co-op serving Lee, Owsley, Jackson, and neighboring counties, offering 1 gig upload and download fiber-to-the-home service with excellent customer support. Their investment in reliable, high-speed internet has made a lasting difference in Eastern Kentucky communities. Thank you PRTC for helping festival goers stay connected all weekend long. 

Talented artist from soulful Blake Anthony Ellege to bluegrass picking Lenny Centers

This year’s festival features an impressive lineup of musicians and entertainers, including Blake Anthony Ellege, a Grammy member and American Idol Golden Ticket winner, along with local and regional favorites such as Tony Pence & The Big Ugly, Dean Osborne Band, Southern Access, HammerTowne, First Rate Failure, Appalachian Troubadours, and more performing across two stages all weekend long.

Also joining the lineup is Lennie Centers and Centerline, the talented son of Roy Lee Centers, who once performed with bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley. Their authentic Appalachian sound adds a rich musical tradition to this year’s festival.

Check out the full schedule here! 

🤝 Sponsors Who Support the Fun

A huge thank-you goes out to this year’s festival sponsors, including:
Citizens Bank & Trust, Senator Brandon Smith, Representative Timmy Truett, Lee County Tourism, Beattyville Main Street, Color Real Estate – Ernie & Sheila Martin, Craig’s Car Sales, Middle Fork Stables, Lee Adjustment Center, Kentucky River Medical Center, Mann Chrysler, and Dunahoo Auto Sales.

Their generosity helps fund entertainment, logistics, and community outreach that make this event one of the best small-town festivals in Kentucky.

For updates and news. Follow the Woolly Worm Festival Facebook group, and the pages for Beattyville Main Street and Beattyville Lee County Tourism. Hope to see you all on Main Street this October 24-26th for the Woolly Worm Festival!