We hope you are all getting the chance to enjoy the nice crispy, cool weather this morning as Fall is set to begin on Saturday, September 23!!! That’s tomorrow! (If you are reading this on Friday)
Who else is ready to see our tree leaves change color and bring out those beanies and comfy vests?
Things are also beginning to “Fall” into place, we have several Eastern Kentucky events, opportunities, and updates happening in our region that we want to shine some attention to.
Let’s get this weekly roundup started!
Events Happening this Weekend
Girl’s Day Out at The Center for Rural Development
Beginning at 10 am, on Saturday, September 23, ladies can go shop with their friends at The Center for Rural Development in Somerset. Local vendors will be selling their goods. Admission is free and there will also be door prizes! We know that some of you are already Christmas shopping, so help support some local business on Saturday. The event ends at 4 pm.
You can learn about this event by clicking HERE.
London’s World Chicken Festival with the band Smash Mouth
Hey, now all-star! You read that right, Smash Mouth will be a headliner for London’s World Chicken Festival on Saturday beginning at 9 pm. But the festival already began Thursday evening and is happening all weekend long with Smash Mouth being the grand finale.
The idea of the World Chicken Festival first came up around 1989 – with the first festival beginning on 1990 on Colonel Sander’s 100th birthday celebration.
If you plan to attend this event, post some pics and tag us – we would love to see you all enjoying all that London has to offer and, most especially, eating some chicken!
You can learn more about the festival HERE.
Miguel’s Pizzeria Celebrating Birthday
FREE PIZZA!!!
YOU READ THAT RIGHT!
If you’ve ever visited Appalachia’s little slice of heaven that we call the Red River Gorge, you’ve likely eaten at Miguel’s Pizza. Chances are you’ve probably crushed an Ale-8-One while sitting on the patio eating a whole pizza after hiking all day with your friends. It’s the best.
That being said, help Miguels’ celebrate their 40th ANNIVERSARY Saturday, September 23 with FREEEEE PIZZAAAAA, live music, and more!
Miguel’s has been a staple in the Red for 40 years now, let’s help them celebrate in style!
You can find this event and A TON MORE for this weekend their WEBSITE.
Corbin’s 2nd Annual Dessert Week!
The sweetest week of the year is just around the corner and just in time for the 2023 SOAR Summit as well!
Corbin is hosting a dessert week, you read that right – a week, entirely made for desserts.
Each participating restaurant will offer its own sweet culinary treat at just $6 per dish. Grab a few friends (those who are attending the Summit, because you made sure to invite them right?) put on those walking shoes, and have your own dessert tour in Corbin.
You can see participating restaurants on their FLYER.
Rogers Scholars Volunteer Success Story
2022 Rogers Scholar and Harlan County High School student Kenneth Sergent combined two of his favorite things – kayaking and the river – to better serve his community. He and a group of volunteers loaded their kayaks and paddled up and down the river, picking up trash and debris.
“I was raised in and around the river. Over the years, my friends and I would play in the river and have made many memories. I want other kids to be able to make the same memories that I did.”
Graduates of The Center for Rural Development’s Rogers Scholars program are required to complete a community service project.
Click HERE for more information about Rogers Scholars.
Appy Nomination Form Open
Appalachian Arts & Entertainment Awards nominations are officially open!
If you or someone you know is an Artist or Entertainer in the Appalachian region they WANT YOU to fill out the nomination form.
Click HERE to make a nomination. at the link below.
KY Proud Fall CSA Week
Have you seen the 2023 KY Proud Fall CSA Week participating farms?
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a method of pre-purchasing food directly from a local farm. Members sign up in advance and commit to a certain number of weeks in the growing season. This upfront signup allows the farmers to know who they’re growing for and creates a more secure market for their products. Participants often called “shareholders” then receive a regular “share” or box of the farm’s harvest. What comes in your CSA share depends on the type and size you choose. Different options can include, but are not limited to, produce, meat, eggs, herbs, flowers, value-added products, or a mix of each (typically called a “full diet CSA”). Many farms also offer different size shares to accommodate what works best for customers.
Make sure to check out the 2023 partner farm guide today!
You can download it HERE
When you view or download the pdf, each farm name is a clickable link that takes you directly to their website to learn more.
Want to Submit to our Roundup?
Well, that is going to do it for this week’s Weekly Roundup don’t forget registration for the 2023 SOAR Summit ends Thursday, Sept. 28 – so you have less than a week now to register and get your tickets.
Know of a program that needs applicants from our region?
Do you know of a grant opportunity that one of our Eastern Kentucky non-profits could benefit from?
or just have good news from your town?
Email us at: roundup@soar-ky.org
Future events to add to your calendar:
September
- Beyond ’23: KYSTATS Data Summit, Sept 28
Come hear from KYSTATS, partners, & leaders from multiple sectors about our data and the potential for it to shape the future of Kentucky.
You can register HERE.
October
- SOAR Pre-Summit, Monday, Oct. 2
- SOAR Summit, Tuesday – Wednesday, Oct 3-4
You can learn more about these events HERE.
- Ally Fest, Oct. 6 & 7
Ally Fest will be returning to downtown Prestonsburg on October 6 & 7 with two major headlining artists!
Brought to you by, Paintsville Tourism, AOM Booking & Management, and Alley on Main.
Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder will be playing Friday night and Billy Ray Cyrus and FIREROSE will be playing Saturday.
Want to know the best part?? ITS FREE!!!
Keep an eye out for the rest of the festival and the Official Alley Fest 2023 poster!
You can learn more information HERE.
- Ashland hosts the 8th annual Firkin Fest, on Oct. 14, Saturday
Beer Heaven Awaits!
Hold on to your beer mugs as Ashland unlocks the gates to craft beer paradise!
Prepare to embark on a journey through the wild and wonderful world of craft beer brewing, with hundreds of distinctive craft beers ready to dazzle your taste buds.
There will also be food trucks available!
You can learn more about the event HERE.
November
- Brushy Forks Leadership Summit, Nov. 2 & 3
Brushy Fork Institute is excited to invite everyone to attend their 2023 Brushy Fork Leadership Summit: Leading Through Resilience: Imagining the Future, in Berea, Kentucky, on November 2 and 3. The two-day gathering will feature intensive workshop tracks, taught by regional leaders and will have prime content for non-profit development! Attendees choose one intensive, eight-hour track to attend over two days, plus full group keynote and other sessions.
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Apollo’s Corner 🐈
Mother has left me yet again … this time with a human that she calls “neighbor.” I like this neighbor because she’s scared of me. I like chasing her around while she screams “No.” Helps remind me that I, as always, have ruled this home since the beginning of time.
Now, time for my beauty sleep nap. * yawn *