Happy Friday! Our mountain roads are starting to look a little busy with schools back in session and several colleges starting their fall semester – and just like everyone else, we too have been busy.

Let’s take a look at what is happening in our Appalachian mountains in today’s Weekly Roundup!

Country Music Highway Tribute Show: Prestonsburg

Come and join us Saturday, August 19 in Prestonsburg for our last Country Music Highway Tribute show, presented by Double Kwik!

The last concert will be hosted at the Mountain Arts Center, also known as the MAC! 

This is a ticketed event and tickets are only $15 and a portion of the proceeds from ticket sales will go towards arts education at the Mountain Arts Center.

You can buy your ticket HERE.

Doors open at 1 p.m. The music will begin at 2 p.m. and will go until 10 p.m. 

There is plenty of FREE public parking available at the Mountain Arts Center. 

This is 8 hours of entertainment and all of the proceeds goes towards supporting art programs at the MAC!

Silent Auction for the Country Music Highway

We’re proud to launch the Country Music Highway Tribute Show Silent Auction. 

The online auction has a variety of items and more are expected to be added in the coming days and weeks. 

The auction will end on August 31. Proceeds will benefit the arts along the Country Music Highway. 

The auction has a variety of items, ranging from autographed memorabilia and other fan favorites donated by the stars of the Highway and performing arts venues.

We are adding items every day. Some of the items online now include:

• Autographed Dwight Yoakum Fender Guitar
• Autographed Trace Adkins Fender Guitar
• Autographed Travis Tritt Fender Guitar
• Three Vince Gill gift sets (including autographed items)
• Ricky Skaggs gift set
• Alex Miller gift set

There are other items, such as Cincinnati Reds and Dollywood tickets. We’ll be adding more items throughout August, so be sure to visit the site often.

SOAR Summit Exhibit & Early Registration!

This next announcement is perhaps one that has been highly anticipated … our SOAR Summit!

We will be back in Corbin this fall, October 3-4 at the Corbin Arena. 

Exhibit Hall Registration

Registration for the 2023 SOAR Summit Exhibit Hall is open! The Summit, Appalachia’s premier event, is presented by Appalachian Wireless and the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). 

The application is open through September 7. 

Early Bird Registration

Early Bird registration is now open through August 31. It is $55 and all-inclusive, including:

• Two days of programming.
• Breakfast and lunch each day.
• Access to the Exhibit Hall.
• The SOAR Summit Reception, presented by Whitaker Bank, on October 3 in downtown Corbin.

After August 31, registration will be $75.

Pre-Summit Programming

There will also be optional Pre-Summit programming on Monday, October 2. This includes:

• Community and Regional Disaster Preparedness Workshop, presented by the Kentucky League of Cities. 
• A SOAR Summit Opening Reception at the Cumberland Mint.

You’re Invited: Pathways Ribbon Cutting & Open House

Pathways will be hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house on Thursday, August 31 from 5 – 6 pm.

Address: 330 25th Street, Ashland, KY, 41101

The ribbon cutting and open house will be followed by a balloon release in honor of National Overdose Awareness Day.

Make sure to RSVP using the QR code on this flyer.

Brushy Forks Leadership Summit

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.

 This year’s tracks include:

• Funding Strategies for Non-Profit Sustainability with Lee Ellen Martin
• Addressing Non-Profit Leadership and Management Issues: Board, Staff and Beyond with Aimee Russillo
• People Ready Communities – Considering Equitable Community Development with Donna Daniels
• Beyond Resilience: Practicing Personal Leadership & Community Inclusivity with Dee Parker and Leah Van Winkle
• Planning Organizational Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Belonging Strategies with Monica Jones
• Nonprofit Leadership in a Crisis with Chris Handberg

The keynote address will feature Andrew Crosson of Invest Appalachia, Cultivating an Ecosystem of Resilience and Opportunity in Appalachia. Andrew will explore the implications—good and bad—of Appalachia as a destination for climate refugees.

Meals for the entirety of the event are included in the registration fee, and registrants will be responsible for their own lodging if required.

AllyFest is returning with headliners: Billy Ray Cyrus & Ricky Skaggs

Ally Fest will be returning in 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.

Pine Mountain Heritage School Hosting Fall Arts Weekend

During Fall Arts Weekend, learn and work with experts in workshops on traditional mountain crafts. 

This all-inclusive weekend includes 2 nights lodging, 5 meals, step away art classes, and workshops lead by some of the region’s most respected artists and artisans. 

Pick your favorite activity and get ready for a phenomenal weekend at Pine Mountain. 

Several events include:

• Foraging with TikTok star Appalachian Forager
• Blacksmithing with Fred Loving
• And more!

You can check out courses being offered and register for them HERE.

Want to Submit to our Roundup?

Well, that is going to do it for this week’s Weekly Roundup.

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 

• 2nd Annual Gitt Recovery Celebration, London, Sept. 7

Live music, food, games, vendors, resource tables, and a lantern lighting ceremony to celebrate all who are in recovery. You are not going to want to miss supporting this heartfelt event!

• Appalachian Regional Commission Annual Conference, Ashland, Sept. 11-12

Save the date for the annual ARC Conference, “Appalachia Rises©: Resilience, Strength & Transformation“!

October

• SOAR Pre-Summit, Monday, Oct. 2

• SOAR Summit, Tuesday – Wednesday, Oct 3-4

• Ashland hosts the 8th annual Firkin Fest, Oct. 14, Saturday

Beer Heaven Awaits!

Hold on to your beer mugs as Ashland unlock 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!

Bluegrass Beats & Fun Treats!