Beattyville Appalachian Memories Festival
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May 15th & 16th 2026

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Beattyville Appalachian Memories

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​Inspired by the Legacy of the Beattyville Bourbon & Moonshine Festival. This festival celebrates the people, stories, skills & traditions that shaped Appalachian Life. From Homesteading and self reliance skills to moonshine history.
Stories, Traditions, Distilling & Homestead Heritage

An Appalachian heritage event inspired by the Bourbon & Moonshine Festival

The  Beattyville Appalachian Memories Festival (BAM)  celebrates the people, stories, skills, and traditions that shaped Appalachian life. Held in historic downtown Beattyville, at the confluence of the North and South Forks of the Kentucky River, this festival honors generations of knowledge passed down through families and communities.

From homesteading and self-reliance skills to distilling and moonshine history, Appalachian culture was built on ingenuity, hard work, and making do with what the land provided. Early distilling—both legal and illicit—played a vital role in the region’s economy and survival, while crafts like quilting, blacksmithing, woodworking, and food preservation sustained families for generations.

The festival brings these traditions to life through demonstrations, storytelling, live music, local food, and hands-on heritage experiences, creating an authentic celebration of Appalachian resilience and community.

Festival Hours
Friday 12:00pm - 8:00pm
Saturday 9:00am - 8:00pm
Sunday ​- 1:00pm Gospel Singing on Town Square 

Pages to follow: 
Beattyville Main Street Facebook
Beattyville/Lee County Tourism Facebook
Backroads of Appalachia 
Backwoods Moonshine Museum

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The Brothers Rathbone


The Beattyville Appalachian Memories Festival is all about preserving the sounds, stories, and spirit of Appalachia—and few performers embody that mission quite like The Brothers Rathbone.
This year’s festival is proud to welcome the wildly entertaining brothers for one show each day of the festival, bringing audiences a blend of music, humor, and storytelling that feels both timeless and deeply familiar. Their performances mix Appalachian-inspired sound with sharp wit and old-school vaudeville-style comedy, creating shows that are as heartfelt as they are hilarious.

Hillbilly Bikefest 2026

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The AMG and TopCoat Products is Proud to Present our 5th Annual Hillbilly BIKEFEST 2026 in Red River Gorge and it is all part of the Beattyvillle Appalachian Memories and Story Telling Festival 2026 with Beattyville/Lee County Tourism, The Beattyville Downtown Alliance, and the Lee County Shrine Club! Our first Rally in our Region of the Season! 

​HILLBILLY BIKEFEST 2026 SCHEDULE
Saturday May 16th@10:00AM
FRYDADDY'S OLD SCHOOL BIKE SHOW FOR CHARITY
Sponsored by TopCoat Products - Open Classes Show!
Registration from 10:00AM-12:00PM-$25.00 Per Bike!
Awards Presentation at 2:30PM on the Main Stage!

Come and register your Bike meet our friends the Moonshiners from Discovery Channel at one of the best motorcycle events in Appalachia! Period! Meet some of your favorite Moonshiners like Crazy Chuck, Big Chuck, The Beattyville Hillbillies, Momma Moonshine, Doug Taylor, Bruiser Martin, and many more to be announced! Come hang out with them as they judge FRYDADDY's OLD SCHOOL BIKE SHOW FOR CHARITY with all proceeds going to the Children of Shriner's Hospital! All Bikes Welcome and there is more than just Prize Money! There is also a special Prize Pack provided by our Sponsors at TopCoat Products and the Moonshiners themselves! 1st, 2nd, and 3rd and of course our BEST IN SHOW! This is the same Charity Bike Show we do at the BIG RALLIES like STURGIS and anyone can win as it is totally blind and celebrity judged! The way we do it we do not even know who's bike is who's and neither do our Judges. We brought Old School Back and the Best Bikes always win! All in one BIG OPEN CLASSES SHOW with all Bike Types and All Bike Brands Welcome! Big Wheel Baggers, Rat Bikes, Vintage, Garage Built and the List goes on! It is a TRUE MONSTER so get your Registration Number and put them in the Pit! It is the most fun you can have at a Bike Show and 100% of the proceeds go directly to Shriners Hospital for Children!
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Saturday May 16th@3:00PM
SHINERS FOR SHRINERS CHARITY RIDE
Recommended Donation: $20.00 per Bike!
Take a Ride with The AMG and our Moonshiner Friends on our Annual "Shiners for Shriners" Charity Ride on THE MOONSHINE TRAIL at 3:00PM! You heard that right, we do this every year and it never fails to bring us some of the best memories and moments with the "Shiners" we have had to date! Just ask ask our brother "Crazy Chuck" he can tell ya! Once again 100% of the Proceeds go to Shriners Hospital in conjunction with the Lee County Shrine Club! 
ABOUT OUR GPS-ENABLED ROUTES!
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THE MOONSHINE TRAIL is One of many great BOA TRAIL ROUTES we have created and you can find around Beattyville KY and the Red River Gorge Area by downloading our Free Backroads of Appalachia Mobile Application or Joining our communities on REVER! Routes like Eye of the Dragon, Coal Train 421, Ridge Runner Road 587, Ride the River Dragon, THE MOONSHINE TRAIL, and More! We have the "Best Riding in the U.S.! Period!" and it's all Free! No Rally anywhere has the Riding we do! Period!

Facebook Event LInk
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Hit the stops along the Red River Gorge Loop
​ of the Moonshine Trail 

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Backwoods Moonshine Museum

Owned by The Beattyville Hillbillies, Donnie & Teresa. Season 8 Cast members of the Discovery Channel's Moonshiner's Show. 
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Google Map Pin
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Kentucky Mountain Moonshine 

Stop in and let Howard Arven give you a tour of the distillery! Make it only one taste now,,, you have a festival to get to!​
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Website
Google Map Pin
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The Hungry Hiker Bar & Grill

Located in Slade along HWY 11, the Hungry Hiker is a place to stop for tastings and food! 
OPENING SOON
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Website
Google Map Pin

Festival Activities 

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Still Show

If you’ve built a still and want to show off your craftsmanship, creativity, and skill, this is the stage for you.
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Show Us Your Jugs

Its all ‘bout showin’ off yer creativity, humor, an’ good ol’ mountain tradition. Paint it, carve it, bedazzle it, or turn it into somethin’ downright wild—we wanna see YOUR jug shine brighter than a mason jar in the moonlight!.
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Storytelling

Be sure to check the entertainment schedule for storytelling sessions. History, tall tales, old time how to's, and more! Also storytelling of moonshine history and exciting tales. 

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Hotter than Liquor Legs

Think yer gams are hotter than a shot o’ white lightning? Roll up them britches an’ show off them legs! The crowd’ll be the judge of who’s got the sassiest, flashiest, liquor-hot legs in the holler. Strut proud an’ see if ya can take home the glory!
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Better Than Bourbon Beard

Think yer whiskers are finer than frog hair split four ways? If you got the longest or purtiest beard this side o’ the holler—one that’s more handsome than a jug of shine—then strut on up an’ show it off! Let the crowd do the judgin’ and see if yer chin curtain takes home the braggin’ rights.
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Shiners for Shriners Poker Run

5 stops along the Official Moonshine Trail to get your Cards. After our Poker Run we will rejoin The Beattyville Bourbon and Moonshine Festival on Main Street Beattyville for awards!
Join us a we Ride for the Children of Shriners Hospital and hang out with the Moonshiners from Discovery Channel.
Link to details! 

CALLING HERITAGE & HOMESTEADING VENDORS
We are seeking vendors and demonstrators who represent traditional Appalachian skills, including but not limited to:  
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Homesteading & Self-Sufficiency Goods
Quilt Makers & Fiber Artists
Blacksmiths & Metal Workers
Traditional Crafts & Handmade goods
Foodways, Preservation & Heritage cooking
Woodworking & Folk Art
Distilling Moonshine History & Appalachian Heritage displays

Demonstrators and hands-on exhibitors are encouraged. This festival focuses on education, preservation, and storytelling, not just selling.​ If you have a skill you would like to demonstrate or a story to tell the booth fee is Free! Fill out this application form and we will contact you!


2026 Vendor, Storyteller & Demonstrator Application Form

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Coming Soon!
​Beattyville Town Square Entertainment Schedule

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Beattyville Bourbon & Moonshine Festival

Plan your visit 

Looking for a place to stay? There are many cabins, campgrounds, and rooms in the Red River Gorge area. Click this link for listings of lodging closest to the festival in Beattyville, KY. 
Link to Lodging
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Directions to Beattyville

Beattyville is located just 20 minutes south of the Natural Bridge/Slade Exit 33 off the Mountain Parkway. 
From Lexington travel East on I-64 toward Winchester and exit onto the Mountain Parkway. Then Exit #33 and turn right onto KY HWY 11 South to Beattyville. 
Beattyville Town Square is located in the middle of Main Street. Turn west at the Red Light HWY 11 and Main Street Intersection. 
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