All year long, we look forward to fall in Kentucky. There's nothing quite like it: the colorful foliage, crisper temperatures, cerulean skies, and seasonal festivals. Give us all the fall festivals! There's one fall festival in Kentucky that's unlike any other in the state; a fete of epic proportions that is an absolute must. Each autumn, the Casey County Apple Festival in Kentucky takes to the streets of Downtown Liberty for two days of apple-filled fun, including the baking (and eating) of the world's largest apple pie. Let's take a look at what you might find at the 2023 Casey County Apple Festival.
Located smack in the center of the state, Casey County is typical small-town Kentucky; a sleepy locale that's home to about 15,000 residents.
How big is this pie? Well, the recipe for this 1,200-pound pie requires 50 bushels of Granny Smith apples, 150 pounds of sugar, 15 pounds of butter, and 300 pounds of pastry. It's baked at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 12 hours.
This fantastic fall festival has been happening since 1974, and while we're not entirely sure what prompted the fine folks of Liberty, Kentucky, to attempt this culinary feat, we're certainly glad they did!
Because, more than the spectacle of a world-record-setting pastry that serves 3,000 apple-pie-loving locals, this pie is about something even bigger than its 1,200 piping-hot pound pie: community.
There's a strong sense of community in this little locale, and the annual Casey County Apple Festival is a celebration of small-town Kentucky that is as wholesome -- and tasty -- as it gets.
Learn more about the Casey County Apple Festival and how the largest apple pie in the world is made in this video from WKU PBS:
Have you been to this epic fall apple festival in Kentucky before? If so, we'd love to hear about your experience ... and how delicious the pie was!
The 2023 Casey County Apple Festival happens Sept. 21-23 in Downtown Liberty, Kentucky. Visit the Casey County Apple Festival website to learn more and to plan your apple-filled adventure this fall. Be sure to plan your Kentucky fall foliage road trip around this fun event. One of the best ways to tour the state is by renting an RV from RVShare and hitting the open road.
Here in Kentucky, we know a thing or two about delicious tacos. That's why we're thrilled to announce an upcoming event that's nothing short of heavenly for any taco lover out there: the Louisville Taco Festival. Hosted by A Taste of Your Town, this phenomenal event is set to take place on September 7th - 8th, 2024, at Fourth Street Live. Along with countless delicious tacos, visitors can expect live music and other festivities that will make for an unforgettable weekend.
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Fourth Street Live will soon be the site of one of the year's most exciting food festivals.
Louisville Taco Festival / Facebook
The not-to-be-missed Louisville Taco Festival will bring together over 20 incredible local taco vendors in one fabulous weekend.
Louisville Taco Festival / Facebook
You'll definitely want to bring your appetite, as there will be all sorts of unique tacos to sample. From traditional to creative, there will be tacos to suit every palette.
Louisville Taco Festival / Facebook
Of course, tacos are the main draw to the event, but that's just the beginning. Additional festivities include a mariachi band, dancing, piñata smashing, and even a dedicated kids zone with moon bounces.
Louisville Taco Festival / Facebook
And if you're of age, be sure to stop by the tequila expo area or the dedicated margarita bar. You can enjoy traditional or frozen margaritas which will pair perfectly with the tacos. Prefer something sweeter? This year, there will be a churro stand at the festival!
Those feeling particularly brave might try their hand at the hot chili pepper eating contest. Trust us when we say that it's not for the faint of heart.
Louisville Taco Festival / Facebook
Tacos are pay-as-you-go unless you've purchased one of the Premium or VIP Packages.
Louisville Taco Festival / Facebook
So whether you're looking for an excuse to head downtown or are a die-hard taco fan, you'll be glad you stopped by this incredible food festival.
Ready for an unforgettable taco weekend? Don't forget to grab your tickets ahead of time! You can also follow along when you check out this amazing Kentucky taco festival online for more updates about the event.
The transition from summer into fall brings with it the cooling of temperatures, the changing of leaves, and the arrival of pumpkins, apple pies, corn mazes, and many other beloved fall-themed traditions. To celebrate this magical time of year, many autumnal festivals go into full swing across the Bluegrass State. We've narrowed down the best fall festivals in Kentucky to help you hone in on the ones that most entice you for a visit this fall. Fall in Kentucky doesn't get better than this!
The Country Pumpkins Fall Festival offers far more than a simple pumpkin patch (although they do provide an extensive collection for the picking). The festival also offers hay rides, pumpkin launching, a 4-acre corn maze, a petting zoo, giant slides, and even a barrel trail ride for kids under 12 years of age, plus much more. Pumpkin Ridge offers an incredible selection of pumpkins, and your younger kiddos will love the Kiddie Play Village and mini maze. You can visit this exciting fall festival in Kentucky from Sept. 7 through Oct. 31. 2024. You can purchase access to individual events A La Carte or purchase a Fun Pass which includes access to all the activities on the farm.
The Great Pumpkin Pursuit is an annual tradition hosted by Roberts Family Farm in the charming little town of Guston. Each year, pumpkin growers around the state bring their prize pumpkins, watermelons, and other produce to see who grew the biggest ones. These enormous pumpkins weigh in at over 1,000 pounds! Aside from the Great Pumpkin Pursuit, Roberts Family Farm also offers hay rides, a petting zoo, and a corn maze. You'll also get to explore a patch of (much smaller) pumpkins for your choosing along with other rides and fun activities for children. The festival is free, and the Great Pumpkin Pursuit will be held from Sept. 15 to Oct. 31, 2024.
The Casey County Apple Festival takes place in downtown Liberty from Sept. 26-28, 2024. The highlight of this tasty festival is the baking of the World's Largest Apple Pie! This incredible pie weighs in at a whopping 1200 pounds and 50 bushels of Granny Apples to bake, a feat that takes 12 hours to complete! In addition to delicious pie-baking, the festival puts on an array of exciting events such as a great lineup of live musicians, carnival rides, endless food and clothing vendors, and much more. Come enjoy the 50th year of fall festival fun!
Each year, Marion County Country Ham Days welcomes over 30,000 visitors to the town of Lebanon in late September for a vast array of festivities. Affectionally known as "Ham Days" for short, the festival serves over 2,000 pounds of country ham at its Country Ham Breakfast and features carnival rides, an antique tractor show, arts and crafts, live music, and the Pokey Pig 5K Run. Additionally, there is a great kids area that offers inflatable fun and a petting zoo. The whole family will love this festive weekend of delicious food and fun fall-themed activities for everyone. The festival runs from Sept. 27-29, 2024.
Come explore Louisville's Jack O'Lantern Spectacular, which is arguably the most jaw-dropping and magical fall festival in Louisville, and perhaps the entire state of Kentucky. Each year, this festival comes to Iroquois Park with more than 5,000 beautifully carved and illuminated pumpkins. The artistry of these pumpkin carvings will amaze you as you walk along this pumpkin-bedazzled pathway at night and marvel at the many gloving carvings along the path.
Louisville's Jack O'Lantern Spectacular runs from Oct. 1 to Nov. 2, 2024. You'll need to purchase a timed ticket entry to the amphitheater during one of the one-hour increments. Adult tickets are $15 each on Sundays through Thursdays and $20 on Fridays and Saturdays. Children ages 3 to 12 are $12 from Sundays through Thursdays and $15 on Fridays and Saturdays. Seniors' tickets are $13 from Sundays, through Thursdays, and $17 on Fridays and Saturdays. Children ages 2 and under are free!
Downtown Augusta is truly magical during the fall season, and there's no better time to visit than during the Turning of the Leaves Festival on Oct. 12, 2024 from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.. Here you'll find a variety of vendors, live entertainment, and an endless supply of kettle corn and funnel cakes. You can even enjoy free trolley rides around town as you take in the sights and sounds of autumn. Be sure to peruse the local breweries, wineries, art galleries, and museums that make Augusta the charming town that it is in the fall.
Quite possibly the cutest and most unusual fall festival in Kentucky is the Woolly Worm Festival which is hosted annually in Beattyville. It is believed that woolly worms can predict the weather; at the festival, you can race a woolly worm, and whichever worm reaches the top of its string first is designated the Grand Champion Woolly Worm and the official weather predictor of the year! The festival puts on plenty of live music for entertainment, along with a corn hole tournament, the annual Woolly Worm Festival Parade, a car show, food vendors, and more. This year the festival runs from Oct. 25-27, 2024. Don't miss out!
Have you been to any of these delightful and fun fall festivals in Kentucky? Which one are you most looking forward to as you begin to immerse yourself in all things autumn-themed? We'd love to hear about your experiences in the comments. If you want to take in Kentucky's best fall foliage, get the family together and hit the road to see these beautiful places:
