A Guide to Martin County Festivals

Martin County’s festival calendar is a good reason to come home, bring the family downtown, or plan a visit around the music and traditions of eastern Kentucky. The gatherings range from Inez street festivals to old-time music in Tomahawk and community trade days at Pigeon Roost.

For anyone who remembers a pumpkin festival in Inez, that memory belongs in this story. The Harvest Festival organizer identifies the earlier celebration as the Inez Pumpkin Festival. Its history says the Greater Martin County Kiwanis Club began sponsoring the fall festival in 1996 under the Harvest Festival name. [2]

This guide explains the general yearly rhythm. Dates from previous editions are labeled as examples, not upcoming events. Research checked October 3, 2026; confirm the current year’s announcement before making plans.

Martin County’s festival year at a glance

General timing	Event	Area	Date status
May and October	Pigeon Roost Trade Days	Pigeon Roost	Tourism lists both months; verify each edition.
Around Independence Day	Fourth of July celebration	Downtown Inez	Verify parade and fireworks dates for the year.
Summer; July in 2026	Stidham Old Time Music Gathering	Tomahawk	Organizer listed July 24–25, 2026; now past.
Late July / early August	Appalachian Artist Festival	Downtown Inez	2026 coverage listed July 31–August 1; now past.
September	Martin County Harvest Fest	Downtown Inez	September 18–19, 2026 was the announced weekend; now past.
October in recent editions	Martin County Heritage Day	Inez trails	October 11, 2025 is a historical example, not a 2026 date.
Late November / December	Christmas in the Mountains	Inez and related county activities	Check the organizer’s current holiday program.

The seasonal overview draws on the county tourism directory, organizer announcements, participating organizations, and local reporting. It is a planning guide rather than a fixed annual timetable. [1][3][4][5][7][8]

Harvest Fest: the fall tradition with Pumpkin Festival roots

September is the month to watch for Martin County Harvest Fest in downtown Inez. The announced 2026 weekend was September 18–19, celebrating the festival’s 30th anniversary. Local coverage described music, vendors, carnival attractions, hayrides, a parade, and community activities. [3]

The organizer also describes the festival as Kiwanis’ largest fundraiser. That gives the weekend a purpose beyond entertainment: supporting the work of a local civic organization. If you remember the Pumpkin Festival name, look for Harvest Fest when checking today’s announcements. [2]

Follow the Martin County Harvest Fest Facebook page for each year’s program. The organizer’s older website is useful for history, but its displayed schedule should not be assumed current.

Stidham Old Time Music Gathering: mountain music in Tomahawk

For traditional music, watch the Stidham Old Time Music Gathering at James Webb Musical Repair and Sales, 1214 South Milo Road in Tomahawk. The organizer’s 2026 schedule listed July 24–25, with performances and workshops in songwriting, fiddle, guitar, banjo, and Appalachian dancing. [4]

That combination makes it worth considering for both listeners and players. Check the organizer’s website for the next edition’s dates and participation details; July 2026 is a past example, not a promise of the same weekend every year.

Appalachian Artist Festival: creativity in downtown Inez

The Appalachian Artist Festival brings music and visual arts into the same downtown gathering. The 2025 program included songwriter performances, an open mic, handmade work, books, quilts, and food vendors. LiKEN’s participating-program calendar confirms an August 1, 2026 open-mic session at that year’s festival; local 2026 coverage listed the wider event for July 31–August 1. [5][6][11]

Late July and early August are useful months to watch, but the date and length can change. Follow the festival’s own Facebook page for the next program rather than carrying an old flyer forward.

Pigeon Roost Trade Days: spring and fall community gatherings

The county tourism directory lists Pigeon Roost Trade Days in May and October, with local vendors and community shopping. Those two months offer a useful starting point for planning. Confirm the specific weekend, location, vendor arrangements, and hours with the Pigeon Roost Trade Days organizers. [1]

Heritage Day: keeping Appalachian traditions visible

Martin County Heritage Day has been held along Kingfisher Branch Trail and God’s Promise Trail in Inez. The October 11, 2025 announcement described storytelling, mountain music, butter-churning demonstrations, and food cooked on-site. It also listed shuttle transportation from the Collier Center parking lot. [7]

October is a reasonable month to watch based on recent editions. Check the current announcement for trail access, transportation, and the day’s activities. The 2025 shuttle and timetable should not be treated as standing arrangements.

Fourth of July and Christmas in the Mountains

The county tourism directory describes Inez’s Independence Day celebration as including a Kiwanis-led parade, vendors, entertainment, and community-funded fireworks. Look for announcements around the July holiday, with separate confirmation of the parade and fireworks schedule. [1]

At the other end of the year, Christmas in the Mountains brings holiday activity to Inez. Local reporting from 2025 describes decorations, parades, music, children’s activities, and church-led events. Watch late-November and December announcements: individual activities can fall on different days and in different locations. [8]

A confirmed organizer-issued 2026 Christmas schedule was not available in the sources checked for this guide. Check the latest holiday program before booking a visit.

Barefoot Festival: check for a new announcement

The Barefoot Festival brought music and mountain culture to a reclaimed mine site near Lovely in November 2024. However, organizers postponed the planned October 4, 2025 event. No replacement date was verified for this guide. Treat it as an event to watch for future announcements, rather than a confirmed recurring entry on the calendar. [9][10]

Before you head out

Check the year on every flyer, then confirm the date, location, parking, accessibility, and any admission or activity charges. For outdoor gatherings, check weather updates before leaving. A festival’s general admission and its rides, food, or workshops may have different costs.

Organizers and residents can help keep this guide useful. If you have a current festival announcement, a correction, or memories of the Inez Pumpkin Festival, share them through our Contact page. Include the organizer’s link and the year so readers can find the right information.