Hillbillies Have Big Hearts; Hillbilly Days Festival Brings Hope to Shriner’s Hospital

For the last 34 years, every April in eastern Kentucky you can feel the excitement of the upcoming festival weeks before go time. In this small town residents are eager for the smell of funnel cakes, the sound of young people squealing, and the beautifully crafted sites that will soon takeover the city. Artisans from all over have been preparing stock for their booths, while teenage girls and boys are busy planning their weekend. Kid’s will empty their piggy banks and parents will save up money. When “Hillbilly Days” is here you know it!

Hillbilly Days was started in 1977 by Howard “Dirty Ear” Stratton and “Shady” Grady Kinney. Both men were Shriners with the Hillbilly Clan Outhouse No. 2 in Pikeville, Ky. In 1976 Kinney and Stratton attended a festival in Portsmouth, Oh. They enjoyed it so much that they decided to start one of their own. They immediately got to work on the Hillbilly Days festival immediately upon their return to Pikeville from Portsmouth. Hillbilly days has become a nationally known annual event.

Pike County Chamber of Commerce has helped to organize the event for the last 20 years. They work closely with Shriners, and other organizations to create a fun environment for the attendees while raising money for children in the Shriner’s hospital. In 2007 the attendance for Hillbilly days reached over 100,000, there were 300 vendors and $56,000 was raised for the hospital.

“We want to celebrate the heritage of the people of Appalachia and use that to benefit the Shriner’s hospital,” said Brad Hall, president of the Pike County Chamber of Commerce.

Since Pikeville has installed its only parking garage, parking during hillbilly days is easier than ever. I would still recommend to ride together with other people if possible because parking can be a hassle. You will even find home owners renting out their lawn for parking spaces! After parking you will see that most every street in sight is lined with food, crafts, and misc vendors. The theater parking lot is filled with a decent sized carnival with lots of rides and games for young children as well as older children and young adults. There are musical performances and stage shows throughout the streets of Pikeville during the festival. If you are adventurous you can ride the mechanical bull or participate in other equally embarrassing endeavors. With more than 300 vendors now attending Hillbilly Days you will find almost any thing that you are looking for. You will find booth and stands offering Funnel Cakes, Alligator on a stick, Fresh Lemonade, Cajun food, Fried Taters, handmade clothing, handmade soaps and lotions, handmade bags, sunglasses, toys and more.

Perhaps one of the biggest attractions to the festivals other than the amazing food an music is the Hillbilly days parade. The parade marches down the main street of Pikeville City and features many great floats and vehicles. You will also see lots of horses. The crowd stand beside the street while the people who are in the parade toss handfuls of candy there way, the children love this.

If you are looking for a place to visit this April or are a vendor who is looking to sell their products I would suggest that you give Hillbilly Days a try. Visit their website to apply to become a vendor or to get more information. The website also features a gallery of images of Hillbilly Days that are very fun to look through.

Sources :

Hillbilly Days Website “How it All got Started”

Floyd County Times – Pike Chamber gears up for Hillbilly Days fest

Elizabeth Stewart Annual Hillbilly Days Festival raises Money for Children’s hospital


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