Swappin' Meetin'

Swappin' Meetin' Join us for the 62nd Annual Swappin' Meetin' as we celebrate our rich Appalachian heritage with crafts, music, food, and more.

Sept. 18-19, 2026, at Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College at 700 College Rd, Cumberland, KY 40823.

Pull Up a Chair for Front Porch Friday at Swappin' Meetin' 🌙Front Porch Friday, a new addition to Swappin' Meetin', is r...
09/08/2026

Pull Up a Chair for Front Porch Friday at Swappin' Meetin' 🌙

Front Porch Friday, a new addition to Swappin' Meetin', is rooted in one of Appalachia's oldest traditions. Gather with your family and neighbors on the porch after a long day's work to share stories, play music, catch up on local happenings, and enjoy each other's company.

Join us on Friday, September 18, from 5-9 p.m. on the Falkenstine Porch at the SKCTC Cumberland Campus for an evening of mountain music, storytelling, good food, and fellowship.

🏮 Stories shared by lantern light
🎻 Local pickers and musicians
🍔 Festival food favorites
🤝 Time to reconnect with old friends and make new ones

Front Porch Friday offers a chance to slow down, share memories, and celebrate the community spirit that has always been at the heart of Appalachia.

Bring a lawn chair, bring a friend, and join us for an evening on the porch.

Because some traditions are simply too good to leave behind. 🍂🎶🏮

🍂 Loved PossumFest? Don't put away your festival shoes just yet.We're doing it all again Sept. 18-19 with one of Cumberl...
09/07/2026

🍂 Loved PossumFest? Don't put away your festival shoes just yet.

We're doing it all again Sept. 18-19 with one of Cumberland's oldest and most treasured traditions: Swappin' Meetin' at SKCTC!

The same folks who produce PossumFest are partnering with SKCTC to fill the Cumberland campus with artisans demonstrating traditional crafts, delicious food, great storytelling, and beautiful music while staying true to what has made Swappin' Meetin' special for generations: celebrating and passing along Appalachian heritage.

But make no mistake, this is not PossumFest Part II.

Swappin' Meetin' is a heritage festival celebrating the traditions, stories, music, foodways, craftsmanship, and spirit of the Appalachian people.

📅 September 18-19
📍 SKCTC Cumberland Campus

If you enjoyed PossumFest, come back and experience a different side of our mountain culture. We think you'll love Swappin' Meetin' too. 🍂

https://southeast.kctcs.edu/community/swappin-meetin.aspx

Forged, Carved, and Crafted by Hand 🤲Some skills are learned with your hands, passed from one generation to the next.At ...
09/05/2026

Forged, Carved, and Crafted by Hand 🤲

Some skills are learned with your hands, passed from one generation to the next.

At this year's Swappin' Meetin', watch craftsmanship come to life with:

🫱Valraven Forge, demonstrating handcrafted forged items
🫱Kline’s Original Knives, featuring handmade knives, possible hatchets, and an all-purpose dry rub
🫱Crow Leather Company, with handmade, genuine leather tooled belts and leather-patch hats
🫱Black Mountain Twisted Canes & Son, making traditional walking sticks
🫱Appalachian Twisted Tines, creating jewelry from old silverware
🫱Aviary Broom Co., making handmade brooms
🫱Mulberry Hollow Brooms, creating traditional Appalachian brooms
🫱And many more...

These are more than products. They represent knowledge, patience, creativity, and Appalachian self-reliance.

Come celebrate Appalachian heritage at Swappin’ Meetin’!
📅 September 18-19
📍 SKCTC Cumberland Campus

Bring the family, visit our makers, enjoy traditional demonstrations, grab some good food, and spend the day with friends and neighbors.

From Castoffs to Keepsakes 🤎Appalachian people have always known how to make something useful and beautiful out of what ...
09/04/2026

From Castoffs to Keepsakes 🤎

Appalachian people have always known how to make something useful and beautiful out of what others might overlook. Come meet makers who are carrying that tradition forward:

🔹Backroad Company gives vintage bottles, jars, tools, doorknobs, and other discarded pieces new life as lamps, nightlights, décor, and keepsakes.
🔹Burning Country creates laser-engraved signs, knives, wallets, keychains, bourbon barrel pieces, and three-dimensional art.
🔹Rooted in Christ Woodwork and Design offers wooden décor, puzzles, board games, charms, keychains, bows, and other creations.
🔹Sonja Kelly will demonstrate hand-carved and scroll-saw items, handcrafted key fobs, therapy bags, and crochet work.
🔹Janelle Tucker will bring handmade keychains and wooden trinkets.
🔹And so many more!

At Swappin’ Meetin’, good materials and good ideas never go to waste.

📅 September 18-19
📍 SKCTC Cumberland Campus

Bring the family, visit our makers, enjoy traditional demonstrations, grab some good food, and spend the day with friends and neighbors.

Come celebrate Appalachian heritage at Swappin’ Meetin’!

Vendor spots still open at https://southeast.kctcs.edu/community/swappin-meetin.aspx

🎵 Come hear Tammy Chapman's voice echo through the hills!🎵One of the highlights of Swappin' Meetin' each year is hearing...
09/03/2026

🎵 Come hear Tammy Chapman's voice echo through the hills!🎵

One of the highlights of Swappin' Meetin' each year is hearing the beautiful voice of Tammy Chapman, and we're thrilled to welcome her back to the Mountain Voices Main Stage at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday.

If you've heard Tammy sing before, you know why so many people look forward to this performance. Her angelic voice has become part of the fabric of Swappin' Meetin', creating one of those special moments that brings folks together and reminds us why we cherish our Appalachian traditions.

Whether you're browsing the vendors, watching heritage demonstrations, or visiting with friends and neighbors, be sure to make your way to the Mountain Voices Stage and spend some time listening to one of the region's most beloved performers.

📅 Saturday, September 19, 11:00 a.m.
🎵 Mountain Voices Main Stage

Pull up a chair, settle in, and enjoy a Swappin' Meetin' tradition you won't want to miss. ❤️🏔️

🎤 Featured Storyteller: Octavia Sexton 🎤Storytelling has always been at the heart of Appalachian culture, and we're exci...
09/02/2026

🎤 Featured Storyteller: Octavia Sexton 🎤

Storytelling has always been at the heart of Appalachian culture, and we're excited to welcome nationally recognized storyteller Octavia Sexton to this year's Swappin' Meetin'!

Known for her engaging, humorous, and heartfelt storytelling, Octavia has spent years sharing stories that celebrate the people, traditions, and voices of Appalachia.

You'll have several opportunities to enjoy her talents during Swappin' Meetin':

📖 Friday Morning – Helping highlight the Pam Halcomb Memorial Storytelling Competition
🏫 Friday School Program – Sharing stories with more than 100 local students as they learn about Appalachian heritage through storytelling, music, demonstrations, and field games
🎤 Saturday at Noon – Featured performance on the Mountain Voices Main Stage

One of the goals of Swappin' Meetin' is to preserve and pass along Appalachian heritage, and there may be no better way to do that than through storytelling. Stories connect generations, keep our history alive, and remind us who we are and where we come from.

If you've never experienced a master storyteller, make plans to join us. And if you've heard Octavia before, you already know you're in for a treat.

📅 September 18-19
📍 SKCTC Cumberland Campus
🎤 Mountain Voices Main Stage | Saturday at 12:00 Noon

Come help us celebrate the stories, traditions, and voices of Appalachia.

Want to see Appalachian heritage come alive?Make your way through the Artisan Village at this year's Swappin' Meetin', w...
09/01/2026

Want to see Appalachian heritage come alive?

Make your way through the Artisan Village at this year's Swappin' Meetin', where you'll find 22 heritage demonstrations showcasing the skills, traditions, and knowledge that helped shape our mountain communities.

Watch skilled artisans and tradition bearers demonstrate:

🌾 Sorghum making
🧈 Hand-churned butter
🐑 Wool spinning and dyeing
🧹 Traditional broom making
🧺 Basket weaving with kudzu vines
🍎 Apple butter and molasses making
🪵 Woodworking
⚒️ Blacksmithing and handcrafted forged items
🎎 Corn shuck doll making
🎵 Traditional music and storytelling

These aren't displays behind glass. They're living traditions being practiced right before your eyes by people who are helping preserve and pass them on to the next generation.

One of the things that makes Swappin' Meetin' special is that it's not just about seeing Appalachian culture. It's about experiencing it, learning from it, and ensuring these traditions continue for years to come.

📅 September 18-19
📍 SKCTC Cumberland Campus

Come spend some time in the Artisan Village and discover the skills, creativity, and ingenuity that have been part of Appalachian life for generations.

That's heritage worth passing along. ❤️🏔️

🎻 Don't You Dare Leave Early... 🎻We're excited to announce the headliner for this year's Swappin' Meetin'!🪕 Blue Rock'n ...
08/31/2026

🎻 Don't You Dare Leave Early... 🎻

We're excited to announce the headliner for this year's Swappin' Meetin'!

🪕 Blue Rock'n Grass takes the Mountain Voices Main Stage on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 5:00 p.m.

Hailing from the mountains of Southwest Virginia, Blue Rock'n Grass has spent nearly two decades keeping traditional Appalachian music alive. Known for their outstanding musicianship, tight vocal harmonies, and authentic mountain sound, they've earned recognition and competition wins at the legendary Galax Old Fiddlers' Convention, one of the most respected stages in old-time and bluegrass music.

Expect:
🎻 Traditional mountain tunes
🪕 Classic bluegrass picking
🎵 Powerful vocal harmonies
🏔️ Genuine Appalachian music from musicians who live and love the tradition

If you've spent the day exploring the Swappin' Meetin', watching heritage demonstrations in Artisan Village, enjoying good food, and listening to stories and music, make sure you save a little energy for Saturday evening.

This is the performance that ties the whole weekend together.

So when 5:00 p.m. rolls around, grab a seat, bring a friend, and settle in for an unforgettable celebration of Appalachian music.

📅 Saturday, September 19, 5:00 p.m.
🎵 Mountain Voices Main Stage
📍 SKCTC Cumberland Campus

Whatever you do... don't leave early.

One of the biggest signs that Swappin' Meetin' is growing again? The return of a bustling marketplace full of Appalachia...
08/30/2026

One of the biggest signs that Swappin' Meetin' is growing again? The return of a bustling marketplace full of Appalachian makers, artists, bakers, and craftspeople.

This year, the Swappin' Square will feature 40+ craft vendors, filling the campus with handmade goods, unique gifts, and fun creations.

▪Ashley Taylor - handcrafted treasures
▪Backroad Company - vintage and antique pieces turned into home décor
▪Black Mountain Candle Co - hand poured wax melts, soap, sprays
▪Bread Baking Mama - Amish friendship bread & baked goods
▪Burning Country - Laser engraved bourbon barrel lids, signs, on site engraving
▪Candy Carnage Productions - books and films
▪Coots Country Stitches - handmade bookmarks, towels, aprons
▪Creations by Joyce - handmade rugs and baskets
▪Crow Leather Co - handmade genuine leather tooled belts
▪Daniel Neff - games
▪Dan Witt - pork rinds
▪Debra Fields - crochet animals and items
▪Eye of the Beholder - natural handmade soaps and candles
▪Fields Produce - fresh produce
▪Giddyup & Go - freshies, badge reels, candles
▪Girly Pop - popcorn and dirty sodas
▪Gisela Dawn Creations - handmade leather jewelry
▪Glamorous Divas - designer purses and handbags
▪Handmade Magic by Talia - sewn and crocheted items
▪Harlan County Highschool Dance Team - dunking booth
▪Hill & Holler - screen printed shirts, totes, and hats
▪Janelle Tucker - handmade keychains and wooden trinkets
▪Kayla's Bread Box - sourdough breads and goodies
▪Kline's Original Knives - handmade knives, dry rubs
▪Kristen Foley & Kelly Vandagriff - hand painted saw blades, rocks, cards
▪Lewis & Ember - wax melts and candles
▪Liminal Line Designs - original illustrations and photography
▪Linked X Leah - permanent jewelry
▪Made by Bowie - handcrafted jewelry, sun catchers, fairy stakes, keychains
▪Mikayla Ratliff - homemade soaps, embroidered tote bags, clay photo holders
▪NYCE Beaded Designs - personalized gifts and custom creation
▪Patty Sokolowski - crochet items and gnomes
▪Pawful Productions - handmade items
▪Princess Mella's Cosmetics - makeup
▪Rebecca's Creative Designs - beaded pens, wristlets, tumblers
▪Rooted in Christ Woodwork and Design - wooden decor
▪Payton Miles - reed diffusers and hand crafted wristlets
▪Redeemed Living Candles - hand poured candles by women in recovery
▪Scent stories - wax melts
▪Sweet Peach Boutique - t-shirts, sweaters, hats
▪Tempered Chocolate Bakers - candy apples, cakes, peanut butter roll
▪Willing Hands Homestead - all natural skin care products, gourmet items

Come spend the day browsing, visiting, and discovering treasures around every corner. You never know what you'll find at the Swappin' Square.

Join us with your goods! Vendor app still open at https://southeast.kctcs.edu/community/swappin-meetin.aspx

📅 September 18-19, 2026
📍 SKCTC Cumberland Campus

Swappin' Meetin' is back... and we're filling the entire campus again!The Possum Fest folks are helping bring new vendor...
08/29/2026

Swappin' Meetin' is back... and we're filling the entire campus again!

The Possum Fest folks are helping bring new vendors, entertainment, and energy to Swappin' Meetin', while our college team continues the traditions that have made this event a treasured Appalachian gathering for generations.

This year's event will feature:

🛍️ Swappin' Post – 50+ craft vendors
🪵 Artisan Village – 2 dozen heritage demonstrations
🍔 Vittles – 14 delicious food vendors
🎈 Kids Holler – inflatables and family-friendly activities
🤝 Neighbors – community partners
🎵 Mountain Voices Stage – storytelling and music
🏡 Front Porch Stage – Front Porch Friday entertainment
🎯 Co****le Tournament – sponsored by Cumberland Tourism
🏃 Field Games – Friday fun for local school children
🧵 Quilts & Contests – baked goods, canning, art, photography, quilting, and more
🚗 Cruise-In – classic cars and community pride

Schools and homeschool groups have already registered to bring over 100 local students Friday for a special Appalachian heritage program. There is no better way to preserve our heritage than to share it with the next generation.

📅 September 18-19
📍 SKCTC Cumberland Campus

Come help us celebrate the people, stories, skills, and traditions that make Appalachia such a special place to call home.

Address

700 College Road
Cumberland, KY
40823

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