Swappin' Meetin'
The Kingdom Come Swappin’ Meetin’ isn’t just a festival—it’s a living tribute to Appalachian culture, where storytelling, music, crafts, and community come together in the heart of Cumberland.
Oct. 3-4, 2025
Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College
700 College Road
Cumberland, KY 40823
The Swappin’ Meetin’ has been a cherished tradition for over six decades. There will be an exhibit from the Appalachian Archives featuring photographs and artwork celebrating Southeast’s 65 years, as well as an exhibit of folk art from the Appalshop Archive.
SCHEDULE
Friday, Oct. 3, 2025
- STORYTELLING
- 9:30 Pam Halcomb Memorial Storytelling Showcase Youth Competition
- 10:00 Storytelling with Southeast favorite Carlton Hughes
- 10:30 Storytelling with award-winning storyteller Mike Breeze
- 1:30 Storytelling Workshop and Q&A with Mike Breeze
- MUSIC
- 12 pm Elvis & the Coupe deVilles: Tribute to a Legend
- 1:30-5 Live Music: Watch social media for our lineup!
- HERITAGE DEMONSTRATIONS:
- All day wood carving, quilting, cider pressing, corn shelling, and more
- WORKSHOPS & MORE
- 12 pm Cake Walk
- 12:30 Youth Creative Writing Workshop with Ariel Dingus
- All day Contests & exhibits
Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025
- MAIN STAGE
- 9:00 Gospel Sing
- 11:00 Storytelling with Mike Breeze
- 12:00 Higher Ground musical selections
- 12:30 Clogging with Kaitlyn Skidmore Patel
- 1-5 Live Music: Watch social media for our lineup!
- HERITAGE DEMONSTRATIONS:
- All day wood carving, quilting, cider pressing, corn shelling, and more
- All day Contests & exhibits
- CAR SHOW - time TBA
Contests
- Storytelling Competition: The Pam Halcomb Memorial Storytelling Competition will feature elementary, middle school and high school students and begin Friday, Oct. 3, at 9:15 a.m. Winners in each age division may be eligible to advance to state and national competition. For more information, contact Carlton Hughes at hughes@kctcs.edu.
- Tri-City News Photography Contest: Photos of scenery, flowers, animals, black bears, black and white prints, and scenes from Harlan County can be submitted at the photo booth on the porch of Falkenstine Hall on Friday, Oct. 3, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Baked Goods: Entries can be delivered to the Godbey Appalachian Center ticket booth Friday, 8-11 a.m. There also will be a cake walk at 11:30 a.m. Friday. For details, contact Andrea Massey at 606.589.3064.
- Pickles, Jams and Jellies: Entries, including sauerkraut, chow-chow, beets, eggs, pickled vegetables and peppers, should be submitted by 12 noon on Friday to Room 223 in the Godbey Appalachian Center. For details, contact Andrea Massey at 606.589.3064.
- Fern Cornett Memorial Quilt Competition & Exhibit: Quilts and fiber arts made during the past year may be entered in the following categories: novelty, pieced, applique, baby quilts, wall hangings, beginning and other fiber arts. The pieces will be judged on top design, quilt design, color combination, materials used and use of padding, lining and binding. Quilts will be accepted from 12-3 p.m. on Thursday and will remain on display until 2 p.m. Saturday in the gallery of the Godbey Appalachian Center. Those with older quilts are also invited to bring them to the Quilt Exhibit for public viewing. For more information, contact Ariel Dingus at 606.589.3316.
- Cornhole and Horseshoe Contest: Teams will compete Saturday at 10 a.m.
- Art Contest: A trophy is awarded to the winning school with the most participants and winners. Art will be displayed in the Godbey Appalachian Center through mid-October.
Children’s activities on Friday and Saturday will include games, rock painting, bubbles, face painting, sensory bins, and a free library of children’s books. Inflatables will be available on Saturday.
FOOD
Food vendors will feature smoked BBQ, sandwiches, soup beans, taters, donuts, candy, and more. BearFoot Café at the College Grill will offer a soup bean special with fried taters, salmon patties and cornbread.
VENDORS
The vendor list is growing and features several dozen arts, crafts, and artisan demonstrations.
Join us! Complete the online vendor application below.
VENDOR APPLICATION
Contact
- Alexia Ault
- Elana Scopa Forson
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