Kingdom Come Swappin’ Meetin’ on the rebound for 60th year

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Kingdom Come Swappin’ Meetin’ held on the Cumberland campus of Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College. This year’s festival will be Oct. 4-5.

The two-day festival is held every year on the first weekend of October. Its mission is to promote and preserve the diverse cultural heritage of our Appalachian region through the presentation of music, crafts, visual arts, theatre, storytelling, games, food, activities and folk life demonstrations.

“We believe in the value of this event to our Appalachian heritage, as well as to our future,” said Alexia Ault with the college’s Appalachian Studies program. “We ask the community to be part of sustaining and reinventing it.”

Ault explained that many of the artisans and demonstrators from past years have retired or passed away.

While the vendor list and musician list is shaping up for this year’s festival, the college is seeking names and ideas for individuals or groups to demonstrate important skills such as broom making, butter churning, dulcimer making, soap making, basket weavers, wood carvers, cornsilk doll making, sorghum making, pottery and weaving.

Tighter budgets and staffing changes, including the retirements and deaths of several longtime staff involved in its planning, also have created challenges for the festival in recent years. This year’s planning committee includes a mix of seasoned and newer employees, all eager to reinvent the festival and honor its significance to the region.

Ault further noted that stricter state regulations regarding legal and liability concerns have prevented the festival from including some of its traditional activities and competitions, such as the greased pole climb and pig chase.

“We realize it looks different, but in our 60th year, we’re working harder than ever and are excited about how this event is a celebration of all arts in Appalachia,” said Elana Scopa Forson, a professor and member of Higher Ground.

Community support is welcomed. Anyone who can identify potential artisans, demonstrators, performers or vendors—either for this year or future years—should contact the college at 606.589.3129 or visit www.facebook.com/swappinmeetin.