PossumFest

06/23/2026

Don’t just TALK about it… BE about it! Everybody is droppin’ names, now you need to get signed up!!!

👑🐾 CALLING ALL POSSUM ROYALTY! 🐾👑

Do you have what it takes to wear the crown and represent the most gloriously weird festival in Appalachia?

The Possum Fest Queen Contest is back, and we're looking for someone with charm, creativity, confidence, and enough possum pride to make our favorite marsupial proud!

📅 Saturday, September 5
📍 Playin' Possum Stage
⏰ 12:30 PM
🦝 Ages 16 and Up

This ain't your average pageant.

We're looking for contestants who can embrace the spirit of PossumFest and show off their talents, personality, and possum-inspired style.

Contest Categories:

👗 Best Costume
Whether it's glamorous, hilarious, handmade, or held together with duct tape and determination, we want to see it. Bonus points for tails, whiskers, and possum flair!

🎤 Interview
Show off your possum knowledge, quick wit, and dedication to all things nocturnal.

🎶 Talent Showcase (3 minutes max)
Play the washboard. Toss biscuits. Call squirrels. Perform an interpretive dance about playing possum. Whatever your talent, bring it to the stage!

💰 Prizes Awarded
🥇 1st Place — $150
🥈 2nd Place — $50

📝 Ready to claim your spot in PossumFest history?

Register at Willing Hearts, Inc., 503 Main Street, Cumberland, or call Angie at 606-733-0920.

Be sure to submit your talent description when you register. Talent performances are limited to 3 minutes—because even a possum knows when to leave 'em wanting more.

The crown is waiting. The whiskers are optional. The fun is guaranteed. 👑

06/23/2026

And don’t y’all forget to start growing’ those Mullets right now!!!

🚨🐾 Hear ye, hear ye, Possum People! 🐾🚨

The PossumFest Best Mullet Contest is officially on the horizon, and now’s the time to get to growin’ that glorious business in the front, party in the back!

Whether your mullet is fresh sproutin’, already flowin’ like a mountain waterfall, or lookin’ like it survived three county fairs and a tractor pull—we want to see it.

So put down them clippers, let nature take its course, and start preparin’ your head hedge for greatness. Come PossumFest, we’ll crown the finest neck-warmer in the land. 👑✂️

Get started now… greatness takes time, and so does a championship mullet.

06/23/2026

NEWS FLASH STRAIGHT FROM
THE TRASH

A NEW CONTEST FOR 2026!!!

🎸🎶 TRASH BAND CONTEST –
Possum Fest 2026! 🎶🎸

Alright folks… it’s time to turn that trash into tunes! 🗑️➡️🎵

Get ready for one of the most unique (and loudest!) events of Possum Fest! Gather up those upcycled items, build your own instruments, and hit the stage like the rockstar you were meant to be 🤘

📅 Friday, September 4th
⏰ 2:15 PM
📍 Playin’ Possum Stage (Stage 2)
💥 FREE to enter!
🏆 Walk away with bragging rights—and a trophy!

Whether you're banging on buckets, strumming scrap, or shaking something wild, you’ll be judged on:

🎨 Creativity
🔊 Sound
🎶 And the ultimate test… can you play a recognizable tune?!

👉 Sign up now:
Call or text Angie Burkeen at 606-733-0920 or email [email protected]
OR sign up the day of the contest by 1:00 PM

So grab your tools, start building, and bring the noise—we’ll see YOU on stage! 🎤🔥 1

06/23/2026

Awesome Possum Fest Art Contest

Come on out and let your creativity shine for Possum Fest 2026! Whether you’re a seasoned painter, a young artist just getting started, or someone who simply loves making something by hand, we’d be tickled to see your best “possum-inspired” masterpiece.

Rules
1. Artists ages 5 years and up are welcome to join in.
2. All art submissions must be made on an 8 x 10 canvas or 8 x 10 cardstock and may be painted, drawn, created with pastels, or colored by hand.
3. All artwork may be submitted beginning now through Thursday, September 3rd, at Willing Hearts, 503 Main Street, Cumberland, KY 40823.
You’re welcome to mail your entry to this address — must be received or postmarked no later than August 21, 2026 — drop it off at Willing Hearts any time before 6:00 p.m. September 3, 2026, or bring your art on down to the festival on Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., or Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon, directly to the Playin’ Possum Stage.
4. Judging will begin at 12:01 p.m., and winners will be announced at 6:00 p.m.
5. The contest will be divided into three age groups so every artist gets a fair chance to shine:
• 5 yrs. Old – 9 yrs. Old
• 10 yrs. Old – 14 yrs. Old
• 15 yrs. Old – Up
6. Prizes will be awarded in each category, and winning artwork will be proudly featured on the Possum Fest page.
7. Please submit only one entry per contestant so everyone gets a fair turn.

If you have any questions about the contest, don’t be shy—we’d be glad to hear from you. Please email us at [email protected] or send us a message on the Possum Fest page.

06/13/2026

🍯🎻 SWEET AS MOLASSES, STRONG AS APPALACHIA 🎻🍯

Join us at 3:00 PM Friday, Sept. 4, as Momma Molasses brings her soulful blend of Americana, old-time music, bluegrass, country swing, Piedmont blues, and Appalachian folk to Possum Fest.

Originally from the pine country of North Carolina and now based in Bristol, Momma Molasses is the musical project of singer-songwriter Ella Patrick. Her rich contralto voice, finger-picked guitar, and heartfelt storytelling create a sound that’s both timeless and deeply rooted in Appalachian tradition.

Raised on gospel music, folk ballads, campfire singalongs, and old records, Ella has crafted a style all her own—part mountain music, part country swing, part folk revival, and all heart. Fans have compared her sound to legends like Patsy Cline and Mother Maybelle Carter, but once you hear her, you’ll know she’s something special in her own right.

Whether you’re a fan of traditional mountain music, powerful songwriting, or just appreciate a voice with a little soul in it, you won’t want to miss this one.

🎤 Momma Molasses
🕒 Friday, Sept. 4 • 3:00 PM
📍 Possum Fest Main Stage

Let Momma Molasses ease you into a weekend full of music, memories, and possum-sized fun.

06/13/2026

🎸 FROM THE EDGE! 🎸

Don’t roll into town late Friday afternoon, or you’ll miss one of the most energetic bands on this year’s Main Stage lineup!

At 4:00 PM Friday, From the Edge takes the stage bringing a crowd-pleasing mix of classic rock, country favorites, and high-energy hits that’ll have you singing along before supper. With years of experience performing alongside national touring acts, these musicians know how to put on a show and keep the crowd entertained from the first song to the last.

Whether you’re grabbing festival food, meeting up with friends, or staking out your favorite spot for the evening concerts, From the Edge is the perfect soundtrack for the Possum Fest weekend.

🎤 From the Edge
🕓 Friday, Sept 4 • 4:00 PM
📍 Main Stage

Come early. Stay late. And get ready for a weekend packed with music, memories, and maybe a little possum mischief.

06/12/2026

🎸 FRIDAY NIGHT’S GONNA GET ROWDY! 🎸

Possum Fest is proud to welcome Family Tradition: The Ultimate Hank Williams Jr. Tribute to our Main Stage on Friday night, Sept. 4!

If you’re a fan of Bocephus, get ready for a high-energy show packed with the songs that defined outlaw country. Led by frontman Scott Burton, Family Tradition delivers the look, sound, and spirit of Hank Jr., bringing crowd favorites like All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight and A Country Boy Can Survive to life. Their authentic sound and dynamic performances have earned them a reputation as one of the premier Hank Jr. tribute acts around.

Whether you grew up with Hank Jr. blasting from the truck radio or you’re discovering outlaw country for the first time, this is a show made for singing along, raising a little cane, and having a good time with friends and family

So grab your cowboy hat, round up your rowdy friends, and join us Friday night at Possum Fest!

🎤 Friday Night, Sept. 4, 5 pm
📍 Possum Fest Main Stage

We’ll see y’all there… and yes, all your rowdy friends are invited.

06/11/2026

🎶 TWO DAYS. TWO STAGES. A WHOLE LOTTA MUSIC. 🎶

Whether you like your music country, bluegrass, gospel, rock, folk, Americana, or something that don’t fit neatly in a box, we’ve got you covered at Possum Fest!

Friday and Saturday, our Main Stage will be packed with talented musicians bringing the sounds of Appalachia and beyond to downtown Cumberland. From toe-tappin’ pickers to powerhouse singers, there’s something for every set of ears.

Bring a lawn chair. Bring your dancing shoes. Bring that cousin who claims they “don’t really like live music” and let us prove ’em wrong.

Check out the lineup and start planning your weekend now. The only hard part will be deciding where to sit!

06/06/2026

👑🐾 CALLING ALL POSSUM ROYALTY! 🐾👑

Do you have what it takes to wear the crown and represent the most gloriously weird festival in Appalachia?

The Possum Fest Queen Contest is back, and we're looking for someone with charm, creativity, confidence, and enough possum pride to make our favorite marsupial proud!

📅 Saturday, September 5
📍 Playin' Possum Stage
⏰ 12:30 PM
🦝 Ages 16 and Up

This ain't your average pageant.

We're looking for contestants who can embrace the spirit of PossumFest and show off their talents, personality, and possum-inspired style.

Contest Categories:

👗 Best Costume
Whether it's glamorous, hilarious, handmade, or held together with duct tape and determination, we want to see it. Bonus points for tails, whiskers, and possum flair!

🎤 Interview
Show off your possum knowledge, quick wit, and dedication to all things nocturnal.

🎶 Talent Showcase (3 minutes max)
Play the washboard. Toss biscuits. Call squirrels. Perform an interpretive dance about playing possum. Whatever your talent, bring it to the stage!

💰 Prizes Awarded
🥇 1st Place — $150
🥈 2nd Place — $50

📝 Ready to claim your spot in PossumFest history?

Register at Willing Hearts, Inc., 503 Main Street, Cumberland, or call Angie at 606-733-0920.

Be sure to submit your talent description when you register. Talent performances are limited to 3 minutes—because even a possum knows when to leave 'em wanting more.

The crown is waiting. The whiskers are optional. The fun is guaranteed. 👑