Swappin' Meetin'

05/15/2026

🍂✨ Come Home to Swappin’ Meetin’ ✨🍂

Join us this fall as we gather to celebrate the roots of our Appalachian heritage—where tradition isn’t just remembered, it’s lived.

From the rhythm of a blacksmith’s hammer to the slow magic of sorghum and apple butter, Swappin’ Meetin’ brings our stories, skills, and spirit back to the front porch. It’s music, laughter, craftsmanship, and community—shared just like it’s always been.

🪕 Pull up a chair for Front Porch Friday, 5-9 pm
🧺 Wander through hands-on heritage demonstrations
🎨 Cheer on local talent and friendly competition
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Bring the whole family Saturday 10-6 for tradition and fun

This is more than a festival—it’s who we are.

👉 Mark your calendar and come celebrate with us. We can’t wait to welcome you home. 🍁

🪕 New Dates: Friday–Saturday, Sept. 18–19

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

03/17/2026

✨ Swappin’ Meetin’ is entering a new chapter! ✨

🪕New Dates: Friday–Saturday, Sept. 18–19
- Friday night “Front Porch Friday” (5–9 p.m.) with local pickin’, food, and swappin’ stories by lantern light
- Saturday festival day (10 a.m.–6 p.m.) with artisan vendors, heritage demonstrations, music, storytelling, kids’ activities, and the return of oldfashioned field games

🧺 Back to our roots. We’ve already lined up heritage demonstrations, including blacksmithing, woodworking, butter churning, apple butter and sorghum making, broom making, weaving, wool spinning and natural dyes, and basket weaving. Our friends from Possum Fest have volunteered to help—and they’re doing us proud.

🎨 Contests & Competitions will continue to celebrate local talent, creativity, and friendly competition.

👉 Vendor applications are now open!
https://southeast.kctcs.edu/community/swappin-meetin.aspx

Mark your calendar and plan to join us this fall! 🍂

03/17/2026

Swappin' Meetin' has been bringing people together at our Cumberland Campus for more than 60 years, and we’re excited to share a few updates as the festival looks ahead to its next chapter.

Guided by community input and longtime supporters, Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College is strengthening planning support, refreshing the event format and setting new dates to ensure Swappin’ Meetin’ continues to thrive while honoring the traditions that make it special.

Beginning this year, Swappin’ Meetin’ will move to the third weekend in September, taking place Friday and Saturday, Sept. 18–19, on the Cumberland Campus.

Friday evening will feature Front Porch Friday from 5–9 p.m., a relaxed, family‑friendly gathering with local pickin’, story swappin’ by lantern light and food vendors. Saturday runs from 10 a.m.–6 p.m. and will include craft and food vendors, an artisan village with hourly heritage demonstrations, traditional music and storytelling, classic contests, children’s activities and the return of old‑fashioned field games.

Planning support for the festival is being strengthened, with Cumberland Campus Director Jill Creech overseeing coordination on behalf of the college. Julie Pitts and Ashley Page—organizers of Cumberland’s Possum Fest—are also assisting with vendor recruitment, musicians, heritage demonstrations and scheduling. They’ve already helped secure demonstrations like blacksmithing, woodworking, butter churning, apple butter and sorghum making, weaving, basket making and more. The Swappin’ Meetin’ committee will continue to play an important hands‑on role as the event approaches.

Festival favorites aren’t going anywhere. Long‑standing contests like the Pam Halcomb Memorial Storytelling Competition, Tri‑City News Photography Contest, art and baked goods competitions, the Fern Cornett Memorial Quilt Competition and co****le and horseshoe tournaments will all return, celebrating the creativity and community pride that have defined Swappin’ Meetin’ for decades.

At its heart, Swappin’ Meetin’ remains about the exchange of stories, skills, music and traditions that reflect Appalachian life, while also serving as an applied learning opportunity for SKCTC students and a point of connection for the region.

Vendor applications are now open. You can read the full announcement and learn more at southeast.kctcs.edu/newsroom/news/2026/20261703-swappin-meetin.aspx

10/04/2025

🚗 The Kingdom Come Swappin’ Meetin’ Cruise-In is happening NOW!

Bring your classic car, truck, or motorcycle and join the fun at Kingdom Come. We’re rolling until the last car leaves, so there’s still plenty of time to cruise in!

✅ FREE registration
🎁 Door prizes
📍 Saturday, October 4

Questions? Contact Mike Carmack at 606.589.3206 or [email protected].
Don’t miss out—come show off your ride and enjoy the day!

10/04/2025

🌞 Day 2 of !

9 a.m. - Gospel Sing
- Cumberland Missionary Baptist Church Praise Team
- Tammy Chapman
- Ruby Ravizee
- Caroline Patterson

10 a.m. - Co****le & Horseshoe Contest

11 a.m. - Storytelling with Mike Breeze
12 p.m. - Selection of music with Higher Ground
12:30 p.m. - Clogging demonstration with Kaitlyn Skidmore Patel
1 p.m. - Shyla Blevins
2 p.m. - The 99
3 p.m. - Eddie Forester
4 p.m. - Laci Deaton

Bring the whole crew!

10/03/2025

📸 What a day at ! From toe-tapping tunes to heartfelt stories and stunning quilts, it’s been a celebration of everything that makes our community shine. We’re here until 5 p.m., and the good times roll on tomorrow!

🎯 Don’t miss the Co****le & Horseshoe contests kicking off at 10 a.m. Saturday—bring your game face and your cheering squad!

Share your favorite moments using —we’d love to see the joy through your lens!

10/03/2025

Come get your southern comfort fixin’s at BearFoot Cafe & Catering, serving Kingdom Come Swappin' Meetin' specials now until 4 p.m.—right here on the SKCTC Cumberland Campus!

10/03/2025

🎉 It’s here! The Kingdom Come Swappin’ Meetin’ kicks off today on the SKCTC Cumberland Campus! 🎉

So much to see, hear, and taste:
🔨 Live heritage demonstrations
📖 Pam Halcomb Memorial Storytelling Competition begins at 9:15 a.m.
📸 Tri-City News Photography Contest submissions open 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
🥧 Baked Goods Contest drop-off 8–11 a.m., with a cake walk at 11:30 a.m.
🥒 Pickles, Jams & Jellies Contest entries due by noon
🐷🦃 Hog & Turkey Calling Contest at 3:30
🚘 Car show cruise-in Sat 11-5
🎶 Great music, from gospel and bluegrass to clogging and regional talent
🍴 Food favorites
🛍️ Vendors, community booths, children’s activities, and Appalachian arts & crafts throughout the day

It’s a weekend of heritage, history, and community spirit. Don’t miss it! 🎶🪕

👉 Full schedule: southeast.kctcs.edu/community/swappin-meetin.aspx

10/02/2025

Tomorrow: Cake Walk at 11:30 a.m. in the Godbey Appalachian Center (@ the HUB) and Youth Creative Writing Workshop with Ariel Dingus at 12:30 p.m. Plus all‑day demos: quilting, cider pressing, wood carving & more. See y’all soon!

10/02/2025

🛍 Come grab a FREE tote bag to carry all your Swappin’ Meetin’ treasures! Supplies are limited, so get yours early and shop in style.

📅 Friday & Saturday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
📍 Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College Cumberland Campus

Don’t miss two full days of local crafts, food, and fun, starting tomorrow!

10/02/2025

🍽️ Swappin' Meetin' Special Menu Alert!

Heading to the Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College Cumberland Campus for the Swappin' Meetin'? BearFoot Cafe & Catering will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and we’re excited to share their special event menu with you!

Come early, grab a bite, and enjoy the day’s festivities with some truly delicious options.

It's that time of year!

The 61st Annual Swappin' Meetin' will be held here at Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College on Friday, October 3rd and Saturday, October 4th.

BearFoot Cafe WILL be OPEN! Our hours will be 8am-4pm.
We're located next to the bookstore on campus!

We have added a Hillbilly Breakfast to the menu this year, and it will be served ALL DAY! (Think of us as your local Cracker Barrel 😉)

We will be serving our Soup Bean special along with our homemade apple streusels for dessert! 🍏🍎

We'll show you a lil' southern hospitality while you're here, and make sure your belly is full when you leave. See you in 8 days! 😍

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