Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival

05/29/2026

05/26/2026

Amazing shots of our town in all its KMLF glory this past weekend.

While rain may have dampened the weekend some, nothing beats the magic of our small town on memorial weekend 😍

Photo credits 📸: paleembermedia

05/25/2026

What stunning photos of some breathtaking Princess candidates! Thank you to all of the young girls who represented their high schools with grace & poise.

The KMLF princess pageant is a long standing tradition open to an upperclassmen candidate chosen to represent their Kentucky high school and are awarded an educational scholarship if they are chosen by the secret ballot of judges.

05/24/2026

Let’s talk scholarships ✨

For many people, the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival is known for the white dresses, pink and green, and timeless traditions. But at its heart, the festival has always been about celebrating young women in higher education - supporting leadership, ambition, scholarship, and the futures they are building.

Today we had the honor of celebrating not only beauty and tradition, but education and opportunity.

These young women represent colleges and universities across Kentucky, bringing with them their education, goals, leadership, and stories.

Our Princess, Madelyn Peyton Starkey from Frankfort High School received a $3,000 scholarship, and we are wishing her all the best as she begins her college journey at Ole Miss this fall.

Our Queen, Nadia Layne Smith representing Lincoln Memorial University received a $6,000 scholarship, and we wish her continued success as she pursues her education in nursing at LMU.

These scholarships were provided by the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Foundation, a charitable organization dedicated to preserving the traditions of the KMLF.
( https://kentuckymountainlaurelfoundation.org/ )

In addition, all Queen candidates received participation stipends in recognition of their time, dedication, and commitment to representing their universities and KMLF.

Together, these scholarship awards represent meaningful financial support that helps invest in the futures of these outstanding young women.

For 95 years, this festival has done more than crown a Queen. It has helped recognize and encourage generations of accomplished young women as they continue their educational journeys, a tradition we are proud to continue & grow. 💚🌸