🎶 Opening Night Concert – Featuring Diamond Rio with special guest Colton Bowlin

📅 Thursday, May 21, 2026
📍 Pineville High (New) Gym
🕕 Doors Open: 6:00 PM | 🎤 Show Starts: 7:00 PM (🎟️ Ticketed Event)

​The Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival kicks off in style with a night of toe-tapping, sing-your-heart-out country music! Colton Bowlin will set the stage before Diamond Rio takes over, bringing their classic hits to life. But that’s not all! Before the music starts, watch as our dazzling Princess & Queen candidates make their grand entrance, shimmering under the stage lights. A little music, a little pageantry, and a whole lot of small-town magic—grab your tickets now!

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🎡 Festival Carnival Nights

📅 Wednesday – Saturday, May 20–23, 2026
📍 Downtown Pineville
🕔 Evening Hours (Wristbands & Tickets Available On-Site)

As the sun dips behind the mountains, the lights come on and the carnival begins to glow. From the hum of rides to the laughter echoing through downtown, this is where the festival feels its most alive after dark. Whether you’re chasing a little nostalgia or just along for the funnel cakes and ferris wheel views, the carnival brings a classic kind of fun that never goes out of style.

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🍔 Downtown Food Vendors

📅 Thursday – Saturday, May 21–23, 2026
📍 Downtown Pineville
🕛 All Day 

Follow the smell and you’ll find your way. From festival favorites to local flavors, downtown Pineville is lined with food vendors serving up everything worth craving. It’s the kind of place where you grab something in one hand, something sweet in the other, and keep walking—because there’s always something else just around the corner.

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🛍️ Craft & Boutique Market

📅 Thursday – Saturday, May 21–23, 2026
📍 Downtown Pineville
🕙 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Take your time strolling through rows of handmade goods, boutique finds, and one-of-a-kind pieces you won’t see anywhere else. The Craft & Boutique Market is where local makers and small businesses shine, offering everything from artisan goods to festival keepsakes. It’s not just shopping—it’s a chance to take a little piece of the mountains home with you.

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👑 Princess Coronation

📅 Friday, May 22, 2026
📍 Pineville High (Old) Gym

Behold the beauty, the grace, and the Crowning of a Princess! Young ladies from high schools across Kentucky will take the stage in breathtaking, spring colored ball gowns, curtsying to an adoring crowd before twirling through the elegant Grand March. It’s a night of tradition, charm, and a little fairy-tale magic - don’t miss it!

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🏃‍♀️ Mountain Laurel 5K Run

📅 Saturday, May 23, 2026
📍 Downtown Pineville
🕗 Race Begins: 8:00 AM (Registration Required)

Start your Saturday with a run through the heart of Pineville, where the streets are quiet, the air is fresh, and the mountains set the pace. The Mountain Laurel 5K is a favorite for both seasoned runners and casual participants looking to be part of the weekend in a different way. Finish strong - and still have plenty of time to grab breakfast and make your way to the parade.

 

🎭 The Gala Parade

📅 Saturday, May 23, 2026
📍 Downtown Pineville, on Kentucky Avenue
🚧 Streets Close: 8:00 AM | 🎉 Parade Begins: 10:00 AM (🌟 Free Event!)

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Get ready for THE parade of the year! Grab your best derby hat, don some pink & green, and get to town early, because when the cannon fires, the magic begins! From sparkling floats to high-stepping marchers, this beloved tradition brings the entire town together in a flurry of music, laughter, and hometown pride.

 

 

🍽️ The Governor’s Luncheon

📅 Saturday, May 23, 2026
📍 Pine Mountain State Resort Park Lodge
🕛 12:00 PM (🎟️ Ticketed Event)

Ever wanted to dine with the Governor? Now’s your chance! Enjoy a delicious meal at the Pine Mountain Lodge, hear special remarks, and soak in the grandeur of this time-honored tradition. Just make sure to grab your tickets before May 20th!

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Call Festival Office to purchase tickets! 

 

 

✨ The Queen’s Coronation

📅 Saturday, May 23, 2026
📍 Laurel Cove Amphitheater, Pine Mountain State Resort Park
🕑 2:00 PM (🎟️ Ticketed Event)

This is THE moment - the tradition that started it all. Picture this: twenty-three elegant ladies, draped in white, gracefully curtseying before the Governor and the gathered crowd as one of them is crowned Kentucky Mountain Laurel Queen. With the breathtaking mountain backdrop and the whispers of history in the air, this is an experience you won’t forget.

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Tickets can be purchased via the Festival Office or Gen Admission at the event. All KMLF Directors receive 2 tickets. 

 

 

💃 The Grand March

📅 Saturday, May 23, 2026
📍 Pineville High (Old) Gym
🕗 8:00 PM

Step back in time and into a Gilded Age of elegance! The Queen is presented, the festival’s final remarks are made, and then, the magic begins the famous Grand March. If you’ve never seen it, imagine a grand courtly dance, filled with tradition and grace. It’s one of the most anticipated moments of the weekend!

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🎭 The Queen’s Ball

📅 Saturday, May 23, 2026
📍 Pineville High (Old) Gym
🕘 9:00 - 11:00 PM (🎟️ Ticketed Event, 18+ Only)

Dust off your dancing shoes, pick out your finest semi-formal attire, and get ready to dance the night away at this enchanting evening! Whether you’re bringing a date or rolling in with friends, the Queen’s Ball is the final celebration of the festival weekend. Tickets available at the door! Semi Fromal dress code of sport coat, tie, cocktail dress is enforced. 

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🥞 The Queen’s Breakfast

📅 Sunday, May 24, 2026
📍 Pine Mountain State Park Lodge
🎟️ Ticketed Event

Before we say farewell to another unforgettable Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival, there’s one more tradition to savor: breakfast fit for royalty! Enjoy a buffet-style feast at Pine Mountain Lodge, hear final stories and awards, and share a warm sendoff with the Queen and her court. It’s the perfect way to wrap up a weekend of magic!

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