HILLBILLY DAYS 2025
“This annual event is not all for show this was the way we lived 30 years ago and I am proud of it. Hillbilly Days has something for all ages. Our old people love it as do our young and others. Come on down and meet some genuine Hillbillies. This is the home of the Hatfield-McCoy feud right here in Pikeville. Our old people still talk of it.
This will be an experience you will never forget.“
~ Howard “Dirty Ears” Stratton
6th Annual Hillbilly Days 1983
“This annual event is not all for show this was the way we lived 30 years ago and I am proud of it. Hillbilly Days has something for all ages. Our old people love it as do our young and others. Come on down and meet some genuine Hillbillies. This is the home of the Hatfield-McCoy feud right here in Pikeville. Our old people still talk of it.
This will be an experience you will never forget.“
~ Howard “Dirty Ears” Stratton
6th Annual Hillbilly Days 1983
HILLBILLY DAYS 2024
47th Annual Hillbilly Days
The 47th Annual Hillbilly Days has come to an end but it left us all filled with precious memories as we made new friends and reunited with old ones.
A longstanding tradition started things off on Wednesday evening with the official welcome dinner and cake auction. The Hillbilly Gals from Outhouse 2 in Pikeville always do an outstanding job of providing the meal and desserts. This years auction was a little different as two Cuzzins, Wayne Baker and Matt Porter, got in a bidding war to purchase all of the desserts. In the end, a thousand dollars was raised for the kids and the desserts were shared with everyone.
On Thursday evening, the official Opening Ceremonies were held in the park. The event was emceed by Cuzzin Jimmy Kinney. The Imperial Officers were introduced along with the Potentate and Divan of El Hasa Shrine Temple. This years Potentate is a local Hillbilly from Outhouse 2. Illustrious Robert Adkins. For the first time ever, there were representatives from three different Shriners Childrens Hospitals. Randy White Hospital Administrator Shriners Childrens Ohio, Tony Lewgood Hospital Administrator Shriners Childrens Lexington and Paul Finelli Director of Development Shriners Childrens Greenville.
Friday found the streets filled with folks enjoying the food and craft vendors as well as the nonstop live music coming from the different stages. A beautiful fireworks display was put on that evening but it managed to catch the side of the mountain on fire. It was put out by the fire department.
As always, Saturday morning brings all the excitement for the big Hillbilly Days parade. The staging area is filled with all sorts of Hillbilly cars and trucks waiting on the parade to start. The parade route is lined with thousands of people waiting to see the old cars and the Hillbillies. The weather was absolutely lovely and everyone had a glorious time. It is sad to see everyone heading home on Saturday evening or Sunday morning but it is never a goodbye, always See Y’all Next Year!
~ Roger Morgan Imperial Keeper of the Cob
HILLBILLY DAYS 2023
Tens of thousands come from all over the world to experience a weekend of downhome fun. Between the carnival rides, endless live music, food, craft vendors and special guest, you never know who or what you might see there. The past two years, Bruce Mitchell from the History Channel’s Swamp People was there representing Liberty Bibs. The year before, Turtle Man greated the visitors.
Opening ceremonies for the 46 th Annual Hillbilly Days were held at the park in downtown Pikeville Kentucky, (The Hillbilly Capital of the World) on Thursday April 20 th 2023 by Hillbilly Clan 1 Outhouse 2 Raban Kent Bartley. This event officially kicked of a three day festival filled with music, food and hospitality. The Outhouse works all year long to prepare for this amazing undertaking that provides a fantastic donation each year to the Shriners Hospitals for Children.
On Saturday morning there is a huge parade with Hillbillies from all over the country with their Hillbilly cars and trucks. It is a sight to behold! To wind things up on Saturday night, there is always a concert at the Appalachian Wireless Arena. Last years performer was country music icon and proud supporter of the Wounded Warrior Project and Shriners Hospitals for Children, Trace Adkins. Before the show, Mr. Adkins graciously had a Meet and Great with a group of Hillbillies from Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and South Carolina. At that time, two of our Imperial Hillbilly officers, Roger Morgan and Jody Vaughters and our Imperial US Ambassador Matt Porter, presented Mr. Adkins with a crystal plaque thanking him for all he has done for the children of Shriners Hospitals. Later, during the show, Mr. Adkins recognized that group of Hillbillies and thanked all of us for what we do for the kids. If you have not seen his commercials for Shriners Hospitals, go online and watch them, they are amazing.
On Saturday morning there is a huge parade with Hillbillies from all over the country with their Hillbilly cars and trucks. It is a sight to behold! To wind things up on Saturday night, there is always a concert at the Appalachian Wireless Arena. Last years performer was country music icon and proud supporter of the Wounded Warrior Project and Shriners Hospitals for Children, Trace Adkins. Before the show, Mr. Adkins graciously had a Meet and Great with a group of Hillbillies from Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and South Carolina. At that time, two of our Imperial Hillbilly officers, Roger Morgan and Jody Vaughters and our Imperial US Ambassador Matt Porter, presented Mr. Adkins with a crystal plaque thanking him for all he has done for the children of Shriners Hospitals. Later, during the show, Mr. Adkins recognized that group of Hillbillies and thanked all of us for what we do for the kids. If you have not seen his commercials for Shriners Hospitals, go online and watch them, they are amazing.