Bittersweet Festival
Join us for the 2026 Bittersweet Festival on Main Street in downtown Mt. Vernon, Kentucky on October 2-3, 2026. It is FREE to attend with fun activities such as car show, inflatables, parade, contests, craft vendors, live music, plane kiddie rides, games, and more. Presented by the City of Mount Vernon and Mount Vernon - Rockcastle County Tourist Commission.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Thursday, October 1, 2026
Car Show with DJ Charlie Napier on Main Street from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM (register on site at car show)
Friday, October 2, 2026
Festival Hours 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Live Music Featuring
6:00 Jaclyn Bullock
7:00 Shane Winkler Band
8:00 Call to Post
Saturday, October 3, 2026
Festival Hours 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM
11:00 AM Mountain Stampede Cloggers
12:00 PM Parade (Lineup at Mount Vernon Elementary School starting at 10:30 AM)
3:30 - 5:30 Wrestling
4:00 Little Debbie Eating Contest
7:00 PM Best Beard & Best Mullet Contest - in front of the stage by court house
Live Music Featuring
5:00 D. Boone Pittman
6:00 Donovan Howard Band
8:00 Dukes of Country
Craft Vendor & Food Truck Vendor Info
Deadline to register is September 25, 2026. Spaces are limited and will be assigned by the Festival Committee on a first come basis.
Food Vendor Info
* Food Vendors are 20 feet long x 12 feet wide from street curb.
* You must be self-sufficient/stand alone and use a generator.
* Non-refundable Vendor fee is $100
* Set up begins at 12:00 PM on Friday, October 2, 2026. If you have not checked in by 12:00 PM, you will lose your space and booth fee.
* You must pick up any trash and use the trash cans or the roll off/dumpster provided.
Arts, Crafts, Commercial, Educational, Informational, and other Exhibitor Booth Vendor Info
* Craft Vendors are 10 feet long x 12 feet wide from street curb.
* Non-refundable Vendor fee is $30. Non-profit organization is $15.
* Set up begins at 1:00 PM on Friday, October 2, 2026.
* You must pick up any trash and use the trash cans or the roll off/dumpster provided.
Payment by Money Order or Cash Only.
CONTESTS
Bittersweet Best Beard Contest
Saturday, October 4th, 2025
Register On Site 6:00 to 7:00
Contest starts at 7:00 PM
Free to enter - All Ages
Categories (Age as of October 1, 2026)
Ages 17 and Under
Ages 18 and Up
$50 for each category winner
Bittersweet Best Mullet Contest
Saturday, October 4th, 2025
Register On Site 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Contest starts at 7:30 PM
Free to Enter
Age Categories (Age as of October 1, 2026)
Under 5 Years Old
6 Years to 12 Years
13 Years to 18 Years
18 Years and Older
$50 for each category winner
