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, razzmatazz ballistic swings, 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 4:30 PM to 9:00 PM (register on site at car show)
Friday, October 2, 2026
Festival Hours 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Live Music 5:00 PM to 9:30 PM
Saturday, October 3, 2026
Festival Hours 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Parade at 12:00 PM
Live Music 5:00 PM to 9:30 PM
Best Beard & Best Mullet Contests 7:00 PM
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
1st Place: $100
2nd Place: $75
3rd Place: $50
Free to enter - All Ages
Bittersweet Best Mullet Contest
Saturday, October 4th, 2025
Register On Site 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Contest starts at 7:30 PM
1st Place: $100
2nd Place: $75
3rd Place: $50
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
Free to enter