GALLERY: Kentucky Wool Fest brings community together
Wool Fest has become a tradition for families who return for the array of booths, food and other activities that the festival has to offer.
Hoards of people stand in line to get their ticket, a banjo plays soft tunes that fill the crowd and the smell of funnel cakes and turkey legs overwhelm the air. The Kentucky Wool Festival is here.
The Kentucky Wool Festival was Oct. 7-9 this year in Falmouth, Kentucky. The festival has been going on for over 25 years and has a way of bringing all types of people together.
From NKU students to parents chasing their kids around to old couples walking hand in hand there is plenty to do at the Wool Fest with multiple bands playing, a petting zoo, and tents as far as the eye can see filled with crafts.
NKU nursing professor Shawn Nordheim has deep roots in Pendleton County and has been going to the Wool Fest for a long as she can remember. The Wool Fest is nestled in between Kincaid Lake State Park, and rows of winding roads and tree covered hills.
“We’ve probably been going to the Wool Fest since it was first established,” Nordheim said. “My son lost his first tooth here while he was eating on popcorn.”
For a lot of people the Wool Fest has become a tradition for families who return for the array of booths, food and other activities that the Wool Fest has to offer.
“I love the fact that the Wool Fest is a family affair, and you’ll see generations and generations of families that come back for this,” Nordheim said. “I love all of the crafts and my favorite thing that I come back for every year is the chicken and dumplings. It’s something that is a tradition in our family now.”
Jacob Nordheim, a freshman CIT major, and Shawn Nordheim’s son, came back for the Wool Fest this past weekend and was looking forward to coming back home to see his family and friends.
“This event is pretty old fashioned, it’s nice to come back and see my friends from high school and I love the food here.” Jacob said.
Lauren New, a sophomore music education major was running the Evon’s Crafts booth at the Wool Fest this year. When looking around the booth it’s hard to miss the festive christmas trees, decorated wine bottles, and the kids won’t be able to pass up the toys.
“We sell wreaths, Christmas trees, decorated wine bottles with lights in them, and we have kids toys and jewelry and fun little decorations for the holidays.” New said.
Evone’s Crafts has been at the Wool Fest since the start in 1991 and has earned its place in the Wool Fest culture.
“My grandma started it when it was just a few tents, and so she was one of the first people in here, and then my mom took over and now I help my mom with it.” New said.
“I love the legacy that the Wool Fest has, it’s such a family friendly place and it’s just enjoyable any year you come.”
