October 9th, 2021
That’s right – we’re back! The Logan County Tobacco & Heritage Festival is Logan County, Kentucky’s largest community event, attended and participated in by an estimated 25,000 people. The festival had its beginning in 1941 and was a one-day event, coinciding with the opening of the Christmas shopping season. Full of fun events for everyone, this annual festival has attracted Logan Countians for decades. Whether you’re new to the area or a long-time native, we cordially invite you to join us in our favorite homecoming event, the 2021 Logan County Tobacco & Heritage Festival!
Old photographs document a parade with floats around the park that is centrally located within the town square. Conceived as an annual event, the second festival was held in 1942. However, it ceased during World War II because of shortages of time, labor and materials dedicated to the war effort. In 1957, the festival was revived, and continued uninterrupted for more than 60 years, then in 2020 the festival was shut down due to COVID-19. The purpose of the festival, at its conception, was to focus attention on Logan County’s chief crop and to pay tribute to Russellville, the largest one-sucker tobacco market in the world. Organized by the Logan County Chamber of Commerce, the festival celebrates our past by continuing some of the same activities – and at the same location on the square where the first years of the festival took place!
Today, you will find many events taking place around the Carrico Park Square including a Tobacco Judging Contest and a reenactment of the 1868 Jesse James Robbery at the Southern Bank of Kentucky by the Jesse James Gang. The Tobacco & Heritage Festival Grand Finale, also known as “Festival Day” or “Parade Day,” is held on the second Saturday in October, centrally located on the Carrico Park Square in Russellville. It is packed full of people from Logan County, folks from all over the state of Kentucky and beyond. One of the largest parades in the area kicks off the daily festivities, while food vendors circle the square with both unique and traditional foods. Arts and crafts vendors from all over the state sell their items on the Historic Courthouse lawn. Non-profit and local business vendors surround the square down each block. Free horse and carriage rides are a must and the Kid’s Zone is ready for your family with games, blow-ups and more. Karaoke, line dancing and a few bands rock us through the night with “Entertainment on the Square” to end the festivities at 8pm.
This is a homecoming event for people who have moved away from the community, a time to return and celebrate with family and friends, as well as an exciting community event that Logan Countians look forward to attending annually. The Logan County Chamber of Commerce board and staff would like to invite you and your family to join us in the many festivities this event brings for all to enjoy. For information and applications for our events, check out our website at www.tobaccofest.org. We look forward to seeing you there!
Schedule of Events:
*Indicates Pre-Registration Recommended
WEEK ONE
Thurs, Sept. 23rd
•*Festival Queen’s Pageant: 7pm
Sat, Sept 25th
•*Bike Ride: 8am
•*Road Rally: 12pm
WEEK TWO
Sat, Oct 2nd
•*Jesse James 5K Walk/Run: 8am
•*Golf Scramble: 8am
•Hometown History Day: 2pm
WEEK THREE
Sun, Oct 3rd
•Historic Residential Walking Tour: 2pm
Monday, Oct 4th
•Museum Day: 10am
•Black History Day: 10am
Tues, Oct 5th
•Cemetery Tour: 5pm
Thurs, Oct 7th
•Pet Show & Fair: 6pm
•Cemetery Tour: 5pm
Fri, Oct 8th
•Tobacco Judging: 7am
•Trolley Rides: 1pm
Sat, Oct 9th
•Craft Show & Flea Market: 9am
•Jesse James Bank Robbery Reenactment: 9:30am
•Festival Parade: 10:30am
•Horse & Carriage Rides: 12pm
•Kid’s Zone: 12pm
•Karaoke: 12pm
•Concert at Carrico: 3pm
•Grand Finale: 6pm
-submitted by Logan County Tobacco Festival
