Country music fans will have another opportunity to enjoy an evening of live entertainment this weekend as Orange Army Bluegrass and Carter County Tourism present the Third Annual Country on Tygart concert.
The event will take place Saturday, July 25th, beginning at 4:00 p.m., at 155 Samuel L. Waggoner Memorial Drive in Olive Hill.
Organizers say the family-friendly event will feature an evening of country and country-rock music, with guests encouraged to bring a lawn chair and settle in for a full lineup of live performances.
Taking the stage throughout the evening will be Bullet of the South at 4:00 p.m., followed by Shannon Slaughter at 5:45 p.m. At 7:30 p.m., audiences can enjoy a performance from Bill Taylor and the Appalachian Heathens, with the evening wrapping up as Noah Smith takes the stage at 9:15 p.m.
Admission is twenty dollars for adults, while children attending with a Week Festival wristband will be admitted free.
Organizers say the annual concert continues to grow each year, bringing together music lovers from across the region for an evening of live entertainment while also showcasing Carter County as a destination for community events.
Again, the Third Annual Country on Tygart will be held Saturday, July 25th, beginning at 4:00 p.m. in Olive Hill. Those planning to attend are encouraged to bring a chair, gather family and friends, and enjoy an evening of live music close to home.
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Young artists across Carter County have a chance to have their work showcased in a unique community art competition hosted by Gibbs Hardware in Grayson.
The locally owned business has announced its Next Gen Artists Competition, inviting children ages 13 and under to create original artwork inspired by Gibbs Hardware. Organizers say there are no limits on creativity. Entries could feature the hardware store itself, a favorite tool, the store’s well-known cat Chainsaw, or anything else that captures the spirit of the business.
Artwork will be accepted now through August 31st, and organizers encourage children to use traditional art supplies such as paint, colored pencils, charcoal, crayons, or markers. Digital artwork and AI-generated images will not be accepted.
The winning entry will become the official Gibbs Hardware Facebook cover photo for the month of September. In addition, the first-place winner will receive a twenty-five dollar Casey’s Lanes gift card. Second place will receive a fifteen dollar Johnny’s Pizza gift card, while third place will earn a dessert from the Rustic Farm Truck during one of its Friday visits to Gibbs Hardware. The top three finishers will also receive a 132-piece art set.
If enough entries are received, organizers say the top ten artworks will also be displayed at the Grayson Gallery and Art Center, giving even more young artists the opportunity to have their work seen by the community.
Parents are asked to submit their child’s artwork by posting it in the comments of the contest announcement on the Gibbs Hardware Facebook page. Entries should include only the child’s first name and age, along with parental permission. Once submitted online, the original artwork can also be dropped off at Gibbs Hardware.
Organizers say art has a unique ability to preserve memories, tell stories, and inspire others, and they hope this contest encourages local children to use their imagination while celebrating one of Carter County’s longtime hometown businesses.
Again, the Next Gen Artists Competition is open now through August 31st, with winners to be selected following a community poll.
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Summer break is here, and for many families across Eastern Kentucky, help is available to make sure children stay fed and healthy while school is out.
The Kentucky Summer EBT program, also known as SUN Bucks, is now providing eligible families with a one-time payment of 120 dollars per school-aged child to help cover grocery costs during the summer months. The benefit is available for children ages 6 through 17 as of August 1st.
Families already enrolled in programs like SNAP, KTAP, or Kinship Care may be automatically approved, with benefits being added directly to their EBT cards. But even families not currently enrolled in those programs may still qualify based on household income.
Officials say Summer EBT is designed to help bridge the gap when school cafeterias are closed for the summer, giving families extra support while children are home from class.
To see if your household qualifies, families can check eligibility and income guidelines online at feedingky.org/sebteligibility. Applications can then be completed at kysebt.ky.gov. The deadline to apply is August 15th.
Community leaders encourage families not to wait, reminding parents that even a little extra grocery assistance during the summer can make a big difference for local children and households.