Corbin 2023 event schedule released, new food event could send home chef to World Food Championship

The 2023 Corbin event calendar has been released.

Corbin Downtown announced this year’s schedule earlier this month, which includes all the staple events Corbin residents have come to love, such as NIBROC, Christmas Open House and the Christmas parade, the Cumberland Valley Cruise-Ins, Trick or Treat on Main and the monthly city yard sales. There are some notable changes, though.

One new event highlighting this year’s event calendar is the Grillin and Chillin Steak Competition coming Sept. 16. The competition is expected to be a hit for several reasons, as it will be a replacement for the Moonbow EggFest that Corbin Tourism Director Maggy Monhollen said “was an event people really enjoyed” and it will act as one of Corbin’s three qualifying events for the World Food Championship. 

The other two qualifying events, Restaurant Week, which is the official kickoff to Corbin’s event schedule from March 20-25, and Burger Week later in June, are restricted to restaurant chefs. The Grillin and Chillin Steak Competition is unique, however, in that it will be the only one of the three qualifying events that could send a home chef to the World Food Championship. 

“It is going to be an open event, meaning that we can very easily end up sending a home chef to compete in that championship. So, it makes our qualifier all-inclusive,” said Monhollen. 

Most of the guidelines are still yet to be nailed down, though Monhollen said that competitors will be able to use any kind of grilling equipment during the competition. As with the other two qualifying events, the dishes will be judged by official World Food Competition judges. The event is expected to be held along Depot Street behind Sanders Park.

Additional details about the competition will be released at a later date.

Pickin In the Park, though being introduced last year, will see a new lease on the event calendar’s life this year. Monhollen said the event “didn’t really take off last year,” noting that it began its run during the fall months. In 2023, the event is being moved up to May, where it will continue through July.

Some of the other events announced in the schedule and their dates are as follows:

Colonel Fest – April 22 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Main Street

Independence Day Fireworks Spectacular – July 3 at 9:45 p.m. at The Corbin Arena

71st Annual NIBROC Festival – Aug. 9-12 on Main and Depot Streets

Dessert Week – Oct. 2-7 at participating Corbin restaurants

Octoberfest – Oct. 14 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at NIBROC Park

Trick or Treat on Main – Oct. 31 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Main Street

Corbin Christmas Parade – Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. on Main Street

In addition to the events listed in the schedule, Monhollen noted that there will be a number of “pop-up” events that are expected to take place throughout the year as well. To best keep tabs on when and where those may take place, visit www.corbinkytourism.com and click on the “Calendar” tab.

More information is also available by contacting the Corbin Tourism Office at (606) 528-8860