NIBROC Festival to offer beer sales for first time in its history

The 2014 NIBROC Festival will celebrate the return of kids-only events and games, an impressive musical entertainment lineup, numerous sports tournaments and athletic events and even, for the first time in its history, a beer garden.

While the festival officially kicks off Thursday, many vendors and other activities will start on Wednesday. A ride-all-you-want bracelet for carnival rides will be offered on Wednesday at a special rate of half price ($10 as opposed to $20).

Also opening Wednesday, for the first time in the festival’s 62-year-history, will be the official NIBROC Beer Garden — operated by the Southern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. The chamber is the organizer of the NIBROC Festival.

“Some recent changes in alcohol laws in the state of Kentucky made it easier to obtain the proper licenses to do something like this, and we just felt that it was something the festival could and should offer to people who are interested,” said Bruce Carpenter, Executive Director of the Southern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. “We think we have a very nice set up for the beer garden that people will enjoy and appreciate.”

The NIBROC Beer Garden will be located under a tent in Sander’s Park. It will include seating.

Carpenter said patrons of the beer garden must consume their alcohol in the designated location.

The beer garden will be open beginning Wednesday through the duration of the festival until it ends Saturday night.

NIBROC is located along Depot Street in downtown Corbin and is entering is 62nd year of existence.

Kids events

The Corbin Tourism and Convention Commission is sponsoring a full slate of kid-friendly activities daily, Thursday through Saturday of the festival, at NIBROC Park. Events include: a giant Twister game, Cheeto toss, obstacle course, magic shows, cake walks, tug-o-war, spelling bee, video game tournaments, pudding and freeze pop eating contests, limbo, blanket volleyball and a scavenger hunt.

NIBROC Sports

The annual NIBROC Volley Smash Tournament will be taking place daily across from Sander’s Park on Main Street.

The NIBROC Tennis Tournament will take place at courts located at Corbin High School.

The Sixth Annual NIBROC Cornhole Tournament will begin at 6:00 p.m. Friday night on Depot Street near the main festival. It will be moved to the Corbin Recreation Center in case of bad weather.

The Moonlight 2-mile Run/Walk, sponsored by Baptist Family Fitness, will begin at 8:00 p.m. near First Baptist Church on Laurel Avenue.

On Saturday, the 2nd Annual NIBROC 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament will take place at the Corbin Recreation Center beginning at noon. On site pre-registration begins at 10:00 a.m.

Musical Entertainment

Bluegrass fusion band Blind Ricky will take the stage at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, followed at 9:30 p.m. by indie folk sensation Kites.
On Friday, modern country band County Wide will open on the main stage at 7:00 p.m. with Borrowed Blue headlining the evening around 9:30 p.m.

The final day of the festival will feature NIBROC favorites Caught Red Handed at 7:00 p.m. on the main stage, followed at 9:30 p.m. by the headlining act of the entire festival, former Bad English front man, and Grammy-nominated singer John Waite.
All concerts will take place on a stage located on Monroe Street facing the main vendor area.

For a full list of NIBROC events and activities, you can go online to www.southernkychamber.com/nibroc or check out the special insert included in this week’s News Journal.