Old Fashioned Trading Days starts Thursday; recently named among top festivals in KY

Williamsburg’s Old Fashioned Trading Days, which kicks off Thursday, has been named one of the 2014 Top Fall Festivals and Events by the Kentucky Travel Industry Association.

"This is a great honor for any festival in the state of Kentucky to be named in the top fall festivals," said Williamsburg Tourism Director Alvin Sharpe.

He added that this is the fifth or sixth time that Williamsburg has been selected as one of the top fall festivals by the association.
Williamsburg’s three-day festival is held every September and is a celebration of heritage while functioning as a stage for local artists, community businesses and local organizations. Visitors can shop a variety of craft and entrepreneur booths in the downtown area and take the opportunity to enjoy quality Bluegrass, gospel and rock music from two stages.

Old Fashioned Trading Days has grown to an average attendance of 15,000 – 17,000 people since it’s inception in 1983.

The Kentucky Travel Industry Association is an 800-member statewide association representing all sectors of the state’s tourism and travel industry.

The association names its top festivals and events four times a year. To be eligible, festivals or events must be recommended or produced by a Kentucky Travel Industry Association member.

A panel of impartial judges selects the winners for each season. Criteria for selection include popularity of the event, its impact on the local tourism economy as well as cultural and historical significance.

In order to qualify for the fall season, the festival or event must be held during the months of September, October, or mid-November.

Other festivals receiving the recognition include: Covington’s Main Strasse Village Oktoberfest, Lexington’s Roots and Heritage

Festival, Bardstown’s Kentucky Bourbon Festival, Paducah’s Dragon Boat Festival, Whitesburg’s Mountain Heritage Festival, Mt. Sterling’s October Court Days, the Glendale Crossing Festival and Paducah’s River’s Edge International Film Festival.

"In the state of Kentucky with all these different festivals, to be in the top 10 it’s a great honor," Sharpe added.