It’s funnel cake time!

The community’s favorite time of year is here. The 76th Daniel Boone Festival kicks off this weekend on Sunday with the DBF Baby Pageant and will continue on into the late hours of next Saturday, October 12.

The baby pageant, sponsored by Knox County Middle School cheerleaders, will be held at the Knox Middle School Gym on Sunday, October 6 at 1:30 p.m., with admission costs of $1 for children of school age, and $5 for adults.

The coronation of the 2024 royalty will be held Monday evening, also at Knox County Middle School Gym, at 7 p.m. where the queen, princess, miniature queen and miniature king will be crowned. The event is sponsored by the GFWC KY Barbourville Jr. Woman’s Study Club. The proceeds from the event go to the Jr. Woman’s Study Club. Admission for adults is $5, while children get in for free. The winners of the royalty contest will be featured in a special section of the newspaper in next week’s newspaper. 

A variety of events will be peppered throughout the week, including the Art, Photography and Quilt contests, window judging, carnival rides, wagon train, and more.

The Pioneer Village (food booths) setup and sales will begin Wednesday, October 9 at 6 p.m, and the Craft Village setup will take place from 5-8 p.m. Bingo also begins on Wednesday and will go through Saturday from 5-11 p.m. on Liberty Street.

Primitive Camp begins on Thursday morning on North Main Street at 9 a.m. and will run until late evening. At the Primitive Camp, apple butter demonstrations will take place from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., as well as butter churning demonstrations. Apple butter sales will be available on Friday and Saturday.

Carnival rides begin on Tuesday, October 8 at 6 p.m., 4 p.m. on Wednesday, 2 p.m. on Thursday, 12 p.m. on Friday and 12 p.m. on Saturday. 

The Pancake Breakfast, sponsored by the Barbourville Fire Department, will take place 6:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. at Lay Elementary School, with tickets available at the door.

The Long Rifle Shoot registration begins at 9:30 a.m. with the shoot following at 10 a.m. at Lay Field. 

At the City Park, the Antique Car Show, for vehicles 20 years and older, will take place with registration at 9 a.m., followed by judging from 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

The Daniel Boone Festival Feast, including the signing of the Cane Treaty, Native American entertainment, friendship dance and more will take place beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Knox County Middle School Gym. Tickets for the dinner may be purchased at the door.

The centerpiece of the festival, the annual DBF parade, will take place at 2 p.m. The lineup schedule is as follows: floats 11 a.m., bands 1 p.m., horses 1:45 p.m., antique cars 1:45 p.m. (limited to car show entries).

Music and special talent acts for the week will consist of: Boone Stage (Thursday) Big Wheel Race, Best Dressed, Talent Show; Boone Stage (Friday) Native Americans 2 p.m., His Anointed One 3 p.m., Karen Johnson Dulcimer 3:45 p.m., Music and Games 4:45 p.m., Theresa Davenport Accordion 4:15 p.m., Tennessee 90 6 p.m., and Native Americans at 8 p.m.; Boone Stage (Saturday) Native Americans 11 a.m., Nick Liford 12 p.m., Pine Mountain Dancers 1:15 p.m,. Bargo Brothers 3 p.m., Peggy Retherford 4 p.m., Native Americans 5 p.m., Calvary’s Cry 6 p.m. and 3 Years Apart 7 p.m.

The main concerts to be featured include headliners Confederate Railroad at 8:30 p.m. on Friday, and Lorrie Morgan at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday. Opening for Confederate Railroad at 6:30 p.m. Friday will be Paint Creek. Opening for Lorrie Morgan at 6:30 p.m. Saturday will be Billy Brown. 

Food booths will close at 10 p.m. on Saturday, followed by carnival rides closing at 11 p.m.