Moonlight Festival set to let downtown Somerset shine Saturday

Oct. 18—From the Zombie Walk to Cumberland Con, October has been a busy month for those who like to be out and about in Pulaski County. This weekend doesn't let up, as it's time for the Moonlight Festival to rise.

The Moonlight Festival bookends Foodstock in the spring as outdoor downtown festivals organized by the City of Somerset, celebrating music, art, food, and all-around community fellowship.

This year's Moonlight Festival will take place Saturday, October 21 in downtown Somerset from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. — meaning much of it is in daylight hours, but the fall spirit of early nightfall and harvest moons is pervasive throughout the festivities.

"A lot of the set-up is the same (from past years)," said City of Somerset Tourism Director Leslie Ikerd. "... I think the common language of people is music and art. We all like different things, but at the end of the day, that connects us all to where it feels like a community coming together and celebrating."

The event expects over 30 food and spirit vendors, set up throughout the festival. On the Judicial Center plaza will be retail and boutique vendors, and an area for kids to play.

Admission is free, but to purchase alcoholic drinks, one will need to purchase a $5 spirit wristband to make for easier confirmation of age for sales.

The stage set up in the middle of Main Street will host a variety of artists throughout the day, headlined by Dylan Marlowe, a rising country star from Georgia currently making the scene in Nashville. Marlowe is known for songs like "Grew Up Country" and a cover of Olivia Rodrigo's "Drivers License" and Ikerd is excited to have him perform here in Somerset.

"He was Spotify's hot country artist to watch for 2023," said Ikerd. "He goes on tour this fall with Hardy, which is one of the biggest tours in country music. So I was excited to be able to get him before he really takes off in country music."

Marlowe will be taking the stage at approximately 8:45 p.m. but leading up to him are six other acts, starting at 11 a.m. with The Leftovers, a group of high school kids who met and bonded over their love of music.

"It's a group of four young men (who) met at the Rogers' Scholars program over the summer," said Ikerd. "They all realized that they had different passions for music and started playing together. One of those key members is from Somerset (Matthew Satterly) and so we're going to have them open up. We love to highlight young musicians that are just getting started and give them an opportunity to be on the Moonlight stage."

At 12:30 p.m., local singer-songwriter Logan Purcell performs after winning the busker contest at Foodstock earlier in the year. Next, at 2:15 p.m., is Daniel Cain; "He and his group are a regional act and tour all around. They are a little bit of bluegrass-folk-country outlaw and a little bit of blues."

Magnolia Vale comes on at 4 p.m. — "They are two identical twin sisters from Lebanon, Ky., and they are a country music duo who have opened up for people like Rascal Flatts and Trace Adkins," said Ikerd.

At 5:45 p.m. is Memphis' The Sensational Barnes Brothers, another sibling act that does "a little bit of everything" musically which Ikerd called "feel-good music." And at 7:30 p.m. is another Tennessee performer, 24-year-old Redferrin, who has "the upcoming buzz in Nashville right now," said Ikerd. "He's definitely grassroots country (and) has kind of got that spunk about him, full of adrenaline. He puts on a very good show. I know our younger crowd is really excited about seeing him perform."

Part of the Moonlight Festival's success has been pulling in artists that will in turn pull in younger people to take part in the community event, as was the case last year with performer Kidd G.

"I got so much feedback from the festival last year as we drew the largest crowd we'd ever had of 10,000," said Ikerd. "Kidd G, a lot of people weren't familiar with him, but younger kids really showed up and brought families with them, so that showed me that's something that's missing in some part (in past events). (We want to) bring something to the table for out teenagers that really build that community. I've had several people reach out to me, and say, 'Thanks for letting my kids be excited about something going on downtown.' It's not just for older people. I think it's good to have a mix."

The live creation of art is always a big part of the Moonlight Festival and it will be again in 2023. Working with the theme of "How do you see Somerset?" — a take-off on the "See Somerset" tourism slogan — artists will express their own perspectives on the topic via whatever medium they work in.

"Artists will be around the square, creating art that they'll finish during the festival," said Ikerd, noting that there are six participating this year, five from this area and one from Louisville. "They'll also have some of their crafts and creations for sale as well as their painting."

Pieces will be turned in toward the end of the night; eventually, the plan is to hold an art show made up of the pieces artists have made during town festivals once enough them have been collected.

"We have been displaying most of the local art throughout the Energy Center," said Ikerd, referring to the town's city hall facilities, "and then when we are able to gather enough to do a full art show, those artists will be able to come back and showcase each of their works. (Also), people will be able to possibly buy (pieces) through an auction, and those funds will go back into our charitable (channels) to create more art."

Gates will be located at: the intersection of East Mt. Vernon Street and Central Avenue (which will be open to traffic); South Main Street and Market Street; and North Main Street and Columbia Street (which will be open to traffic).

Road closures include: East Mt. Vernon to Central Avenue; South Main Street to Market Street; Maple Street to West Columbia Street; North Main Street to Columbia Stree; Rosewood Avenue to Central Avenue; and Maple Street to Spring Street.

For anyone unfamiliar with the downtown Somerset area, the following roadways will be helpful with avoiding the closed streets: Central Avenue, Limestone Street, Oak Street, Vine Street, Crawford Avenue, South Richardson Drive, Murphy Avenue, Jarvis Avenue, College Street and Barnett Street will all be utilized for detours around the festival area.

Downtown businesses have been notified of the closures. Those who come downtown should park in the larger parking areas and not on East Mt. Vernon Street or around the Fountain Square after 5:30 p.m. Friday, when set-up for the event will begin.

For any updates or changes to these road closures, please follow the Somerset Police Department Facebook page.

Whether it's people who live and work downtown every day, visitors from other communities, or local people who just don't make it to the heart of Somerset often, Moonlight Festival is a perfect time for all these types of people to come together, eat, drink and be merry while wearing their favorite flannel and getting into the autumnal spirit.

"This has become our signature fall event," said Ikerd. "I think people enjoy fall events. The weather is typically good. It's not too hot, it's not too cold. It's a free festival so people can come out and bring their families and not have to worry about spending money, or they can also choose to spend money. But when you have something that's a community event and it's open to everybody, I think that's very welcoming. It resonates with people to know we want them here, we want them downtown."