Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By: Casey Roberts

Contributing Writer

 

Lincoln County is preparing for a summer full of celebration, community, and tradition with two major events highlighting the area’s heritage and talent.

 

The festivities begin with the Wilderness Road Music Fest, scheduled for May 24 from 3 to 9 p.m. at the Lincoln County Courthouse in Stanford. This free-entry event will feature an evening of live entertainment and local flavor, headlined by Lincoln County’s own Lexy Clark, Damon Spigle, and Alayna Bodner. Residents and visitors alike are invited to bring their own chairs and enjoy performances from these homegrown talents.

 

A variety of local food trucks will be on site, including Holy Smokes BBQ, Sip N Savor, R.I.I.S.E, Poppin J’s, and Street Sweets, making it a perfect way to spend an evening celebrating the start of summer.

 

The music festival also serves as the kickoff to the county’s recognition of the 250th anniversary of the Wilderness Road and the founding of the City of Stanford—two cornerstones of Kentucky history.

 

In July, the spotlight will turn to local legacy as the Whitley Family Reunion returns to the William Whitley House Historic Site from July 3–5, 2025. The event honors the descendants of William and Esther Whitley and invites families with related lineages—such as Owsley, Pennington, Stephenson, and McKinney—to gather for a weekend of remembrance and connection.

 

The William Whitley House, located at 625 William Whitley Road in Stanford, will serve as the backdrop for this historic reunion. The celebration will coincide with the Crab Orchard Fourth of July Celebration, Kentucky’s oldest Independence Day tradition.

 

Registration forms can be requested by emailing jvanhook@lincolnky.com, or by visiting the Whitley House in person during its seasonal hours, Thursdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

 

Lincoln County invites all to come together in celebration of its music, people, and 250 years of proud history. For more information, visit visitlincolnky.com.