For over 70 years, Harlan County has been hosting the annual Poke Sallet Festival. What started as an idea after a dinner featuring poke sallet is now a robust community tradition that brings families and friends together year after year every summer.

Not sure what poke sallet is? It’s a southern delicacy – also called a “forager’s delight”. 

This festival offers a wide range of events: singing competitions, a “Run for the Hills 5K”, pet and car shows, pageantry, and a golf tournament. In addition to this fun, there are daily performances, meet and greets with local celebrities and college athletes, and opportunities to engage with a variety of vendors – educational, entertainment, kid-friendly, and more! This fun goes hand in hand with Harlan’s heart for giving back. This past year’s festival featured a 50/50 raffle where donations benefited families impacted by recent natural disasters.

We know that these types of community traditions boost health and well-being, build a sense of community connection, and buffer experiences of adversity. 

One of KYA’s Harlan natives, Tara Grieshop-Goodwin, shared, “I remember going to the festival when I was a kid and they had a dog show with a look-alike contest for pets and owners and a mini train that pulled people around town. The festival brought out smiles and joy for the community.”

While serving as Miss Kentucky in 2023, KYA’s Hannah Edelen, had the opportunity to visit Harlan during this special time and work one of the vendor booths. “Harlan’s heart was on full display during the festival – little ones to big made their way on the mobile science center exploring agriculture and taking part in this community tradition,” shared Hannah.

You don’t have to be a Harlan native to experience all this festival has to offer. Put it on your calendar for next year for a fun adventure to eastern Kentucky and take part in serving up positive childhood experiences for you and your family. To learn more about the Poke Sallet Festival, check out the official website and Facebook page.