Healing Appalachia
- Dates
- Sep 10 to 11, 2027
- Status
- On hiatus
- Venue
- Boyd County Fairgrounds
- Price
- Not announced
- Camping
- Available
- Last checked
- Oct 25, 2026
Healing Appalachia in Ashland, KY is not currently confirmed to be running. Froligo tracks its status, history and similar festivals still happening.
What happened to Healing Appalachia?
Official site: "Healing Appalachia 2026 will be paused as Hope in the Hills focuses resources on recovery programs across Appalachia. While the festival will not take place this year, the mission continues. The festival will return September 10, 11, 2027 at Boyd County Fairgrounds in Ashland, Kentucky.".
Reported by WCHS-TV (ABC 8) (May 28, 2026).
Similar festivals that are still going ahead are listed further down this page.
The experience
What's special
Healing Appalachia is a music festival in Ashland, Kentucky, run by Hope in the Hills to raise awareness and money for opioid addiction prevention and recovery across Appalachia. The first edition was held in 2018 at the West Virginia State Fairgrounds in Lewisburg, and the festival moved to the Boyd County Fairgrounds in 2025. The 2026 edition was paused, and the festival returns on September 10 and 11, 2027. The organizer describes it as a movement as much as an event, with recovery resources and partner organizations on site alongside the music.
How it works
The festival runs Friday and Saturday, September 10 and 11, 2027, in the field just north of the Boyd County Fairgrounds, 1760 Addington Rd, Ashland. Tickets are sold only through the official website and arrive as RFID wristbands. Children 12 and under are free with a ticketed adult. Any vehicle needs a camping, RV or day parking pass. Outside food and drink are not allowed in the music area, bars check ID, and the festival goes ahead rain or shine.
Who it suits
The organizer says the festival is open to all and that families are welcome. It suits country and roots music fans who like a camping festival with a cause, since ticket sales and donations fund recovery programs in Appalachia. Bags and vehicles are searched, glass is banned, and only certified service animals are allowed, so pets stay home.
Listen
No official playlist linked yet. Find Healing Appalachia on Spotify.
Lineup
Getting there
Nearest airport HTS.
How do I get to Healing Appalachia?
By car
Most people drive to Healing Appalachia. The nearest major airport is HTS, and from there it is a straightforward drive to the venue. Check current road and traffic conditions before you set off, and see parking below.
By train
Genuine, real rail option, the Cardinal (New York-Chicago via DC/Cincinnati) stops at BOTH Huntington, WV (1050 8th Ave) and Ashland, KY itself (Ashland Transportation Center, unstaffed, book online in advance). Runs only 3x/week each direction (Sun/Wed/Fri), plan festival travel dates around this limited schedule. From either station, a further rideshare/rental-car leg is needed out to Boyd County Fairgrounds.
Book / infoBy bus & public transit
Both operators run a short (~25 min, ~15 mi) route several times daily between the Tri-State Transit Authority Transit Center in Huntington (1251 4th Ave) and the Ashland Bus Station (99 15th St), a real, practical link between the HTS-airport area and the host city; a further short rideshare/rental leg is still needed out to the fairgrounds itself.
Book / infoTaxi & rideshare
Uber/Lyft pickup outside the main terminal via the app; taxis queue at designated drop-off points.
Book / infoTaxis and rideshare such as Uber and Lyft can be limited near the venue, especially late at night or in rural areas. Agree a pickup point and time in advance and keep a backup plan.
🅿 Parking
On site parking available. Cost All vehicles must purchase a parking pass in advance (first-come, first-served allocation); passes are sold on the official ticketing site's own 'Day Parking' page and are valid for the full weekend. Separate Car Camping / Premium Car Camping / RV / Premium RV vehicle-pass tiers exist alongside general day parking, see camping_deep_dive.vehicle_sites below.
🚙 Car hire
Compare car hire at HTS
On site parking is available; if you are hiring a car it is worth checking the cost and how early it fills.
Search car hireCar hire links may earn Froligo a commission; they never change the price you pay.
Where
Map shows the center of Ashland. The venue's exact point is not confirmed yet.
Venue
The venue has its own page with capacity, accessibility and parking.
Camping & Accommodation
Is there camping at Healing Appalachia?
Yes, on site camping is available.
Facilities
Camping site types 1
Car Camping (standard, first-come-first-served) and Premium Car Camping ('closest spots to the stadium') are both offered as separate ticket-add-on tiers.
Where can I stay near Healing Appalachia?
Search all hotels near Boyd County Fairgrounds
Show hotels on a map
Hotel links may earn Froligo a commission; they never change the price you pay.
Accessibility & comfort
The organizer does not publish accessibility details. Ask them directly before you travel about step-free access, accessible toilets, seating and anything else you need.
Pricing
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