Paper-making is a simple process that shows us how to slow down and appreciate the beauty in something we often take for granted. On August 21st, participants will be led through the process of making their own handmade paper from junk mail. We will make pulp from recycled paper, fashion a mould & deckle out of upcycled picture frames, and create sheets of homemade paper that can be used for crafts, journaling, scrapbooking, and bookmaking.

The paper will have to dry overnight, so folks can either come pick it up or come back for September's Pass It On where we will be making books! This is a FREE workshop open to children ages 8 to 17 and adults.

The Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, provides operating support to Pine Mountain Settlement School with state tax dollars and federal funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.

A tradition that reaches back almost to the beginning, Fair Day is an annual event for community, connection, and celebration of our traditions and heritage! We are excited to move Fair Day to August so we can revive the original purpose of Fair Day - to enable folks to share the bounties of their garden and learn techniques, both new and old, to ensure better production on small plots of land dotting the hollers and hillsides of Eastern Kentucky. Be sure to check out the exhibit list below to submit your very own homegrown or homemade items to be judged for a prize. We welcome vendors to sell their wares (see registration link below) and everybody everywhere to come enjoy good food, good music, and a good time at Pine Mountain Settlement School!

Food is a fundamental part of connecting - to people, to place, to meaning. We are delighted to celebrate the beauty held in moments of togetherness by gathering to a share a meal which celebrates the creativity and resourcefulness of mountain folk. Join us and Ashley Bledsoe as we celebrate the summer harvest with a locally sourced meal under the stars with the beautiful backdrop of Pine Mountain. Meals are $65 per person and go towards supporting our community programming.

This free dinner series is designed to celebrate, share, and connect with what it means to be Appalachian and explore how we can nourish the narrative of our region by connecting with others. We welcome thinkers and movers to share in a meal, discussion, and craft. Join us as we welcome Amy Richardson - farmer, author, mother - as she discusses storytelling as memory. We will share a meal and join the creative process by making a memory map.

Kentucky Farm Bureau will be hosting their Ag in the Classroom workshop at Pine Mountain Settlement School! Learn hands-on lessons with real-world applications and take your teaching - and your students - to the next level! Mark your calendars! REGISTER BY MAY 3OTH!

This free dinner series is designed to celebrate, share, and connect with what it means to be Appalachian and how we can mold the narrative of our region by connecting with others. We welcome thinkers and movers to share in a meal, discussion, and craft. Join Appalachian author and small business owner, Mandi Fugate Sheffel as she discusses how place informs identity. Mandi Fugate Sheffel was born and raised in Red Fox, Ky. She is a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University and is currently the Sycamore Fund Project Coordinator at the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky. Additionally, she owns and operates Read Spotted Newt, an independent bookstore in the coalfields of eastern Kentucky. Her personal essays and opinion pieces can be found in Still: The Journal, Lexington-Herald Leader, and the Courier Journal. Her forthcoming personal essay collection, The Nature of Pain, will be released in 2025 through The University Press of Kentucky. 

Join us for a special event as our Junior Appalachian Musicians showcase what they have learned! The recital begins at 5 pm with our free Mother’s Day Dinner followed by the recital at 6 pm at Laurel House. The meal includes fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, macaroni and cheese, rolls, and dessert.

Make plans to join us April 19th for a spring wildflower hike to celebrate Earth Day and the marvels of spring.

KNLT Spring Wildflower Hike

Date: April 19, 2025

Time: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Location: James E. Bickford State Nature Preserve (Pine Mountain Settlement School)

Harlan County, KY

Spring has Sprung and bunnies are on the loose! Come join us as we hunt for eggs and celebrate all the season has to offer! We will offer two hunts: one for younger children (toddler - 5 years) and another for older children (6-12 years). All hunts include prize eggs!

Our ever popular blacksmithing class IS BACK! Register quick as space is limited! This is a FREE all day workshop beginning at 9 am at the Draper building with Fred Loving. Participants should plan to bring lunch and any snacks preferred. The workshop will focus on beginner skills.

This class is free to the public thanks to the generous support of the Berea College Appalachian Fund

The Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, provides operating support to Pine Mountain Settlement School with state tax dollars and federal funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.

After a huge response, we are happy to announce another installment of our popular woodcarving workshop! This class is designed for children ages 8-17 beginning at 4:30 pm with an adult class to follow at 6:00 pm.

The Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, provides operating support to Pine Mountain Settlement School with state tax dollars and federal funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.

We are delighted to launch our Bridge Dinner Series with our guest, Ms. Emily Hudson! This free dinner series is designed to celebrate, share, and connect with what it means to be Appalachian and how we can mold the narrative of our region by connecting with others. Ms. Hudson will share her work, Stories Behind the Quilt. Participants will enjoy a dinner and special craft, creating a quilt oven mitt. Emily Jones Hudson is a native of Hazard, Kentucky, graduate of Berea College, a journalist and freelance writer. She is a pastor and poet, the author of four books: two inspirational-Water-Walking Faith and Touch the Hem; two works of poetry-Soul Miner, and Home, A Collection of poetic thoughts and things. She is the founder of CommonBond Christian Fellowship Ministries and Southeast Kentucky African-American Museum and Cultural Center.

Inspiration behind Stories Behind the Quilt series: We know that quilting is a tradition in the Appalachian Culture. But it is also a tradition in the African American culture and community. Growing up watching my mother quilt, I wanted to explore the commonalities in the quilting traditions found in both cultures. One thing we recognized is the place that sharing stories has while women come together to quilt. Thus, the birth of Stories Behind the Quilt. The series has taken on a life of its own and is growing more and more every day.

Blacksmithing with Fred Loving is one of our most popular classes! Be sure to register now - space is limited to 5 participants. This is a full-day workshop, so participants should pack a lunch and any preferred snacks. The workshop will be at the Draper Building.

This class is free to the public thanks to the generous support of the Berea College Appalachian Fund

The Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, provides operating support to Pine Mountain Settlement School with state tax dollars and federal funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Pine Mountain Settlement School is delighted to host the Grow Appalachia Garden Program. This program supports families in learning strategies to grow, harvest, and preserve food. We will have monthly meetings with guidance, guest speakers, and garden goodies! This is a free program that meets twice a month.

Celebrate love and the joy of community at our annual Valentine's Day Dinner. The meal includes roast beef, mashed potatoes, green beans, coleslaw, rolls, and dessert in our historic Laurel House. $25/person or $40/couple

This much sought after class starts the new year off with a clang! This free workshop is a full day, so participants should expect to bring lunch and any preferred snacks. Space is limited to 5, so be sure to register today!

This class is free to the public thanks to the generous support of the Berea College Appalachian Fund

The Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, provides operating support to Pine Mountain Settlement School with state tax dollars and federal funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.

The holidays are all about traditions and we are so happy to celebrate our Community Christmas as one of the many traditions at Pine Mountain Settlement School. Beginning at 5 pm, we will host the children’s program. Each child will choose a gift and participate in holiday craft activities. Supper will be served at 6 pm - come share in the warmth and joy of the season!

We are so happy to invite friends and family to attend the very first JAM Recital on Monday, December 9th beginning at 5:30 pm. Students, instructors, and guests will enjoy a meal and entertainment in celebration of our young musicians.

Our Nativity Play is the longest-standing tradition of Pine Mountain Settlement School! The first play was performed in 1913, the year Pine Mountain Settlement School was established. The play was written by Katherine Pettit and Ethel deLong Zande. Originally performed outdoors, the play is a compilation of passages of scripture, hymns, carols and carols. We offer two shows on December 8th:

Doors open at 2:30 pm and the play begins at 3:00 pm to be followed by a reception at Laurel House

Doors open at 6:30 pm and the play begins at 7:00 pm to be followed by a reception at Laurel House.

Blacksmithing is a time-honored traditional craft! Fred Loving will be hosting this free class as part of our Pass It On Series. Participants need to bring a lunch - the workshop is a full day. Space is limited so register today!

Join the festive fun of wreath-making and deck the halls with boughs of holly, pine, and cedar! Maggie Bowling will be guiding you through the process to make your very own holiday cheer! This a FREE workshop beginning at 4:30 for children and 6 pm for adults on December 5th in the Draper Building.

This is one of our most popular workshops! Fred Loving will be hosting blacksmithing on November 23rd. This is an all day event and participants need to bring their own lunch. The class is limited to 5 participants so be sure to register now!

We are happy to host our annual Veterans Day Dinner to honor and celebrate those who have served our country and communities! Please join us at 6 pm for a meal and fellowship. Meals for veterans are free. Meals for others are $15. Please register below!