ALAF Author Experience

We’re thrilled to announce the inaugural Appalachian Literary Arts Festival, located in downtown Morehead, Kentucky on August 29–30, 2026. For decades, Morehead has been a hub of literary work — Morehead State University has been a home for regional greats like Crystal Wilkinson and George Eklund — and is situated conveniently between Lexington and our eastern Appalachian writing centers, like Hindman Settlement School. Morehead is also our home;  CoffeeTree Books is a family-owned bookshop that has celebrated the literary arts in our region for over three decades.

At the Appalachian Literary Arts Festival, we have partnered with nearly all of downtown Morehead’s businesses to feature a large diversity of authors, keynotes, workshops, a literary show, custom craft beer, bourbon tastings, literary tattoos, arts and crafts, camping, hiking, theater, games, food trucks, and live music. We seek to grow interest in local authors and encourage the next generation of creators. 

The Festival…