Dolly Day Brings Music, Kindness, and Community Spirit to Downtown Beattyville

Downtown Beattyville celebrated the joy and generosity of Dolly Parton on Friday, September 25, with an evening of music, shopping, creative activities, and community kindness. Dolly Day brought together local families and visitors, including guests from Somerset, Danville, Kentucky, and Cincinnati, Ohio.

The celebration reached throughout downtown as businesses added their own Dolly-inspired touches, stayed open late, and welcomed guests. For Beattyville Main Street, that participation was one of the evening’s biggest successes: bringing people together while giving them another reason to shop and dine locally.

Herman’s Brew offered Dolly trivia, prizes, and themed treats. Haints and Hollows welcomed families with Dolly coloring pages and children’s story time. Main Street Gifts and More and The Pink Rack, along with Triple Bargains, added surprise cups, hidden store credits, and a kindness wall to the celebration.

Las Dos Sisters served two special pink drinks—the Backwoods Barbie for adults and the Smoky Mountain Sparkle for children—while Wildly Spiritual LLC offered free books for kids.

At Town Square, guests sang songs, painted rocks, helped color a community banner, and drew “Do Something Dolly” cards encouraging acts of kindness. Tina Taylor entertained the crowd and hosted the music, helping make the evening a welcoming place to gather, laugh, and celebrate.

Books, Big Hair, and a Little Sparkle

One of Dolly Day’s most meaningful accomplishments was the children’s book drive hosted by the Locally Made Farmers Market. Thanks to everyone who brought books, the event collected three totes of books to donate to the Family Resource Center at Lee County Elementary School. That generosity carried the celebration’s spirit beyond Friday night and into the lives of local children.

Participants also brought plenty of Dolly style. From sparkling outfits to colorful costumes, everyone who dressed up helped make the evening memorable. A group of ladies from Cincinnati, Ohio, participated in the Dolly Look-Alike Contest, bringing their enthusiasm and Dolly-inspired looks to downtown Beattyville. Denise Ludwig of Danville, Kentucky, won the contest, earning congratulations for her take on Dolly’s signature style.

The Dolly-themed Goose Chase added another playful touch. Marsha Moore and her goose, Stella, took the winning honors. Fellow participants included Sherry Stepp and Eleanor, who wore her coat of many colors beautifully, and Erika Arnold and Dolly, who brought plenty of shiny, shimmery style.

A Community Effort Worth Celebrating

The Beattyville Main Street Board, City of Beattyville, and Beattyville/Lee County Tourism extend their thanks to everyone who helped make Dolly Day a success.

Special appreciation goes to Katie Neiderman of Hazel Jane Boutique for sponsoring healthy snacks, Tina Taylor for providing entertainment and hosting the music, and Cash Express for supplying extra pens and sticky notes to give out. Thank you also to the Locally Made Farmers Market for hosting the book drive and to every business, volunteer, and participant who contributed.

Events like Dolly Day show how much downtown can offer when neighbors, businesses, and community partners come together. They create opportunities to support local shops and restaurants, welcome visitors, and enjoy time with one another.

To everyone who shared a smile, sang a song, donated a book, or joined the fun: thank you for bringing Dolly Day’s joy and kindness to life in Beattyville.