A Little History
Ashland Poage Landing Days was restarted in 1990, at the request of the City of Ashland, to Patricia Gray and Tom Owen as a hometown festival celebrating the founding "Poage" family. This would be a way of bringing the rich heritage of Ashland to the community, which at one time was named "Poage Landing". Through their untiring efforts and that of the committee members, the Community Billboard, located on Judd Plaza was built, and is still being utilized by town organizations.
The Poages, natives of Scotland, were subjected to religious persecution and migrated to Ireland in the 18th century. Robert Poage and wife, Elizabeth Poage, with their nine children migrated to America, landing at Philadelphia in 1738. They went soon to Augusta County, acquiring a land grant near the present Staunton.
Three of these early Poages came to Kentucky some time after the Revolutionary War, the exact date undetermined. They were Col. George Poage, his brother Robert Poage, and George's son, John. Family records give the date as 1786. These three entered the state through Cumberland Gap and went on into the Blue Grass. At Boonesboro, they encountered another brother of George and Robert, Col. James Poage, an old Indian fighter who lived in Clark County but was visiting at Boonesboro. After parting, they followed an old buffalo trail and came to the site of the present city of Ashland. Picking the exact spot for a homestead, they felled a few trees to mark the place and returned to Virginia.
The Poages left their home in Virginia in 1799, just 219 years ago, and migrated across the mountains and through Kentucky to the Ohio River. There were three in the party that came to settle here. George Poage, Robert, and Robert Poage, Jr. Having located their track of land to their satisfaction, they were forced by necessity to immediately establish homes and clear the land for cultivation.
One house was built near Twenty Eighth Street and the river front; another at Eleventh Street, and another where the AK plant is now located. Having established farms and found the country offered abundant reward for industry, the word was carried back to Virginia, and other members of the family packed up their belongings and came to settle and develop here.
Poage Landing is made up of several committees, including Poage family descendants, working year-round gathering a hundred plus volunteers, getting food and information vendors, and keeping schedules on target that are needed to make the festival a success. It is a three day festival that has been held on the third weekend in September for the last 27 years that draws approximately 20,000 - 30,000 annually.
The events include a Poage Family reunion bringing to Ashland some of the Poage descendants from across the country, a popular children's pageant is held for those 12 and under. The arts and craft area, a tent located in the heart of Ashland on Winchester Avenue, brings local crafters selling local artisans' wares. The arts and crafts will include wood-working, candle making, various quilts, jewelry, jams and jellies, paintings, clothing, flower arrangements, and seasonal crafts for all of the holidays. Crafters come from the local Ashland area, Northeastern Kentucky, and from the Ohio and West Virginia areas. A community church service is opened to the public early Sunday morning and is attended by many of the people that have been coming to the festival that weekend. We also have a local minister who delivers the morning message on Sunday along with a performing choir.
The community wants a national entertainer and with our sponsors' help, we try to make this happen. Poage Landing likes to bring as much local talent to the festival as possible. This includes local bands and singers, high school performers, young thespians, and folk dancers.
One of Poage Landings' main priority is family and children. At the end of the day it is all about family. The main effort is to keep all family activities free. We want to make sure every child has the same opportunity. Regardless of economics, all kids can come out and have fun. Face-painting, "make and take art" is offered free at the children's tent for youngsters and the young at heart. Peanut the Magical Clown will entertain everyone of all ages. Skateboarding has become a popular activity for the young people of the area and draws kids from all over the tri-state and even out of state. Skateboarders fly through a downhill ramp at the Southern Fried Cone Fest located on 17th Street and Ramey Street next to ACTC. Skateboarders earn prizes for their efforts. Poage has one of the largest inflatable obstacle courses for children in the area at no charge.
The Cincinnati Circus! Our Big Circus Show is an astounding mixture of fun, comedy, agility, and skill. It features Stilt Walkers, Jugglers, Magicians, Fire Eating, and Aerial Acrobatics on a Flying Trapeze! All of this is in the hands of the Ringmaster who takes you from one amazing talent to the next! We even have a Wheel of Destiny, Chair Stacking Show, and Trampoline Wall!!! We have all the great Circus acts!
We are totally funded by contributions from local area businesses with the City of Ashland being our strongest supporter. These sponsors are responsible for bringing the streets of Ashland alive for those three days in September and Poage Landing wants to maintain this level of entertainment and activities to keep the rich heritage of the Ashland community alive. This is truly a "festival-within-a-festival" that we want to continue to bring together families, friends, and especially the children in the tri-state area to this wonderful town of Ashland.
The Poages, natives of Scotland, were subjected to religious persecution and migrated to Ireland in the 18th century. Robert Poage and wife, Elizabeth Poage, with their nine children migrated to America, landing at Philadelphia in 1738. They went soon to Augusta County, acquiring a land grant near the present Staunton.
Three of these early Poages came to Kentucky some time after the Revolutionary War, the exact date undetermined. They were Col. George Poage, his brother Robert Poage, and George's son, John. Family records give the date as 1786. These three entered the state through Cumberland Gap and went on into the Blue Grass. At Boonesboro, they encountered another brother of George and Robert, Col. James Poage, an old Indian fighter who lived in Clark County but was visiting at Boonesboro. After parting, they followed an old buffalo trail and came to the site of the present city of Ashland. Picking the exact spot for a homestead, they felled a few trees to mark the place and returned to Virginia.
The Poages left their home in Virginia in 1799, just 219 years ago, and migrated across the mountains and through Kentucky to the Ohio River. There were three in the party that came to settle here. George Poage, Robert, and Robert Poage, Jr. Having located their track of land to their satisfaction, they were forced by necessity to immediately establish homes and clear the land for cultivation.
One house was built near Twenty Eighth Street and the river front; another at Eleventh Street, and another where the AK plant is now located. Having established farms and found the country offered abundant reward for industry, the word was carried back to Virginia, and other members of the family packed up their belongings and came to settle and develop here.
Poage Landing is made up of several committees, including Poage family descendants, working year-round gathering a hundred plus volunteers, getting food and information vendors, and keeping schedules on target that are needed to make the festival a success. It is a three day festival that has been held on the third weekend in September for the last 27 years that draws approximately 20,000 - 30,000 annually.
The events include a Poage Family reunion bringing to Ashland some of the Poage descendants from across the country, a popular children's pageant is held for those 12 and under. The arts and craft area, a tent located in the heart of Ashland on Winchester Avenue, brings local crafters selling local artisans' wares. The arts and crafts will include wood-working, candle making, various quilts, jewelry, jams and jellies, paintings, clothing, flower arrangements, and seasonal crafts for all of the holidays. Crafters come from the local Ashland area, Northeastern Kentucky, and from the Ohio and West Virginia areas. A community church service is opened to the public early Sunday morning and is attended by many of the people that have been coming to the festival that weekend. We also have a local minister who delivers the morning message on Sunday along with a performing choir.
The community wants a national entertainer and with our sponsors' help, we try to make this happen. Poage Landing likes to bring as much local talent to the festival as possible. This includes local bands and singers, high school performers, young thespians, and folk dancers.
One of Poage Landings' main priority is family and children. At the end of the day it is all about family. The main effort is to keep all family activities free. We want to make sure every child has the same opportunity. Regardless of economics, all kids can come out and have fun. Face-painting, "make and take art" is offered free at the children's tent for youngsters and the young at heart. Peanut the Magical Clown will entertain everyone of all ages. Skateboarding has become a popular activity for the young people of the area and draws kids from all over the tri-state and even out of state. Skateboarders fly through a downhill ramp at the Southern Fried Cone Fest located on 17th Street and Ramey Street next to ACTC. Skateboarders earn prizes for their efforts. Poage has one of the largest inflatable obstacle courses for children in the area at no charge.
The Cincinnati Circus! Our Big Circus Show is an astounding mixture of fun, comedy, agility, and skill. It features Stilt Walkers, Jugglers, Magicians, Fire Eating, and Aerial Acrobatics on a Flying Trapeze! All of this is in the hands of the Ringmaster who takes you from one amazing talent to the next! We even have a Wheel of Destiny, Chair Stacking Show, and Trampoline Wall!!! We have all the great Circus acts!
We are totally funded by contributions from local area businesses with the City of Ashland being our strongest supporter. These sponsors are responsible for bringing the streets of Ashland alive for those three days in September and Poage Landing wants to maintain this level of entertainment and activities to keep the rich heritage of the Ashland community alive. This is truly a "festival-within-a-festival" that we want to continue to bring together families, friends, and especially the children in the tri-state area to this wonderful town of Ashland.