October 17 & 18, 2025

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October 17 & 18, 2025 ★

Poster advertising The Mountain Girl Experience event in Pikeville, Kentucky, on October 17 and 18, with performances, workshops, art gallery, and vendors.

Thank you to Jeremy Justice for these beautiful videos!

One of Kentucky’s Best Intimate Music Festivals

…The Lexington Herald Leader

We are a music and arts festival dedicated to supporting Domestic Violence Services in our home area.
We are a female run festival raising money for women in need.
All are welcome. Zero exclusion.
Workshops, live music, art gallery, artisan vendors and demonstrations and so much more.

To date, the Mountain Girl Experience is proud to announce that we have raised over $7,000.00 in charitable donations to help Appalachian Women in need.

A woman standing next to a colorful bear sculpture at night, with a building and hills in the background.
Colorful decorated ukulele on display on a blue table, surrounded by markers, colorful stencil sheets, and flyers about a musical program and donation efforts.
A promotional graphic encouraging building a ukulele with logos for Candy Aid, The Mountain Girl Experience, and University of Pikeville, with a message about instruments helping children in Eastern Kentucky.
Four people smiling and holding small wooden ukuleles at a build a ukulele event with a banner that reads 'Build a Ukulele!'.
Group of five smiling people standing together outdoors at a festival, some wearing festival lanyards and two holding a small ukulele, with a banner in the background that says 'Build a Ukulele!'.
Collection of small, colorful ukuleles decorated with various painted designs and patterns, displayed on a patterned cloth outdoors.

Healing Appalachia

In partnership with Can’d Aid & UPike, The Mountain Grrl Experiences runs an all-volunteer booth at the Healing Appalachia Festival where Ukuleles are lovingly built & decorated by festival attendees and even some famous musicians and artists! The ukes are then donated to programs including the 150 Academy (a free after-school music program for children in East Kentucky) and the Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour flood-relief instrument give-aways.

In 2024 and 2025, we helped ensure that 110 ukuleles were built, decorated and donated.

Group of musicians on stage celebrating after a performance, with one woman playing guitar and others dancing, during a concert or music event.
Two women performing on stage with guitars, smiling and engaging with each other, under a white tent.
Group of women and a man on stage with musical instruments, one woman holding a guitar, with microphones and sound equipment visible.
A young woman with multi-colored hair, sunglasses, and a floral dress, sitting on a chair and playing an acoustic guitar while singing into a microphone during a live outdoor performance.
Group of six women performing on stage with guitars, mandolin, and a violin in front of a colorful backdrop at an outdoor event.
A black and white photo of a band performing on stage, with a logo in the background that reads 'The Mountain Girls'. The band includes three musicians: a guitarist on the left, a singer with a guitar and microphone in the center, and a bass player o
Group of women performing music on stage, singing and playing guitars and banjo at an outdoor event.
A group of women are performing on a stage at an outdoor event, playing various string instruments including a guitar, banjo, and upright bass, under a white canopy with a colorful backdrop, while an audience watches.
Older woman with gray hair sitting on stage with a guitar, smiling while holding the guitar in her lap, with microphone and music stand nearby, outdoors in an urban area.
Black and white photo of two musicians performing on stage, one playing a saxophone and the other singing into a microphone while holding hands.
A woman singing into a microphone while playing an acoustic guitar, wearing sunglasses, a t-shirt with a graphic design, and earrings.
Two women playing string instruments outdoors, one on a double bass and the other on a mandolin, both smiling and enjoying the performance.
A group of musicians performing on an outdoor stage at dusk with a sign that reads 'Mountain Top Media' above them.
A woman with dark brown hair wearing a white shirt and blue jeans is playing a lap steel guitar at a performance, with a microphone set up in front of her.
A woman with dreadlocks singing into a microphone while playing a keyboard on stage, wearing a white blouse and a colorful patterned skirt.
Three musicians performing on stage: a woman singing and playing bass guitar, a man singing and playing electric guitar, and a man playing drums in the background. They are dressed casually with colorful, relaxed clothing.
Group of men playing guitars on stage at an outdoor music event at night, with string lights hanging overhead.
Musicians performing live on stage at night, playing guitars and singing, under colorful stage lights, with a group of people in the background.
A group of musicians performing on an outdoor stage at dusk, with string lights overhead, playing various instruments including guitars, and singing.
A group of women singing and playing guitars on an outdoor stage at night with string lights overhead.
People performing on an outdoor stage, with one woman singing into a microphone and others playing instruments, surrounded by trees and a large building.
Group of women on stage performing music with guitars and microphones at night with building in background and stage lights overhead.
Two women performing on an outdoor stage with guitars, microphones, and sound equipment, with buildings and green trees in the background.
Two musicians performing with guitars and a banjo under a white tent, colorful tie-dye backdrop visible behind them.
A woman performing on an outdoor stage, playing an acoustic guitar and singing into a microphone, with musical equipment and a building with trees in the background.
Musicians playing on an outdoor stage at a festival, with a woman singing, a man playing guitar, and a camera operator filming. There are guitars, drums, and American flags in the background.
Two women singing into a microphone with their eyes closed, illuminated by soft stage lights in a dark setting.
A live outdoor band performing on stage with multiple musicians playing instruments and singing, set against a backdrop of historic buildings and green hills.
A woman with curly hair singing into a microphone while playing a keyboard outdoors, with a music stand and some equipment nearby.
A woman with dreadlocks wearing a leopard print headband, a white blouse, and leopard print skirt with blue flowers singing into a microphone.
Group of women and children dancing and enjoying themselves at an outdoor event under a white canopy, with some people seated in the background.
Two women sitting on stage in conversation, with one woman reading from a notebook. A table with bottled water is between them. Behind, a black table is loaded with items, and a banner displaying sponsor logos is visible on the right side of the stag
Four women sitting with musical instruments on stage, including guitars, banjo, and cello, with a dark curtain backdrop.
Two musicians performing on an outdoor stage under a white canopy, with a colorful abstract backdrop. One plays a banjo, and the other is dancing or stepping on a raised platform.
People sitting in chairs at an outdoor event, including a woman in a yellow dress and a young girl, both smiling and interacting.
Two women seated on a bench playing wooden lap harps at an indoor event with other people in the background
A group of women sitting on chairs at an outdoor event, some clapping, smiling, and holding drinks or snacks, with a few people standing and walking in the background.
A woman on a stage with musical equipment, holding a drumstick, with a backdrop featuring a pink and blue tie-dye pattern and a white star.
A group of women seated in a circle on a theater stage, participating in a discussion or workshop, with musical instruments and a poster visible on the side.
Two women seated in discussion on stage, with a small table holding water bottles between them.
A woman on stage speaking into a microphone at an outdoor event under a large white tent. Several people, including children and adults, are standing and sitting in front of her, listening and participating.
Group of women playing hammered dulcimers during a music class or workshop indoors.
Woman singing on stage with a woman playing guitar underneath a large white tent as audience watches.
Person wearing black shoes balancing on a wooden platform with one foot raised, near music stands and equipment.
An art gallery hosting a live music performance with people seated and enjoying the event, paintings hang on the wall, and some audience members are recording or taking photos.
An elderly woman with glasses, wearing a patterned top, raises her hands while speaking or explaining during a presentation or discussion, with a blurry banner or sign in the background.

Be a part of Mountain Grrl Experience 2025!

A cake decorated with a colorful drawing of a woman's face with flowers in her hair, surrounded by multicolored flowers and the words "I'M A HOUSTON GAL" written on the side.
A woman wearing sunglasses is reading a book called 'Puppies. Puppies Everywhere!' to a young boy in a gray T-shirt. They are sitting in a bright indoor space with chairs and a table in the background.
Circular stickers with the text 'The Mountain Girl Experience' and an illustration of two women's faces with flowing hair and a banjo, on a black background.
Several leather wristbands in black, brown, orange, and red, with engraved text and patterns, arranged on a black fabric background.
A young girl wearing a blue shirt and patterned pants stands in front of an outdoor stage with a band performing. The band includes several musicians playing guitars, drums, and singing, with a backdrop of a building and trees.
A street-side vendor booth with handmade jewelry and art crafts, set up under a white canopy tent outside a church building. Two women are sitting and standing nearby, with one woman wearing a white t-shirt and patterned shorts.
A group of people waiting in line at a yellow food truck on a city street. There is a
A market booth displaying Appalachian-themed items, with a banner reading "Signs of Appalachia" and a phone number, under a blue canopy. There are mugs, signs, and other decorative items on the table.
People at a booth selling hot sauces and spicy products at an outdoor market, under a red canopy with vendors and customers interacting.
Outdoor vendor booth with clothing, jewelry, and accessories for sale at a market, set up under white tents with a background of green hills.
Information booth for Turning Point Domestic Violence Services with pamphlets, a display board, and a large purple ribbon banner promoting ending domestic violence.
A board displaying the sponsors of an event in front of a building, with a parking lot, several parked vehicles, and a hill covered with trees in the background.
A woman and a young boy sitting on a bench, with the woman holding a wooden mallet, in an indoor setting with people in the background.
Two women are on stage at a music event. One woman in a black dress and t-shirt, with sunglasses on her head, is reaching out to hold hands with the other woman in a black t-shirt and jeans. Both are smiling and engaging with the crowd. There are mus
A woman wearing a wide-brimmed hat sits at a table near a display of rainbow flags and pride-themed decorations, including a large rainbow-colored paper decoration and a jar of small rainbow flags, during a pride or LGBTQ+ event.
People at a booth for Pike Library, with books and pamphlets on the table, outside a building with brick and metal siding, during a sunny day.
Three women at an outdoor animal adoption event, two standing and one seated at a table, all wearing colorful tie-dye shirts with the Animal Alliance logo, with several stuffed animals, stacks of flyers, and donation boxes on the table.
A woman at a book signing event is handing a book to a young girl. Other children and adults are gathered around the table. Tents and tables are visible in the background.
A registration table at a voting site with two women sitting behind it, one wearing sunglasses and the other with short dark hair. There are water bottles, a bottle of sunscreen, and papers on the table, with a sign in front that says 'Register to Vo
A young woman with pink and curly hair sitting behind a music-themed table at an event, smiling with her chin resting on her hand. On the table, there's a jar labeled 'TICKET SALES', some papers, and a beige rolled-up mat. Behind her, a large sign re
People dancing at an outdoor event with tables, chairs, and umbrellas, with a string of lights overhead and a building in the background.
A small white bubble machine on a concrete surface disperses bubbles with colorful chalk drawings nearby. In the background, there are signs and tables, including a chalkboard sign advertising a kids' tent with free snacks and drinks.
A woman with glasses, auburn hair, wearing a sleeveless gray shirt and denim shorts, sitting outdoors and playing a keyboard.
Several people sitting on benches, with three women in the foreground taking photos or videos with their phones, at an indoor event surrounded by other seated attendees.
A woman with blonde hair, wearing sunglasses on her head, earrings, and a black T-shirt with a graphic and logo, holding a smartphone, sitting outdoors at a table with other black chairs in the background.
A young person with curly hair dyed orange and natural brown, smiling and leaning on a pink storage container at an outdoor gathering.
A girl with blonde hair, sitting on a bench, reading a comic book, which has colorful illustrations and speech bubbles. She is wearing a dark shirt, blue shorts, red sneakers, and black socks with green design.
A woman and a man are performing on stage, smiling at each other, with the woman barefoot and the man playing a bass guitar.
A young boy in a blue t-shirt and shorts is drawing on the pavement with chalk, with colorful chalk pieces in front of him. There are tables and people in the background at an outdoor event.
A man filming a group of people playing musical instruments on stage, with the focus on his camera monitor showing a woman playing guitar.
A girl blowing bubbles at an outdoor event, with a woman sitting in a chair watching and two other women in the background sitting on chairs near tents and booths.
A row of colorful paintings displayed on small easels outdoors, with a large green bush and a modern building in the background.
Children and adults participating in a face painting or arts and crafts activity at an outdoor event. The table is filled with watercolor palettes, brushes, and sketch papers, with some drawings and artwork displayed. The setting appears to be sunny
Two women sitting at a table outdoors, one smiling while drawing with a marker, the other drinking from a water bottle, with art supplies and colorful decorations on the table.
A woman with long, colorful dreadlocks and tattoos is handing water to a woman in sunglasses sitting at an outdoor event table.
An outdoor booth with a black canopy tent promoting Pike Arts at the University of Kentucky, featuring a table with brochures and art supplies, set against a colorful mural on the side of a building.
A woman with pastel-colored dreadlocks and a green shirt is demonstrating makeup techniques to a diverse group of women and children at an outdoor event. The table is set with makeup palettes, brushes, and cups, with makeup supplies visible.
A group of women and a young girl seated around a table at an outdoor event, with makeup palettes and coloring sheets on the table, some women wearing sunglasses and casual clothing, in front of a building and a tree.
A young girl with long brown hair sitting on the floor painting a rainbow with colorful paints on a canvas. An adult woman nearby is holding a rainbow-painted canvas, and the wall behind has artwork including a rainbow and the phrase "Love is love" w
A woman with a floral headscarf, sunglasses, and earrings is drawing with markers on paper at an outdoor table, with art supplies and water bottles nearby.

Listen up to the Mountain Grrls!

2025 Accomplishments (so far)

  • Volunteered & donated ukuleles at the Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour Flood Relief Instrument Giveaway in Pikeville, KY

  • Built and donated 70 ukuleles for East Kentucky kids, in partnership with Can’d Aid, Healing Appalachia & Hope in the Hills

  • Represented MGE at the 26th Big Sandy Small Business Symposium-Women in Leadership Panel in Paintsville, KY

  • Presented “Women Creating Change: A Deep Dive into the Mountain Grrl Experience” at the 2025 BRIGHT Leadership Conference at the Mountain Arts Center in Prestonsburg, KY

  • Presented ”Women Creating Change: The Mountain Grrl Experience” for the Pike County Domestic Violence Coalition

  • Assisted with coordination of the Appalachian Chapter of NEST Makers United with Stef Ratliff-Americana Music Honors and Awards artist