kentucky Heartwood
We need forests we can get lost in; trees that make us gape; streams we can drink from.
Wild places sustain and define us; we, in turn, must protect them.
Wild places sustain and define us; we, in turn, must protect them.
Thanks for a great 2021 Kentucky Heartwood Music Festival!
The 15th Edition of the
KENTUCKY HEARTWOOD
MUSIC FESTIVAL
is scheduled for
Saturday, July 31, 2021
3:00 to 10:00 pm
Rain or Shine
Meet the Musicians!
Nato (Nate Orshan) became a new Frankfortian and Kentuckian in 2018, having moved with his spouse and cats from their prior longtime home of Burlington, Vermont. A singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Nato has been a part of numerous Vermont bands. (Ask him about the time he had to follow Phish at the 1989 Battle of the Bands.) The ingredients to a Nato song include aversion to cliché; attraction to difficult subjects; distinct melodies; infectious choruses; and a singer who commits to their performance. Dive into Nato’s music at natosongs.com.
The Native Invaders are an Earth based dynamic original rock band. They known to sprinkle in sounds of funk, jazz, grunge, psychedelia, with a wide range of lyrical subjects. Composed of members Jaret and Jordon Ellis (brothers) with long time Friends Kelly May and Nick Blandford, this group has a long standing relationship in life and music. Currently they are working on a debut album and have been working hard on songwriting and putting together a dynamic high energy show.
The Native Invaders are an Earth based dynamic original rock band. They known to sprinkle in sounds of funk, jazz, grunge, psychedelia, with a wide range of lyrical subjects. Composed of members Jaret and Jordon Ellis (brothers) with long time Friends Kelly May and Nick Blandford, this group has a long standing relationship in life and music. Currently they are working on a debut album and have been working hard on songwriting and putting together a dynamic high energy show.
Become a sponsor of the 2021 Kentucky Heartwood Music Festival!
Help sponsor a summer celebration of the arts and the environment that features a youth talent contest, art exhibitors, children’s activities, workshops, and original bands!
Click here for the online sponsorship form!
Help sponsor a summer celebration of the arts and the environment that features a youth talent contest, art exhibitors, children’s activities, workshops, and original bands!
Click here for the online sponsorship form!

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Register for the Youth Music Competition!
Are you between the ages of 8 and 18 with a combined musical talent and love for the environment? Consider showcasing your gifts at the Music Festival!
Click here for the registration form!
Are you between the ages of 8 and 18 with a combined musical talent and love for the environment? Consider showcasing your gifts at the Music Festival!
Click here for the registration form!
Sign up to become an exhibitor at the Music Festival!
Do you make your own specialty products, wares, or other one-of-a-kind items? If yes, consider becoming a vendor!
We also welcome other non-profits to table at our event.
Click here to submit the online form!
Do you make your own specialty products, wares, or other one-of-a-kind items? If yes, consider becoming a vendor!
We also welcome other non-profits to table at our event.
Click here to submit the online form!

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2021 Schedule of Events
3 pm Festival Starts with Dancing in the Gym 3:30-4pm Open Mike 3:30 pm Stream Ecology Workshop 4 pm Music Competition 8-12 yr olds 4:30 pm Social Justice Workshop 4:45 pm Obstacle Course 5 pm Nate Orshan 5pm Herbal Medicine Workshop 5:15 pm Sports Competition 5:30 pm Stream Ecology Workshop 6 pm Music Competition 13-18 yr olds 6 pm Electric & Hybrid Car Workshop 6:30 pm Children's Talent Show 7 pm Children’s Parade 7:15 pm Raffle Drawing & Enviro Quiz Winner 7:30 pm Awards Presentation 7:45 pm Native Invaders All Day: Information tables, Vendors, Local Food, Concessions, Moonbounce Schedule of Speakers (All speakers will be on the main stage and will talk for 2-3 minutes each.) 3:50 pm Welcome to Music Festival Chris Schimmoeller and Ashley Lipscomb 4:50 pm Community Solar -Andy McDonald Walk/Bike Frankfort -- Diane Strong Frankfort Immigration Assistance -- Margaret O'Donnell 5:50 pm Logging, Landslides, and Old Growth -- Jim Scheff Invasive Species -- Jody Thompson 7:00pm Franklin County Farmers Market -- Kelly Sebastian Black Lives Mattter -- Katima McMillan Kentucky Youth Climate Strike 7:30 pm Presentation of Awards – Jane Marie Watts and Chris Schimmoeller 2021 Workshop Descriptions
3:30pm and 5:30pm - Stream Workshops -- Join biologists Katie McKone and Jessica Schuster in nearby Glenns Creek to explore the creek, learn about stream ecology, and have fun. This workshop is always one of our most popular. Please wear stream shoes. The creek is located in the park across the road from the community center; please be careful crossing the road! 4:30pm - Social Justice Workshop -- Emma Anderson will lead a discussion of social justice efforts locally. Come learn about the issues that activists are facing locally and how you can get involved. Sharing experiences is welcomed. 5pm - Herbal Medicine -- Lauren Kallmeyer of Resilient Roots Herbal Apothecary will lead a discussion about herbs, the philosophy of natural healing, and remedies for common ailments using weeds and commonly grown herbs. You will be able to sample several different types of herbal preparations. 6pm – Electric and Hybrid Cars -- Local owners of electric and hybrid vehicles will have their cars on hand to talk about energy efficient car ownership and answer questions. Find out whether an electric vehicle is for you! ![]() Congratulations to 14 years of winners! Ages 8 – 12 Ages 13 – 18
2006 Alyssa Meece Tyler Stahl & Blake Sugarman 2007 Samantha Cunningham Michael Cruise 2008 Samantha Cunningham Morgan Darby 2009 Jacob Broyles Damon Pulliam 2010 Austin Moore Bethany Breakall 2011 Ella Lemley-Frye Damon Pulliam 2012 Andrew Breakall Bethany Breakall 2013 Ella Lemley-Frye Samantha Cunningham 2014 Jonathan Corum Jordan Semones 2015 Jackson Williams-Hale Alexandra Hagan 2016 Ezra Corum Kellar Casciola 2017 Saisei Kameyama Zoe Parker 2018 Sophie Dufour Marie Bandeman 2019 Phoebe White Charity Gilbert |
The Historic Millville Community CenterThe Kentucky Heartwood Music Festival is located in western Woodford County on the banks of Glenn’s Creek in the scenic community of Millville.
The site of the festival is the Millville Community Center, which includes portions of the restored historic Millville Elementary School. The facility is well known for its horseshoe tournaments. Also available are basketball courts, picnic tables, and an outdoor pavilion. The Music Festival is run entirely by volunteers with the help of donations from our sponsors.Thank You to Our Wonderful Volunteers!
Jim Pierce, Nathan Brown, Nat Colten, Logan Ernst, Trina and Tim Peiffer, Phillip Peiffer, Dorsey Williams, Doug Osborne, Ben and Patricia Griffith, Nancy Osborne, Connie Lemley, Katie McKone, Jessica Schuster, Amanda Whites, Lauren Kallmeyer, Dave Cooper, Patty Draus, Natalie Dufour, Sophie Dufour, Joel Dufour, Anna Dudley, PJ Marshall, Clay Goebeler, Danny and Claire Hess, Mel VanHouten, Jane Marie Watts, Brad Slutskin, Velda and John Watts, Ella McCutchen, Bridget Corum, Bob Padgett, Steve Dorsett, Levi Gordon, Bluebird Whitehead, Angie Powell, Kellie Sebastian, Kathy Murphy, Morgan and Margi Jones, Rachel Harrod, Annie and Jim Daniel, Ashley Lipscomb, and the great dancers at the Kentucky Dance Academy!
Thanks to our emcee Ella McCutchen and to our sound wizard Seth Murphy of Blackhat Productions! Add your name to the 2021 volunteer list! Many thanks to our 2021 Sponsors for their generosity!Earth Tools, Nancy Osborne, Inside Out Design, Jeff Alexander, Glare Control, Betty Beshoar, Doug Osborne, Bob Padgett, Michael & Sheila Campbell, Eddie Riddle, WEKU, Griffith Piano Service, Laura Hendrix, Lanham Media Services, Seldom Scene Farm and Extra Tree Estrial.
Add your business or name to the list! Contact the organizerOrganizer Chris Schimmoeller was director of Kentucky Heartwood from 1992 to 2002. She is currently on the Kentucky Heartwood Council and lives in the Frankfort area. Contact her at 502-226-5751.
Do you have suggestions or comments?Every year people compliment us on the quality of the workshops and kids’ activities. Parents are also happy to be at a festival small enough that they don’t worry about where their kids are. If you have comments or suggestions about activities to add to the festival, please email Chris at c.schimmoeller@gmail.com. We look forward to seeing you at the festival!
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Kentucky Heartwood is a non-profit forest advocacy organization that has worked since 1992 to protect and restore the integrity, stability, and beauty of Kentucky’s native forests. Our focus is the Daniel Boone National Forest in southeastern Kentucky. The 700,000 acre public forest boasts the state’s highest concentration of rare species, one of the highest concentrations of archaeological sites in the southeast, over 3,000 miles of clifflines, and attractions like the Red River Gorge.
Running waters on the Daniel Boone National Forest support about 60% of Kentucky’s native fish species, which represents 28% of all southeastern fishes and 18% of all native freshwater fishes in the United States. Mussel species in streams on the Daniel Boone comprise 22% of mussel species in North America. Overall, Kentucky ranks third in the nation for aquatic fauna diversity.
The Daniel Boone’s intricately folded topography creates specialized habitats for endemic species, such as white haired goldenrod, found nowhere else in the world.
The forest itself is highly diverse, distinguished by outstanding biodiversity, pockets of old growth, and unique upland bogs and glades. Because it stretches for 140 miles from north of Morehead to the Tennessee border along the western escarpment of the Cumberland Plateau, the Boone represents our best opportunity to restore functioning forest ecosystems in the state.
Run primarily by volunteers, Kentucky Heartwood passionately defends the Boone from logging, mining, development, and four wheeling. We have helped to dramatically reduce logging levels and ATV abuse.
Protecting forests is increasingly important in this era of climate change. Large forest blocks stabilize the atmosphere, sequester carbon, and conserve water.
Running waters on the Daniel Boone National Forest support about 60% of Kentucky’s native fish species, which represents 28% of all southeastern fishes and 18% of all native freshwater fishes in the United States. Mussel species in streams on the Daniel Boone comprise 22% of mussel species in North America. Overall, Kentucky ranks third in the nation for aquatic fauna diversity.
The Daniel Boone’s intricately folded topography creates specialized habitats for endemic species, such as white haired goldenrod, found nowhere else in the world.
The forest itself is highly diverse, distinguished by outstanding biodiversity, pockets of old growth, and unique upland bogs and glades. Because it stretches for 140 miles from north of Morehead to the Tennessee border along the western escarpment of the Cumberland Plateau, the Boone represents our best opportunity to restore functioning forest ecosystems in the state.
Run primarily by volunteers, Kentucky Heartwood passionately defends the Boone from logging, mining, development, and four wheeling. We have helped to dramatically reduce logging levels and ATV abuse.
Protecting forests is increasingly important in this era of climate change. Large forest blocks stabilize the atmosphere, sequester carbon, and conserve water.