Trigg County Ham Festival

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Food & DrinkCadiz
DatesDates TBA · Usually OctoberCheck locally before booking
DurationAutumnEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forRegional food & drinkThe festival's most striking feature is the
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: USD
CategoryFood & DrinkFestival type
The story

Trigg County Ham Festival in Cadiz

The Trigg County Country Ham Festival is a two-day event held the second full weekend of October around the courthouse square in Cadiz, Kentucky. Running since 1977, the festival reached its 50th anniversary in 2026 and draws more than 50,000 visitors for country ham tastings, cooking demonstrations, and a Ham and Biscuit Eating Contest.

Cadiz, Kentucky, is a small town of around 2,600 people in Trigg County, in the far western reaches of the state near Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

The festival's most striking feature is the scale mismatch between its host town and its crowd: Cadiz has a population of roughly 2,600, yet the festival draws more than 50,000 visitors each year, making it Trigg County's single largest tourism event by a wide margin

02

The mystery stays covered

Its centerpiece attraction, Kentucky's Largest Ham and Biscuit, gives the event a genuine record-book novelty alongside the crowd-favorite Ham and Biscuit Eating Contest, both built around western Kentucky's country ham curing tradition

03

The city starts moving

Reaching its 50th annual staging in 2026, the festival has run continuously around the historic Cadiz courthouse square since 1977, a half-century of consistency that has made it one of the region's signature culinary heritage events

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The festival's signature tradition is the Ham and Biscuit Eating Contest

Water and renewal

Living ritual

a competitive-eating event built around western Kentucky's country ham curing heritage

The sacred route

Living ritual

alongside the display of Kentucky's Largest Ham and Biscuit as a recurring novelty centerpiece

The local code

Living ritual

Cooking demonstrations showcasing traditional country ham preparation methods carry forward the region's long-standing curing and smoking traditions

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually October

Getting around

For Trigg County Ham Festival, plan transport around the exact Cadiz venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.

What to wear

Casual outdoor fall clothing. Mid-October in western Kentucky can be mild during the day and cool at night, so light layers work well for a full weekend outdoors.

Safety

Use normal food-market caution, hydrate, and leave time between crowded stalls.

Where to stay

For Trigg County Ham Festival, stay near the part of Cadiz you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Tickets/cost

Entry may be free while tastings, meals, or special tables are paid locally.

Language/currency

USD

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map40.27 N, 81.00 WOpen in Google Maps

Cadiz, KY

Nearest airportPIT — Pittsburgh
TransportFor Trigg County Ham Festival, plan transport around the exact Cadiz venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.
Stay areaFor Trigg County Ham Festival, stay near the part of Cadiz you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Cadiz via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Cadiz, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for October.Compare faresFestival gearCasual outdoor fall clothing. Mid-October in western Kentucky can be mild during the day and cool at night, so light layers work well for a full weekend outdoors.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for United States and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Trigg County Ham Festival?

Trigg County Ham Festival is listed for October · Autumn. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Trigg County Ham Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Cadiz, United States. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Autumn is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Cadiz, KY

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLtrigghamfest.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually October
Source statusOfficial source linked
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