PADUCAH — The center stage for arts and music in Paducah is back for 2026. The Lower Town Arts and Music Festival was canceled for 2025 in February by the Yeiser Art Center, the former host of the festival.
The Yeiser Art Center announced in February it will not host the Lower Town Arts and Music Festival, citing a lack of funding and staff as the reason why.
For the upcoming festival next year, a new nonprofit is taking over. The Friends of The Lower Town Arts and Music Festival announced the comeback Wednesday night, along with opening applications.
The Lower Town Arts and Music festival saw more than 12,000 attendees when it was last held in 2024. Photo taken 2024.
Seeing applications open was exciting for many in the community. Lisa Mead was a part of all the excitement and already signed up her belly dancing troop to preform.
Zerdali Dancing Company performs at the 2009 Lower Town Arts and Music Festival.
To Mead, Zerdali Dancing Company is a chance to spread the belly dancing art form.
She pointed out that that for 10 years, the company has been apart of LTAMF, and said, “Every style of art is important. And I think that not everyone is aware of all the different styles of art that there are, and this festival really does bring everything together.”
On top of sharing their art, preforming at the LTAMF is about honoring the group’s founder Margie Hyde, who passed from cancer in 2019.
Margie, Founder of Zerdali Dance Co.
“Everyone who knew her loved her, and so I feel like we’re continuing her legacy by dancing at the festival,” Mead said.
It’s preserving the memories that drove festival director William Brandon to get involved. He himself has been a part of the LTAMF in some way since 2017.
Brandon got his start with the festival as a volunteer. He emphasized that this project is a passion for him.
“My job to come back in is make sure that your memories are preserved. Your memories are going to happen in the future, and the fun and the happiness of this festival has brought you is not going anywhere, and I’m here to promise you that, and make sure that the things that you know and love are here and here to stay,” said Brandon.
Will Brandon
He went on to say he is proud to head up the festival.
“There’s a lot of really good people here in this community that care about this festival in this town, in this area, and the historical significance of it, and to be asked to, like I said, to kind of lead us back and bring that fun, that fun creativity, back to this area, is an honor, truly, and something that I don’t want to take advantage of,” he said.
As of Thursday, Brandon said plans are ahead of schedule. Links to application forms for artists, food vendors, nonprofits, and music acts are available on the festival’s website. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance in February 2026, according to the website.
The 2026 festival is set for Friday, May 8, and Saturday, May 9, in Paducah’s Lower Town neighborhood.
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