Dry Stone Walling Competition and Festival Coming to Lower Howard’s Creek in 2025

The Dry Stone Conservancy (DSC) and The Stone Trust are thrilled to announce the 2025 Dry Stone Walling Competition and Festival, taking place October 2-4, 2025, at the scenic Lower Howard’s Creek Nature and Heritage Preserve in Winchester, Kentucky. This event promises a weekend of camaraderie, learning, and competition for wallers of all skill levels.

The festival kicks off on Thursday, October 2nd, with a free two-day beginner’s workshop led by renowned waller Nick Aitken. Throughout the weekend, attendees can enjoy tool demonstrations and sales by our generous sponsors, Trow and Holden. There will be guided tours of the historic dry stone structures at Lower Howard’s Creek. We are also working to provide opportunities to pursue DSC and DSWA certification (pending confirmation).

The highlight of the weekend is the walling competition on Saturday, October 4th. Competitors will showcase their skills in three classes:

  • Novice: (Strip down and rebuild 4 linear feet of 4-foot high wall in 8 hours) – Perfect for beginners.

  • Amateur: (Strip down and rebuild 5 linear feet of 4-foot high wall in 8 hours) – Designed for enthusiastic part-time wallers.

  • Professional: (Strip down and rebuild 6 linear feet of 4-foot high wall in 8 hours) – For professional wallers and masons.

Lunch will be provided to competitors, as well as a celebratory BBQ dinner and awards ceremony will follow the competition.

Tentative Schedule:

October 2, 2025 (Thursday)

  • Free two-day beginner’s workshop with Nick Aitken (Day 1)

  • Stone Trust workshop

October 3, 2025 (Friday)

  • Free two-day beginner’s workshop with Nick Aitken (Day 2)

  • Trow and Holden tool demonstration and sales

  • Walling practice for competitors

  • Guided tours of historic dry stone structures at Lower Howard’s Creek

  • Welcome reception (afternoon/evening)

October 4, 2025 (Saturday)

  • Walling Competition (8:30 AM – 4:00 PM, with a 30-minute lunch break for competitors)

  • BBQ Dinner for competitors

  • Awards Ceremony

You can register here. See more about the 2019 competition and time-lapse video here.

Specific competition specifications from the 2019 event will be used.

For more information, please contact:

Russell Waddell at russell@drystone.org

Dan Morales-Walsh at dan.morales-walsh@thestonetrust.org