MADISON COUNTY, Ky. — Madison County is about to get very busy, and the traffic will arrive in two massive waves. From the early-May college ceremonies to the late-May high school send-offs, local roads, restaurants, and shops are gearing up for a full month of graduation crowds.
For local residents, a little planning is going to go a long way. Restaurants will be busier than usual, parking around campus areas will be much tighter, and local businesses should see a welcome bump in foot traffic from families celebrating milestones.
🎓 Wave One: EKU and Berea College
Eastern Kentucky University will kick things off with its Spring 2026 Commencement on Thursday, May 7, and Friday, May 8, at Baptist Health Arena at Alumni Coliseum. The master’s and doctoral ceremony begins Thursday at 6:00 p.m., but Friday will bring the heaviest impact to Richmond. Undergraduate ceremonies are staggered at 9:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 5:00 p.m., meaning traffic will pulse near Lancaster Avenue, the Bypass, and downtown restaurants all day.
Berea will see its own college crowds on Sunday, May 10, for Berea College’s Commencement. Baccalaureate will be held at 10:30 a.m. in Phelps Stokes, followed by the main Commencement ceremony at 2:00 p.m. in the Seabury Center. Adding to the buzz this year, Governor Andy Beshear is scheduled to deliver the commencement address. That high-profile visit is likely to make an already busy Sunday even busier around College Square, Boone Tavern, and Main Street.
🏫 Wave Two: The High School Crowds
Just as the college traffic clears out, the county’s high schools will take center stage. Because the Madison County public school system does not reach its last day of class until May 26, their ceremonies will create a completely separate wave of traffic at the end of the month.
The county will once again utilize EKU’s Alumni Coliseum to handle the massive high school crowds. Madison Central High School will graduate on Friday, May 22, at 7:00 p.m., and Madison Southern High School will follow the next morning on Saturday, May 23, at 10:00 a.m.Model Laboratory School also lists its Graduation & Commencement Ceremony for May 22. Berea Community High School’s ceremony traditionally keeps much of its graduation traffic closer to town, adding to the late-May local activity.
🛍️ A Month to Shop Local and Plan Ahead
This influx of visitors creates a fantastic opportunity to showcase Berea throughout the entire month. For families looking for last-minute gifts, the Berea Farmers Market is a perfect stop. The market operates under its summer hours on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Chestnut Street Pavilion (635 Chestnut St.), offering local, handmade items that feel far more personal than a rushed stop at a big-box store.
If you are attending a graduation, allow plenty of extra time for parking. If you are just trying to grab dinner on a graduation weekend, consider making reservations, call ahead for larger groups, or just be ready for a longer wait.
Graduation season brings families into town, fills our local businesses, and gives the county a chance to celebrate. Expect a busier-than-normal May, plan ahead, and maybe use the occasion to shop local while visitors are doing the same.
Upcoming Events in Berea & Beyond
🎭 Theater & Performance at The Spotlight Playhouse
(Tickets and info for all shows: thespotlightplayhouse.com)
- Madagascar: A Musical Adventure JR. (Ages 9–14) — May 1–10
- The Secret Garden (The Bluegrass Players) — May 1–10
- Creative Arts Camp (“New York, New York”) — June 8–12
- “Oh, Those Summer Nights” Intergenerational Intensive — June 14–27
- Macbeth (The Bluegrass Players) — June 19–28
- Film Acting Camp (Rising 6th–Age 18) — June 29 – July 3
- Wolves of Sherwood (The Bluegrass Players) — July 31 – Aug 8