Kentucky
Cumberland Falls’ renowned moonbow draws visitors from across the country to Kentucky
CORBIN, Ky. (WTVF) — Road trippers are pouring in from across the country to Cumberland Falls near Corbin, Kentucky, for one of the rarest sights in nature.
“I would have never thought in Kentucky there was a waterfall like this,” Josh Sharp, a tourist from Ohio, said. “How often do you see nature like this?”
Alan Jett, a tourist from Pennsylvania, said his wife spotted the destination while looking at a map. “It’s gorgeous, it really is,” Jett said.
But it is not just the 70 foot waterfall drawing the crowds. It is the moonbow, that appears alongside it during the light of a full moon, that has every cabin booked and the phone at the park ringing nonstop.
“People are here for the moonbow,” Maggy Kriebel, park manager at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, said. “Cumberland Falls is the only place in the Western Hemisphere that you can see a regularly occurring moonbow.”
A moonbow is similar to a daytime rainbow, but instead of sunlight, the colors come from moonlight. “The moon lines up just right with this mist off this waterfall,” professional photographer Max Caswell said.
Caswell enjoys capturing moonbows so much that he arrived hours early just to secure a spot along the river, checking conditions before the show began.
“I was actually looking to see how much mist was running down river,” Caswell said.
The wait, however, requires patience.”It’s going to be another hour and a half at least,” Caswell said. “The moon’s just now at the horizon.”
As darkness fell and the full moon rose above the trees, hundreds gathered to witness the spectacle. To the naked eye, the moonbow appears as a ghostly white arc, but cameras with long exposure settings reveal it bursting with color. “Boy that looks really good now. It’s brightening up a lot!” Caswell said.
By the end of the night, the display did not disappoint. “You can actually kind of see almost a double [moonbow] starting right there,” Caswell said, showing us one of his pictures.
According to the park, Cumberland Falls is the only place on this side of the world to catch almost monthly moonbows. The only other location where moonbows can be seen regularly is Victoria Falls in Africa.
Weather permitting, a moonbow is visible at Cumberland Falls every full moon — and that is what keeps photographers like Caswell coming back. “You never know what to expect. You don’t know if it’s going to be spot on. But that’s what keeps you going back out there and trying to chase that perfect shot,” Caswell said.
2026 Cumberland Falls moonbow dates
Cumberland Falls State Resort Park has released its 2026 moonbow viewing schedule. All times are approximate (in the Eastern Time Zone) and based on the evening of arrival.
July
- July 1: 12:30 am – 2:30 am
- July 27: 10:00 am – 12:00 am
- July 28: 10:30 pm – 12:30 am
- July 29: 11:00 pm – 1:00 am
- July 30: 11:30 pm – 1:30 am
- July 31: 12:00 am – 2:00 am
August
- Aug. 26: 9:30 pm – 11:30 pm
- Aug. 27: 10:00 pm – 12:00 am
- Aug. 28: 10:30 pm – 12:30 am
- Aug. 29: 11:00 pm – 1:00 am
- Aug. 30: 11:30 pm – 1:30 am
September
- Sept. 24: 8:30 pm – 10:30 pm
- Sept. 25: 9:00 pm – 11:00 pm
- Sept. 26: 9:30 pm – 11:30 pm
- Sept. 27: 10:00 pm – 12:00 am
- Sept. 28: 10:30 pm – 12:30 am
October
- Oct. 24: 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
- Oct. 25: 8:30 pm – 10:30 pm
- Oct. 26: 9:00 pm – 11:00 pm
- Oct. 27: 9:30 pm – 11:30 pm
- Oct. 28: 10:30 pm – 12:30 am
November
- Nov. 22: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
- Nov. 23: 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
- Nov. 24: 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
- Nov. 25: 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
- Nov. 26: 9:30 pm – 11:30 pm
December
- Dec. 21: 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
- Dec. 22: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
- Dec. 23: 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
- Dec. 24: 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
- Dec. 25: 9:30 pm – 11:30 pm
Do you have any great shots from recent Moonbows at Cumberland Falls, Kentucky? Share them with me at Chris.Davis@NewsChannel5.com.
Tenn. seniors make a splash on a giant slip-and-slide
A slip-and-slide for seniors?! Who knew it could stir laughter and tears. Photojournalist Angie Dones captures a story filled with so much joy and one that will tug at your heartstrings.
– Carrie Sharp
There is plenty of excitement surrounding the Kentucky Wildcats this summer as Mark Pope and his staff look to make some noise in Year 3. One of those key players? Milan Momcilovic.
The Iowa State sharpshooter chose the Cats over Louisville and Arizona, and is now set up to be one of the key players on the roster this season. With a quick recruitment, however, and no campus visits, how did Milan come to the decision of heading to Lexington?
Here is what he told the UK Sports Network for why he chose Mark Pope and Kentucky:
“Playing against him at BYU really stood out to me,” Momcilovic said. “I think the first year or two at Iowa State, we played against him, and his teams are tough to play against. A lot of shot-making they had, that really stood out. He likes playing with a lot of shooters, and obviously that’s my strength. We mesh so well together.”
It was widely talked about how well he fit into the shooting role that we have seen from players in Coach Pope’s offense. Koby Brea shined in his first season, and it was Colin Chandler last year. Now all the pieces are set up for Momcilovic to become the great shooter for the Cats this year.
THAT IS WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT!
It is Mitch Barnhart’s last day.
A cool story about one of the new UK transfers.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – Kentucky Cares has partnered with the Lexington Humane Society to offer free pet food to residents affected by recent flooding.
The nonprofit said it is focused on providing family-friendly service opportunities to anyone who needs them across Central Kentucky.
Players with Kentucky Baseball Club volunteered to distribute food to pet owners in need on Monday.
One volunteer said the experience was meaningful.
“Just happy to help people who can’t afford food for their animals and glad to help animals that sometimes don’t get to eat every day,” Clayton Johnson said. “It just feels good.”
A representative with Kentucky Cares said the event reflected the value of community service for young people.
“We’re just really thankful to them,” said executive director Madison Carey said. “I think we all feel better when we serve and this is a really great example of how kids can have fun and help others at the same time.”
Copyright 2026 WKYT. All rights reserved.
COVINGTON, Ky. (WKRC) – Two Northern Kentucky parents were sentenced Monday for the shooting death of heir toddler at the hands of their other child.
Khalil Adams, 2, was shot and killed by his 3-year-old brother in January 2024 at the family’s Covington home. The 3-year-old found the gun in an unsecured dresser.
At the time of the shooting, Kenton County Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Sanders said the Tashaun Adams and Selena Farrell were asleep in the afternoon when their 3-year-old shot his little brother.
Farrell took off and was found hiding at a hotel in Florence. She told police at the time she was trying to avoid arrest on a warrant so she could attend Khalil’s funeral.
The couple originally faced a murder charge. Farrell was also charged with abandonment of a minor, and possession of a handgun by a convicted felon.
Adams was also charged with hindering apprehension, for allegedly not telling police where Farrell was.
Kenton County Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Sanders said the pair was convicted of reckless homicide in April.. Farrell was also convicted of abandonment of a minor. Sanders believes it to be the first time in Kentucky that a jury has held parents criminally responsible for their failures to secure their gun and supervise their children.
BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT
The jury had recommended a seven year sentence for Farrell and a five year sentence for Adams, which is what the judge handed down.
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