Hillbilly Days 2024 is filling downtown Pikeville with food, fun and festivities. The event kicked off its 47th year Wednesday, opening the carnival to the public before the festival started yesterday. Public safety officials said the event is meant to be a fun-filled time, so being aware of potential troubles behind the treats and thrills is crucial. Keep your kids close by at all times so you know where they’re at. It may be a good idea also to put you name and number on a piece of paper and put that in their pockets and teach them never to fear a police officer and ask for help.  The event also comes with a lot of visitors, causing traffic issues every year. The festival runs Thursday through Saturday.