We have put together a list of all things fall in North Alabama: September events, October events, pumpkin patches, haunted things, and fall color!
September Festivals
Art Sunday
More than 70 artisans and craftsmen will make their way to Scottsboro to participate in a juried show and offer their artworks and crafts for sale when the Scottsboro Three Arts Club hold their annual Art Sunday event. Along with arts and crafts, the event offers musical entertainment, children’s activities, photography contests and food and beverage vendors. This year will be the 51st annual event.
Set for Sunday, September 1 at King Caldwell Park, Art Sunday features nationally recognized artists and emerging, local creators from across northern Alabama and southern Tennessee. Festival attendees will have the opportunity to shop the work of 70-plus artists and makers between the hours of 9am-5pm. The art exhibition is held rain or shine. Admission is $3 for adults and $2 for students.
Oka Kapassa
A celebration of the culture and traditions of the indigenous people who once inhabited North Alabama is planned in September offering two days of educational and free family fun in downtown Tuscumbia. Oka Kapassa: Return to Coldwater is set for September 13-14, 2024, with activities taking place in and around beautiful Spring Park in downtown Tuscumbia.
The Oka Kapassa: Return to Coldwater Festival is a free family event featuring Native American heritage, entertainment and education through hands-on activities and demonstrations. Friday, September 13 is school day at the festival for area students to attend and learn about North Alabama’s Native American heritage. Approximately 1,000 students, from as far away as Walker County in Alabama and southern Middle Tennessee, typically attend.
Members of the Poarch Creek, Alabama’s only federally recognized tribe, will present a special cultural history event on Friday afternoon at 5:30 p.m. Additional events lined up for the evening include a program of Native American music by Arvel Bird (Paiute) and a presentation of Tuscumbia’s history as it relates to Native Americans. Two trolley tours of the Tuscumbia witness sites of the Indian Removal Period will be available at 5:00 and 6:30 p.m. These events will be held at UNA on Sixth located at 114 W. 6th Street in downtown Tuscumbia.
On Saturday, September 14, festivities get underway at 10:00 a.m. with grand entry set for 11:00 a.m. Special crafts, fancy and traditional dance demonstrations, storytelling and music are all on the agenda and festival goers will have the opportunity to shop and purchase authentic Native American artwork and crafts. There will also be some hands-on activities for festival goers of all ages.
Oka Kapassa also welcomes several well-known American Indian cooks who will prepare and cook foods that were developed by their ancestors. Juanita Gardinski and brother Billy Thompson (Choctaw) are returning to Oka Kapassa to serve delicious and authentic Native American foods such as buffalo stew and burgers, fry bread, Indian tacos, fish and roasted corn. Gardinski will also demonstrate bead work and share Choctaw culture with festivalgoers. Traveling from her tribal homeland of Ada, Okla., Gina Brown (Chickasaw) plans to cook traditional pashofa, a stew combining pork and cracked corn. Cooked in a cast iron pot over an open fire, it is left unseasoned, allowing the person eating it to season to their own taste. Lastly, Mary Newman (Eastern Cherokee) will demonstrate traditional outdoor cooking of the 1800s, preparing foods in cast iron and clay pots over a campfire.
Arvel Bird's “Celtic Indian” returns to Oka Kapassa this year. His musical brand is a reflection of his mixed-blood American Indian and Celtic heritages. With his violin, fiddle, Native flutes and Irish whistles, Arvel weaves a powerful tapestry of music and stories; it’s a performance not to be missed.
Monte Sano Art Festival
The Monte Sano Art Festival has been an enjoyed tradition in Huntsville for two decades. The 2024 festival will be September 21-22 and will feature more than 150 of the region’s finest artists in an array of wonderful media. Along with the outdoor festival exhibitors, there will be local food trucks and musicians throughout the park. The Monte Sano Art Festival is always a highlight of the arts calendar!
Hartselle Depot Days
The Depot Days Festival rolls into Hartselle September 21 bringing a day of family-friendly fun and entertainment to the historic depot and downtown area. Hosted by the Hartselle Area Chamber of Commerce and presented by Decatur Morgan Hospital, the free event is the city’s largest event and is a tribute to the railroad industry and its contribution to Hartselle and the North Alabama region.
Now in its 43rd year, the Depot Days Festival gets underway on September 21 at 8am with activities lasting throughout the day until 4 p.m. Activities include an art show, craft vendors, a tractor and engine show, a car, truck and motorcycle show and live music. There will also be food vendors and a variety of fun and games for children.
The Depot Days Festival takes place at 110 Railroad Street SW and surrounding streets in downtown Hartselle. Hours are 8am-4pm. Admission is free. For more information on the Depot Days Festival, visit www.HartselleDepotDays.com or call the Hartselle Area Chamber of Commerce at 256.773.4370.
Trail of Tears Commemorative Motorcycle Ride
Motorcyclists from across the southeast will come together September 21, 2024, for a scenic ride across north Alabama to honor Native American Indians that once traveled through the region. The 31st annual Trail of Tears Commemorative Motorcycle Ride® travels from Bridgeport in the northeastern part of Alabama to the northwestern town of Waterloo, and along with the celebratory ride, there is a kick-off rally and a three-day Indian Festival for the public to take part in.
The Trail of Tears Commemorative Motorcycle Ride® begins at the Alabama/Tennessee state line on U. S. Highway 72 in downtown Bridgeport with riders departing at 8:00 a.m. CDT on Saturday, Sept. 21. The ride travels U. S. Highway 72 West to I-565 West arriving at Redstone Harley-Davidson (15155 Hwy 20 W in Madison) at approximately 10:30 a.m. for an official ride rest and lunch stop. At 12:00 p.m., riders will depart and head west, arriving in Waterloo at approximately 2:30 p.m.
A kick-off rally offering children’s activities, live music, a street dance, fireworks show and other free family fun for the public to enjoy is scheduled in downtown Bridgeport on Friday, Sept. 20. Bikes will arrive from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indian Reservation at 3:00 p.m. and the official opening ceremony gets underway at 5:00 p.m. Music begins at 6 p.m. with Bottom Holler Band and slated to perform for the special 31st anniversary is Benny Carl and the Loose Lips Band from Nashville who will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. and again at 9:30 p.m. following the fireworks show.
The town of Waterloo will host a free Indian Festival Sept. 20-22 in remembrance of all those who walked the Trail of Tears. Presented by the Alabama Indian Affairs Commission, the three-day event offers displays from Native American artisans and vendors along with a memorial walk to honor those who experienced the forced journey scheduled at 10 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 21 with live music following that night. Admission is free. Vendor spots are available by contacting Waterloo Town Hall (256) 764-3237 or email townofwaterlooal@gmail.com
The ride is held rain or shine. For more information including a schedule of events, visit https://www.al-tn-trailoftears.net/ or https://www.facebook.com/Trailoftearsmotorcycle.
Sizzle and Smoke
Alabama's only triple steak cookoff returns in September bringing with it exciting grilling action and good times to the River City. Hosted by Mosaic Mentoring of North Alabama, Sizzle and Smoke welcomes steak connoisseurs and backyard grill meisters who gather to compete for prize money, bragging rights and a coveted golden ticket – the opportunity to compete at the 2025 SCA World Championships in Fort Worth, Texas. This year’s Sizzle and Smoke is set for Sept. 27-28, 2024, at Ingalls Harbor in Decatur, Ala.
Mosaic Mentoring of North Alabama is excited to offer Alabama's only triple steak cookoff. Sizzle and Smoke, a Steak Cookoff Association (SCA)-sanctioned event, is a two-day competition where anyone can take their skills to the grill and enter the competition as long as they are members of the SCA. Membership to SCA is $40 to join and allows members to cook in as many steak events taking place anywhere in the United States.
During Sizzle and Smoke, competitors can turn in three steaks for judging. One on Friday night, Sept. 27 and two on Saturday, Sept. 28. Mosaic Mentoring will provide ribeye steaks for the competition to ensure a level playing field. Sign up is available at https://www.steakcookoffs.com/event-5517779/Registration for Friday’s competition and https://www.steakcookoffs.com/event-5517808/Registration for Saturday’s competition. (The competition steaks are included in the registration fee.) Any cook registering before Sept. 12th will have his/her name put in a drawing for an aged Jack Daniels whiskey barrel.
The winning steak will earn that competitor a payout of $1000. The second place steak receives $500, third place $400, fourth place $300, fifth place $200 and sixth through tenth place receives $100 each. The winners of all three steak turn-ins will automatically receive a golden ticket to the SCA World Championship, March 13-16, 2025, in Fort Worth, Texas.
The competition also offers ribs, dessert and “Anything Jack Daniel” categories, with all paying to fifth place. Kids ages four to 13 years old can participate to see who has the best pork chop and compete for a payout of up to $100 for first place, $75 for second place, $50 for third place and $25 each for fourth through tenth place. To register for the kid’s competition, call Mosaic Mentoring of North Alabama at (256) 353-0157.
Meetings for the cooks are scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Friday with awards presented at 9:30 p.m. and 10 a.m. Saturday with awards at 5:45 p.m.
Adding to the fun this year, Real Steel will be hosting their annual charity car show on Saturday, Sept. 28th. In addition to the competition and car show, there will be food trucks and a steak sandwich sale hosted by Mosaic Mentoring for the public along with raffle prizes and a silent auction.
All activities are held at Ingalls Harbor located at 802 Wilson St NW, in Decatur, Ala. Admission is free.
Red Bay Founder's Fest
The North Alabama town of Red Bay presents its annual Founder’s Fest Saturday, September 28, 2024, and everyone is invited to celebrate the town’s heritage with a day of free family fun. Founder’s Fest is situated under the shade trees of Bay Tree Park offering an escape to September’s warm temperatures as festivalgoers enjoy arts and crafts, contests, sidewalk sales and live music.
Founder’s Fest gets underway at 8:00 a.m. with the King and Queen’s Train Ride of the winners of the previously held beauty pageant. At 9 a.m., live music cranks up and festival goers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and picnic blankets and enjoy the sounds. A contest to see who has the best fried pie entries with the best tasting, most unusual and best of show taking home a cash prize, and there will be quilt, coloring and photography contests for participants to take part in.
Additional activities include arts and crafts and an antique car-truck-motorcycle-tractor show. The Red Bay Museum will be open for tours and Weatherford Library will host a book sale and will have entries for the quilt, photo and coloring contests on display. Many merchants will offer sidewalk sales, specials and door prizes throughout the day. A variety of festival food will be available, and another crowd favorite are the giveaways to be presented. Prizes will be awarded to the largest family, longest distance traveled to the event, and youngest and oldest attendees.
Bay Tree Park is located between 2nd and 3rd streets, along 4th Avenue SE in downtown Red Bay. Festival hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission is free. For more information on the festival or to register as a vendor, contact Jennifer Garrett at Red Bay City Hall at (256) 356-4473 ext. 3. For the latest updates, follow on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RedBayAlabama/.
Mule Day
Mule Day, a two-day event centered on mules and their role in rural farming, hits the streets of downtown Winfield September 27-28, bringing with it free family fun. Vendors of all kinds, local merchant sales, live music, fireworks show, 5K run, rodeo, car show and antique tractors, mule judging, cornhole tournament, disc golf tournament and a parade are all on the agenda as the North Alabama town celebrates its agricultural heritage.
Mule Day kicks off on Friday evening, September 27 at 6pm when shoppers are invited to shop with local merchants and among 300 vendors during the Mule Night Madness. There will also be live music, a spectacular firework show that can be viewed while shopping downtown and runners can take part in a midnight 5K run. Onsite registration for the 5K is from 10:30-11:30pm at the Winfield City Hall or may be completed in advance online at https://runsignup.com/.
On Saturday, September 28, the festivities get underway at 7am. As festivalgoers wander through the town, approximately 300 arts and crafts and flea market vendors will be selling their wares. Starting at 8am, antique vehicles will be on display in the grove at Winfield Middle School, and not to be missed at 11am is the highlight of the annual event - the downtown parade of mules, horses, jacks and jennies.
Admission to Mule Day is free (unless otherwise noted). Free shuttle service will be offered on Saturday. For more information, visit http://www.winfieldcity.org/ or call the Winfield Chamber of Commerce at (205) 487-4265.
Eva Frontier Days
A greased pig, frogs and a parade take centerstage when the town of Eva comes together in September for the town’s annual Frontier Days festival. Set for September 30 Eva Frontier Days feature a greased pig chase, a frog jumping contest, a parade, antique tractors, a hayride and much more, providing several days of family-friendly entertainment for all ages.
The Eva Frontier Days Beauty Pageant gets the weeklong celebration going on Saturday, September 28 at 10am at Charlie's Vineyard at Frost Farm located at 1684 Frost Road. A hayride is set for 6:30pm, Tuesday, September 24. Cost is $1 per person and includes a free hotdog and drink at the end of the ride. Eva Baptist Church will host an old-fashioned hymnbook singing on Thursday, September 26 at 7pm. The agenda for Friday, September 23 consists of music on the square at 6pm. Slated to perform under the entertainment tent is Another Town and admission is free.
The big day gets underway on Saturday, September 28 beginning at 9am with an arts and craft show, food vendors and an antique tractor and car show. Additional activities include live entertainment by The Pylant Family, Dry Creek Bluegrass, Abby Huffnagle and Wildcat Ridge, a parade at 11am and a pig-calling contest at 3pm. The day wraps up at the ball fields with the frog-jumping contest at 4pm followed by the greased pig chase at 5pm.
October Events in North Alabama
Cullman Oktoberfest
For over three decades, the town of Cullman comes together to celebrate its German beginnings with a family-friendly festival offering all things German. Cullman Oktoberfest, one of North Alabama’s largest and most anticipated events, will take place in downtown Cullman October 3-5, and during the three-day festival, the entire Cullman community rolls out the welcome mat and invites everyone to enjoy a multitude of fun activities, including a biergarten, an arts and crafts show, live German music, kids’ activities, a bratwurst eating contest and more.
Oktoberfest gets underway at 4pm Thursday, October 3 when the biergarten opens and a parade takes to the streets at 6pm. The parade, filled with Bavarian jugglers and a variety of talented entertainers donning German costumes and playing German instruments, will be led by a new beer wagon pulled by a team of Clydesdales. Official opening ceremonies and tapping of the keg immediately follow the parade and throughout the evening there will be live music, costume contests for adults and children, crowning of Miss Oktoberfest, brat eating and stein hoisting contests and candlelight walking tours. High energy dueling pianos will deliver a dynamic live music experience beginning at 9pm in the Biergarten.
Festivities for Friday, October 4 get underway at 10am and include street entertainment, music, brat eating and stein hoisting contests, costume contests for adults and children, German food vendors and craft vendors. Dueling pianos return at 9pm in the Biergarten.
Family-friendly fun resumes Saturday morning, October 5 beginning at 10am when the arts and crafts show and children’s area open. Additional activities lined up for the day include wiener dog races, live music, pet costume contest and parade, stein hoisting contest, costume contests for kids and adults and a brat eating contest and there will be a biergarten and food vendors featuring tasty German food. Dueling pianos take to the stage at 9pm in the Biergarten.
Oktoberfest activities will take place in the warehouse district along First Avenue. Additional activities are planned in the community leading up to the event. For more information, including a daily schedule of events, visit online at https://www.cullmanoktoberfestival.com/, https://www.facebook.com/cullmanoktoberfest/ or call (256) 734-9157.
Festifall at Huntsville Botanical Garden
Nothing says FALL quite like Festifall at the Huntsville Botanical Garden! Their two-month celebration of the changing seasons features pumpkins, scarecrows, campouts, nature hikes, and more. As the air turns crisp and the leaves begin to change color, there's no better place to connect with nature and enjoy the beauty of autumn.
Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention
Thousands of visitors and musicians will make their way to the North Alabama town of Athens next month for the “Granddaddy of Midsouth Fiddlers Conventions.” The Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention is set to return to the campus of Athens State University and will run from October 2-5. Along with the crowning of a new Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddle champion, the three-day event offers concerts, food vendors and arts and crafts on a theme of authentic workmanship while celebrating traditional old time music.
The Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention attracts approximately 15,000 folk music fans and more than 200 musicians who will be vying for over $47,000 in prize money in 19 different categories of competition, including several fiddle and guitar categories, mandolin, bluegrass, banjo, old time singing and Appalachian buck dancing. The Convention culminates on Saturday evening when the new Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddle champion is announced. Competition gets underway Friday at 7pm and resumes Saturday at 9:30am. Finals are held on the Founders Hall stage beginning at 7pm.
In addition to the competitions, the Fiddlers Convention features concerts, some with free admission. All concerts will take place on the main stage at Founders Hall.
Wednesday, October 2 at 7:30 pm: Darin & Brooke Aldridge
(This is a special Gospel concert - FREE and open to the public)
Thursday, October 3 at 6:30 pm: The McLain Family Band
Thursday, October 3 at 7:30 pm: Authentic Unlimited
Friday, October 4 at 6 pm: Darin & Brooke Aldridge
Saturday, October 5 at 7:30 pm: Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
The convention also includes a variety of food vendors and approximately 150 old-fashioned juried arts and crafts booths offering an assortment of items from traditional artwork to coal-fired metal works with an emphasis on handmade creations will be open for business during festival hours.
Cost of admission is $20 per adult for Friday, $20 per adult for Saturday, or $25 per adult for a weekend pass. Children under 12 will be admitted free with a paid adult. Tickets can be purchased at the gate or online at https://www.tvotfc.org/guests/. In event of rain, the competition will be held in Carter Gymnasium with limited capacity. Pets and coolers are not allowed. Festivalgoers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs. For more information, visit http://www.tvotfc.org.
Boaz Harvest Festival
October is knocking on the door which means towns and communities across North Alabama are gearing up for their fall celebrations. Set for October 4-5, the Boaz Harvest Festival invites everyone to downtown Boaz for two days of family-friendly fun including live music, arts and crafts, contests, car show, beauty pageant and more.
Cooler temperatures are a welcoming sign for taking to outdoor activities. During the Harvest Festival, there will be an assortment of arts and crafts vendors for shoppers to find that one-of-a-kind item as gospel, country and bluegrass music fills the air. Additional activities to enjoy include a classic car, truck and jeep show, a cornhole tournament, pumpkin contest and there will be food trucks to please everyone’s appetite. On Saturday, the car, truck, jeep, motorcycle and tractor show will be set up from 8am-12pm and the Miss Harvest Festival pageant gets underway at 9am at the Old Mill Park. Many of the shops located in the downtown area will have sidewalk sales and special offers in addition to the festivities.
The free event, now in its 60th year, takes place in downtown Boaz, from Bartlett Avenue to Old Mill Park and gets underway at 8am and concludes at 6pm both days. For more information on the Harvest Festival, call the Boaz Area Chamber of Commerce at 256.593.8154.
Cruise and Croon
Presented by the All American Cruisers, Downtown Oneonta welcomes the return of its outdoor celebration of cars, music, shopping and dining beginning next month on the first Saturday through October in 2024.
Cruise and Croon welcomes locals and visitors to the downtown area for an evening of classic cars and music. Car owners from the surrounding area will bring their classic cars to show off and merchants will extend their business hours so eventgoers can shop and mingle. A DJ will fill the air with plenty of good tunes as everyone enjoys an evening of free family fun.
For more information, visit the All American Cruisers Facebook page for the latest information.
Scottsboro BBQ Festival
The aroma of slow-cooked barbeque fills the air around the picturesque downtown square of Scottsboro the second Saturday in October when the annual Scottsboro BBQ Festival sets up. The one day event welcomes award-winning pit masters and local barbeque gurus who battle it out to see who has the best chicken, ribs, pulled pork and dessert while raising funds for a local charity. Along with the barbeque competition, a variety of activities are offered to keep everyone entertained throughout the day.
Set for Saturday, October 12, the Scottsboro BBQ Festival is a Kansas City Barbeque Society and an Alabama Barbeque Association sanctioned event and features three competitions. The backyard competition is for serious grill masters who are trying to become the grand champion and the people’s choice competition is where festivalgoers can purchase a $10 ticket and sample up to 10 butts and up to 10 desserts and vote for their favorite. The Kids-Q is open to ages 7 to 12 years old to see who can grill the best burger.
Other activities include a Barq-Off dog parade with prizes for the best costume, best groomed and best performer, an official Alabama cornhole tournament, a car, truck and cycle show; a beer garden, food vendors and art and craft vendors. A free kids fun zone allows the little ones to enjoy a day of activities including inflatables, games, climbing wall, pumpkin bowling, face painting and more.
Festival hours are 9am-7pm and admission is free. All activities take place on the Downtown Square located at 316 S Broad Street in Scottsboro. For more information, visit http://scottsborobbqcookoff.com/.
Alabama Wine Festival
Don't miss the Alabama Wine Festival on Saturday, October 26 from 2pm-6pm at Wills Creek Vineyards and Winery in Duck Springs near Attalla! Alabama wineries from across the state will have wine available for sample and purchase. You can enjoy food from local food truck vendors & live music! This is an adults only event. ID's will be checked. Tickets sold online are $30 per person, and tickets sold at the gate are $40 per person. Designated driver wristbands are available at the gate at no charge. Designated drivers must be 21 years or older.
River Clay Fine Arts Festival
Set for October 26-27, River Clay Fine Arts Festival welcomes 70 local and national artists who will bring their works of art and unique creations to the River City for a celebration of the visual arts. In addition to the artist market, festivalgoers are treated to chalk art, student art exhibits, live music and more.
The juried art festival made its debut in 2015 as a way to bring artists and art lovers together. This year, the two-day outdoor art festival features artwork from talented artists from 13 different states who will be selling a variety of original works of art, including ceramics, drawings, fiber, glass, jewelry, metalwork, mixed media, paintings, photography, printmaking, sculptures and wood. Children of all ages are invited to take part in the children’s art area through fun activities to express their creativity.
Along with experienced artists, the festival celebrates up-and-coming artists from local schools. Festivalgoers will enjoy seeing the display of artwork representing students from public and private schools from across Decatur City, Hartselle City and Morgan County school systems.
In addition to purchasing one-of-a-kind creations, festivalgoers have an opportunity to connect with the artists and to learn more about them. Food trucks will be on-site, offering festivalgoers the opportunity to picnic and beer and wine will be available to purchase.
River Clay is held on the grounds of Decatur City Hall located at 402 Lee Street NE in downtown Decatur. Hours are 9am-5pm on Saturday, October 26, and 10am-4pm on Sunday, October 27. Admission is $5 per person for a weekend pass. Children 12 years old and under get in free and must be accompanied by an adult.
Blount County Covered Bridge Festival
With three covered bridges still in existence, Blount County carries the title of Covered Bridge Capital of Alabama, and as a tribute to its roots, a one-day festival is held every year in downtown Oneonta. Set for Saturday, October 12, the Blount County Covered Bridge Festival offers plenty of family fun including a quilt show, arts and crafts, a rib cook-off, car show, live music, great food, self-guided covered bridge tours and more.
The highlight of the Covered Bridge Festival is the arts and crafts show located in downtown Oneonta’s entertainment district. Throughout the day, festivalgoers can peruse the booths of vendors selling an assortment of homemade items, handmade jewelry, artwork, wood creations and more. Festival goers can also check out an assortment of makes and models of cars, trucks, farm tractors, first responder vehicles and motorcycles at the Cruise-In from 9am to 2pm.
Festival hours are 9am-4pm. Admission is free. For more information on the Covered Bridge Festival, visit its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CoveredBridgeFest or call the Chamber office at 205.274.2153.
Downtown Decatur 3rd Friday
Downtown Decatur 3rd Friday invites locals and visitors to explore the downtown area through an evening of family-friendly entertainment. During the monthly street party, antique cars are parked on Second Avenue between Lee and Moulton streets, line dancers can be seen performing in the intersection of Moulton Street and children are treated to a variety of activities in the kid’s zone located in the block from Johnston Street to Grant Street.
Festival goers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, or they may want to check out the front porch offered by Merit House which also will have a wonderful view of last year’s popular attraction, the mechanical bull, which will be located in front of Absaroka. Festivalgoers can try their luck on the mechanical bull for $5/ride. For those arriving hungry, festivalgoers have the choice of one of several locally owned restaurants and food trucks will be set up on Grant Street with tables and chairs available for patrons to sit and enjoy their food.
In addition, festivalgoers can catch store specials, giveaways and discounts at select downtown merchants and browse and purchase unique items from artists, craft vendors and artesian goods vendors selling handmade items in the area of Second Avenue from Moulton Street to Johnston Street.
3rd Friday is concentrated in the 2nd Avenue area only (including Holly Street, Moulton Street, Johnston Street and Grant Street). Beginning at 4:30 p.m. streets will begin to be blocked and will be closed to traffic from 5:30 until 8:30 p.m. Second Avenue from Gordon Drive to Lee Street and Moulton Street from First Avenue to Goody 2 Shoes will be closed. The cross streets, Johnston and Grant streets will be closed before the intersections at Second Avenue in order for guests to have access to the public parking lots.
For more information on 3rd Friday, visit www.facebook.com/3rdfridaydowntown/.
Alabama Gourd Show
An impressive display of unique creations, all handmade from gourds, will be on display next month when the Alabama Gourd Show returns to Hartselle. Set for October 18-19 at the Sparkman Civic Center in Hartselle, the annual event is a two-day celebration centered on the beauty and versatility of gourds and features masterfully created works of art from hundreds of artisans, crafters and growers.
For those who want to get hands-on, classes taught by an experienced gourd artist will be offered (fee charged). Nine different gourd art crafting classes, where participants make their own handcrafted gourd, will be offered both days. For more details and to register for a class, go to www.alabamagourdsociety.org and click on classes.
Show hours are 9am-5pm both days. All activities take place at the Sparkman Civic Center, located at 406 Nance Ford Road SW in Hartselle. Admission is free. For more information, visit http://www.alabamagourdsociety.org/html/2022_show.html or contact Show Chair Emmitt Westmoreland at gourdzilla@aol.com.
Athens Storytelling Festival
Some of the nation’s most highly acclaimed storytellers will make their way to North Alabama next month for the city of Athen’s annual celebration of storytelling, tall tales, and readings. Now in its seventeenth year, the Athens Storytelling Festival returns to campus of Athens State University October 22-26, bringing with it stories of adventure and excitement.
Stories will be told under the big tent on the campus of Athens State University by Brown Hall, located at 300 N. Beaty Street, five blocks from downtown Athens. Hours are 9 a.m. to 8:50 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 8:55 p.m. Saturday. In addition, food vendors, local restaurants and an eclectic mix of shops offering a wide variety of antiques, gifts, gourmet foods, clothing and hardware will be open just a short walk from the festivities. A complimentary shuttle from the festival tent grounds to downtown Athens will also be provided.
Ticket price for admission to all events (excluding school days) are $95/adult and $55/child (16 years and younger). Tickets for any combination of events or daily admission are also available. Tickets may also be purchased at UG White Mercantile located on the square in downtown Athens. All ticket holders must stop by the Ticket Office to pick up their swatches, which will allow them entrance to the tent during their ticketed times. The Ticket Office opens 1 hour prior to festival events.
For complete ticket pricing, a biography on each storyteller and a schedule of events, visit www.athensstorytellingfestival.com.
Buttahatchee River Fall Festival
Everyone is invited to join the Hamilton Area Chamber of Commerce for some free family fun in downtown Hamilton the last Saturday in October. The Buttahatchee River Fall Festival is a family-friendly event offering a day of arts and crafts, music, classic cars, kids’ area and more. The seventeenth annual festival is set for October 26, and hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
As festivalgoers arrive for a day of activities, they will be greeted by hundreds of vintage beauties lining the streets of downtown Hamilton for the car show. Children’s activities and live music will keep the crowd entertained throughout the day and shoppers can shop for special sales by local merchants and treasures among the arts and crafts vendors who will be selling a variety of items such as handmade traditional folk pottery, gourd art, bird houses, iron works, glass and handmade jewelry. The motorcycle benefit ride takes to the streets at 10 a.m. (weather permitting). Registration for the ride is $20 per bike and will be from 8:30 to 10 a.m.
Hosted by the Hamilton Area Chamber of Commerce, the festival is held in Hamilton, in and around the Court Square of the Marion County Courthouse and throughout the downtown area. 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th avenues southwest and 1st and 2nd streets southwest will be closed for traffic. Admission is free. The Buttahatchee River Fall Fest is named after the Buttahatchee River, which zigzags its way through Hamilton and connects with the Tombigbee River in Mississippi.
For more information, visit www.brff.org or call 205.921.7786 or 205.952.9884.
DeSoto State Park's Spookapalooza
DeSoto State Park will host the 12th annual Spookapalooza Pumpkin Carving Contest October 21-27. Entries will be judged on overall appearance, creativeness, neatness and originality and can have any theme or design, i.e., Halloween, nature, fall season, etc. All ages are encouraged to enter. Entries must be turned in no later than 12 p.m., Saturday, October 26 at DeSoto’s Country Store on County Road 89 (table will be set up on porch). Winners will be announced on Sunday, October 27 via DeSoto’s Facebook and Instagram pages (#desotostatepark).
Campers in DeSoto State Park have been decorating their campsites with Halloween decorations for years and this year, there will be a campsite decorating contest. The Spookapalooza Spooktacular Campsite Contest will award the best decorated sites with great prizes like free camping, and there will be a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners, as well as most creative to boost the competitive atmosphere. Winners will be announced Sunday, October 27 via DeSoto’s Facebook and Instagram pages (#desotostatepark).
For information on additional things to do on and around Lookout Mountain in DeKalb County, contact DeKalb Tourism at 888.805.4740 or visit www.VisitLookoutMountain.com. For accommodation needs, visit www.visitlookoutmountain.com/where-to-stay-dekalb-county.
Best Places to Get a Pumpkin in North Alabama
Belue Place Pumpkin Patch
Visit Belue Place Pumpkin Patch to visit a working family farm and find your perfect orange treasure to take home. Belue Place Pumpkin Patch, situated in the northwestern Alabama town of Lexington, is open weekends throughout October, is where families can experience a little bit of farm life and create an unforgettable experience picking pumpkins. Children can take a hayride to the pumpkin patch and pick their very own pumpkin to take home. Other activities include a hayloft jump, cow train rides, tire mountain, horse tire swings, corn crib play area, hay tunnels to wander through, pumpkin painting and storytelling.
Animals abound at the Belue Place and may be petted by the interested or simply observed by the curious. The petting zoo inhabitants include baby goats, miniature horses, rabbits, pigs, chickens, baby chicks, ducks and guineas.
Hours are Saturday 10am-5pm and Sunday 1pm-5pm. Guests are encouraged to practice social distancing and keeping a distance of six feet from anyone not in your immediate family. Admission is $12 per person and provides access to all areas of the pumpkin patch, which includes one pumpkin per person and all activities.
Belue Place Pumpkin Patch is located at 700 County Road 513 in Lexington, Ala. For more information, visit https://www.thebelueplace.com/ or call 256.366.6277.
Boyd Family Farm
Get ready for some fall fun here at Boyd Family Farm! Enjoy a unique fall farm experience for the whole family with pumpkins for sale, a petting zoo, farm photo ops to get those family fall pics, food vendors, festivities, and more through October. Hours: Saturday: 9am-5pm, Sunday: pm- pm. Admission: $5 (ages 3 and up)
Cornutt Farms
For those in search of pumpkins or an amazing display of beautiful blooms, Cornutt Farms has both. The working crop and cattle farm in Boaz welcomes the public to its pumpkin and sunflower patch every Saturday until October 26.
This year, Cornutt Farms is combining the sunflower patch with their 15-acre pumpkin patch. Visitors are able to pick their own home-grown pumpkin straight off the vine and pick the most beautiful sunflower in the field. The fields will be full of sunflowers to enjoy and offer picturesque backgrounds for family photos. Along with picking pumpkins from the pumpkin patch and enjoying the beauty of the sunflower field, there will be on-the-farm activities for everyone to experience.
Admission to the pumpkin patch is $10 per person (cash) or $11 per person (credit card). Admission is free for children two years old and under. Admission includes one free pumpkin, five free sunflowers, hay ride to the pumpkin patch, petting zoo, corn cribs, tractor playground, big truck turbo slide, cow trains, bouncy house and some other new attractions. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays in October. For more information, visit www.cornuttfarms.com or call 256-572-6347.
Hidden Rivers Farm Pumpkin Patch
Picking the perfect pumpkin, getting lost in a maze and experience a bit of farm life are just a few of the activities lined up when you visit Hidden Rivers Farm.
This fall, take the family to visit Hidden Rivers Farm located in Hartselle. for a bounty of fun. The family-owned farm is open the public on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through October 31 and offers a variety of activities for people of all ages to enjoy. Activities include a themed maze, animal encounters, pony rides, a corn pit and new for this year are hiking through nature trails and climbing a tire mountain. Visitors to the farm can also take a piece of autumn home by picking their very own pumpkin from the pumpkin patch. For football fans, there will be a tailgate tent with two televisions, cornhole and seating areas, making it the perfect place to enjoy a day of tailgating while the kids play in a safe area. There will also be food trucks and grills available to rent.
Hours of operation are: Fridays 3-7pm and Saturdays and Sundays 10am-7pm. Hidden Rivers Farm is located at 295 Goose Pond Road in Hartselle.
Isom's Orchard
Isom's Orchard in Athens is in its fourth generation of growers! You'll find all shapes, sizes, and colors of pumpkins to carve and decorate with. Isom's also has fresh veggies, apples, and apple cider to take home. And don't leave without an apple slushie! People come from all over the Valley each fall just have their apple slushie!
McGee Farm Pumpkin Patch
Located in Florence, McGee Farm Pumpkin Patch is now in its 26th year of opening the family farm for you to find the perfect carving or cooking pumpkin. You have a choice of picking your own orange treasure straight off the vine from the pumpkin patch or from a pile that have been pre-picked. Over 25 varieties of pumpkins are available to choose from, with some growing up to 200 pounds and some as small as a child’s hand.
Along with pumpkins of all shapes and sizes, you will be treated to farm-life activities such as playing in hay, taking a scenic tractor-drawn wagon ride, a barnyard bounce, and feeding chickens.
If you want a piece of the autumn season to enjoy at home, fall decorations, such as straw bales, corn stalks and miniature gourds, will be available to purchase. In addition to pumpkins, McGee Farm grows all of the colorful mums that are for sale each year. You can pick from thousands of pots and many color variations.
After shopping for pumpkins, you are invited to stay and enjoy a bite to eat at The Kitchen at McGee Farm. Home-cooked country favorites such as white beans and cornbread, soups, muffins, homemade treats, pies, and more will be available. McGee Farm has a picnic area under a huge oak tree where you can have picnics or can sit and enjoy the scenic countryside. Homemade jams, jellies, and relishes will also be for sale to enjoy at home or to give as gifts for the upcoming holiday season. Open: October 1-31, Monday-Friday 3-6pm, Saturday 10am-6pm, Sunday 1-5pm.
Reeves Farm
Reeves Farm in Hartselle might be best known for its delicious strawberries in the spring and plump peaches in the summer, but this family-owned farm is also known for pumpkins in the fall!
