October Events in North Alabama

Anne of Green Gables said, "I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers." So are we, Anne.

October has a different feel to it: crisp air, colorful foliage, pumpkins, festivals, and the list goes on. It also has a spooky edge to it as well, and there are several haunted walking tours across the region that tell of the paranormal activity in north Alabama. Here are several North Alabama October events you don't want to miss:

McGee Farm Pumpkin Patch

Located in Florence, McGee Farm Pumpkin Patch is now in its 28th 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: September 27 - October 31, Monday-Friday 3-6pm, Saturday 10am-6pm, Sunday 1-5pm.

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 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 4-8pm and Saturdays and Sundays 10am-7pm. Hidden Rivers Farm is located at 295 Goose Pond Road in Hartselle.

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 through October.

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. For more information, visit www.cornuttfarms.com or call 256-572-6347.

Dare to GoFAR at GoFAR USA Park

Dare to take a hayride into the Haunted Forest at GoFAR USA Park! Hang out around the campfires and enjoy some s'mores, watch a movie on the big screen, climb the rock wall and shoot some paintballs. Fridays and Saturdays in October. Gates open at 6pm, hayrides are from 7pm to 10pm. Last ride departs at 9:30pm.

Athens Haunt Walks

In celebration of Halloween, Athens-Limestone County Tourism is offering haunted walking tours next month giving visitors and locals a chance to explore the town by night. Held every Tuesday and Thursday night in October, the Athens Haunts Walks takes guests on a spooky 90 minute walking tour that uncovers paranormal activity, ghoulish legends and hauntings in the historic downtown area.

During Athens Haunts Walk, experienced and entertaining tour guides tell spooky stories of paranormal activity at 13 local structures. Stories include the college student who fell to her death and is said to still roam the halls at Athens State University’s Founders Hall and the great 1893 fire that burned the wooden buildings on Marion Street. Tours include a stop at Founders Hall where the students of the then-named Athens Female Institute watched Union and Confederate soldiers battle and the steps of the Houston Library where a crowd gathered on the night voters elected George Houston as the state’s first governor after reconstruction.

Now in its 16th year, Athens Haunts Walk is suitable for adults and children in grades 4 and up. In the past, tour participants have included both believers of paranormal behavior and some skeptics of the supernatural. The tours are also a way to get to know more about Athens and its history and lore.

The tours take place every Tuesday and Thursday night in October at 7pm and 7:30pm. Tours are $15 for adults and $10 for kids. Wagon Tours are at 6:30pm and are $25. All tickets are advance purchase from www.Eventbrite.com.

All tours depart from the Athens-Limestone County Tourism office located at Big Springs Memorial Park (100 N. Beaty Street). Guests are asked to arrive 10-15 minutes before scheduled tour time. Each walk is approximately 90 minutes and a one-mile walking distance. Please wear comfortable footwear.

Cullman Oktoberfest

One of North Alabama’s most anticipated celebrations, Cullman Oktoberfest, is back for its 43rd year, filling downtown Cullman with German culture, cuisine, and fun the first weekend of October. From Thursday, October 2 through Saturday, October 4, festivalgoers can enjoy biergartens, lively music, cultural displays, artisan vendors, games, contests, and plenty of activities for both kids and pets.

The three-day festival kicks off with a parade at 6 p.m. on Thursday followed by the official opening ceremonies and keg tapping. Highlights include the Hofbräuhaus Experience—an authentic Bavarian-style biergarten with non-stop entertainment—and the new Goat Island & Ethos Biergarten, bringing together Cullman’s two local breweries. Visitors can also sip selections from the Weihenstephan Biergarten, home of the world’s oldest brewery.

This year adds even more excitement with the debut of a 108-foot European Venetian Ferris Wheel, a double-decker Venetian Carousel, and a Volkswagen Car Show. Traditional contests like brat-eating, stein-hoisting, and costume competitions return alongside special events such as Senior Day (Oct. 3) and the annual Oktoberfest 5K and 10K (Oct. 4).

Festival hours are Thursday 4–10 p.m., Friday 10 a.m.–11 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m.–11 p.m. Events are centered in the Warehouse District along 1st Avenue. Guests are encouraged to join the fun in traditional German attire, with dirndls, lederhosen, and children’s outfits available for purchase online.

For full details, schedules, and advance purchases, visit cullmanoktoberfestival.com or call (256) 734-9157.

Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention

The “Granddaddy of Midsouth Fiddlers Conventions” is back for its 58th year, bringing thousands of music lovers and musicians to Athens, Alabama, October 1–4, 2025. Held on the campus of Athens State University, the Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention celebrates traditional music with four days of competitions, concerts, crafts, and food.

The highlight of the weekend is the crowning of the Tennessee Valley Old Time and Alabama State Fiddle Champion. More than 200 musicians will compete in 20 categories—including fiddle, guitar, mandolin, banjo, old-time singing, and Appalachian buck dancing—for a share of over $47,000 in prize money. Competitions take place Friday evening and throughout Saturday, with finals and the championship announcement on the Founders Hall stage.

In addition to competitions, festivalgoers can enjoy an outstanding concert lineup:

• Wednesday, Oct. 1 – Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers (Free Preview Night, no ticket required)

• Thursday, Oct. 2 – Pitney Meyer

• Friday, Oct. 3 – Jimmy Fortune

• Saturday, Oct. 4 – Rhonda Vincent & The Rage

The festival also features 150 arts and crafts booths showcasing handmade items, the Jerry McGlocklin Music Store with vendors, and museum exhibits highlighting Athens’ rich musical heritage. A variety of food vendors will be onsite serving everything from snacks to full meals.

Admission is $20 per adult per day (Thursday–Saturday) or $30 for a three-day weekend pass. Children under 12 are admitted free with a paying adult. Tickets are available at the gate or online at athensfiddlers.org. Pets (except service animals) are not allowed, and visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.

Boaz Harvest Festival

The temperature in North Alabama may still be warm but the month of October is just around the corner which means towns and communities are gearing up for their fall celebrations. Set for October 3-4, 2025, the Harvest Festival invites everyone to downtown Boaz for two days of family-friendly fun and fellowship.

The annual Boaz Harvest Festival offers an assortment of things to do in the downtown area the first Friday and Saturday in October. A cornhole tournament will offer up a little friendly competition, festival goers can admire the many vehicle displays in the car, truck, jeep and tractor show, shoppers can shop among the many arts and crafts vendors, there will be a children’s play area for the little ones’ enjoyment and food trucks will offer a variety of delicacies to please everyone’s appetite. In addition to the festivities, many of the shops located in the downtown area will have sidewalk sales and special offers.

The free festival, now in its 61^st year, takes place in downtown Boaz, from Bartlett Avenue to Old Mill Park and gets underway at 8 a.m. and concludes at 6 p.m. both days. For more information on the Harvest Festival, call the Boaz Area Chamber of Commerce at 256.593.8154.

Scottsboro BBQ Festival

The sweet smell of smoked barbecue will fill the air in downtown Scottsboro, Alabama, as the annual Scottsboro BBQ Festival takes over the picturesque square on Saturday, October 11, 2025. This one-day event brings together award-winning pit masters, local BBQ gurus, and hungry festivalgoers for a day of food, fun, and family-friendly activities—all while raising funds for local charities.

The festival features three exciting competitions: the Backyard Competition for serious grill masters aiming for the grand champion title, the crowd-favorite People’s Choice Competition, where attendees can sample BBQ and desserts with a $10 ticket and cast their votes, and the Kids-Q, where children ages 5–12 showcase their burger-grilling skills. As part of the Backyard Battle Royal series, Scottsboro’s competition joins four other festivals in offering competitors the chance at higher payouts, with winners announced at the Scottsboro BBQ Festival.

Beyond the grill, there’s plenty to see and do. Guests can enjoy the Barq-Off Dog Show and Parade, an official Alabama Cornhole Tournament, a car, truck, and motorcycle show, plus arts and crafts vendors. A Kids’ Fun Zone offers inflatables, obstacle courses, pumpkin bowling, euro bungy, face painting, a fishing pond, and more.

Festival hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and admission is free. All activities take place on the Downtown Square at 316 S Broad Street in Scottsboro. For details, visit scottsborobbqfestival.fun.

Blount County Covered Bridge Festival

Blount County, known as the Covered Bridge Capital of Alabama, will celebrate its heritage with the annual Covered Bridge Festival on Saturday, October 11, 2025. Held in downtown Oneonta, the one-day event promises a full day of family fun with arts and crafts, live music, a car cruise-in, food trucks, kids’ activities, and tours to two of the county’s historic covered bridges. The festival is hosted by the Blount-Oneonta Chamber of Commerce.

The heart of the festival is the arts and crafts show in Oneonta’s entertainment district, where vendors will showcase everything from handcrafted jewelry and woodwork to home décor and unique gifts. Families can enjoy the free Kids Zone, while car enthusiasts will appreciate the cruise-in featuring classic cars, trucks, and antique tractors. The festival stage will keep the entertainment rolling all day long with performances by Pine Mountain Bluegrass, Clog Wild Cloggers, Viva Dancers, Isaiah Moore, Small Town Charm, and more.

For those wanting to explore the area’s history, guided bus tours will depart throughout the morning to the Horton Mill and Easley Covered Bridges, with a stop at Palisades Park for the annual Quilt Show, hosted by the Blount County Quilters Guild. Admission to the Quilt Show is $10.

To start the day off right, festivalgoers are invited to the pancake breakfast at Lester Memorial Methodist Church from 7–10 a.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 7 and under, with proceeds benefiting the Blount County Children’s Center.

Festival hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and admission is free. For details, visit the Blount-Oneonta Chamber’s website or Facebook page, or call (205) 274-2153.

Blount County’s covered bridges are a must-see year-round. Horton Mill Bridge (1934) is the tallest historic covered bridge in the U.S., Easley Bridge (1927) is the smallest of the three, and Swann Bridge (1933) is the longest, stretching 324 feet across the Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River. Together, they highlight the county’s unique charm and deep-rooted history.

Alabama Gourd Show

An impressive display of unique creations, all handmade from gourds, will be on display during the Alabama Gourd Show set for October 17-18, 2025, at the Sparkman Civic Center in Hartselle. Now in its 27^th year, 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.

Hosted by the Alabama Gourd Society, the Alabama Gourd Show offers the public, whether one may be an artist, gardener or a lover of all things nature, an opportunity to mingle with gourd artisans and admire a variety of unique arts and crafts handmade from gourds. Artists will be demonstrating their gourd art techniques or for those who want to get hands-on, five different gourd art and painting classes taught by experts will be offered (fee charged). For more details including times and a description of classes offered, go to www.alabamagourdsociety.org and click on the classes tab. Registration is available from the class registration tab.

Show hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 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 www.alabamagourdsociety.org or contact Show Chair Pam Reeves at gourdzilla@aol.com.

Attalla Heritage Day

You're invited to step back in time and enjoy a day filled with music, food, art and community at Attalla Heritage Day Festival. Set for October 18, 2025, this annual free festival takes place in the heart of historic downtown Attalla along 4th Street NW, offering a variety of activities for the entire family to enjoy.

The Attalla Heritage Day Festival celebrates the city’s history and vibrant community spirit with a variety of activities and entertainment, including arts, crafts and handcrafted treasures from talented regional artisans, a car show, live music, food vendors and a kid zone with rides, games and activities in a safe, fun-filled space.

The festival takes place in a blocked-off section of downtown, surrounded by Attalla’s charming antique shops, boutiques, restaurants, and professional services. City of Attalla Heritage Day is the perfect opportunity to experience the welcoming spirit of Attalla while supporting local businesses and artists.

Always held the third Saturday in October, festival hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. For more information about the Attalla Heritage Day Festival, visit https://www.facebook.com/attallaheritageday/.

Athens Storytelling Festival

The magic of stories, legends, and laughter comes alive this fall as the Athens Storytelling Festival returns to Athens State University, October 21–25, 2025. Now in its nineteenth year, the festival brings together some of the nation’s most acclaimed storytellers, award-winning liars, and world-class musicians for a celebration of the spoken word.

The festival opens Tuesday, October 21, at 6:30 p.m. with the Student Tellers Exhibition, where local students compete on stage for a chance to perform again during Thursday night’s Olio. Admission to Tuesday’s event is free. Beginning Thursday evening, October 23, the festival’s featured tellers take the stage, joined by student winners from earlier in the week.

This year’s lineup includes four of the festival’s original performers from its inaugural year: Andy Offutt Irwin, Carmen Deedy, Bil Lepp, and Donald Davis. These celebrated artists have earned national recognition for their work—ranging from Circle of Excellence awards to acclaimed books, recordings, and keynote appearances at prestigious venues across the country.

Stories unfold under the big tent on the Athens State University campus by Sandridge Student Center (300 N. Beaty Street), just five blocks from downtown Athens. Hours are Friday, 9 a.m.–9:15 p.m., with ghost stories from Athens State student tellers 9:30–10 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m.–9:30 p.m. Beyond the tent, festivalgoers can enjoy local restaurants, food trucks, and downtown shops offering antiques, gifts, gourmet foods, and more.

Festival admission is $95 per adult and $49.50 per child (ages 13+) for access to all events. Children ages 3–12 are admitted free (no babies under two). Daily and combination tickets are also available, and all ticket holders must check in at the Gift Shop inside Sandridge Hall Student Center to receive their entrance swatches.

For tickets, a full schedule of events, and biographies of this year’s storytellers, visit athensstorytellingfestival.com.

A Homecoming: The American Signature Quilt Returns to Harrison Brothers Hardware

This October, the Historic Huntsville Foundation’s American Signature Quilt will make its long-awaited return to Harrison Brothers Hardware in downtown Huntsville—the very place that inspired its creation more than three decades ago. On display October 9–25, 2025, this special exhibition marks the first time in 35 years that the quilt will be shown at the historic landmark.

Created in 1989 as a fundraising project for Harrison Brothers, the quilt is a remarkable piece of Americana. Project chairs Lynn Jones and Dale Rhoades invited some of the most influential figures of the era to autograph fabric squares, which were then stitched into a striking red, white, and blue Ohio Star pattern. The result is two quilts: one raffled to raise funds for Harrison Brothers and the other preserved as a community heirloom. In 2023, the heirloom quilt was returned from the Huntsville-Madison County Library to HHF.

The quilt features 165 original autographs from icons such as Rosa Parks, Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman, Billie Jean King, Ronald Reagan, and Minnie Pearl, making it both a work of art and a piece of history.

The exhibition opens with a Homecoming Celebration on Thursday, October 9, offering the first public viewing. The quilt will be on display Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., with extended hours during Greene Street Market Thursdays. Admission is free.

The quilt’s return also launches the Signature Quilt Investment Campaign, with donation opportunities ranging from $100 to $2,500 to help preserve this treasured artifact.

Harrison Brothers Hardware, operating since 1897 and now home to Huntsville’s first history museum, continues to celebrate the region’s cultural heritage. For details about the quilt, visit Historic Huntsville Foundation.

River Clay Fine Arts Festival

Downtown Decatur will once again transform into a vibrant celebration of creativity as the River Clay Fine Arts Festival takes place October 25–26, 2025, on the grounds of Decatur City Hall. The two-day event welcomes more than 60 local and national artists from 13 states, showcasing original works in ceramics, glass, fiber, jewelry, paintings, photography, wood, sculpture, and more.

In addition to the juried art show, festivalgoers can enjoy student art exhibits, live art demonstrations, children’s activities, food trucks, live music, and a patron hospitality lounge. The festival also spotlights young talent, with displays featuring student artwork from schools across Decatur, Hartselle, and Morgan County.

Special events include River Clay Rendezvous on Friday, October 24, from 5–9 p.m. This exclusive preview offers attendees the first chance to meet artists, purchase artwork, and enjoy hors d’oeuvres, drinks, live music, and a special exhibit at the Alabama Center for the Arts. Rendezvous tickets are $60 per person and include weekend admission to the festival.

Festival hours are Saturday, Oct. 25, 9 a.m.–5 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 26, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Admission is $5 for a weekend pass; children 12 and under are free with an accompanying adult. Proceeds from the festival benefit local school art programs, with more than $55,000 in grants awarded in 2025 alone.

For more details, patron opportunities, or to purchase Rendezvous tickets, visit www.riverclay.org.

41st Annual Mid-South Woodcarving Show Set for October 31–November 1, 2025

Master artisans and carving enthusiasts will come together in Huntsville for the 41st Annual Mid-South Woodcarving Show and Competition, hosted by the North Alabama Woodcarvers Association (NAWA). The event takes place Friday, October 31, from 9 a.m.–5 p.m., and Saturday, November 1, from 9 a.m.–4 p.m., at Trinity United Methodist Church, 607 Airport Road. Admission is free.

Recognized as one of the Southeast’s premier woodcarving events, the Mid-South Show highlights the beauty and tradition of this timeless craft. Visitors can enjoy a juried competition, live demonstrations, a vendor marketplace, and the chance to view or purchase one-of-a-kind woodcarvings from talented artists. The show also provides opportunities for beginners to connect with mentors, explore tools and techniques, and gain hands-on experience.

Founded in 1981, NAWA has spent more than four decades promoting the art of woodcarving through classes, community outreach, and its signature annual show. The 2025 event promises to be a true celebration of craftsmanship and creativity in the Mid-South. For details, visit nawawoodcarvers.org/shows.

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 18th annual festival is set for October 25, and hours are 9am-3pm.

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 10am (weather permitting). Registration for the ride is $20 per bike and will be from 8:30-10am.

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. 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th avenues southwest and 1^st and 2^nd 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.

LaGrange College Site Haunted Hayride

The Haunted Hayride at LaGrange College Site in Leighton will be held every Saturday night in October from dusk until 11pm. This event will be a real barn burner with all kinds of scary attractions. 

Huntsville Ghost Walks

Get ready for a spine-tingling adventure in Huntsville this fall! The Huntsville Ghost Walks return for Fridays, Saturdays, and select Sundays from September 5 through October 31, 2025. Tours begin promptly at 6:00 PM at Harrison Brothers Hardware Store (124 South Side Square) in downtown Huntsville, with additional Saturday evening tours at 8:30 PM throughout October.

Guests can choose from three guided walking tours:

• Twickenham District – Explore Huntsville’s oldest neighborhood with antebellum architecture and haunted history.

• Old Town District – Hear eerie tales from the city’s early days and its first settlers.

• Downtown District – Discover ghostly encounters and chilling stories in Huntsville’s central area.

Tickets are $13 for adults and $8 for children 12 and under, and advance online reservations are required. This is a perfect opportunity for history buffs, thrill-seekers, and anyone looking to experience the haunted side of Huntsville.

For tickets and more information, visit www.huntsvilleghostwalk.com.

Maple Hill Cemetery Stroll

Experience Huntsville’s history come to life at the Maple Hill Cemetery Stroll, a beloved fall tradition, on Sunday, October 19, 2025, from 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM at 203 Maple Hill Drive (California Street & McClung Avenue). In case of rain, the event will be held the following Sunday, October 26.

Organized by the Huntsville Pilgrimage Association, the stroll features over 75 costumed characters portraying notable figures from Huntsville’s past, along with traditional music, special exhibits, an antique auto display, and a fun scavenger hunt for children. This free, family-friendly event provides a unique opportunity to explore the city’s rich history in one of Huntsville’s oldest and most storied cemeteries.

Please note, pets and smoking (including vapes and e-cigarettes) are not permitted. Donations are welcomed to support the preservation of Maple Hill Cemetery.

For more information and updates, visit Huntsville Pilgrimage Association.

Dead Children's Playground

There's a playground behind Maple Hill Cemetery known as Dead Children's Playground. Legend has it that the children buried in the nearby cemetery come out to play. People have even seen swings moving with no one in them. You can read about this story and more at We Are Huntsville's 5 Huntsville Ghost Stories blog.