Summer is here, and you do not want to miss these fun summer festivals taking place all over north Alabama!
First Fridays Downtown Gadsden
Downtown Gadsden is the place to be the First Friday of the month! Stores stay open late in the evening and downtown rocks with live entertainment, special events, sales, food, and artists from all over.
Alabama Jubilee Hot-Air Balloon Classic
The Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic, one of the Southeast’s most beloved Memorial Day weekend traditions, is set to return to Decatur’s Point Mallard Park for an unforgettable celebration of hot air balloons, live entertainment, arts and crafts and family-friendly activities. Taking place May 24-25, 2025, this free-admission event promises a weekend filled with exciting experiences for visitors of all ages.
The Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic begins bright and early Saturday, May 24, at 6:30 a.m., with the hare and hound balloon race: one balloon flies off and the others try to follow to see which pilot can get closest to a target put down by the hare balloon.
Additional activities on Saturday include a hands-on historical tool area, antique tractor show, an antique and classic auto expo (from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.); and a tractor parade (10 a.m.). A pedal tractor park for kids 6 years old and under, along with tractor games, opens at 11 a.m. Beginning at 5:30, some balloons will lift off for an evening flight and the Balloon Glow at 8:15 p.m. is a must see as towering balloons of all colors light up Point Mallard Park.
Another round of friendly competition between the hot-air balloon pilots is scheduled on Sunday, May 25 with the Lynn Layton Key Grab Balloon Race. Balloons should start flying into the Jubilee field starting about 7 a.m. in order to grab a ring from the top of a tall pole. A secondary goal is to drop a bean-bag marker at the center of an 'X' that is also placed at the pole. Another fun flight is set to launch at 5:30 p.m. and free tethered rides will be available starting at 6:30 p.m. The two-day event concludes with a fireworks show at 9:30 p.m.
The popular Decatur Art Guild arts and crafts show will be open Saturday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and again Sunday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the soccer fields and there will be live music in the late afternoon and evening both days. Stay tuned to the festival’s website for the latest updates.
Admission to and parking at the Alabama Jubilee are free. Blankets and lawn chairs are encouraged. For safety reasons, smoking is not permitted on the launch field and pets are strongly discouraged due to the loud noise caused by the balloons and the large number of people present. All balloon activities are weather permitting. Balloons do not fly, tether or glow in the rain or if wind on the ground is stronger than about 8 mph or if there are thunderstorms nearby. During festival hours, Point Mallard Park is a “No-Drone Zone” according to FAA regulations.
All activities take place inside Point Mallard Park, a 750-acre municipal park providing year-round recreation facilities in Decatur, Ala. For more information and a schedule of events, visit www.alabamajubilee.net.
Coalfest
Each year, the North Alabama community of Brilliant pays tribute to its roots in the coal mining industry with a free festival filling the downtown area with two days of family fun. Set for May 23-24, CoalFest offers live music, games, a look into the coal mining days, activities for children, arts and crafts and more throughout Main Street in downtown Brilliant.
Musical guests include The Band Loula, The Whiskey River Band, Dixie Mafia and Coal Town Sound. Friday night enjoy Free Bird, Carl and the Road Dogs. As music fills the air, festival goers can learn about the early history of coal mining in Brilliant with a guided tour of the historic Train Depot located in City Park (donations accepted). Brilliant Methodist Church, located on Main Street, will also be open for tours. A stop on the North Alabama Hallelujah Trail, Brilliant Methodist Church was built by local coal miners and remains an iconic cornerstone of the town.
Shuttle service will be provided free of charge from the downtown area to City Park, Brilliant Methodist Church and the Train Depot. Admission to the festival is free. A nominal fee is charged to participate in some of the children’s activities. For more information, call 205-465-2281.
Haleyville's 9-1-1 Festival
Over fifty years ago, the first 911 emergency call was made in the United States and the call was placed in the North Alabama town of Haleyville. To celebrate the monumental occasion, the Haleyville Area Chamber of Commerce and the town come together each year to host a two-day festival. Set for June 6-7, 2025, the 9-1-1 Festival offers activities for kids, arts and crafts vendors, parade, live music, motorcycle, classic car and antique tractor show and more. Admission is free.
Beginning at 3 p.m. on Friday, June 6, downtown Haleyville comes alive with free fun for the entire family. Activities include shopping among arts and crafts and food vendors, a kid’s zone with inflatables and enjoying live music. Slated to perform are Cowgirl Up Bluegrass Band, Eagles Sunrise, Sweet Tea Trio and headliner Parmalee. As the most-played group/band on Country Radio in 2023, Parmalee is one of Country Music’s most successful acts with five #1 singles, multiple platinum records and over 1 billion on-demand streams. The North Carolina natives first topped the charts with “Carolina,” followed by their PLATINUM-certified #1 single with Blanco Brown, “Just the Way.” They followed with “Take My Name,” Billboard’s Most Played Country Song of 2022. They scored their third consecutive #1 single with “Girl In Mine,” Billboard’s 8th Most Played Country Song of 2023. They closed out 2024 with their fourth consecutive #1 “Gonna Love You.” With their single “Cowgirl” currently climbing the country radio charts, Parmalee kicked off their “Fell In Love With A Cowgirl” Tour in February and just dropped their latest album of the same name, available now. South Layne is slated to perform at the after party at 11 p.m. at the Heart of Haleyville Park.
On Saturday, June 7, the festivities get underway at 8:00 a.m. and include a motorcycle show, classic car show and antique tractor show, arts and crafts and food vendors, a kid’s zone with inflatables and the annual Haleyville alumni and first responders parade gets underway at 10 a.m.
Activities take place in downtown Haleyville and festival goers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs. For more information, follow the event on Facebook at Haleyville Alabama 9-1-1 Festival or call 205-486-4611.
The Miracle Worker
Playwright William Gibson's epic drama, The Miracle Worker at Ivy Green, is performed on the grounds of Ivy Green, the birthplace of Helen Keller, showcasing to the world the miracle that took place in the late 1800s. The 64th annual production will run on Fridays and Saturdays, June 6-28 and July 11-19.
The live performance recalls the childhood of deaf-blind Helen Keller, who suddenly lost her sight and hearing at the age of 19 months, and the extraordinary teacher, Annie Sullivan, who taught her to communicate with the world. The play carries the audience into the daily disappointments and then the miraculous breakthrough of the young Helen at the guidance of her teacher, with authentic costumes and sets and professional acting.
Gates open at 7pm and play begins at 8pm. Patrons are welcome to walk the grounds prior to curtain. Admission is $20/reserved seating and $15/general admission. Groups of 20 or more receive a $2 discount per ticket. For reserved seating tickets and group discounts, please call (256) 383-4066. Special seating is available upon request for persons with special needs with a two-week notice. Tickets may be purchased online at https://www.themiracleworker.info/tickets or by credit card by calling (256) 383-4066.
For more information, visit https://www.themiracleworker.info/ or call (256) 383-4066.
June Fling
The Oneonta Business Association invites locals and visitors to make their way to their downtown area the first Saturday in June, for a one-day celebration of fun, arts and crafts, classic cars, great food and more. Now in its 23rd year, June Fling is set for June 7, 2025, with hours from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission is free.
The June Fling is the perfect kickoff to the summer season and showcases the very best of what downtown Oneonta has to offer. There will be over 100 arts and crafts booths, a cruise-in for all kinds of vehicles, music and entertainment filling the downtown area. Children will be treated to a variety of activities in a designated kids zone such as mingling with Star Wars characters from the Alabama Garrison of the 501st Legion, International Star Wars Costuming Organization, and playing in the inflatable slides and bounce houses.
Whether a yoga enthusiast or simply curious, festival goers will want to check out goat yoga, a new activity for this year’s June Fling.
Food Truck Friday, a special prelude to June Fling, will take place Friday evening, June 6, at the intersection of 1st Avenue and 3rd Street from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Slated to perform are The Soul Flys and festival goers are encouraged to bring chairs and enjoy dinner from a huge selection of food trucks as live music fills the air. Admission is free.
Festival goers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs to both events or limited tables will be available. For more information, visit https://www.oneontabusinessassociation.com/fling.html or call 205.813.7194.
Estes Field PCA Rodeo
Rodeo action will hit the dirt in June when the Estes Field PCA Rodeo makes it first appearance in the North Alabama town of Centre. Sponsored by the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism and the City of Centre, Alabama, the rodeo will take place June 13-14.
Not just for rodeo fans, the Estes Field PCA Rodeo promises to bring excitement to Centre for two days in June. Gates open at 5:30pm with mutton busting at 6:30 p.m. and the rodeo following at 7:30pm both nights. Competitive events lined up include bareback riding, calf roping, break-away roping, team roping, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding, barrel racing and bull riding. As cowboys and cowgirls compete for prize money, the crowd is also entertained with professional rodeo clowns and there will be food trucks for those arriving hungry.
Daily ticket prices are $15 per person. Admission is free for five years old and younger. Tickets may be purchased in advance at the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism office or at the gate.
The Estes Field PCA Rodeo is held at Estes Field located on Main Street in Centre, Alabama. For more information, call the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism at 256-927-8455.
Guntersville Lake HydroFest
Alabama is known for fast cars and a NASCAR superspeedway, but the southern state is also developing a name for fast boats on a liquid track. Lake Guntersville invites people of all ages to an extreme summer event where the fastest boats today race on an oval course at speeds of 200 mph. The annual Guntersville Lake HydroFest will take place June 6-8, offering two days of competitive racing. Stay tuned to www.guntersvillelakehydrofest.com for a schedule of events.
Watermelon Festival
Plenty of sweet juicy fun is on tap the third weekend in August when summer’s favorite fruit takes center stage during the annual Franklin County Watermelon Festival in Russellville, Ala. Set for August 15-16, 2025, the Watermelon Festival offers arts and crafts, several watermelon contests, a car and truck show, food vendors, children’s activities, games, and musical entertainment, along with free samples of watermelon.
Held each year on the third weekend in August, the Watermelon Festival has grown into Franklin County’s largest and most anticipated event since its inception in 1981. Organized by the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, the festival attracts thousands of visitors from across the Southeast. The festival weekend begins with opening ceremonies at 6:30 p.m. on Friday with live music taking the stage both days.
Friday, Aug. 15 - Music Lineup
6:30 PM – Opening Ceremony (National Anthem by Kim Clonts)
7:00 PM – Music City Misfits
8:30 PM – Austin Bohannon
Saturday, Aug. 16 - Music Lineup
6:00 PM – The Midnighters
7:00 PM – Dixie Mafia
8:30 PM – Will Moseley
Contests centered on watermelons, including watermelon seed spitting, the largest melon, best tasting melon, most unusual and best-dressed melons, are a highlight each year entertaining festivalgoers of all ages. Over 100 vehicles are expected for the car and truck show on Saturday morning, and additional activities include a 5K run and 1-mile fun run, character guests to entertain the children and the Franklin County Extension Office contests.
All activities take place along Main Street (Jackson Avenue). Hours are 6-10pm on Friday and 10am-10pm on Saturday. Admission is free. For more details, visit the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce website at www.franklincountychamber.org and click on the Watermelon Festival link or call 256.332.1760. For the latest information, follow the Franklin County Watermelon Festival page on Facebook and Instagram.
World's Longest Yard Sale
Each year, bargain hunters, yard sale connoisseurs, collectors and treasure seekers make their way through northeastern Alabama for the biggest yard sale shopping spree in the world. The World’s Longest Yard Sale, a once-a-year, 690-mile shopping trip also known as the 127 Yard Sale, takes place August 7-10, 2025, and along with shopping, treasure hunting, and bargaining, there is plenty of sightseeing to do along the North Alabama stretch that begins in Gadsden, Alabama and travels along the Lookout Mountain Parkway through Fort Payne, Alabama and into Chattanooga, Tenn.
The World’s Longest Yard Sale offers everything from antiques, collectibles, furniture and dishware to fresh local produce and homemade jams and jellies as well as food vendors and live entertainment. The annual event is also known as the 127 Yard Sale and many shoppers begin at the southernmost start point in Gadsden, taking the scenic Lookout Mountain Parkway to Chattanooga and following Highway 127 all the way north through six states to Addison, Mich. For a list of single locations and/or small areas with a minimum of 25 vendors each in Alabama, visit http://www.127yardsale.com/major-vendor-stops#alabama. Visit http://www.127yardsale.com/route-map/directions-through-georgia-and-alabama for turn-by-turn directions through the Alabama section.
Created to get travelers off the interstate and into towns and communities located off the beaten path, the World’s Longest Yard Sale takes visitors on a shopping excursion through some of the country’s most scenic areas. The 93-mile Lookout Mountain Parkway has been touted “A Must See” by Reader’s Digest, National Geographic and Southern Living magazines, providing a beautiful backdrop to the thousands of roadside sales.
Along with four days of shopping, visitors can experience a slice of real Americana, true southern hospitality, a variety of locally owned restaurants and accommodations and a world of nature, including majestic waterfalls, canyons, scenic brow vistas, unique towns and villages, state and national parks and preserves. Visit https://visitlookoutmountain.com/visit/ to plan a trip around the World’s Longest Yard Sale event.
Vendors are typically up and running by 8 a.m. and operate until late in the evening each day of the event. While some vendors may accept credit cards, cash is the preferred method of payment. Shoppers are encouraged to wear comfortable shoes, insect repellent and sunscreen and to bring snacks, plenty of water and a sense of adventure. For lodging information, directions, road closures and more information, visit https://visitlookoutmountain.com/worlds-longest-yard-sale/ or call DeKalb Tourism at 888.805.4740 or Greater Gadsden Area Tourism at 888.565.0411.
