Ahhh, May, you bring with you warmer weather, fun festivals, and lots of delicious homegrown fruit and veggies! Check out these fun (and even delicious) festivals and make plans to live your best life in May in north Alabama.
Moulton Strawberry Festival
Moulton’s berry delicious event returns the first weekend in May for two days of family fun, fresh strawberries, and live music. Now in its ninth year, the 2024 Strawberry Festival is set for May 3-4 with activities taking place at the Lions Club Fairgrounds.
As the month of May approaches and warm weather fills the air with the arrival of springtime, parents in search of family-friendly activities will want to put the Strawberry Festival on their schedule of things to do. Entertainment geared to children includes free inflatables, a bungie jump, petting zoo, horse and buggy rides ($2/person) and the Strawberry Princess Walk (Saturday). There will be a classic car/truck/motorcycle show, tractor show, arts and crafts vendors, cornhole tournament (Saturday) and a celebration for veterans (Saturday) and Lawrence County’s Got Talent will take to the stage at 12 p.m. Saturday.
Mouthwatering strawberries, the highlight of the two-day event, will be available to purchase and organizers suggest arriving early to purchase the berries before supplies run out. Farmers will be on hand to offer tips and suggestions for storing and preparing.
The festival also showcases gospel groups, oldies and folk performers, dance teams, bands and choral groups from local high schools and rising stars from across the region. Festival goers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs as ongoing live music fills the air both days. Remnants, Red Hill Band and One Accord are just a few of the bands slated to perform.
Festival hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. All activities take place at the Lions Club Fairgrounds located at 455 School Street in Moulton unless otherwise noted. Admission is $1 both days. Proceeds benefit the Jesse Owens Runners’ Club and local schools. For more information, visit the event on Facebook at www.facebook.com/StrawberryFestivalMoulton or contact Event Director Stan Johnson at 256.566.4410.
Alabama Strawberry Festival
Not one, but two fun-filled days are planned in May when the North Alabama town of Cullman gears up for its annual festival centered around strawberries. Set for May 3-4, 2024, in Depot Park, the Alabama Strawberry Festival, formerly known as Cullman Strawberry Festival, promises plenty of delicious, locally grown strawberries, hometown fun, top-tier musical events on two stages and exciting events over the course of two days.
As far back as 1898, the strawberry has been an agricultural calling card for Cullman and to celebrate, the town comes together to offer an event centered on the red berry. In 2023, the Governor of Alabama officially recognized the annual strawberry celebration in Cullman as the Alabama Strawberry Festival. Now in its 85th year, the event is Alabama’s longest-running strawberry festival and is expanding to two days with two musical stages. Many local farmers will be on hand selling their produce, and most importantly, fresh, locally grown strawberries. Make sure to stop by the Festhalle Marketplatz early to purchase a basket of berries to take home.
Along with fresh strawberries, the Strawberry Festival offers a variety of food vendors with strawberry menu items, a kid’s area and over 80 artisan vendors selling strawberry-themed food, handcrafted collectibles and locally sourced products.
This year’s event welcomes Colin Stough, JD Clayton, Matt Stell and Niko Moon to the stage on Friday, May 3 and Kasey Tyndall Jesse Roper, Cousin Curtiss, Eric Hutchinson, Easton Corbin and headliner Eli Young Band on Saturday, May 4. Anyone will be able to view the concert, but the best vantage point with reserved seating will require a ticket. Premium general admission ticket is $29.99/single day and $49.99/two day pass and VIP is $79.99/single day and $99.99/two day pass. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased at https://www.alabamastrawberryfest.com/tickets. New for 2024, the Wallace State Community College Fresh Picks Stage will feature rising artists Lamont Landers, The Pink Stones, Banditos, & Nat Myers.
Hours are 11am-10pm Friday, May 3 and 9am-10pm Saturday, May 4 at the Festhalle Farmers Market and Depot Park located at 309 1st Avenue NE in downtown Cullman. Admission is free.
Strawberries were first produced in Cullman in 1898 and later prompted the community to host its first Strawberry Festival in 1939. The community event has continued to be one of the state’s largest and longest-running strawberry festivals to date. For more information, visit www.alabamastrawberryfest.com or call 256-734-9157.
Recall LaGrange’s Distillery Raid on the Mountain
The reenactment of a law enforcement raid on a moonshine still will take place the first Saturday in May at the LaGrange College Site Park located in Leighton. Set for May 4, Recall LaGrange’s Distillery Raid on the Mountain offers a day of living history events, Civil War displays and demonstrations, arts and crafts, musical entertainment and more. The event commemorates the 194th anniversary of the LaGrange College and Military Institute, Alabama’s first college.
Recall LaGrange’s Distillery Raid on the Mountain features a period correct living history centering on a Prohibition Era raid on a suspected moonshine still. A group of lawmen will descend on the pioneer village of LaGrange and will engage in a brief skirmish with the locals. The skirmish is slated for 2pm.
While the highlight is the prohibition era raid on a moonshine still, the day-long event offers other important historical accounts, Civil War collections and fun activities for the family. The Alabama Bicentennial Table once owned by Senator Charles Tait, who prepared the bill that was used for Alabama statehood, will be on display and there will be art/crafts demonstrations, wagon rides to historic LaGrange Cemetery, food vendors, antiques and fragments of period moonshine stills on display. The pioneer and log buildings located in the park will be open for tours, living history presentations will be ongoing and there will be tours of Dawson Distillery located near the park during the festival.
Festival hours are 10am-4 pm. Admission is free. Donations will be accepted at the gate for up-keep of the historic park and cemetery.
Distillery Raid on the Mountain takes place at the LaGrange College site located in northwest Alabama, eight miles southeast of Muscle Shoals, off Highway 157 at 1491 LaGrange College Road, Leighton, Ala. For more information, call Louise Lenz with the LaGrange Living Historical Association at (256) 446-9324 or click here (https://www.facebook.com/LaGrange-College-Site-Park-267442509976906/) to visit the LaGrange College Site Park on Facebook.
Belle Mont Mansion Celtic Festival
For one day in May, the historic Belle Mont Mansion in the North Alabama town of Tuscumbia opens its doors and lawn for a cultural celebration of its Celtic heritage. The third annual Celtic Festival is set for Saturday, May 11, and during the day-long event, there will be music, demonstrations, arts and crafts, food and more to create a true Celtic cultural experience for the community and visitors. Special activities are also lined up for Museum Day Friday, May 10 along with free admission to the historic museum.
Celebrating the historical significance of the Scottish heritage of people for whom Belle Mont was built in the early 1800s, the Belle Mont Celtic Fest is an outdoor festival featuring world-class Celtic musicians, performing the music of Scotland and Ireland. Along with live music, there will be demonstrators of Celtic life-skills and arts, activities for children, arts and crafts vendors, food vendors, shaggy Highland cows to pet and photograph, Celtic merchandise by Near and Far Scottish Supply and more.
Returning to headline this year’s festival is the popular group, the Steel City Rovers, on U.S. tour from Ontario, Canada. According to festival organizers, The Steel City Rovers add a special dimension to the Belle Mont Celtic Fest. “We were lucky to secure their performance last year and were bowled over by their energy and their fantastic sound! They are engaging, extremely talented, and the Celtic fiddling is second to none. When we requested a return by this group, they “saved the date” and we are pleased to bring another outstanding performance by “The Rovers” to the Shoals. If you missed them and our festival last year, you don’t want to miss the Belle Mont Celtic Fest this year.”
Also returning to the Belle Mont stage will be the high-energy Piper Jones Band and the Alabama-based duo, Chambless and Muse, whose performances are popular with Shoals audiences. In addition, making their debut performance in this year’s festival, will be the Alabama Pipes and Drums, featuring an array of bagpipers wearing their signature kilts. A modest admission cost is required for Saturday when festival performances will be staged on the sweeping lawn of Belle Mont. Festival goers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets.
Inside Belle Mont for festival goers to enjoy in addition to live music on Saturday will be chamber music, exhibits, demonstrations and panel discussions on the migratory trends into North Alabama by people with roots in the Celtic British Isles.
Friday May 10 activities for Museum Day include chamber music, cultural demonstrations and a demonstration of the Gordon Setter, a canine breed that originated in Scotland, by an Ohio-based professional breeder/trainer. A film, produced by Yale University and the late Willie Ruff, will be screened, documenting cultural ties between Scotland and African American choral worship. All events during regular museum hours on Friday 10am-4pm are free and open to the public. *Tickets for Saturday may be purchased in advance (before May 11 ) on Eventbrite for a discounted rate of $5/adult per day (+fee) and $5/13-18 years old per day (+fee).
Rain location is Northwest-Shoals Community College gymnasium located at 800 George Wallace Boulevard in Muscle Shoals. Belle Mont Mansion is located at 1569 Cook Lane in Tuscumbia.
Springfest
Guin’s popular two day festival transforms the downtown area into a venue for free family fun, attracting thousands of visitors to the wholesome North Alabama community. During Springfest, formerly known as Mayfest, festivalgoers are treated to live music, a car and bike show and plenty of good food. Hosted by the City of Guin, the event is set for May 10-11.
The music lineup for Friday, May 10 features headliner T. Graham Brown. Grammy nominated artist T. Graham Brown is a member of the Grand Ole Opry, a CMA award winner for vocal event of the year, ACM nominee for male vocalist, vocal duo and is the host of “Live Wire” on SiriusXM Prime Country. With 15 albums to his name, he has multiple #1 hits on country radio. Hits include I Tell It Like It Used to Be, Wine into Water, Hell and High Water and Darlene.
On Saturday, May 11, there will be a car and bike show and Sean Kennedy will take the stage at 2pm. Along with live music, there will be art and craft vendors and a variety of concessions will keep bellies full both days of the festival.
Mayfest takes place at 7500 US Highway 43 in downtown Guin. Admission is free. For more information, call Guin City Hall at 205-468-2242.
Limestone Sheriff's Rodeo
Plenty of rodeo action is expected to hit the dirt next month when the annual Limestone Sheriff’s Rodeo returns to the north Alabama town of Athens. Now in its 42nd year, the Limestone Sheriff’s Rodeo is set for May 17-18, and along with two days of high impact rodeo competition, organizers look to engage the community by offering several family-friendly events in the week leading up to the rodeo.
Rodeo week kicks off at 6pm, Tuesday, May 14 with the Cast Products, Inc. street dance on the east side of the Limestone County Courthouse Square and live music by Southern Strays band. In addition to dancing and music, restaurants and merchants around the downtown area will be open for business.
Slack competition for team roping contestants and contestant overflow will take place at the arena located on Alabama Highway 99 on Thursday, May 16. Gates open at 8am and the competition begins at 9am. Admission is $5.
The annual Exceptional Needs Rodeo will take place Friday, May 17 from 10am-1pm at the arena. This rodeo is specifically for community individuals with special needs. Participants are expected to attend from the entire north Alabama region.
The main events of the rodeo are scheduled to take place May 17 and 18. Gates open at 6pm both nights with competition starting at 8pm. Competitive events lined up for both nights include bareback bronc riding, calf roping, break-away 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 including International Professional Rodeo Association Barrelman Mighty Mike Wentworth in action as well as specialty act Tim “Wild Thang” Lepard and Team Ghostriders, chuckwagon races and other performers.
Daily ticket prices are adults $15 (advance by April 30) or $20 (gate) and children 4 to 12 years old are $8 (advance by April 30) or $12 (gate). Tickets may be purchased in advance at Limestone County Sheriff’s office and online (convenience fee charged) at https://www.showpass.com/42nd-annual-limestone-sheriffs-rodeo/.
The Limestone Sheriff’s Rodeo is produced by the Lone Star Rodeo Company and is held at the Limestone Sheriff’s Rodeo Arena located on Alabama Highway 99 west of Athens. All proceeds are used to purchase equipment for the Limestone County sheriff’s office. Call 256.232.0111 or visit www.limestonesheriffrodeo.com for more information.
Arley Day Festival
For the past 50 years, the Arley Day Festival has sparked excitement in one small North Alabama town with a day filled with free, family-friendly activities. Set for May 18, 2024, the one-day event is a celebration of the town of Arley complete with a parade, car show, arts and crafts vendors, games and more.
Presented by the Arley Women’s Club, Inc, the 51st annual Arley Day Festival begins at 8 a.m. with a fun parade through town starting at Dollar General on Highway 41, passing D. H. Hamner Memorial Park and ending at Meek Baptist Church. Activities lined up for the day include arts and crafts vendors, car show, food vendors, children’s games, water slides, horseback rides and more. For the sports-minded, there will be a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, organized by the Meek basketball coach, beginning at 9 a.m. on the courts at Hamner Park and a pickleball tournament will be held at the newly added pickleball courts. Visit https://arleywomensclub.org/arley-day-festival to register for the pickleball tournament.
For those who enjoy a hearty breakfast, arrive early for the pancake breakfast, hosted by the Arley First Baptist Church, at the Arley Fire Station, located directly across from Hamner Park from 7-8:30am.
Donations are welcomed and will benefit the Arley Volunteer Fire Department. For those who skip breakfast, there will be food vendors and free hotdogs for kids.
The family-friendly community festival takes place at D. H. Hamner Memorial Park located on Helicon Road/Highway 77 in Arley. Festival hours are 8am-2pm. Admission is free. All proceeds from the event go back into community schools, fire departments, library, park and others.
For up-to-date information, visit https://www.facebook.com/ArleyWomensClub/.
Alabama Jubilee Hot-Air Balloon Classic
More than 60 big beautiful hot-air balloons will fill the sky above Decatur, the last weekend in May during the annual Alabama Jubilee Hot-Air Balloon Classic. The must-see event of North Alabama is set for Memorial Day weekend, May 25-26, at Point Mallard Park and features hot air balloons, a balloon glow, antique cars and tractors, arts and crafts, fireworks and other family fun with activities on the ground and in the air.
The Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic has become a Memorial Day weekend tradition for local families and visitors for over 45 years. The celebration begins bright and early Saturday, May 25, at 6:30am, 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, an antique and classic auto expo from 8:30am-3pm and the Southland Flywheelers will host an antique tractor show, featuring some of the best restored and maintained tractors in the Southeast. A tractor parade follows at 10am, and from 11am-1pm, there will be tractor games and a pedal tractor park opens for kids 6 years old and under. Beginning at 5:30, some balloons will lift off for an evening flight and the Balloon Glow at 8:15pm is a must see as towering balloons of all colors light up Point Mallard Park.
Held under the pavilion, the popular Decatur Art Guild arts and crafts show is Saturday from 7am-7pm and Sunday 8am-6pm.
Another round of friendly competition between the hot-air balloon pilots is scheduled Sunday, May 26 with the Lynn Layton Key Grab. Balloons should start flying into the Jubilee field starting about 7am 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 5:30pm and free tethered rides will be available starting at 6:30pm. The two-day event concludes with a fireworks show at 9:30pm.
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 24-25, 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.
Coalfest kicks off on Friday, May 24 around 5pm with live music from Area 51 Memphis Band, Lloyd Moses and Mike Mayhall and Friends. The festivities continue Saturday, May 25 beginning at 8am with family-friendly activities and more live music. Activities include a coal mining exhibit, car and tractor show, horseshoe tournament, a motorcycle ride to raise funds for a local family in need, arts and crafts and a kid’s area with games and rides. Saturday’s musical lineup includes Lee Roy Parnell, The Georgia Thunderbolts and Jeff & Jordan. The two-day event typically wraps up around 5pm on Saturday.
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.
