2019 Spring Parades and Festivals in Huntsville and North Alabama

If you’re looking for fun, you’ve come to the right place! We’ve got all the 2018 Spring parades and festivals in Huntsville & North Alabama in one place. Peruse this list and then make your plans. Fun is in your future.

Ready for more spring related fun? Check out our full 2019 Spring Activities Guide sponsored by the Heart of the Valley YMCA.

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Even More Spring Fun

March

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17th Annual Jerry Brown Arts Festival

When: March 2 from 9PM-5PM; March 3 from 10AM-4PM
Where: Hamilton, AL (map)
Cost: FREE
More Info: Website

The Jerry Brown Arts Festival (JBAF) is an indoor, juried arts festival headlined and named in honor of Hamilton resident and Smithsonian potter, Jerry Brown, who as a ninth-generation potter was awarded in 1992 the National Heritage Fellowship and in 2003 received the Alabama Heritage Award from the Alabama State Council on the Arts. Artists from throughout the Southeastern United States participate in this two-day festival celebrating the festival’s theme, “Reflections of the South.” Host of the JBAF is the Northwest Alabama Arts Council, Inc., a 501(c)3 organization supporting the arts and art education. Named a Top 20 event by the Southeast Tourism Society!

Community Kite Festival

When: March 2 from 11AM-3PM
Where: Jaycee Community Building (map)
Cost: FREE! Bring your own kite, chairs & blankets welcome
More Info: Website

It is with great excitement that AshaKiran and the City of Huntsville-Office of Multicultural Affairs invite you to our 6th Annual Community Kite Festival on Saturday, March 2, 2019! Once again our theme is “Soaring for Social Justice,” and we are showcasing the dozens of non-profit organizations in our local community who selflessly provide aid to marginalized demographics. It is our hope that every member of our community is able to enjoy a beautiful afternoon filled with kite-flying, scrumptious foods, fellowship and entertainment while learning more about the wide-range of services offered throughout the city of Huntsville.

Spring Festival for Kids/Families MASLENITSA

When: March 9 from 10AM-4PM
Where: Heritage Church (map)
Cost: $5 (kids 12 and under are FREE)
More Info: Facebook

Join us to celebrate Spring on March 9th at Heritage Church in Madison between 10 am and 4 pm. Bring your friends to experience Eastern European hospitality with delicious traditional food, educational kids crafts and fun games, music and dancing. Part of proceeds will benefit Blossomwood Foundation.

UCP’s 19th Annual “An Irish Evening”

When: March 15 from 6PM-9PM
Where: The Depot Roundhouse (map)
Cost: $25 each; one free child per adult ticket
More Info: Website | Facebook

The 21st annual UCP “An Irish Evening” features Irish and international food and beverage samples from local vendors, Celtic entertainment, and casual attire (wearin’ of the green is a must!) at The Depot Roundhouse in downtown Huntsville. UCP’s An Irish Evening will again feature live music by Black Market Haggis, fun and games with the Irish Society of North Alabama, a performance by the Fitness Arts Center Irish step dancers, visits with Irish Wolfhounds, an extensive silent auction, dance tunes with Metropolitan DJ, and more! Tickets are include food and beverage samples (one child 12 and under is free with each paid adult ticket). All proceeds from this annual fundraiser directly benefit UCP client services for more than 1,000 North Alabama families affected by a disability.

42nd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade

When: March 16 at 11:30 AM
Where: Downtown Huntsville (parade route here)
Cost: FREE to observe & march!
More Info: Website | Facebook

The 42nd annual Huntsville St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be held on Saturday, March 16th at 11:30am in downtown Huntsville! Presented by the Irish Society of North Alabama, this annual tradition is a celebration of Irish culture & heritage in a positive family atmosphere. Check out the Parade Route on the website.

Huntsville Coffee and Tea Festival

When: March 24 at 11:30 AM
Where: Historic Huntsville Depot Roundhouse (map)
Cost: $10 online, $15 at the door, FREE for kids 8 and under (discounts for teachers, military, students, and first responders)
More Info: Website | Facebook

Come and learn about local specialty coffee & tea at this inaugural event benefitting the Make-a-Wish Foundation! Enjoy access to the best brews in the area, unlimited sampling, interactive experiences, and demonstrations at a sensory experience that was designed for and open to the public from beginners to advanced. In addition, there will be live local music, food trucks, and a raffle for voting on the vendor you think should win the Best Drink Award. Don’t miss out on this unique festival featuring a brew lab, latte art, demonstrations and fun competitions, bakery goods, a kids area, and more.

April

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ChargerCon 2019

When: April 6 from 12-11PM
Where: UAH Spragins Hall (map)
Cost: FREE
More Info: Website | Facebook

ChargerCon is a free annual gaming and technology expo that is held at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. ChargerCon 2019 will be held on Saturday, April 6th, from noon to 11pm in UAH’s Spragins Hall. ChargerCon features video game and tabletop tournaments, cosplay contest, workshops, demos, a retro arcade, and free play areas. ChargerCon is free and open to everyone. Some tournaments will have a buy-in, which will go toward prizes for the champions.

Taste the Spirit of Madison: Madison Market

When: April 6 from 9AM-2PM
Where: Insanity Complex (map)
Cost: FREE
More Info: Website | Facebook

Come shop Madison Market and check out the wide array of goods and services offered right here in our community. With everything from martial arts to custom teas, there is sure to be something for everyone! There will be live music, karate and dance demonstrations and 60+ vendor booths to shop! Madison Market is free to attend, so come on out and see what makes Madison special! Food trucks will be onsite!

11th Annual “Battle of the Buffalo” Chicken Wing Festival

When: April 6 from 2PM-7PM
Where: Big Spring Park (map)
Cost: $15
More Info: Website | Facebook

Battle of the Buffalo is a food festival hosted by the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. The event invites local restaurants and amateurs to showcase their best version of the ever-popular buffalo chicken wing. As competitors battle for the title of Best Wing in the Tennessee Valley, guests can sample wings from the wide variety of competing businesses and chefs.

Bloomin’ Festival

When: April 6-7 from 9AM-5PM
Where: St. Bernard School & Abby (map)
Cost: $5 donation; Children 5 & Under FREE. No pets please!
More Info: Website | Facebook

Bloomin’ Festival is a two day juried arts festival attracting more than 25,000 visitors to the beautiful campus of St. Bernard Abbey and Prep School. Located adjacent to the school is the world famous Ave Maria Grotto. The picturesque landscape of stone cut buildings on the grounds of Alabama’s only Abbey provides a backdrop for the out-of-doors show. More than 140 booths are filled with artists demonstrating and exhibiting their work. The festival is the largest fundraiser annually for the operation and maintenance of the school. Special discounted rates are offered for the weekend to visit Ave Maria Grotto. Completing the weekend is the give-away of a new automobile and other valuable prizes.

Community Car Show and Spring Festival

When: April 6 from 10AM-2PM
Where: Asbury Church (map)
Cost: FREE
More Info: Website | Facebook

What better way to kick off spring in Madison than with a Community Car Show & Spring Festival! This year, we’re excited to combine two of our most anticipated events to create an incredibly fun experience for families, car enthusiasts, and families who love cars! Come on by for an awesome display of vintage cars, hot-rods, muscle cars, imports, and more, PLUS tons of fun inflatables and activities for preschool through elementary age kids, from obstacle courses to face decorating and even the Big Green Bus! You might even get to climb aboard a SWAT truck! and did we mention it’s all FREE, including food? You won’t want to miss this spring extravaganza!

Taste the Spirit of Madison: Bites & Brews

When: April 9 from 6-9PM
Where: Insanity Complex (map)
Cost: Pre-event tickets for ages 13+ are $20, ages 6-12 are $10, and children 5 and under FREE
More Info: Website | Facebook

One of Madison’s largest food events, this food & beer tasting event, Bites & Brews, features delicious samples from over 25 local restaurants and craft breweries. Sample from the trendiest new spots or perennial home town favorites. Local band, Groove, keeps things lively with toe-tapping music while you enjoy the festivities. No matter what your taste, there is something for everyone to enjoy at this wonderfully diverse event! Come share Madison’s culture with us!

Panoply Arts Festival

Step back in time, venture to space, and celebrate community creativity at this year’s Panoply Arts Festival! North Alabama’s celebration of art, music and more returns April 26^th – 28^th to downtown Huntsville’s Big Spring Park. Panoply showcases nearly 40 local and regional musical acts, including internationally recognized and critically acclaimed bands and musicians, the Art Marketplace, STEAM Street and Bicentennial Village interactives and community art projects, craft beer, festival food, select local food trucks and more. Friday, April 26th is Military Salute Night, sponsored by Dynetics, which welcomes active duty military, Armed Forces reserves and their dependents to the park for a free evening of entertainment. Enjoy music and performances at three outdoor stages with open-air seating. Festival patrons are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets to sit on as they enjoy the lineup of Panoply performers. Friday and Saturday night end the night with a stunning fireworks display sponsored by Delta Research.

Guntersville’s Art on the Lake

When: April 27 from 10AM-5PM | April 28 from 10AM-4PM
Where: Guntersville Recreational Center (map)
Cost: $2 for ages 13+
More Info: Website | Facebook

For over 55 years, artists and crafters from across the southeastern United States have made their way to the North Alabama town of Guntersville to display their works of art and unique creations for two days in April. Held alongside beautiful Lake Guntersville, Art on the Lake features over 130 fine artists and craftsmen, and along with arts and crafts, festivalgoers are treated to food vendors, outdoor games and rides and a bakeshop. Art on the Lake is a family-friendly festival with a huge offering of artwork, handmade crafts and one-of-a-kind items from over 130 artists and craftsmen. The event features nationally recognized as well as emerging, local artists. Festival attendees will have the opportunity to shop the work of 130+ artists and craftsmen who work with an array of mediums from jewelry, fiber, glass and ceramics to photography, wood crafts, sculpture and dimensional forms. During the festival, members of the Twenty-First Century Club will have homemade desserts, including a variety of cakes, cookies, pies, fudge and breads, available to purchase. Plenty of entertainment in the form of inflatables, a bungee jumper and carnival type games will provide hours of enjoyment for the kids.

Cullman Strawberry Festival

When: April 27 from 8AM-10PM
Where: Downtown Cullman (map)
Cost: FREE
More Info: Facebook

Celebrate Cullman’s agricultural history with the 80th anniversary of the state’s oldest Strawberry Festival, featuring arts & crafts, food, music, strawberries, and more! Cullman StrawberryFest features the best strawberries and produce in North Alabama. Along with our outstanding music venue, classic car show, arts and crafts, and scrumptious food vendors, visitors can plan to spend the whole day shopping in the unique stores in our downtown district, dancing to a variety of music playing at the Festhalle or visiting our historic districts via guided tours provided by the Cullman County Museum.

May

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WhistleStop Weekend

When: May 3 from 4-11PM | May 4 from 10AM-11PM
Where: Huntsville Historic Depot (map)
Cost: Ages 11+ $25-35; Ages 3-10 $5-$10; Under 3 FREE
More Info: Website

Come have a toe-tappin, barbeque-eatin’ good time and best of all it’s all for a good cause. Activities include professional, amateur, and kids’ BBQ competitions, music, and the AL Corn Horn Championship! All proceeds benefit EarlyWorks Children’s Museum and educational programs for area children. Be sure to visit the Kid’s Zone, with lots of activities for the kids to enjoy!

Strawberry Fest in Moulton

When: May 3 from 11AM-7PM | May 4 from 9AM-6PM
Where: Downtown Moulton (map)
Cost: FREE
More Info: Website | Facebook

Strawberries, live music, a pageant, golf tournament, mud volleyball competition, arts and crafts and other free family fun are all on the agenda when the annual Strawberry Festival hits the streets of downtown Moulton in May. Now in its fifth year, the Strawberry Festival welcomes thousands of guests who come in search of the sweet berry and to experience the charm of the annual event. Hosted by the Jesse Owens Runners’ Club, the Strawberry Festival is a two-day community event celebrating the strawberry harvest of North Alabama. While the strawberry takes center stage, the family-friendly event also offers free inflatable activities for kids, the Lawrence County Fire Fighters and Rapid Response Volunteers display, a classic car/truck/motorcycle show, arts and crafts and food vendors, a mud volleyball tournament, a 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run, a golf tournament, beauty pageant and live music featuring local performers.

Babypalooza LIVE!

When: May 4 from 10AM-2PM
Where: The Westin (map)
Cost: FREE
More Info: Website | Facebook

If you are a new, expectant, or hopeful parent then don’t miss Babypalooza Live!, the must-attend baby and maternity conference when it comes to the Westin Huntsville. Becoming a parent can be overwhelming, especially to a first-time parent. Babypalooza is designed to help equip you and connect you to local resources. You will have the opportunity to join Athens-Limestone Hospital, Decatur Morgan Hospital, Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children and Madison Hospital for mini-presentations with pediatricians, obstetricians and other hospital certified instructors.

Mayfest

When: May 10 from 5:30-10PM | May 11 from 8AM-4PM
Where: Guin, AL (map)
Cost: FREE
More Info: Facebook

The popular Mayfest transforms downtown Guin into a venue for free family fun, attracting thousands of visitors to the North Alabama community. The theme for this year’s event is Mayfest Salutes the Military and for two days, festivalgoers are treated to live music, carnival rides and games, a dog show, a 5K race and plenty of good food. On Friday, May 10th, gates open at 5:30 p.m. and the music lineup features the Bells of Franklin, a World War II tribute group and headliner The Springs, an award winning band that belts out a variety of music. The Mayfest 5K Run hits the street Saturday morning in front of Guin City Hall. Activities lined up for the day beginning at 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. include a dog show, carnival rides, games, concessions and more live music. Two former members of the Alabama football team will be on hand signing autographs. The entertainment stage will offer a variety of music from local acts keeping festivalgoers entertained throughout the day.

Heads N Tails Crawfish Boil

When: May 18 from 3PM-9PM
Where: VBC South Hall (map)
Cost: FREE; food available for purchase
More Info: Website | Facebook

The 9th Annual Heads-N-Tails Crawfish Boil presented by Mercedes-Benz of Huntsville & Landers McLarty Nissan Huntsville will take place in South Hall of the VBC on Saturday, May 18th from 3pm to 9pm! This event is FREE TO ATTEND and is a family-friendly event with face painting, inflatables, an arcade and other free activities to entertain the kids! Crawfish and other cajun food will be available for purchase! We will also have craft beer tastings and your favorite beverages available for purchase! And what crawfish boil would be complete without Zydeco music?! So we are bringing Louisiana vibes to you with live zydeco music by Curley Taylor and Zydeco Trouble from 5pm to 8pm! So make sure to mark your calendar for an event you don’t want to miss!

Scottsboro’s Catfish Festival

When: May 18 from 8AM-3PM
Where: Jackson County Park, Scottsboro (map)
Cost: FREE
More Info: Website

The Catfish Festival reels in plenty of free family fun each year on the banks of Lake Guntersville in Scottsboro, Ala. Now in its 19th year, the family-friendly event is centered on one of America’s favorite outdoor activities, fishing, and encourages anglers and non-anglers of all ages to attend. Along with fishing, additional activities include a catfish fry, arts and crafts, a car show, live music and more. Presented by the Scottsboro Small Business Council, the Catfish Festival is held along the banks of Lake Guntersville in Jackson County Park. From 8 a.m. to noon, children are invited to bring their fishing rods to try to catch (and keep) as many catfish as they can for free. Fishing will take place at the boat ramp in the park and bait is provided. The car, truck, motorcycle and antique tractor show begins at 8 a.m. with arts and crafts, concessions and a free kids area offering inflatables and train rides opening at 9 a.m. Festival goers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and enjoy the live entertainment provided by the Bowman’s. Festivalgoers can sink their teeth into the Shriner’s popular catfish plates beginning at 11 a.m. and there will be plenty of concession vendors offering typical festival food such as hamburgers, hot dogs, nachos, funnel cakes and snow cones.

SoulStock

When: May 17 & 18
Where: Point Mallard (map)
Cost: FREE
More Info: Website | Facebook

SoulStock is an annual outdoor Christian music and worship event in Decatur, Alabama. Completely free for the general public to attend, SoulStock is sponsored by churches, businesses, and individuals mostly in the surrounding communities. The event is a time each year for people to come together listen to great music, celebrate God, and hear the message of Jesus. The ultimate goal of Soulstock is to reach out to all individuals with God’s good news though the ministry of music.

37th Annual Limestone Sheriff’s Rodeo

When: May 17 & 18
Where: Limestone Sheriff”s Rodeo Arena (map)
Cost: $15 adults | $10 kids 12 and under
More Info: Website

Plenty of rodeo action is expected to hit the dirt in the north Alabama town of Athens the third weekend in May. Now in its 37th year, the Limestone Sheriff’s Rodeo is set for May 17-18, 2019, 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. Considered the largest outdoor rodeo east of the Mississippi, the Limestone Sheriff’s Rodeo gets underway both nights with opening ceremonies at 8 p.m. Competitive events lined up for both nights include bareback bronc riding, calf roping, break-away roping, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding, kids calf scramble, cowgirl’s barrel racing, chuck wagon races, and bull riding. As cowboys and cowgirls compete for prize money, the crowd is also entertained with professional rodeo clowns, chuck wagon races and other performers.

Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic

When: May 25 & 26
Where: Point Mallard in Decatur (map)
Cost: FREE
More Info: Website | Facebook

The Alabama Jubilee Hot-Air Balloon Classic is held annually on Memorial Day weekend in Decatur, Alabama. Each year the Jubilee hosts about 60 local and national hot-air balloons at Point Mallard Park. Public admission is free of charge, and the weekend boasts many fun and exciting activities.

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