It’s the last weekend to enjoy before school starts in Huntsville and many North Alabama school districts – better make it count! As always we’ve got our favorite free and/or cheap things happening in the next few days below, but more can be found in our Event Calendar. You can also enjoy fun things while on the go via our FREE Explore Huntsville app.

Check out our helpful Back to School Guide – it’s full of great advice from local parents, experts, & educators!

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Free & Cheap

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Athens Kiddie Carnival

Thursday – Saturday from 6:30-930 PM
Cost: Rides are $.50 each
Athens Lions Club | More Info
Last call for the Kiddie Carnival! Yes, you heard us right and it is NOT TO BE MISSED. Seriously, read our review and you’ll be lining up! After this weekend it’s gone for the year.

Weekend Farmers Markets

Thursday, Saturday & Sunday
Cost: FREE admission, bring $ to shop
You have three chances to pick up something fresh for your table (and your student’s lunchbox!) this weekend.

• Green Street Market – Thursday from 4-8 PM
• Madison City Farmer’s Market – Saturday from 8AM – Noon
• MidCity Market – Sunday from 2-6 PM

World’s Longest Yard Sale

All Weekend
Cost: FREE admission
Gadsden, AL | More Info
This annual giant yard sale starts in Gadsden, AL and features over 690-miles of scenic beauty and tons of yard sales!

Whiz Kids Open Gym

Friday at 9:15 AM Saturday at 8:30 AM
Cost: $3-5
The Matrix Gym | More Info
A great way for children under age 6 to get some active gym time in the morning! Read our review before you go.
Ages 6-11 – Open Gym at 9:30 AM on Saturdays
Ages 12-8 – Open Gym at 11:00 AM on Saturdays

Back to School Bash at the Y

Friday at 6:30 PM
Cost: FREE
Hogan Family YMCA | More Info
Start a new school year on a high note with free pizza and a swim party!

Movies Under the Stars

Cost: FREE
FRIDAY: Madison Public Library | More Info
FRIDAY: Fern Bell Park | More Info
Weather permitting, you’ve got a chance to catch a movie under the stars – Into the Woods  and Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse both start at sundown.

World Breastfeeding Day

Saturday from 10 AM – Noon
Cost: FREE
Huntsville Hospital | More Info
Meet other nursing moms and participate as a breastfeeding advocate on this important day! Want to know where you can breastfeed in Huntsville? Check out our list!

Weekend Family Storytimes

Saturday at 10:30 AM
Cost: FREE
Barnes & Noble | More Info
Madison Public Library | More Info
You’ve got lots of opportunities to enjoy a good book with your kids today! Both B&N locations will host a picture book storytime & activity, and the Madison Public Library is also hosting a story & craft.

Awesome Education Celebration & Festival

Saturday from 8-2 PM
Cost: FREE
Jemison High School | More Info
This annual festival includes a parade, water slides, inflatables, a dunk tank, Battle of the Bands, a Dance-Off, and much more!

Swim for Melissa

Saturday from 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM
Cost: FREE admission
Hampton Cove Pool | More Info
Kids ages 4 – 14 can participate in the 14th annual Swim for Melissa – swimmers can swim as many laps as they can in 5 minutes to raise funds for swimformelissa.org.

Back to School Splash

Saturday from 10 AM – 3PM
Cost: FREE admission
Dublin Park | More Info
Enjoy your last days of Summer cooling off by the pool and win prizes in the process. Three words: Cannon Ball Contest!

Free Night at Constitution Hall Park

Saturday from 4-7 PM
Cost: FREE admission
AL Constitution Hall Village | More Info
Bring the whole family to learn about life in Huntsville 200 years ago. Play games, see demonstrations, and tour the historic buildings.

Free & Awesome Live Music

All Weekend
Cost: FREE
Various locations

• Biergarten at USSRC – Thursday from 4:30 – 7:30 PM
• Live Music at Constitution Hall Park – Thursdays from 6-8 PM
• Madison Summer Concert series – Thursday at 6:00 PM
• Friday Night Live Downtown – Friday from 5-8 PM
• Concerts in Big Spring Park – Monday at 6:30 PM

Worth the Dinero

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Alabama Skies Planetarium Show

Friday at 7:00 PM, doors open at 6:15
Cost: $10-15
U.S. Space & Rocket Center INTUITIVE Theater  | More Info
Enjoy a guided tour of the night sky visible from the Huntsville area for the upcoming month including stars, constellations, planets, deep sky objects, related mythological stories and updates of current astronomical discoveries.

Visit the Niña & the Pinta

Friday – Sunday from 9AM – 6PM
Cost: $6.50 – 8.50
Ditto Landing | More Info
Come see the most historically accurate replica of a Columbus Ship ever built – The Niña and Pinta are back in Huntsville!

Parent’s Night Out

Friday from 5:30-10 PM
Cost: $15-25
The Matrix Gym | More Info
How can you have a night with your Significant Other while the kids have fun too? This PNO will do nicely! Younger kids are 5:30 – 8:30, while older kids & tweens can come to the Friday Night Flip Out from 8:30 – 11:00 PM.

Magic on the Mercury & Chase

Saturday at 10:00 AM
Cost: $10-15
North AL Railroad Museum | More Info
The third annual Magic on the Mercury & Chase is scheduled to depart from Platform “Six and Nine Quarters”. Have some fun with magic and mystery! Platform 6 and 9⁄4 will be ready for boarding, so be sure you’ve got your tickets! We’ve also got some special enchanting guests lined up for this all-ages train ride.

ICYMI…

• • How to Ride the School Bus – We Asked an Expert
  • Spicing Up Your 1st Day of School Photos
  • Secret School Supply Tips from a Teacher

[themify_box icon=”highlight” color=”lavender”]DISCLAIMER: We do our best at Rocket City Mom to provide accurate, useful information about events and activities. This information (such as times and locations) is gathered from user submissions, press releases, local newspapers, signs around town and word of mouth. While we always try to confirm details before they are posted in the Huntsville Weekend Roundup, sometimes details change or we are given inaccurate information. Whenever possible we link our write-ups to the source in which our information came from and strongly urge you to confirm details before you go, especially when it comes to outdoor events and weather.[/themify_box]