24 Can’t Miss Family Friendly Events Happening in May (and 20 are FREE!)

Looking for ideas on what to do this month? Below are our 24 picks for can’t miss family events happening in May (and 20 are completely FREE).

As always, there are MANY more on our event calendar so be sure to subscribe to our weekly newsletter and check back on Mother’s Day for the release our 2023 Summer Fun Guide!  ☀️

Even More Summer Fun

🏕 2023 Summer Camp Guide

🌳 Outdoor Play Guide

🏞 Parks & Playgrounds Guide

📲 Explore Huntsville App

Around the Curtain Homeschool Concert

Time: Tue 2nd @ 6:00 PM
Cost: Free
Location: Holy Spirit Catholic School Auditorium
More Info

Join Around the Curtain Children’s Theatre for an evening of the arts as the homeschool music classes perform. Beginning Orchestra and the Choirs will provide you an evening of music in the Holy Spirit School Auditorium.

May the 4th Star Wars Weekend Celebration

Date/Time: May 4-7
Cost: Free
Location: Bricks & Minifigs Huntsville
More Info

Join Brick & Minifigs May 4th through the 7th and celebrate Star Wars™ Day! This will be one of the biggest sales they’ll have all year with special emphasis on LEGO® STAR WARS™ items!

Daikin Festival (Decatur)

Time: Fri 5th @ 6:30 PM
Cost: Free
Location: Point Mallard Park
More Info

The Daikin Festival delights attendees with live music, Japanese Folk Dancing, Shodo (Japanese calligraphy), Yakisoba (grilled buckwheat noodles with beef and special sauce), BBQ, hamburgers, refreshing drinks, and special prizes.nThis year, the festival will conclude with a dramatic fireworks display by PYRO Shows.

Strawberry Festival (Moulton)

Date/Time: May 5-6
Cost: $1
Location: Lions Club Fairgrounds-Moulton
More Info

The Strawberry Festival offers a 5K run/walk, a Miss Strawberry Beauty Pageant, Classic Car/Truck/Motorcycle Show, a Cornhole Toss Tournament, a Horseshoe Throw Tournament, a Mud Volleyball Tournament, free inflatable activities for children, an art exhibit, lots of vendors and exhibits, Country Music singer Chad Bradford along with lots of local talent, a benefit auction, gospel singing groups, festival foods and carnival rides.

Be Local Bash

Time: Sat 6th @ 10:00 AM
Cost: Free
Location: Madison Public Library
More Info

Are you new to Madison or just want to learn more about this vibrant community? Meet representatives from key community groups at the Be Local Bash event who will share information about their organizations and what's happening in the area.

PorchFest FivePoints 2023

Time: Sat 6th @ 5:00 PM
Cost: Free
Location: Five Points Neighborhood
More Info

Enjoy a night of music and magic at PorchFest FivePoints 2023! This year, the music festival will be better than ever with eight blocks of Pratt Street blocked to allow more spectators to safely enjoy the festivities and dance in the streets. All proceeds from shirt and drink sales from the event benefit the Huntsville…

Madison CEO Trade Show

Time: Sat 6th @ 9:00 AM
Cost: Free
Location: Signalink
More Info

The Madison CEO Program provides entrepreneurship education to prepare people, especially youth, to be responsible, enterprising individuals who become entrepreneurs or entrepreneurial thinkers and contribute to economic development and sustainable communities. The CEO program is much more than a textbook course. Rather, students are immersed in real life learning experiences with the opportunity to take risks, manage the results, and learn from the outcomes. During this class, students start a class business as well as their own individual business. This Trade Show will be the culmination of their experience and showcase their student run business. Please attend and support these enterprising youth!

Strawberry Festival (Cullman)

Time: Sat 6th @ 9:00 AM
Cost: Free
Location: Cullman Depot Park
More Info

The Cullman Strawberry Festival gets sweeter each year. The festival has grown to attract 24,000 people from across North Alabama looking to experience a fun-filled day of entertainment, shopping and delicious, locally-grown strawberries.

Rocket City Kittypalooza 2023

Time: Sat 6th @ 11:00 AM
Cost: Free
Location: Lowe Mill
More Info

Join for the 3rd Annual Rocket City Kittypalooza! Cattyshack, Inc. and Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment are hosting a multi-rescue adoption event in the First Floor Connector. There will be plenty of fully vetted cats and kittens ready for their forever homes! The rescuers are eager to talk to you about the importance of spaying and neutering your pets, as well as provide you with information about local assistance programs if you need help getting your pets fixed, or know someone who does

Huntsville Exotic Pet Expo

Date/Time: May 6-7
Cost: $5
Location: Huntsville Jaycee’s Building
More Info

Check out exotic animals such as snakes, spiders, lizards, parrots, sugar gliders, hedgehogs, and hamsters plus supplies, feeders, and more at the Huntsville Exotic Pet Expo! Head to the Jaycee Building for the chance to bring home a unique new member of the family. Saturday, May 6 | 9am-5pm Sunday, May 7 | 10am-4pm Admission…

United Cherokee American Indian Pow Wow (Guntersville)

Date/Time: May 6-7
Cost: Free – $8
Location: United Cherokee American Indian Pow Wow
More Info

Don't miss the United Cherokee American Indian Pow Wow for a weekend full of fun, music, dancing and demonstrations. Craft vendors and concessions will also be available.

Belle Mont Mansion Celtic Fest (Tuscumbia)

Date/Time: May 12-13
Cost: Free – $20
Location: Belle Mont Mansion
More Info

Celtic Fest at Belle Mont Mansion is back May 12-13! There will be live music and courtyard performances, handmade crafts and demonstrations, children's activities, museum tours and lectures, Celtic Bakery and merchandise, food vendors and more!

Camp to Amp Festival

Time: Sat 13th @ 12:00 PM
Cost: Free
Location: The Camp
More Info

The 2nd Annual Camp to Amp Festival is BACK, and it's going bigger and better for 2023! The Orion Amphitheater, MidCity District, The Camp, and the Huntsville Police Department (HPD) are teaming up to bring the North Alabama community a day filled with fun, art, music, celebration, and more!

Tinker Bell

Date/Time: May 13-14
Cost: $5 – $22
Location: Huntsville Botanical Garden
More Info

You don't know Peter Pan until you've heard Tinker Bell’s side of the story! When all the fairies in Neverland start to disappear, Tinker Bell zips to London to find a friend. There she meets a young boy named Peter who follows her back to Neverland. All is fun and games in this magical world of flowers, wild animals, and goofy pirates until Peter welcomes the Lost Boys and the Darling children back to Tink's island. She quickly discovers she does not like sharing her friend with anyone else! A new, twinkling light shines on themes of imagination, play, and the complicated nature of friendship from this feisty fairy’s point of view.

The Mousetrap

Date/Time: May 19-20
Cost: $10
Location: St. John Paul II Catholic High School
More Info

Around the Curtain Community Children's Theatre presents Agatha Christie's classic, The Mousetrap!

Rosie’s Plaza Spring Festival

Time: Sat 20th @ 11:00 AM
Cost: Free
Location: Rosie’s Plaza
More Info

The 4th annual Rosie’s Plaza Spring Festival will be Saturday May 20th! There will be free snow cones, door prizes and pictures with Pequero the Llama! Join us as we welcome spring to South Huntsville with live music, shopping and a festive atmosphere.

Rocket City BBQ & Soul Fest

Time: Sat 20th @ 10:00 AM
Cost: Free – $20
Location: NSS Conference Center
More Info

Make plans to attend the incredible Rocket City BBQ & Soul Fest! Enjoy great food, friends, live music, a BBQ competition, and activities for the entire family.

Arley Day Festival (Arley)

Time: Sat 20th @ 8:00 AM
Cost: Free
Location: Hamner Park
More Info

Come join the Arley Women's Club for Arley Day 2023! There will be breakfast, a parade, car show, food, crafts, free games, rides and a hot dog lunch for kids 18 and under!

Asbury Car & Bike Show

Time: Sat 20th @ 9:00 AM
Cost: Free
Location: Asbury Church
More Info

Want to check out some cool cars, trucks, and bikes? You’re going to love the 2023 Asbury Car & Bike Show! There will be a jaw-dropping collection of vehicles on display, but it won’t be complete without YOUR favorite hot rod, cruiser, pick-up, hog, vintage beauty, or exotic import! And the best part? You can enter your car for FREE the day of the event - no preregistration required this year!

Spring Craft Fair

Time: Sat 20th @ 9:00 AM
Cost: Free
Location: Lynn Fanning Elementary School
More Info

Hello! Dotty May Designs and Lynn Fanning PTA are collaborating to bring you a fantastic event. Please join for their first spring craft fair! There will be 30 vendors, mostly handmade, as well as food trucks and photo ops! Don't miss the raffle prizes! 100% of the proceeds will go to the Lynn Fanning PTA.

CoalFest (Brillant)

Date/Time: May 26-27
Cost: Free
Location: Downtown Brillant
More Info

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 26-27, 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.

Smith Lake Park Memorial Weekend Music Festival (Cullman)

Time: Sat 27th @ 9:00 AM
Cost: Free
Location: Smith Lake Park
More Info

The Smith Lake Park Memorial Day Weekend Music Festival happens Saturday, May 27 from 9am to 4pm. There will be arts and crafts vendors, food vendors, and live music!

Alabama Jubilee (Decatur)

Date/Time: May 27-28
Cost: Free
Location: Point Mallard Park
More Info

The Alabama Jubilee Hot-Air Balloon Classic is the oldest hot-air balloon race in the mid-South.

Community Free Day at Huntsville Museum of Art

Time: Sun 28th @ 12:00 PM
Cost: Free
Location: Huntsville Museum of Art
More Info

The Museum looks forward to welcoming guests and their families during the Memorial Day weekend. Admission will be free on Sunday, May 28. At 2 PM,  the Prevailing Winds Flute Ensemble will perform.