Panoply returns to Huntsville’s Big Spring Park
Since its first year, in 1982, a central focus of the Panoply Arts Festival has been to spark the imaginations of kids and kids-at-heart. While the festival has grown over the decades to include more live music and more visual artists, Panoply Arts Festival is still a place where families are invited to tap into their creativity and get inspired together. Here’s what’s in store at this year’s Panoply Arts Festival April 25-27, 2025!
Panoply Festival Kicks Off on Friday
Friday evening is opening night, and the Panoply tradition of Military Salute Night continues! All active-duty military and Armed Forces reserves, along with their dependents, are welcomed to the park for a FREE evening of entertainment. Live music (see schedule below), tasty food, and good company are the perfect way to celebrate Huntsville’s longest-running festival.
Panoply’s Friday night closes with a celebratory fireworks display!
Activities
STEAM Street celebrates our community’s innovative spirit by combining the principles of science, technology, engineering, art, and math.
- Fantasy Playhouse Children’s Theater and Academy‘s Galaxy of Wonder presented by National Space Club
- Huntsville Ballet Company‘s Rocket Dancers presented by KBR
- Hovercrafts presented by Hexagon AB
- Huntsville City Schools Magnet School’s Binary Bracelets, presented by Intrepid
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Missile Defense Agency‘s (MDA) Animate your Imagination, presented by Radiance Technologies, Inc.Wild Ones North Alabama‘s Garden of Hope presented by Tennessee Valley Authority
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And more!
Creativity Corner will offer takeaway art activities for kids and families to create at the festival.
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Panoply Robot Puppets, presented by Cynthia & Rey Almodovar
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Pop Art Mobile, presented by The Orion Amphitheater
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Spring Snake & Dancing Princesses Sculptures, presented by The Pols Family
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Troll Time, presented by Cindi and Dave Branham
- Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Guilds ‘Discovery Music – The Symphony Guild’s popular musical experience introduces young people to musical instruments.
- And more!
New & Returning Activities for 2025
Crowd favorites are making a return this year!
- Your kids will be overjoyed… Face Painting, sponsored by Mirabel Chan and the Pei Ling Charitable Trust, can be found under the BIG white tent near Creativity Corner, sponsored by Virginia & Parker Griffith.
- The Student Art Tent returns to Panoply in Big Spring Park East to showcase budding talent across the community. The popular tent will feature artwork from students of all ages who attend public and private schools across Madison County.
- Little one need a quiet space for a moment? Looking for somewhere to nurse your baby? The Panoply ZenZone returns to offer a sensory-friendly space for festivalgoers of all ages. Located in Big Spring Park, this area provides resources to help everyone enjoy the festival. It also includes a space for nursing mothers.
- Around the festival see works of Chalk Art and stop to take a picture at one of the Lookie-Loos.
More Panoply Fun
Live Music!
There will be over 30 musical performances in a variety of genres – jazz, rock, R&B, indie rock, blues, pop and more – performing on Panoply’s two stages: the Showcase Stage and the Indie Stage. New this year, DJs will perform on Friday and Saturday to keep the energy alive between the fantastic musical acts.
Pro-Tip: Festival patrons are encouraged to bring their own chairs and blankets to sit on to enjoy the lineup of performers. Panoply is “festival seating” around the stages & performance spaces.
Friday Music Lineup: The music starts early in the evening and continues through the night on Friday. Friday’s headliner is Billy Allen and the Pollies.
5:00- DJ Caddi
5:15 – Smorgasbord
6:30- Common Man
7:45- Billy Allen and the Pollies
Saturday Music Lineup:
Saturday features a medley of music that starts when the gates open at 10 a.m. Saturday Night of Panoply is the “official after-party” for the Huntsville Comic and Pop Culture Expo and will feature fan favorite rock ‘n roll band Carver Commodore, an alternative rock band hailing from Florence, Ala.
10:15- Poor Rover
11:30- Preston Watts
12- DJ Lisha
12:45- Element XI
2:15= Meme B. Jones
3:30- The Envied
4:00- DJ Blu
4:45 Lana White & the Heights
6:15 Joe Canada & Camacho
7:45- Carver Commodore
Sunday Music Lineup:
Sunday will feature five distinct performers, culminating with the alternative rock band The Red Flags
11- Melissa Ellis & The Fellas
12- .45 Surprise
1:15- Emily Joseph Band
2:30- A. Jené & The Naturals
3:45- Otahli Station
5:00- The Red Flags
Panoply Fireworks & Food
Friday and Saturday nights will both end with a stunning fireworks display over Big Spring Park!
Along with Panoply’s diverse array of art and music, you can enjoy local tastes from 17 food trucks. I can smell those funnel cakes and smoked sausage plates now… not to mention freshly squeezed lemonade, ice cream, and an array of other tasty treats.
What Families Should Bring to Panoply
You can spend all weekend in Big Spring Park at Panoply, and with kids in tow you’ll need to come prepared.
DO: Strollers or small wagons are helpful for small children.
DO: Sunscreen is NOT optional at Panoply! Don’t forget sunglasses and a hat!
DO: Bring a light jacket for the breezy bits in the morning and evening.
DO: Bring your folding lawn chairs and blankets. The whole event has festival seating, which means there are limited chairs available, so you should bring your own to be comfortable or be prepared to stand.
DO: Comfortable shoes.
DO: Cash for parking. (Or download the Passport app on your phone ahead of time to pay for parking via the app.)
Leave these things at home.
DON’T: Please note that no pets or animals are permitted at the festival, with the exception of service animals.
DON’T: Food and beverages are available throughout the festival, and coolers and outside food and beverages are not allowed. Panoply does permit parents to bring in baby food and formula for their little ones.
Panoply Arts Festival Details
View Website | Arts Huntsville on Facebook
Where: Big Spring Park in Huntsville (map)
When:
Friday, April 25 from 5-9 PM
Saturday, April 26 from 10AM – 9PM (Art Marketplace closes at 7:30)
Sunday, April 27 from 11AM – 6PM
Ticket Cost
Kids 12 and under get in free!
Weekend Pass: Available online in advance for $20 (until 4PM on Friday)
Day Pass: $15
Military Salute Night: This Panoply tradition continues on Friday, April 25. All active-duty military and Armed Forces reserves, along with their dependents, are welcomed to the park for a free evening of entertainment. Military personnel will be asked to show their current military ID at the entrances.
Church Street near the Downtown YMCA Williams Avenue at Big Spring Park Monroe Street across from the Von Braun Center.You Might Also Like…
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