Of all the special events in the area, this is probably the most serious*. Which might seem strange because Jerry Brown was just a big ole lovable country boy that made a few clay pots. Which just happened to wind up in the Smithsonian Museum. The quality and style of those pots brought him attention and into contact with skilled workers of pottery and other trades; and out of those associations came the Jerry Brown Arts Festival in 2003. As an indoor fair with free admission this is a consistent Top 20 Event of the Southeast Tourism Society.

This is different from most of the festivals because the emphasis is strictly on the artists and their work. Aside from face painting and a couple of how-to demonstrations, there is very little for children. There are only a few food vendors and there is no music. The “excitement” of this festival is in being surrounded by high quality beautifully crafted items for decoration or everyday use.

Entrance standards are very high for this juried event featuring only individual hand wrought pieces conceived and created by artists working in various mediums. Entrants are accepted after submitting photographs for review to independent judges. Those selected to display at the festival are then reviewed by more outside judges with winners recognized by category. This two day event is an exceptional opportunity to purchase unique and well crafted items created by skilled artisans.

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*Jerry Brown passed away the night before the 2016 festival creating a somewhat subdued atmosphere among those that knew him. This no doubt caused the day to seem more serious than it would if Jerry been there to host the annual gathering of friends and visitors. The festival will continue as in the spirit of Jerry's wishes.

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Holding the annual Heritage Festival while the circus is in town adds a touch of carnival atmosphere to the day's activities. Add in a glorious Spring day and it creates an atmosphere for a pleasant outing for the entire family. While the circus rides, jumpers and games along with the dunking booth get the attention of the youngsters, the men are more attracted to the beautifully restored vintage cars, motorcycles and old tractors. This leaves the vendors all lined up around the winding path through the park for momma to browse. It is a nice stroll as one passes into and out of the sun while walking among the magnolia trees.

Folks in lawn chairs enjoy a casual gatherings talking to neighbors as they pass by while others may be munching on turkey drumsticks, bbq or fish along with funnel cakes, fried pies and other delights. Those with a taste for the unusual may opt for alligator on a stick.

Anyone who enjoys music will want to be on hand Friday evening when the bands are kicking off the weekend celebrations. The bands don't play on Saturday although the good mood and sense of excitement they created the night before continues on.

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Hackleburg Neighbor Day - Could not get there this year - hope to next year. But I heard they had a good time.

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From the flat farmlands at Lawrence Mill up through the rolling hills around Glen Allen, families along this 13 mile stretch of AL Hwy 129 offer a great opportunity to enjoy a day out. They make their wares available in their yards, along the roadside, at intersections and wherever stores are.

The blooming of plants in early May makes for a delightful country drive through fields and forest. Beginning at Lawrence Mill in the south, the land is flat and open for farming. As the road winds its way north the landscape becomes more wooded and hilly. Along the way there will be livestock and wildlife to watch.

Each stop is a chance to find something a little different. With every array of goods there will be someone to talk with about life in the country. Everyone will have their own life to share whether they are newcomers to the area or from long time families. It's a good time to meet someone interesting and learn new things.

The area around the Town Hall and Glen Allen Antiques and More, where they have already gathered up some country artifacts, serves as the semi-official headquarters due to it having the greatest concentration of sellers. Wherever you stop, make it a special day of shopping and talking.

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You can stay up for the 11 PM 5K Friday night but then you might miss the dog show Saturday morning. If it’s the dog show you want to see then you best get there early Saturday, but if you want to listen to some good music you can go about anytime. Mayfest has become a band extravaganza beginning Friday evening and cranking back up again early (before 9 o’clock) Saturday morning. Folks living in downtown Guin don’t get to sleep in when Mayfest comes to town.

It’s not all music though. There are other things to do and see that are offered by over 100 vendors from all over the state and out of state too. There will be as many people at the festival as live in the town so it’s easy to meet a stranger.

The car show held in the grove of trees feels like a review of everything Detroit ever produced. It requires a lot of patient effort and skill to restore some of the old junkers into art-like beauty. And the folks that have done it are usually glad to talk about it.

With 18 classes in the tractor pull every kid is going to pick out a favorite. You will need a scorecard to keep up with them all. Get yourself a good plate of barbeque and enjoy the show.

And if nothing else around the park suited your fancy then maybe getting Miss Alabama’s autograph sent you home happy. She was prettier than cars. And she was prettier than the city’s Mayfest logo too.

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The Belk Blue Grass Festival is all about enjoying an outdoor concert. It's a “come-home” type event where folks can relax with the music and not feel they are expected to spend all their time wandering among the vendors, of which there are only about half a dozen.

The two acre Belk Community Park looks like it was laid out just for this event. The wide expanse of grass in front of the stage makes for a perfect listening area. With trees on two sides, a dirt bank on another and the stage in front, everything is cozy enough for the audience to interact with the musicians. The playground equipment, picnic area and vendors are situated at the back of the park so they don't interfere with the festival.

All a body has to do is sit on the grass with a plate of catfish, hushpuppies, French fries, coleslaw, cake and glass of tea while a variety of bands play their hearts out. Sitting on the grass means a fellow doesn't have far to go to take a nap and wait for a barbeque, chicken or hamburger supper. Having a canopy (several are on hand) keeps the sun away until it drops behind the trees and the evening cool comes along. A come-and-go wrist band allows visitors to leave and return during the day.

The 28 RV hook-ups along one side of the park allow folks to roll out the awnings, sit in the shade and listen away; or they can go to the spur-of-the-moment dance floor on the basketball court.

It's a pleasant experience and relaxing place to hear some good bluegrass music. Ya'll come.

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They like their music lively and they like their music LOUD. Maybe it was the 30 x 50 foot American flag stretching from the stage to the oak trees acting as an awning that kept the noise directed at the audience. Or maybe it was just loud. But it didn't carry into the fair area or distract anyone from the other activities.

The other activities included Horseshoe Pitching on Friday nights while the bands were tuning up for the weekend. This wasn't exactly national competition level pitching but it was good-ole down home fun and the pitchers are serious.

Saturday morning kicks off with a Lion's Club Pancake & Gravy Biscuit Breakfast about 6 o'clock. By 8 AM the Arts and Crafts, Flea Market and Rides and Games begin for the early comers. A small petting zoo with pony rides attracted the small children. So did the swing ride, mechanical bull ride and train ride. For adults there was a benefit motorcycle ride to go along with the car show competition.

And there was a Checker Tournament - sort of. Asking Larry Pollard, a former National Checker Champion, to play against 8 opponents at the same time wasn't fair. Asking him to play against 10 or 12 at the same time wouldn't have been fair either. They weren't going to beat him no matter how deep they lined up.

One unusual feature of Coalfest is a tour of the Coal Mining Museum and the Brilliant United Methodist Church, which is a stop on the Hallelujah Trail.

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The Fayette Art Museum has been the primary sponsor of the Fayette Arts Festival since its inception in 1970, when Mr. Jack Black, then director of the Museum, proposed a setting for local artists to present their work. He envisioned an “Arts Festival” as a way of encouraging people with unrecognized talent to display their skills and realize their work would be appreciated by the public. The purchases of their labors during the show confirmed the value of their efforts. This desire to establish an introductory path for artists continues today as novices are given special recognition by judging and awards of prizes dedicated to them.

The Festival is an outdoor showing at Guthrie Smith Park. The outdoor venue under the trees of the park begets a casual atmosphere for everyone to browse the creative works at a leisurely pace. The fair is always well represented by artisans from a wide area. Their work covers many categorizes: painters, carvers, sculptors, designers, engravers, etc.; and their work is found in various mediums of wood, metal, stone, shells and so on. There are no restrictions (except for taste) in their creations or choices of material used. And there is usually someone with an un-thought-of interest. How often have you seen spider webs captured as an artwork? The imagination of some of the craft workers can be very original and through it they create treasures. If the art works don't hold your complete attention then you can enjoy the smell of the food and sound of the music from a distance. For children there are special activities such as face-painting and making tie-dyed shirts while just across the street there is playground with swings, slides and other equipment.

The culmination of the exhibit is the judging in which awards are given for several categories of work. There will be overall 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place awards for Crafts, Fine Art and Folk Art. There are also judged awards for Best of Show, Artist's Choice, Patron's Choice and Young Artists. First place winners receive $100 while Best of Show receives $500.

The park provides facilities for other pleasures during and after the Festival. There are picnic areas, playgrounds, tennis courts, walking trails and a lake for fishing. With its setting under the trees, the Fayette Arts Festival is a different kind of event that makes for a great family day at the park.

Contact the Fayette Art Museum at (205) 932-8727 for tour information of their 5,000 plus art collection.

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Bay Tree Park, the site of the Founders Day Festival, is a block square in downtown Red Bay. From the four corners, sidewalks wind their way toward the center to form a circle with a gazebo in the middle. On Founders Day both sides of these sidewalks are lined with close packed vendors under pop-up canopies selling a wide variety of goods. This arrangement creates the feel of a great street market or bazaar with people milling about and working their way through the crowd. Due to the layout of the walkways, festival goers are able to maneuver their way around the park without feeling pressed upon or crowded.

Streets facing the north and south sides of the park are reserved for those providing food and other activities. Some will be selling funnel cakes, pork skins, ice cream, whatever may suit your taste; and some will be competing in cooking contests. There are BBQ cook-offs and fried pie cooking contests. Other contests include judging for quilts, photographs and children coloring, along with a 5k run/walk at the football stadium early on fair day.

Among the other doings interspersed with the food vendors are motorcycles, antique automobiles, games and activities for children such as jumpers and a train trip around the streets of town.

The buck dancing and fiddle contests are held in front of enthusiastic cheers on the stage at the east side street of the park. Throughout the day there are several bands performing to the delight of those arrayed in lawn chairs under the trees. The band's playing is loud enough to be heard in the park but not loud enough to be annoying to the attendees.

Note - The Franklin County Cattlemen’s Association ran out of meat after serving over 900 tender, juicy, delicious steak sandwiches. It's better get one sooner rather than chance waiting till later.

Additional information about the City of Red Bay may be found here.

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Since its beginning in 1975 when Mr. Max Brasher, Mr. Curt Estes and the Winfield Chamber of Commerce banded together to pay tribute to the hard working mules of the men's earlier days, Mule Day in Winfield has grown to be the largest and best attended festival in Northwest Alabama. With crowds estimated at 25,000, the activities spread throughout the main business district and into the residential area. Mule Day begins Friday night with the business district staying open late for shoppers looking for special bargains. The activities conclude Saturday evening although there will be one last Civil Ware re-enactment battle on Sunday afternoon at 2:00 PM.

Mule Day has become a community tradition among the citizens of Winfield as they are very actively involved in the planning and staging of the event. The community pride surrounding the annual honoring of the mules gives the day an easy, friendly atmosphere visitors can enjoy. As a sign of their personal interest, there will be citizen volunteers throughout the crowds to assist as needed.

All activity stops when the mules come out as both sides of the streets are lined several people deep for the Parade of the Mules. They are the center of attention, and along with the judging, they are central to the festivities of the day. The horses, tractors and everything else are relegated to the rear of the parade. The mules are the show.

There are Arts and Crafts and Flea Markets and antiques and new cars and whatever you want; kind of like an outdoor Walmart. And all the food makes for a great outdoor buffet line. There are bands and dancers to go with the 5K run and all the jumpers and rides for the children. There is even a bungee jump machine and mechanical bull.

Buying a Mule Day t-shirt isn't mandatory, but who would want to leave without one. For more information and a schedule of events please click here.

Note - The high school football game is played on Thursday night - Mule Day is that big.

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When the railroad construction gang approached Fayette in the early 1880’s it offered to route the tracks through the high ground of the “Old Town” for $1000. The city fathers refused to defray the cost and so the railroad was built a mile south on the lower ground through the Sipsey River sloughs; that is, at “frog level”, a name the area is still known by.

The backdrop and grounds of the Fayette County Courthouse lawn provides a scenic venue for a family weekend which starts on Friday night with concerts. This is a pleasant night as people bring lawn chairs and enjoy the evening outside. Along with the usual complement of crafts, there will be found a nice representation of artistic items provided by members of the Sipsey Arts Alliance. Music is provided by several bands on a stage overlooking the center of town. Tents positioned on the main street provide a congenial setting for eating the servings of several food vendors while listening to the music.

The Frog Jumping contest is the highlight of the day as everyone picks a favorite and cheers it on to victory and frog immortality. It̵s not always the largest or the greenest that gains the fame. Contestants are encouraged to jump local frogs but out of state entries from as far away as Oklahoma have been known to leap into the contest. This is an unusual event that can be difficult to predict a winner.

The Cruise In always lines the downtown streets with vintage automobiles, some of which are nearing 100 years old. The beauty of the vehicles attract people of all ages. The entrancing result of the many hours spent rebuilding these automobiles is indicative of the desire of the owners to preserve these classic cars. There are many memories recounted by the sight of these vehicles of the past.

The Alabama Frog Level Festival is sponsored by the Fayette Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Fayette.

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It is a pleasant country drive through forest and fields beginning at Glen Allen in the north. The passage picks up on AL Hwy 129 to first wind through rolling hills before coming into the flat farm land around Lawrence Mill at the south end of the drive. In October the trees are just beginning to turn and there is still cotton in the fields. You will pass livestock at the farms and chicken houses. And there may be deer and wild turkey on the roadside as the land changes from woods to fields.

It’s a good time to look for crafts made by county folks as they set up their displays in their yards, at intersections and at stores. Here is an opportunity for casual conversation with those that love the outdoors. There will be some who have been on the land for several generations while others may be newcomers to the country life, but all will have a little different story to tell. In this setting, meeting and talking with the people themselves can be the greater joy of the day.

In Glen Allen there is Glen Allen Antiques and More where they have already gathered up some country artifacts for sale. This area serves as the semi-official headquarters for the event since it has the greatest concentration of sellers.

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A community gathering. If the goal of the festival is to create a sense of community among the residents of the area then the “Spirit of Hodges” is a great success. The small number of vendors act to complement the assemblage, thereby allowing the emphasis to be on the community of people rather than the activities and wares for sale.

Because the event is held in the town park, the children have the playground equipment and plenty of open spaces to create their own activities. Some will be found on the jumpers or train ride, but others will make the most of just being outdoors.

With the antique automobiles stationed a quarter mile away under their own shade trees, the rest of the festivities are centered around the park’s pavilion, which serves as a stage for the musicians. A large tent creates a nice “auditorium” for listeners, eaters and chatters. Off to the side is where the horseshoe tournament is held.

During WW II the area people collected enough money to pay for an airplane that was named “Spirit of Hodges”. When, in 2007, the town decided to commemorate its founding of a century earlier it adopted the same name.

Note - The headquarters of Rock Bridge Canyon Equestrian Park is just outside the town park. Rock Bridge Canyon Equestrian Park has recently purchased more land so it can increase its 38 miles of riding trails, stables, camp grounds and SUV parking. There are additional walking/hiking trails through the canyons and waterfalls of the area.

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It’s a daylight downtown Trick or Treat when all the kids (some looking suspiciously big and old) begin showing up at midmorning dressed in their costumes. The merchants candy give-away is what brings them out. That, plus the games and activities merchants have set up in front of their businesses, creates a real family style event as parents escort their children around town. The appreciation for family togetherness is also demonstrated at the band stage by the arrayed pumpkins elementary school children took home to carve and decorate with family members.

The Vernon Outdoor Market with its permanent overhead shading and concrete flooring set in a grassy city block is a ready-made display area for vendors and shoppers. It sits at the center of the days events, just cross the street from the festival headquarters at the Fire Station. The band stage is next to the Fire Station, the starting point of the morning 5K run. The city-wide yard sale is a great time for bargain hunters to browse.

The creative variation from year to year (such as exhibitions of archery and darts) brings a freshness to the festival each year while the annual Cornhole tournament maintains the sense of continuity and familiarity. The Cornhole tournament is an intense contest that attracts entrants from other states vying for a first place prize of up to $2,000. Perhaps next year it will be a stop on the national tour.

It is a time of joy in Vernon as the Scarecrow Festival is a revival of an event held years ago. While still small, the town’s support of it is shown by the enthusiasm of the sponsors, city officers and merchant body. For more information contact City Hall at (205) 695-7718 or visit the city website.

And when the festival is over hang around town a while to enjoy the music at the Backstreet Opry. It has become a tradition built up over the years by people enjoying an informal gathering of entertainers. There is no admission charged, but donations are accepted to help with the upkeep.

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