From a mountaintop art festival to a week-long county fair, Alabama’s calendar is packed as summer eases into fall. Whether you’re chasing fall colors, shopping local, or looking for something to do every night this week, here’s what’s happening around the state.
North Alabama State Fair — Muscle Shoals
SEPTEMBER 14TH–20TH
The North Alabama State Fair returns for a full week, playing host to one of the largest carnival midways in the area courtesy of Wade Shows. Beyond the excitement of the midway, this year’s lineup includes the all-new High Flying Pages Thrill Show, featuring aerial performances, daring stunts and trapeze artists, along with the nationally acclaimed Pompeyo’s Dog Show, starring canine performers seen on America’s Got Talent. Add in animal and livestock exhibits, agricultural attractions and hands-on experiences for the whole family, and there’s a reason for a return trip every night of the week. All shows are free with fair admission.
Camp Sawyer — Birmingham
SEPTEMBER 14TH–28TH
Alabama Sawyer is marking ten years of turning reclaimed urban timber into heirloom furniture with Camp Sawyer, a 14-day gallery exhibition and series of gatherings at Lakeview Marina. Founded in 2016 by Leigh and Cliff Spencer, Alabama Sawyer has salvaged trees that might otherwise be discarded and transformed them into design pieces sourced almost entirely from within 50 miles of Birmingham. Camp Sawyer brings that decade of work full circle with social events, a storytelling workshop, arts and crafts for the whole family, and an Interior Designer Presentation from Leigh herself — a chance to look back at ten years of craftsmanship and ahead to what’s next.
Kentuck Saturday Art Market — Tuscaloosa
SEPTEMBER 19TH
Head to Kentuck at Queen City for the monthly Saturday Art Market, running 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Local artists set up shop selling handmade goods ranging from pottery and jewelry to crochet and tie-dye, with hands-on crafts and activities to keep kids entertained. It’s a smaller, laid-back cousin to Kentuck’s larger fall festival, and a good excuse to spend a Saturday morning supporting Tuscaloosa’s creative community.
Monte Sano Art Festival — Huntsville
SEPTEMBER 19TH–20TH
More than 140 visual artists from across the country set up shop in Monte Sano State Park for this juried festival, presented by Arts Huntsville. Now a North Alabama tradition for more than two decades, the festival features paintings, pottery, woodworking, jewelry and more, alongside local food trucks and live music on two stages. The festival runs 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission to the festival itself is free, though the park charges $10 per car or $5 per walk-in to enter.
Alabama Wine Festival — Gadsden
SEPTEMBER 18th—19TH
Held at Noccalula Falls Park, the Alabama Wine Festival centers on Wine & Dine in the Gardens—an evening featuring a welcome wine reception, a five-course chef-curated dinner with wine pairings, live acoustic music, artistic experiences throughout the Botanical Gardens, and a fireworks display over Noccalula Falls. Guests must be 21 or older, dinner service begins promptly at 6:30 p.m., and tickets are expected to sell out.
Freedom Fest — Orange Beach
SEPTEMBER 19TH–20TH
Held annually at The Wharf, Freedom Fest is Orange Beach’s patriotic, all-American weekend — combining the Bama Coast Cruisin’ car show, a Let Freedom Roar motorcycle and Jeep rally, and two days of arts and crafts vendors selling everything from nautical décor to patriotic art. Past years have featured free live music from a rotating lineup of regional acts, a Kids’ Zone with bounce houses near the Ferris wheel, and festival food ranging from barbecue and gumbo to Hawaiian shaved ice, with proceeds historically benefiting military-support nonprofits like Folds of Honor.
Whether you’re headed to the mountains, the coast, or the fairgrounds, Alabama’s got a little bit of everything this week to keep summer’s momentum going into fall.
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