Festivals-Mark Your Calendar!

(UPDATED-Added Festival for this weekend (Sept 26)


I get so many people ask me about local festivals. My friend Janet deemed me the festival queen and likes to poke fun about this being my "busy time of year". She is poking fun at my festival attendance. Festivals and Fall go hand in hand with me, it is one of the things that make fall, Fall. The sights, the crafts, the smells....it's all there at a festival. I made a list of some of my favorite's. These all take place in my home state of Alabama. I frequently look at the Alabama Tourism Department site for festival info (there is so much on this site, not only festivals-be sure to request a brouchure for 100 places to eat in Alabama before you die!). I am sure if you do not live locally that you can find similar info on your state tourism site.

So, Put on your most comfortable shoes, grab a friend and head out to enjoy a festival!
Enjoy!



Mar 15-Nov 16, 2008 Tannehill Trade Days (McCalla) - Mar-Nov, McCalla Tannehill Trade Days 205-477-5711. www.tannehill.org. Admission charged. Dates. Mar. 15-16, Apr. 19-20, May 17-18, Jun. 21-22, Jul. 19-20, Aug. 16-17, Sept. 20-21, Oct. 18-19, Nov. 15-16. Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park—Every third Sat. and Sun. from Mar.-Nov. Giant outdoor market with some 300 dealers buying, selling or trading anything from antiques to new items.

(My mom and my cousin Gina)
Friday, September 26, 2008
From noon until 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
From 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m
Collinsville Quilt Walk- Oh! I cannot wait for this one, as I mentioned already. Tickets:$10.00 per person and are available at the Quilt Walk. Tickets will be sold starting 10 minutes before the Quilt Walk begins. Hours:Friday, September 26, 2008 - noon until 5:00 p.m.Saturday, September 27, 2008 - 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.The Walk:As the name suggests, this is a walking tour. It will take an hour and and half to two hours to complete the tour. There is transportation available to parts of the tour and rest areas along the walk. The quilts are displayed in the old homes and churches in town. Be careful! You just might find yourself so excited about the houses that you forget to look at the quilts!Dress casually, wear comfortable shoes and enjoy the walk! For more information please: mailto:info@atime2sew.com web: http://www.collinsvillequiltwalk.com/

Sep 26, 2008 Extreme Night Hike (Fort Payne) - Sept 26, Fort Payne Extreme Night Hike 256-997-9577. www.trueadventuresports.com. Admission charged. True Adventure Sports—Intended for a large group team-building exercise, this hike has a bit of bouldering, some scrambling, some spelunking, and teamwork. Headlamp and enthusiastic guide included. 6-8:30 p.m.


Saturday, September 27th , 2008-Whistle Stop Festival!It's an all-American tradition - a street festival full of fun, food and entertainment. Here, in Irondale, it is a gathering that captures the old-time spirit - the annual Whistle Stop Festival.
Fortunately for festival goers it is an old-time feel with plenty of modern conveniences - everything from free shuttle service at local parking lots to the latest in entertainment. The festival offers over 250 booths to meet everyone's interest. For example, you can shop for handmade items at the arts and crafts booths then move on down the street and visit a community interest booth. This is a family-oriented festival with plenty for children to do. There are pony rides, basketball games, train rides, gyro ride and plenty more activities for the younger set. And the food! Such an array of food for every taste. The simple hot dog or funnel cakes to an onion blossom with a philly steak. All this can be washed down with good, cold lemonade. When you want to rest a spell, visit the entertainment stages. Sit back and listen to the sounds of country, rock and roll or jazz. Now is a good time to catch up with old friends or if you're visiting, we hope you'll introduce yourself to town folks. As the sun sets, you'll have happy memories of your day at the Whistle Stop Festival in the historic town of Irondale.
Whistle Stop Festival Flyers
http://www.cityofirondale.org/Default.asp?ID=109

October 1-4 Hwy 411 Yard Sale (Centre) - Oct 1-4, Centre Hwy. 411 Yard Sale 256-927-8455. www.hwy411yardsale.com. Free admission. Hwy. 411—Yard sale vendors set up along the U.S. Hwy 411 route from Leeds, AL to Newport, TN, passing through Cherokee County. Lots of antiques and other bargains along the way. Contact the local chamber of commerce for more information on each area.

Oct 10-11-Tall Tellin Festival-Step into the magical world of storytelling and join my idol, Kathryn Tucker Windham, at Selma's 30th Annual Alabama Tale-Tellin' Festival. From tall tales to historical happenings, from ghost stories to mountain legends, from folklore to modern fables, the Festival offers a rare mix of truth and dreams. Come early (5:30 p.m.) and listen to the informal tales at the Swappin' Ground where everybody is invited to tell a favorite story--a short one! While you listen, munch on a hot dog and homemade goodies from the concession stand. Two nights of storytelling in a perfectly historic setting, Selma, Alabama. Web Site
Phone-334-875-7241 or 1-800-457-3562 Map Brouchure


Oct 18-19, 2008 Mentone Fall ColorFest (Mentone) - Oct 18-19, Mentone Mentone Fall ColorFest 256-634-4041, 256-634-4455. Free. Mentone Brow Park--Savor North Alabama's autumn beauty and enjoy arts and crafts, food, live music and more.

Oct 17-18, 2008 Haunted History Tours of Dallas County (Selma) - Oct 17-18, Selma Haunted History Tours 800-45-SELMA. www.selmaalabama.com. Admission charged.Various locations--Explore haunted locations and visit the graves of the famous and infamous. 6 p.m.-until. Perhaps Ms. Windham will make an appearance!!!!

Oct 18-19, 2008 37th Kentuck Festival of the Arts (Tuscaloosa) - The Festival also features educational craft demonstrations where masters of artistic tradition share their skills with Kentuck visitors at locations throughout the park. Some of the talents showcased at Kentuck are the work and practice of southern basketmakers, blacksmiths, furniture makers, quilters and traditional potters.


Oct 18, 2008 Open House (Harpersville) - Oct 18, Harpersville Open House 205-672-2053. www.morgancreekwinery.com. Free admission. Morgan Creek Vineyards, off Hwy. 280—Sample cheese and wine tastings. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Did I hear the word cheese?

Mt Laurel Harvest Festival- Free festival, Saturday, October 18In the Town of Mt Laurel 10:00 AM - 4:00PM Booth fee for Harvest Festival is only $20 / $10 for farmers / no charge for nonprofits Bring what you'll need for the day (table, chair, tent) Set up between 8 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. (move cars/trucks by 9:45) No pre-registration needed, make checks payable to Mt LaurelRain or ShineFarmer's Market & Craft FairEvery Saturday now through October 2008In the Town of Mt Laurel8:00 AM - NoonVendors welcome - no charge to set up a booth. Fun for the whole family! Furry friends welcome

Oct 25, 2008 Fall Color Hike (Guntersville) - Oct 25, Guntersville Fall Color Hike 256-571-5440. www.GuntersvilleStatePark.com. Free. Guntersville State Park--It's autum foliage at its finest. Bring your camera and capture nature's beauty and rich color, which is abundant throughout the forests and along the banks of Lake Guntersville and can be enjoyed on a guided hike. 2 p.m. [more] [Add to My Vacation]


Oct 25, 2008 Halloween Haunted Hay Ride (Guntersville) - Oct 25, Guntersville Halloween Haunted Hay Ride 256-571-5440. www.GuntersvilleStatePark.com. Free. Guntersville State Park--Enjoy a spooky time in a wooded setting. Fun for whole family. 6:30 p.m.


Oct 25, 2008 The Original German Sausage Festival (Elberta) - Oct 25, Elberta The Original German Sausage 251-974-1510. Free. Elberta Town Park--German sausage and other food booths, music, dancing, arts and crafts booths, children's rides and games. 8 a.m.-6 p.m.


Nov 7-9, 2008 Homestead Hollow Christmas in the Country (Springville) - Nov 7-9, Springville Homestead Hollow Christmas in the Country 205-467-2002. www.homesteadhollow.com. Admission charged. I-59, exit 154--Unique items for holiday gift-giving, including handmade decorations and distinctive arts and crafts. Also demonstrations of candle making, blacksmithing, quilting, and more, children's activities, food, entertainment. 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Nov 8, 2008 2008 Collinsville Historic Turkey Trot (Collinsville) - Nov 8, Collinsville Collinsville Historic Turkey Trot 256-524-2788. www.gemofthevalley.net. Free admission. Downtown--Food, fun and games, antique car and tractor show, turkey shoot, cake walk and the turkey toss from one of the historic buildings in Collinsville. Sponsored in part by the "Collinsville Historic Assocation. 9 a.m.-3 p.m.


Nov 13-23, 2008 Frank Brown Songwriters Festival, 24thAnnual (Orange Beach) - Nov 6-16, Orange Beach Frank Brown Songwriters Festival, 24th Annual 251-974-1510. www.fbisf.com. Free admission. Various venues, including the Flora-Bama--Musicians from all over the world bring a variety of music to Alabama's Gulf Coast. Great opportunity for hit writers, aspiring newcomers, and an audience that appreciates great music to come together.


Dec 2, 2008 Dickens Downtown Celebration (Northport) - Dec 2, Northport Dickens Downtown Celebration 205-758-1257. www.kentuck.org. Free admissioin. Downtown-- The streets and shops of historic downtown Northport will come alive with Victorian music, crafts and family activities. The shops and galleries of downtown Northport will be open and decorated for the holidays, and merchants will be in traditional Victorian costume. 5-9 p.m.