The Best Arts Festivals In Alabama For A Great Time While Expanding Your Collection
By Lisa Battles|Published April 05, 2024
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Lisa Battles
Author
Lisa has traveled the U.S. for over a decade, seeking out and sharing the stories of its most interesting places, people, and experiences. A journalism graduate of Auburn University, she has been a content strategist, editor, and writer for more than 25 years. Lisa has worked in community news, PR, and marketing with a focus on tourism, hospitality, and economic development. Besides following her curiosity around every corner, she's a devoted dog mom of two and advocate for animal welfare.
Art festival season in Alabama is the best time of year. And I mean that about both of the seasons. It may be spring, watching nature wake up, or fall when colors change. It’s probably no accident these seasons align with seeing the latest offerings of the most creative people among us – artists. Here are the six best art festivals in Alabama for a great time while expanding your collection.
With more than 270 artists showcasing their creations alongside a host of performances, kids' activities, demonstrations, food, and drink, the Kentuck Festival of the Arts is a true southern star for art. It has been a premier art show in the Southeast for over 50 years. The 2024 Kentuck Festival of the Arts is set for October 19-20 at Snow Hinton Park in Tuscaloosa.
While Panoply in Huntsville launched in 1982, I'd never attended until 2023 and was awestruck. Big Spring International Park is a long-loved community space without a festival. In short, it's where Huntsville began. During Panoply, you'll see this community fully engaged in a historic community space. Expect friendly staff, easy parking, happy artists, and an incredible setting. The 2024 Panoply Arts Festival will take place from April 26–28.
The Fairhope Arts & Crafts Festival has painted this creative, coastal community landscape for over 70 years. Over three days in mid-March, the town welcomes over 250,000(!) people for art, food, and entertainment abloom along its flower-lined downtown streets. This festival's 2024 dates are March 15-17.
The Magic City Art Connection in Birmingham has been connecting Alabamians to art for more than 40 years. Held for the last several years at the Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark, this event aligns contemporary arts with one of the city's most significant sites tied to its industrial heritage. A big highlight of Magic City Art Connection is Imagination Festival, which draws hundreds of city students into the art experience with educational workshops led by local artists. The 2024 dates are Friday through Sunday, April 26-28.
The Orange Beach Festival of Art celebrated its 50th year in 2024. This early March, two-day festival is the community's rite of spring event and is free to attend. It is recognized nationally as a top fine art and design show. Besides the colorful corridors of artwork to explore, the festival's live music on two entertainment stages is a popular draw.
A relatively new arts festival for Alabama is the River Clay Festival in Decatur, which began in 2015. It occurs the third weekend of September in the heart of downtown Decatur near City Hall and where the town's two historic downtown districts connect. There are plenty of food truck options and artful shopping to be had onsite. It's easy to stroll over to the shops and dining on Second Avenue and a short drive over to the different options on Bank Street.
The best art festivals in our state showcase some of our finest cities at their cultural peak. They truly shine through the lens of art and how it brings people together. If you’ve considered a visit to Alabama, circle these dates on your calendar to do it.
Let us know if you’ve visited any of these festivals and others you’d add!
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