Tiny Leighton, Alabama Is A Time Capsule Town That's Irresistibly Charming And Nostalgic
By Lisa Battles|Published November 06, 2023
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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.
There always seems to be something fun going on in Leighton. A tiny time capsule town in Alabama with less than 700 residents, this Shoals area community celebrates with all they’ve got. Sure, it looks cool, with obvious care given to its historic buildings, lively murals, art studios, antique spots, and a few local restaurants. At the same time, I believe Leighton’s most powerful magic ingredient is a community pride that outsizes the population many times over. Let’s look at some of the town’s signature community events where that spirit shines brightly.
Soul/R&B legends and cousins Percy Sledge and Jimmy Hughes both hail from Leighton. Their talents were catalysts in how Muscle Shoals became a music recording powerhouse in the 1960s. The Town of Leighton added a mural to honor the men in 2023. Artist Missy Miles completed the work in time for the town's Jimmy Hughes Day Celebration in June.
Never to be slighted, Sledge has his own dedicated day of celebration, too. Leighton launched the first Sledgefest in 2022 as part of the weeklong W.C. Handy Music Festival that has events throughout the Shoals.
While you will see nods to Sledge and Hughes throughout the tiny town, you can learn more about them at the Leighton Museum, which is inside the Bank Independent sales office downtown.
Colbert County High School is located in Leighton and serves over 400 students. Homecoming week is always a huge deal. First, the town hosts a community pep rally on Main Street.
A nonprofit called Moving Leighton Forward In Unison spearheaded Cancer Awareness Day, which also enjoys excellent community support. In 2023, participants completed an awareness walk and enjoyed a concert in the park. People also added names of breast cancer fighters and survivors to a massive street mural in the middle of town.
In late November each year, a locally founded downtown art studio Bliss Alley hosts Bliss Alley Bazaar with open studios, live music in the courtyard, food trucks, and more.
In 2023, Leighton became an official stop on the annual Walk of Life. For over 20 years, people of the Chickasaw and Choctaw Nationals have completed a reverse walk west to east along the Trail of Tears to symbolize a return of Native Americans to their homelands.
Leighton Public Library downtown underwent a fresh renovation in 2023. If you want to take a moment to meditate amid the good energy, check out Inspiration Park behind the library building. There, you can relax in hammocks, avail yourself of the library's Wi-Fi, and enjoy a free community veggie garden.
Have you visited one of the many fun community events and businesses in Leighton? Tell us about your experience and any hot spots we may have missed.
To learn more about this time capsule town in Alabama, follow the Town of Leighton on Facebook. If you are anywhere in the vicinity of the Shoals area, another must-do is touring Muscle Shoals Sound Studio and its predecessor in the area’s music recording legacy, FAME Studios.
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