Located in Kentuck Park in Northport, Alabama-been coming here since the first year I moved to…read moreAlabama in 1989-so much fun! Always in October, sometimes hot and sometimes freezing, you never know about the weather in Alabama. This year they had over 270 artists exhibiting their work for sell-contemporary and expert craftsman. I love all of the unique forms of art and handmade jewelry. There is pottery, woodwork, quilting items and so much more. They also have someone "story-telling" at different hours along with live music and all kinds of festival food. You can park in downtown Northport and take the shuttle or park near and walk. Parking is free. $10/person admittance. Make sure you wear comfortable walking shoes. You will be walking on paved paths and also not on paved paths. The exhibits wind all through the park and you have to watch out for uneven ground and sticks that have fallen from the trees.

Free Fall Festival at Buck Creek in Alabaster next to City Hall. This is an annual event that…read morestarted in 2009 and is always the Saturday before Halloween/ 3rd Saturday in October. There are tons of vendors a hayride, a haunted trail, inflatables, games, a cupcake walk where all the kid win,food trucks, live music and much more. I spent a whopping $6.00 today. The vendors hand out candy to the kids, several vendors handed out bottled waters and fans/ huggies, frisbee etc... the inflatables were free, a bank handed out balloons. It's great for all ages and pets are welcome. It's partially wooded and shaded. Lots of kids and adults alike wear costumes but they're not required. We will be back next year for sure! Oh and since a large portion of the trail is gravel break out the big stroller or big wheeled wagon. The umbrella stroller we took ended up being carried more than pushed.

My absolute Favorite local art festival in and around Birmingham. Where else can you puruse booths…read moreof both local and regional artists in one location. Not to mention strolling along while enjoying a beverage of choice. Love how the event has included food trucks in recent years to accommodate the 'Foodies'. Bonus: with the additional Beer Garden add on one can also come and go between both events during the evening of choice.

I frequent the area fall festivals every year, and this was very disappointing. (1) you pay $12 to…read moreenter & then you have to purchase anything you want from the vendors. I've never paid to enter a festival, and I always make purchases. (2) They had several vendors with quality merchandise, but the overwhelming majority was art (wall art, jewelry, carvings). So the variety was lacking - only saw 2 selling edibles & don't remember any clothing. I go to Pepper Place regularly & it's a better mix/balance... farm fresh veggies, pastries, art, jewelry, a number of food trucks, etc. & it's FREE to enter. Mt. Laurel even has a better balance/variety of vendors & it's FREE. Will stick w/the free ones

The Buck Creek Festival is a FREE, family-friendly community event held on the second weekend of…read moreMay in Helena's Amphitheater Park. On the banks of Buck Creek, just below the dam, the site together with the stage provides a wonderful venue for people of all ages to enjoy crafts, children's activities, food, and music. There is a large playground on site and in addition to the playground was a large children's play area with slides and bounce houses and rides with unlimited access for a mere $5.00. My family and I just enjoyed the 15th annual event last weekend. This year could have been the largest crowd to date. The Helena Amphitheatre venue is unique small venue along buck creek with walking paths and ample tree cover providing shade. Established in 1999, the Helena Amphitheater Park is located at Helena's Old Town district. It is an outdoor concert hall, festival grounds, movie theater and nature park. In the spring, summer and fall it is host to many events. Aside from the music and fun, the Buck Creek Festival has become known for its charity efforts that include the star of the event: the rubber duck race. The race is held at 3 p.m. on Saturday along the banks of Buck Creek. The duck race in previous years has benefited SafeHouse of Shelby County, local schools, band boosters, the library and more. Be aware there are a few rules. Park Rules *No Dogs *No Coolers *No Alcohol *No Golf Carts or Bicycles The weather couldn't have been better, the tree cover and lack of asphalt provide comfort with temperatures in the 80s. Live music from talented artists can be heard throughout the park, children were running around playing, my wife shopped in vendor tents housing varied merchants ranging from artists, boutique owners to local stores and shops in Helena and many more. It reminds me of small intimate city stages the way it was designed to be. I even found a couple that make and sell Biltong and it was awesome! I would very highly recommend this event to anyone who enjoys being outside and live music. It's not often you find an event that is really enjoyable for the entire family.

My friends and a couple family members attended the farmer's market at the Amphitheater this summer…read more- and I found it to be a delightful location in Helena's Old Towne District. Local police made getting in and out of the amphitheater area easy. We got out of the car and I wandered the grounds, visited the individual farms' tables, walked through the park and children's playground areas and really enjoyed myself in the relaxing shade. The Amphitheater is an outdoor concert hall, festival grounds, movie theater and nature park. From their website (www.cityofhelena.org), it looks like they even have a "movie in the park" night throughout the summer. Although there were not any other mothers there, I met one mother who brings her children to play on the playground equipment and relax in the cool shade whenever she can as she lives nearby. The certified farmer's market meets on Saturday in the summer while school is out. I understood as a part of the farmer's market, there is a charity-of-the-week which allows local charities to meet members of their community and garner well-deserved support. The first week I visited, there was a local animal shelter offering dog baths for a donation, so there were many dogs on leashes visiting the farmer's market that day and enjoying themselves to a cool bath under the trees. The following week, we went back and were greeted by delightful young ladies from a local club, dressed in Antebellum dresses. Anyone would appreciate this location who enjoys farmer's markets, local concerts, small community events, children's playgrounds, movie in the park night, parks, trees, and shade. I'd encourage anyone to visit, bring a lunch, and have an old-fashioned picnic.

I've been to both the most recent fall and spring fairs in October and May. I LOVE fairs! I need to…read morepay more attention to the names of the rides, but I made it out of them okay so that's a start. In the fall, I had a wristband so i went on every single ride there was. This last one, I just got tickets so i went on three rides total, and it was still a lot of fun. I highly recommend getting the unlimited ride wristband if you know you will be here for three or more hours. Sometimes you wait in line more than anything. There's just so many rides! Parking is usually free and easy to find here too. I haven't tried the food here yet, but the hard lemonade was good. One thing I didn't like about this last visit, was that Kate and I were waiting for the ferris wheel and the guy told us to wait for the next one even though there were plenty of seats available. We said okay and waited about five more minutes in line while the people in front of us rode the ferris wheel. Well then someone came around telling them to close up. So we waited in line for nothing and wasted our last few tickets because of him. I called the blonde guy out that told us to wait reminding him that HE SPECIFICALLY TOLD US WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE NEXT ONE. All of a sudden he has a foreign accent and can't understand what I'm saying. He just keeps telling me that they are closed. SMH. We could have gone on another ride or you could have let us ride one with the other riders rather than stand there and do nothing. This would be five star review no doubt but thanks to him, it's not.

First time going to this fair in Alabama! We live in Centreville AL and it's an hour drive! Overall…read morehad a good time! Everything is overpriced and food isn't the best! Most rides have a weight limit of 170 to 200 pounds max! Most adults weigh more than that! My 15 year old son had to ride the rides alone! The only ride we went on together was the Ferris whee! The operator a young blond guy was a jerk! My son and I got on car #13! It was very shaky and moved very easily! The operator yelled at me to stop rocking the car and said I would be removed if I continue! I wasn't rocking it at all and neither was my son! The ride started and the car was swaying back and forth! I told my son to stay as still as possible! Went around a few times then stopped at the very top when people were getting off the ride! While up there the wind started gusting and the car started swayin back and forth. Couldn't wait to get off that ride! Finally was able to get off and removed the safety bar without the assistance of the operator! He just shook his head at me! He was on a power trip or something! My son said that was the worst ride and the scariest in his opinion!

We went to see Casey and the sunshine band at this facility, and the experience couldn't have been…read morebetter! We parted the city garage, then rode on a Mercedes amphitheater bus to the venue at the gate, went through security like a breeze, and got to our seating area. The venue was not sold out, so we moved down to a better seat and a closer section. After the show, which was awesome, we got back on the bus and we're taking directly to the parking garage. Couldn't have been a better experience. Tuscaloosa/Mercedes-Benz amphitheater know how to run a show.

What a fun concert venue! We have been in the pit (Kings of Leon), as a well as in the seated…read moresection (Chris Stapleton). Excellent sound in both sections. Of course the view was better in the pit - in the sections further back you end up watching the screens for the most part. Major plus: Free parking! It's a bit of a hike from Birmingham (especially on a weeknight), but worth it! I wish there were more food options AROUND the venue.... hate paying for overpriced food and drinks inside of concert venues.

Museum is small but so is the ticket price. Large skeleton was cool and the replicas of the field…read morecamp and dinosaurs skull was cool. Nice break from the road for an hour.

From the owner: Our organization includes the oldest museum in Alabama, a 185-acre park on the former site of the…read morepolitical and ceremonial center of a vast Native American chiefdom, an Emmy Award-winning public television series, the oldest structure on the University of Alabama campus, one of only a handful of UA buildings that survived the Civil War, and the only museum tracing Tuscaloosa's history through the development of its transportation systems. Through our two "behind the scenes" divisions, we also develop interdisciplinary research programs focusing on museum-based research and provide archaeological and historic research and cultural resources management services to federal, Native American tribal, state, and local governmental agencies. For general information about our museums, departments, and programs, visit our webpage. How We Came to Be UA Museums as we currently know it -- a collection of multiple museums under a single administrative umbrella -- stems from a reorganization in 1990. Prior to that all the museums were under the Alabama Museum of Natural History at UA. Until 1961 the museum(s) were part of the Geological Survey of Alabama, reflecting the museums' roots in the work of pioneering geologist E.A. Smith. In 2017 UA Museums joined the College of Arts and Sciences, The University of Alabama's largest division and the academic core of the University. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!

One of my favorite places in Tuscaloosa. The first Thursday of each much is art night (Covid…read moreprotocols strongly recommend) and it is a wonderful time to see local artists from across Alabama's work. Outside you will find live music, studios open with live demonstrations, and artist tables set up featuring their work. The art center has something to appeal to many different tastes. I have bought many pieces and gifts from here and have always had a wonderful experience.

So many creative and interesting things packed into a small shop. Just fascinating and so…read moreimpressive. There were lots of jewelry, glass art, small sculptures, tea pots, folded paper craft, artwork prints, and even more. It was a wonderful experience just wandering through the shop.