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CALENDAR

You will find most events on our CALENDAR page - so this page is reserved for simply LISTING routine annual MAIN EVENTS in the tri-county lake area, listed alphabetically.  Head over to the CALENDAR page for more events, and be sure to contact us to add your event!
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Rock the South 2023 - Headliners Chris Stapleton, Zach Bryan, Cody Johnson & Riley Green
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Foothills Festival 2022

Cullman County

2ND FRIDAYS CULLMAN
​DATES:  See calendar for specific dates
WHERE:  Located in the Warehouse District in downtown Cullman, AL
256-734-0454
Facebook:  @2ndFridaysCullman
INFO:
  • Typically every 2nd Friday June–September
  • Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce-sponsored event, which features evenings of downtown fun that center around business development with extended retail hours, restaurant specials, and entertainment for locals and visitors.
7th ANNUAL BERNARD BLUES AND BBQ 2023
DATES:  September 9-10, 2023
WHERE:  St. Bernard Prep School
1600 St. Bernard Dr. SE
Cullman, AL 35055
​256-739-6682 Ext. 7133
or 800-722-0999
Facebook:  ​Bernard Blues and BBQ
​INFO:
  • The event features some of the best artisans in the Southeast.  Work includes: pottery, wreaths, door hangers, flowers, wood turned bowls, clothing, birdhouses, honey, jewelry, soap, brooms, metal art, glass art, freshly ground cornmeal and grits, and much, much more. While shopping, enjoy live music and the best pulled pork in the Southeast as well as ribs, hamburgers, brats, and chicken.
  • St. Bernard often gives away cash prizes totaling over $12,000!
  • Bring the entire family for a weekend of fun on the 800+ acre campus and grounds of St. Bernard Abbey and Prep School!
  • Hours for the event are 9:00 am to 4:00 pm each day.
  • Admission is a $10 requested donation. Children under age 12 and under get in free.
  • NO PETS, PLEASE!
  • Festival guests can also tour the world-famous Ave Maria Grotto at a reduced admission of $5 all weekend.
  • Regarding vendor applications, please note, all work must be handmade by the artisan. Commercial products are considered through sponsorships only. Contact Festival Director Joyce Nix at (256) 255-5860, or by email at jnix@stbernardprep.com.All proceeds benefit St. Bernard Preparatory
10th ANNUAL BASS FEST FISHING TOURNAMENT
DATE:  October 7, 2023
WHERE:  Smith Lake Park
​PHONE:  256-739-2916
​FACEBOOK:  Smith Lake Park
BLOOMIN' FESTIVAL 2024
DATES:  TBD - Usually April
WHERE:  St. Bernard Prep School
1600 St. Bernard Dr. SE
Cullman, AL 35055
256-739-6682 Ext. 7133
or 800-722-0999
Facebook:  @BloominFestival
INFO:
  • Bloomin’ Festival is a two day juried arts festival attracting thousands of visitors to the beautiful campus of St. Bernard Abbey and Prep School.
  • Located adjacent to the school is the world famous Ave Maria Grotto.
  • The picturesque landscape of stone cut buildings on the grounds of Alabama’s only Abbey provides a backdrop for the out-of-doors show.
  • More than 140 booths are filled with artists demonstrating and exhibiting their work.
  • The festival is the largest fundraiser annually for the operation and maintenance of the historical school.
CHRISTMAS IN CULLMAN 2023
DATES:  TBA
CULLMAN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE EVENTS
Events list coming soon.
​2nd Fridays
CULLMAN COUNTY TOURISM BUREAU
Tourism Director, Hugh A. Stump III
301 2nd Avenue SW
Cullman, AL 35055
Office: 256-734-0454 ext. 206
info@visitcullman.org
VisitCullman.com
CULLMAN OKTOBERFEST 2023
DATES:  SEP 28-30, 2023
WHERE:  Cullman Warehouse District and Depot Park
HOST:  Cullman Parks, Recreation & Sports Tourism
​Facebook:  Cullman OktoberFest
CULLMAN STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL 2024
DATES:  TBD, usually May
WHERE:  209 1st Ave. NE
Cullman, AL 35055
256-734-9157
Facebook:  @CullmanStrawberryFest
​Info:
  • Cullman Strawberry Festival is a 2-day festival on the 1st Saturday of May to celebrate the area's strawberry harvest and opening day of the Cullman Festhalle Farmers Market.
  • Food, music, a classic car show, arts & crafts plus a children’s fun area - those are just a few fun family-friendly activities
DINNER ON FIRST
DATE:  May 18, 2023
​WHERE:  209 1st Ave. NE
​Cullman, AL 35055
256-734-9157
Facebook:  @CullmanStrawberryFest
​Info:
  • Dinner on First offers an opportunity for the Cullman community to come together as one to benefit something meaningful
  • residents connect with friends and neighbors, as well as the Cullman Parks, Recreation, & Sports Tourism Foundation Board members for a night to remember.
  • The event features complementary table wine as well as a full cash bar.
FALL YARD SALE
DATE:  October 28, 2023
WHERE:  Smith Lake Park
256-739-2916
​​FACEBOOK:  Smith Lake Park
FIREWORKS AND MUSIC FESTIVAL
​DATE:  July 4, 2023
Fourth of July Fireworks
416 County Road 385
Cullman, AL 35055
WHERE:  Smith Lake Park
​256-739-2916
CullmanCountyParks.com/SmithLake.html​
Facebook:  Smith Lake Park
Info:
  • Smith Lake Park hosts a number of special events and festivals throughout the year, including a spectacular Fourth of July Fireworks show.
  • The park also features tent and RV camping, a swimming pool, boat launch, miniature golf and more.
IN HIS WAKES 2024
DATE:  TBA
MEMORIAL DAY FESTIVAL
DATE:  May 27, 2023
​WHERE:  Smith Lake Park
256-739-2916
​Facebook:  Smith Lake Park
ROCK THE SOUTH 2023
DATES:  July 20, 21 & 22, 2023
WHERE:  209 1st Ave. NE
Cullman, AL 35055
256-737-7565
rockthesouth.com
​Facebook:   @rockthesouth
Info:
  • Cullman's "Biggest Party in the South" #biggestpartyinthesouth
  • Annual Country Music Festival featuring some of the biggest names in country music
  • Features elite music talent
  • Attracts thousands to the city yearly
SPORTSMANS LAKE
Christmas Lights in the Park
SWEET TATER FESTIVAL
DATE:  September 3-4, 2023​
416 Co. Rd. 385
Cullman, AL 35057
WHERE  Smith Lake Park
256-739-2916
HOSTS:  Smith Lake Park and Cullman County Parks and Recreation
​​Facebook:  Smith Lake Park
​Info:
  • Held on Labor Day weekend every year
  • this festival features a myriad of arts & crafts, along with seasonal sweet potatoes, music, a car show, and lots of food and family fun.​
TRICKS AND TREATS
DATE:  October 28, 2023
WHERE:  Smith Lake Park
256-739-2916
Facebook:  Smith Lake Park

Walker County

YOUR EVENT
  • List here
ART IN THE PARK
DATE:  May 13, 2023
TIME:  9am-3pm
WHERE:  Gamble Park, Jasper AL
HOST:  Walker County Arts Alliance
CONTACT:  Art in the Park
PHONE:  205-221-1711
EMAIL:  kate.gurganus@wcart.org
WEBSITE:  wcart.org/art-in-the-park
FACEBOOK:  Art in the Park
CLEAR CREEK RECREATIONAL AREA
FOOTHILLS FESTIVAL - JASPER, AL
DATES:  September 15 & 16, 2023
WHERE:  Downtown Jasper, AL
WEB:  foothillsjasper.com
FACEBOOK:  @foothillsjasperal
JASPER MAIN STREET - EVENTS
Shop the finest downtown businesses! 
Events list coming soon.
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MUSGROVE COUNTRY CLUB & GOLF COURSE
VETERANS APPRECIATION BOAT PARADE
DATE:  Saturday, 8/26/23 
WHERE:  Duncan Bridge Marina at Duncan Bridge
Hosts:  Rotary Club of Smith Lake and Rotary Club of Jasper
INFO:
Usually the boat parade begins at Duncan Bridge Marina.  It starts flowing northward of Duncan Bridge on the RH side of Sipsey to the opening of Devil's Branch, and turning back towards and under Duncan Bridge on the LH side of Sipsey all the way to the opening of Sipsey Pines then looping back to end at Duncan Bridge for snacks and drinks at the Bridge.  A wonderful day of celebration of Veterans.

WALKER COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE EVENTS

Winston County

ARLEY DAY 2023
2023 marks the 50th Annual Arley Day Festival hosted by founders Arley Women's Club in "the heart of Smith Lake!"
DATES:  May 20, 2023 
WEB:  arleywomensclub.org
FACEBOOK:  Arley Women's Club
  • ​food and craft vendors
  • festival rides
  • a car show
  • parade
  • and more !
NATURAL BRIDGE PARK
SIPSEY WILDERNESS and WILLIAM BANKHEAD NATIONAL FOREST
DATES:  The best time to hike in the forest is early spring, late fall and winter when heavy underbrush is down to keep snakes visible or at bay, and when cliffs and waterfalls are best viewed during these rainy seasons and during these times of barer foliage.  It can get awfully hot, buggy, and difficult to traverse during the hottest part of the summer season, not to mention a higher presence of snakes and other territorial wild animals.  
​INFO:  Open to the public.  You are advised to plan carefully and use extreme caution before embarking on a trip into the forest as there is no phone service/wifi, so you must be prepared.  Several Facebook pages can offer you assistance and/or planned hikes to acclimate you to this protected land, and you are encouraged to subscribe to APPs like AllTrails for offline mapping
DESCRIPTION:
  • hiking
  • camping
  • sightseeing
  • scenic beauty
​Would you like for your event, venue or business to be in our listings? Feel free to contact us at thelakesidelife@gmail.com for additional information, revisions, questions or comments.  Businesses, if you would like to join our listing or advertise in our magazine, please contact us here - there are FREE options, and our rates on other packages including print/digital/web/social media are VERY affordable for the extras we offer and quite competitive.