The Alabama fall festivals worth the drive in 2026 are the National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores (October 8 to 11), the Kentuck Festival of the Arts in Tuscaloosa (October 17 and 18), the Athens Storytelling Festival (October 22 to 24) and the National Peanut Festival in Dothan (November 6 to 15). Add Cullman Oktoberfest, the Alabama National Fair in Montgomery and the Greater Gulf State Fair in Mobile if you want rides and fair food.
Below are the dates, prices and practical tips for each, in calendar order, with a little local context on what makes each one worth a trip. For the rest of the season, from leaf peeping to football, see our guide to fall in Alabama.
Alabama fall festivals 2026 at a glance
| Festival | Town | 2026 dates | Admission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moundville Native American Festival | Moundville, near Tuscaloosa | October 1 to 3 | $10 adults, free 5 and under |
| Cullman Oktoberfest | Cullman | October 1 to 4 | Free entry |
| National Shrimp Festival | Gulf Shores | October 8 to 11 | Free entry |
| Alabama National Fair | Montgomery | October 8 to 18 | Paid gate admission |
| Kentuck Festival of the Arts | Tuscaloosa | October 17 and 18 | $15 a day or $25 for the weekend, free 12 and under |
| Mentone Fall Festival | Mentone | October 17 | See organizer |
| Athens Storytelling Festival | Athens | October 22 to 24 | Tickets by session |
| Greater Gulf State Fair | Mobile | October 30 to November 8 | Paid gate admission |
| National Peanut Festival | Dothan | November 6 to 15 | $11 gate, $40 ride armband |
Prices and schedules are as published by each organizer at the time of writing. Check before you go, and see our This Weekend page for smaller events near you.
What festivals are in Alabama in early October 2026?
The first weekend of October brings two very different festivals: Cullman Oktoberfest in North Alabama and the Moundville Native American Festival south of Tuscaloosa.
Moundville Native American Festival, October 1 to 3
Held at Moundville Archaeological Park, 13 miles south of Tuscaloosa off Alabama Highway 69, this festival brings Native American dancers, artists and demonstrators to one of the largest prehistoric Native American sites in North America. Hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Admission is $10 for adults, students and seniors, and free for children 5 and under. Pair it with a night in Tuscaloosa.
Cullman Oktoberfest, October 1 to 4
Cullman, a town founded by German immigrants off I-65 between Birmingham and Huntsville, throws a four-day Oktoberfest at Depot Park downtown. Entry to the grounds is free. Expect three biergartens, live music, a kids’ zone with a Ferris wheel and carousel, wiener dog races, stein hoisting and brat eating contests, and 5K and 10K runs. It runs 4 to 10 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday.
When is the 2026 National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores?
The National Shrimp Festival is October 8 to 11, 2026, on the Gulf Shores Main Public Beach at Gulf Place, and admission is free. It is the biggest event of the fall on the Alabama coast and the main reason locals call early October the best time of year at the beach.
More than 50 food vendors sell crab cakes, conch fritters, lobster and, of course, shrimp in every form, and more than 150 booths sell arts and crafts. Two stages run live music, and there is a sand sculpture contest, children’s activities and 5K and 10K races.
- Getting there: Road closures start October 5. A park-and-ride shuttle runs from lots around town for $7 a day with unlimited rides, and it is the easiest way in.
- Alternate routes: Use Highway 180 East, State Park Road or Highway 135 to avoid the beach traffic.
- When to go: Thursday and Friday are usually calmer than Saturday, and mornings are cooler than afternoons.
Our Gulf Shores in October story covers where to eat and stay that week, and the Gulf Shores area guide lists local seafood restaurants.
What happens at the Alabama National Fair?
The Alabama National Fair runs October 8 to 18, 2026, in Montgomery, with 11 days of midway rides, fair food, livestock shows and exhibits from quilting and canning to photography and art. The Commodores headline on October 10. Sensory-friendly hours run from 1 to 3 p.m. on October 11 and 18, and children 4 and under get in free with a paying adult. Bring a clear bag, since the fair uses metal detectors and a clear bag policy.
When is the 2026 Kentuck Festival of the Arts?
The 55th Kentuck Festival of the Arts is October 17 and 18, 2026, at Snow Hinton Park in Tuscaloosa. It is one of the South’s best-known art fairs, started in 1971 to celebrate Northport’s centennial and now drawing more than 15,000 visitors. Since 2024 it has been held across the river in Tuscaloosa.
- Tickets: General admission is $15 a day or $25 for a weekend pass, and children 12 and under are free. Online sales end at noon on October 15 on the Kentuck website.
- Parking: General admission parking is on the north side of Snow Hinton Park, and a free shuttle runs from University Mall.
- Pets: Not allowed, except service animals.
Expect potters, painters, woodworkers, metalsmiths and folk artists, plus live music and food. Bring a tote for purchases, and plan to spend most of a day. On the way, visit the Kentuck Art Center on Main Avenue in downtown Northport, where artists work in studios year-round. Our Northport guide covers the town.
What else is on October 17?
The same Saturday as Kentuck, Mentone holds its fall festival on the Moon Lake Campus from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with art, crafts and free kids’ activities from the Little River Arts Council. It lands right at the start of peak color on Lookout Mountain, so it pairs well with a scenic drive. See our Alabama fall foliage guide for the best routes.
Is the Athens Storytelling Festival worth the trip?
Yes, especially if you have never heard professional storytellers live. The 20th annual Athens Storytelling Festival runs October 22 to 24, 2026, in a big tent at Athens State University in Athens, with public performances Thursday evening and all day Friday and Saturday.
The 2026 lineup includes Donald Davis, Bil Lepp, Josh Goforth and Adam Booth, with a special Thursday night appearance by Carol Cain. Tickets are sold by session; students 13 and up pay $5 a session, and children 2 to 12 get in free. Athens is a short drive from Huntsville, and the historic square around the Limestone County courthouse is a good place for dinner between sessions.
What is there to do in late October and early November?
The fair season moves south as the weather cools. The Greater Gulf State Fair runs October 30 to November 8, 2026, at The Grounds on Cody Road North in Mobile, with ten days of midway rides and entertainment that draw more than 100,000 visitors. Halloween weekend also brings ghost tours across the state; our guide to haunted places in Alabama has the details. Families should also see our guide to pumpkin patches and corn mazes in Alabama.
When is the 2026 National Peanut Festival?
The National Peanut Festival is November 6 to 15, 2026, at the National Peanut Festival Fairgrounds in Dothan, under the theme “Ease on Down the Row.” Dothan sits in the heart of peanut country in the Wiregrass, and the festival is part harvest celebration and part state fair.
- Admission: $11 at the gate, $40 for a ride armband, and a $33 combo ticket for gate and rides on the final day, November 15.
- Concerts: Corey Kent on Sunday, November 8 (free with admission), Lauren Alaina on Tuesday, November 10, and Tyler Hubbard on Thursday, November 12, at the All In Amphitheater. The last two carry an extra concert ticket.
- Parade: Saturday, November 14, at 9:30 a.m. on Main Street in downtown Dothan.
Expect livestock shows, demolition derbies, fair food and plenty of peanuts. Our National Peanut Festival guide has more on planning a weekend in Dothan.
How should you plan a festival weekend in Alabama?
Book lodging early, plan around football and arrive early in the day. Several of these festivals land on college football weekends, and that changes everything from hotel prices to traffic.
- Check the football schedule. Alabama plays Texas A&M at home in Tuscaloosa on October 24, and Auburn hosts LSU the same day. Kentuck weekend is an Alabama road game, which helps with rooms. Our college football weekend guide has the full home schedules.
- Use shuttles. The Shrimp Festival and Kentuck both run shuttles, and both are faster than hunting for parking.
- Carry cash and a card. Most vendors take cards, but cash speeds up small purchases and some gate lines.
- Dress for the weather. Early October can still be hot on the coast, while November evenings in Dothan and North Alabama can be chilly.
FAQ
What is the biggest fall festival in Alabama?
The National Peanut Festival in Dothan is the longest, at ten days, and the National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores draws the largest crowds to the coast. For art, the Kentuck Festival of the Arts in Tuscaloosa is the best known in the state.
When is the Kentuck Festival 2026?
The 55th Kentuck Festival of the Arts is October 17 and 18, 2026, at Snow Hinton Park in Tuscaloosa. Tickets are $15 a day or $25 for the weekend, and children 12 and under get in free.
Is the National Shrimp Festival free?
Yes. Admission to the National Shrimp Festival on the Gulf Shores public beach is free, and you pay for food, drinks and crafts. The park-and-ride shuttle costs $7 a day with unlimited rides.
When is the National Peanut Festival 2026?
The 2026 National Peanut Festival runs November 6 to 15 at the fairgrounds in Dothan. The parade is Saturday, November 14, at 9:30 a.m. on Main Street, and gate admission is $11.
Are there free fall festivals in Alabama?
Yes. Cullman Oktoberfest (October 1 to 4) and the National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores (October 8 to 11) are both free to enter. Many towns also hold free fall markets and street festivals; check our This Weekend page for events near you.