It may still feel like summer (and all its hotness) is holding on for dear life here in Calhoun County, but that crisp coolness, the scent of pumpkin spice, and all things gold, orange, and red are inevitably heading our way. Fall is here! It’s time to get in that Autumn state of mind, and how better to than attending a fall festival or visiting a pumpkin patch? Take a look with us at upcoming fall events in and around Calhoun county before the chill settles in.
Fall Festivals
Whether you enjoy shopping for unique autumn crafts to decorate your home or yard, sipping some coffee fused with pumpkin spice, or listening to a live local band outdoors, you can enjoy these activities and more at a fall festival near you.
In its 34th year, one of the longest running fall festivals in Calhoun County is Oxford Fest, which hosts a myriad of vendors lining Choccolocco, Barry, and Snow Streets in downtown Oxford, Alabama. It takes place Saturday, October 1 from 8am-4pm, and admission is free. There will be food trucks, kid’s rides, crafts, prizes, and live music throughout the event. Their music line-up includes:
- 8:30 am ClearVision Gospel
- 9:30 am Pepper Brooks
- 10:45 am Brittany Hart
- 11:45 am Chad Robertson & Joe Johnson
- 1:00 pm Highland Groove
- 2:15 pm Dwight Smith
- 3:00 pm Debbie & The Summer Lovins
Saturday, October 8, get ready for more fall fun at the Anniston Museum and Gardens as they host their Fall Fest from 10:00am-5:00pm. The whole family can experience interaction with live animals, outdoor games, hay rides, crafts, and even science experiments! Attendees are encouraged to wear costumes, and there’s a costume contest at 2pm. The admission, which is $12 per adult and $10 per child (ages 4-17), includes entry to the Museum of Natural History and the Berman Museum, as well as access to the festival activities.
Piedmont Pumpkin Festival and Bicycle Show
If you have grown a pumpkin that can rival the size of Charlie Brown’s “The Great Pumpkin,” then you’ll need to bring it with you to the Piedmont Pumpkin Festival and Bicycle Show to compete for the cash prize in the biggest pumpkin contest! This free festival takes place in Optimist Park at 101 S Main Street in Piedmont, AL on Saturday, October 8 from 11:00am-7:00pm. Besides encountering arts & crafts vendors and food trucks, you can hear live music from artists like Logan Graves, Zion Bluegrass District, Jeff Rogers, and Todd Byers. But what sets this festival apart from your typical fall fest is that there will be a bicycle show, where folks can check out a variety of bikes including vintage bicycles, and there’s even a bicycle parts swap.
Cane Creek Community Gardens Fall Fest
For 13 years the Calhoun County Fall Fest has provided a quaint, down-home festival for folks in the mood for all things autumnal. It takes place Saturday, October 15 at Cane Creek Community Gardens on Fort McClellan, 77 Justice Avenue, Anniston, AL. You’ll encounter a craft and farmer’s market, a country store, and varied activities from 9:00am-2:00pm. Admission is free.
United Fellowship Baptist Church is hosting a Fall Festival on Sunday, October 16 from 4:00pm-7:00pm. Their event, which features food, games, a cake walk, music, fellowship, and a bouncy house, can be found at 161 Becky Turner Road in Alexandria, AL. Admission is free.
Another church that will be hosting a Fall Festival is Eulaton First Baptist Church at 1835 Gate 8 Rd, Anniston, AL on Sunday, October 30 from 3:00pm-5:00pm. Games, a bounce house, food (free chili), popcorn, and Trunk-R-Treat are some of the things you’ll find at their family-friendly event.
Pumpkin Patches
If you’re really looking to get into the fall spirit, there’s no better way than to visit a good old fashioned pumpkin patch! There’s a couple of pumpkin patches in or around Calhoun County that you won’t want to miss.
Turner Family Farm Pumpkin Patch
The Turner Family Farm Pumpkin Patch opens this Saturday, October 24, and will carry on through October 30. Located at 7700 Stemley Road in Talladega, AL, this pumpkin patch offers all the classic activities families love like hayrides, a corn maze, face painting, a petting zoo, movies in the field….And most importantly, you can stroll through the pumpkin patch and pick the ones you want to purchase. General admission is $12 (price includes one pumpkin of your choice), while children 2 and under are free. For an additional charge, there are inflatables and a ZIP line for added adventure. Hours of operation for this amazing autumn event are:
- Saturdays 9:00am-8:00pm
- Sundays 1:00pm-5:00pm
- Wednesdays-Fridays 3:00pm-5:00pm
While the previously mentioned pumpkin patch is technically over the county line, Bennetts Farms Pumpkin Patch sits squarely in Calhoun County at 1073 County Rd 13 in Heflin, AL. Throughout the month of October, they will be open to the public at an admission cost of $12 for anyone ages 3 and up. They’ve got bragging rights on two elaborate corn mazes, hay rides, farm animals, corn cribs, sunflowers, a BBQ shack, games and slides, and a country store selling all kinds of local vendors’ wares. And if you visit on Saturdays, you’ll also be treated to live music. Bennett Farms has even more to offer, and they are available for field trip outings, and offer special rates for parties and corporate events. Their hours are:
- Saturdays 9:00am-5:00pm
- Sundays 1:00pm-5:00pm
- Wednesdays 2:00pm-5:00pm
- Fridays 2:00pm-5:00pm
