Festival goers, vendors, local bands, Anniston restaurants, and cyclists from the great state of Alabama and beyond are “gearing up” for the 22nd Annual Noble Street Festival (hosted by Mainstreet Anniston) and Sunny King Criterium. This enjoyable and exciting event has attracted visitors from all around Calhoun County, the Southeast, and beyond, as it has proven itself for over two decades in how delectable food should be served, elevated music should be performed, and pro cycling competitions should be done. This amazing festival runs from 11 am to 7 pm on Noble and the surrounding streets of Anniston, Alabama on Saturday, April 13, 2024. Read on for the best festival guide to all that Noble Street Fest has to offer.
Noble Street Festival 2024: Setting the Stage in Style
No sporting event can thrive as well as the Sunny King Criterium has without steadfast community support. Part of the reason the SKC has had such success is because of the thriving Noble Street Festival that operates in conjunction with it. From the Sunny King Music Stage to the Kid Zone to the superb downtown restaurants to the participating vendors, this festival ensures that there is plenty to entertain every single member of the family.
Sunny King Music Stage Events
One of the highly anticipated events occurring annually at the Noble Street Festival is their live music and other planned events at the Sunny King Music Stage. At 11 am and 12 pm, bring your kids round to observe fascinating reptiles, birds, and other animals as the Anniston Museum and Gardens presents their popular live animal show.
The live music kicks off at 1 pm with female songstress Savannah J, a performer who has taken many the stages of multiple venues in Calhoun County and beyond like the Gridiron of Gadsden, Coldwater Brewpub, The Darkhorse Saloon, and the Apothecary Brewhouse.
At 2:30 pm, get ready to rock out with a band of brothers who are well acquainted with countless Calhoun County locals. Blues Deluxe, a blues and rock band, is composed of local musicians Brett Lloyd, Steve Junior, Doug White, Anniston’s favorite gigger Robbie Jordan, and the city’s police chief Nick Bowles. Each of these musicians has been part of varied music groups and projects for years, but as they have pooled their resources together to debut their new band exclusively for spectators at Noble Street Fest, there’s no doubt that they will make a musically charged impression.
Frontman Nick Bowles shared, “We are a group of like-minded local musicians with a love for the blues and blues-based rock and roll. We plan on playing at local venues all around the area and are excited to roll out some rock at the Noble St. Festival on the 13th.”
The headlining act from Atlanta, Edgewood Heavy, will get people dancing in the streets with their funky blend of rock and soul music. This 4-piece band composed of 2 dynamic frontmen has been compared to bands like Outkast, The Black Keys, and the Rolling Stones. Besides major events like the Inman Park Fest, Wire, Wood Fest, and Stone Mountain Soul Fest, this energetic band will perform in Anniston for the second time–their first performance was last year at the Model City Jubilee. They made such an impression that Main Street Anniston was delighted to invite them back.
As the band shared, “We are so excited for our return to Anniston for the Noble Street festival. Edgewood Heavy is currently in the middle of our spring tour and we’re leading up to our next song release in mid-May, Electric Eel. For anyone who wants to learn more about us, they can go to Edgewoodheavy.com and be sure to look out for our third annual music festival in October of this year in Atlanta–Edgewoodstock.”
The City Market – The Best Family-Friendly Zone
Noble Street Festival planners love to surprise long-time attendees with something new and fun. This year, they’ve set up a dining area at one of downtown Anniston’s newest (and best) areas–the Anniston City Market. This large covered area, located at 10th Street and Moore Ave., will be utilized throughout the spring and summer months for farmer’s markets and more. For the festival, families can find a comfortable spot and have an excellent view of Turn 4 of the Sunny King Criterium race course.
There will be hotdogs and hamburgers cooked at the outdoor grilling station, and adult beverages for sale for those not dining in one of Anniston’s many restaurants. Meanwhile, kids can get their fill of games like corn hole, a bouncy castle, and a Made U Look truck set up to show movies throughout the day.
The Kid Zone, Vendors, and Dining Zone
For those wanting to stick closer to the main action, vendors will be set up between the 10th and 11th blocks of Noble Street. Expect to see these among the many setting up temporary shops on festival day:
- KatieBug Boutique
- Soul Sistah 3.0
- The Mushroom Preserve
- Sunny King Automotive
- Michelleven’s Creations and Quilts
- Mountain Motorsports
- Kiwanis of Anniston
- Junior League of Anniston-Calhoun County
- CAST
Food trucks will offer options beyond the restaurants open for business in downtown Anniston, with an outdoor dining area set up on 10th Street between Wilmer Ave. and Noble St. Keep a lookout for:
- Brix N Stix
- Q&A Concessions
- Little Lemon Lemonade
- Susan’s Snack Shack
- RnB Finz and Chicks
- Train Station Cafe
- Kona Ice
- Travelin’ Tom’s
- Send Noodz
- Spiedies & Sweet Treats
The Kid Zone will feature inflatable slides, bouncy houses, face painting, Sam the Balloon Man, and more. And be aware that kids are not left out of the cycling action during Noble Street Fest. Children ages Pre-K through 6th grade can register for the annual Kids Bike Races, which are now free thanks to sponsor Raymond James. At 4:15 pm, participants will line up, and at 4:30 pm, the 5th and 6th graders will ride one lap of the race course for a ribbon and t-shirt awarded to all participants (children must provide their own bike and helmet). To ensure your child gets to race, and for more info, register here.
Festival coordinator Karla Eden was hopeful that Noble Street Festival’s 22nd year will be a memorable one. “Noble Street Festival serves as an economic engine, drawing in crowds that patronize local businesses and boost commerce, particularly in sectors like hospitality and retail. The entertainment factor of such events cannot be understated either, as they contribute significantly to the cultural vibrancy and appeal of the city, offering residents and visitors alike a reason to celebrate and engage.”
The Sunny King Criterium
We at Calhoun County Insight didn’t want to cut the narrative short on all that’s going on this year in the Sunny King Criterium. We have a separate article taking a deep dive into what’s going on this year, including celebrating the fact that our 22-year-old criterium has joined the ranks of USA CRITS as the premier race launch for their Spring 2024 series.
The Sunny King Criterium hosts four competitions that attract amateur and professional cycling teams and individuals from the Southeast, the greater United States, and even international teams: the Sunny King Criterium Amateurs and Masters, the Alabama State Criterium Championship, the Southeast Collegiate Conference, and the USA CRITS.
Races will run all day from 8 am to 6:15 pm on a loop course that is just shy of 1 mile long. A unique feature of the Sunny King Criterium is that it is live-streamed, so you can watch it from the comfort of your own home if you are unable to attend.
Don’t miss out on the largest annual event in Calhoun County–Noble Street Festival–which takes place Saturday, April 13 from 11 am – 7 pm in downtown Anniston, Alabama. For more information, email mainstreet@annistonal.gov or call (239) 961-1902.
