This Small-Town Harvest Festival In Alabama Belongs On Your Autumn Bucket List
By Lisa Battles|Published September 19, 2023
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Lisa Battles
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Lisa has traveled the U.S. for over a decade, seeking out and sharing the stories of its most interesting places, people, and experiences. A journalism graduate of Auburn University, she has been a content strategist, editor, and writer for more than 25 years. Lisa has worked in community news, PR, and marketing with a focus on tourism, hospitality, and economic development. Besides following her curiosity around every corner, she's a devoted dog mom of two and advocate for animal welfare.
For a full weekend of traditional fall fun, jaunt to northeast Alabama for the Boaz Harvest Festival, the longest-running small-town harvest festival in Alabama. The 2023 event marks the festival’s 59th year and is set for Thursday through Saturday, Oct. 5-7.
While you might opt for a day trip based on how the timing of events matches your interests, I recommend you book a stay so you can have three days to take in the full experience of all a small-town harvest festival in Alabama has to offer. There’s nothing else quite like it.
Boaz residents roll out the pumpkins and hay bales the first weekend of October every year to welcome guests to its much-anticipated Harvest Festival.
When artfully assembled scarecrows start popping up in Old Mill Park around mid-September, that means Fall Harvest Festival season has begun. Different groups and businesses around town sponsor a scarecrow and put their imaginations to work.
The Scarecrow Trail stays up through the first few weeks of November.
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Creativity continues into the Boaz Fall Harvest Festival Pumpkin Contest, which has become a favorite festival feature for competitors and attendees alike. Designs range from classic to kooky, like this beautifully on-brand entry by a local salon.
Gearheads may need no other reason to hit up this small-town harvest festival than knowing they'll see dozens of unusual cars, trucks, jeeps, and tractors spanning many eras. There are competitions across multiple categories.
Arrive hungry. If you've been looking for an excuse to gobble a bunch of fair food, can you think of a better occasion? No one is going to be mad about your dedication to having an authentic experience, even if it means funnel cake and fried Oreos.
Hundreds of vendors line the streets of downtown Boaz, selling everything from arts and crafts to fresh, local produce. It is a harvest festival, after all!
Friday and Saturday both feature live music, with Friday evening's artist playing popular covers from the 1970s through today and Saturday's artists performing southern gospel music.
Another popular evening draw is the cornhole tournament. The tournament is set for Friday evening of the festival at Courtyard on Main, a lively gathering space in downtown Boaz which opened in 2021.
Do you have a favorite harvest festival memory? We’d love to hear about it!
Get a full schedule of events by following the festival’s presenting organization, the Boaz Area Chamber of Commerce, on Facebook. While you’re making plans to attend, ensure you’re fully prepared for the journey with our road trip essentials packing list.
In case you missed it, be sure to check out our list of best fall festivals in Alabama for many other types of celebrations that occur during the autumn season.
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