Things to do in Huntsville
Things to do in Huntsville, newest first: events, festivals, parks and family days out, with dates, times and the organizer's own link.
Top story
Galaxy of Lights Huntsville 2026: dates, prices, dog nights
Galaxy of Lights runs Nov. 13 to Dec. 31 at Huntsville Botanical Garden. Walking tickets from $17, driving $40 a car, plus dog nights and sensory hours.
Plan your weekend
Things to do
Things to do in Huntsville this month: November 2026
November in Huntsville: the Veterans Day Parade Nov. 11, Galaxy of Lights from Nov. 13, turkey trots Nov. 26, the tree lighting Nov. 27 and the Dec. 1 parade.
Trails
Parks and trails in Huntsville
Huntsville has more than 60 parks, about 73 miles of greenways and trails, four Dog Spots and three free splash pads. Parks and Recreation: 256-564-8026.
Fourth of July
Huntsville Fourth of July fireworks 2027
Huntsville's 2026 July 4 celebration ended with 9 p.m. fireworks in Big Spring Park after the American Eras Parade. The 2027 plans are not out yet.
Halloween
Trick-or-treat hours in Huntsville 2026
Halloween 2026 was Saturday, Oct. 31. Huntsville set no official trick-or-treat hours; the city ran 11 free Halloween events. Updated each fall at this address.
Christmas
Huntsville Christmas parade Dec. 1 and tree lighting 2026
The Huntsville Christmas Parade steps off at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, on Monroe Street. The Rocket City Tree lights at 6 p.m. Nov. 27 in Big Spring Park.
Fall festivals
Fall festivals and pumpkin patches in Huntsville 2026
Huntsville's 2026 fall season is over: the Scarecrow Trail, rec center fall festivals and Tate Farms' pumpkin patch. Updated each fall at this address.
Halloween
Halloween events in Huntsville 2026
Halloween 2026 was Saturday, Oct. 31: Lowe Mill trick-or-treat, Boo at Burritt, Spellbound at the Garden and Zombie Prom. Updated each fall at this address.
Christmas
Holiday lights and Christmas events in Huntsville 2026
Galaxy of Lights runs Nov. 13 to Dec. 31, Tinsel Trail Nov. 27 to Dec. 31, the Nutcracker Dec. 11-13, plus Santa visits and Christmas markets in Huntsville.
New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve in Huntsville 2026
New Year's Eve is Thursday, Dec. 31. Aerial fireworks are banned in Huntsville; garbage runs as normal Jan. 1; parties are added as venues announce them.
Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day in Huntsville 2027: events, dinners, date ideas
Valentine's Day 2027 is a Sunday. Last year brought a free Love, Burritt Day, a Galentine's Tea at the Garden and a karaoke night; 2027 events added as announced.
Spring break
Spring break in Huntsville 2027: school dates, camps, things to do
Huntsville City Schools' spring break is March 15-19, 2027. City day camps ran the same week in 2026; the free Comic Convention is at Lowe Mill March 12-13.
Easter
Easter in Huntsville 2027: egg hunts, Easter Jubilee, brunch
Easter is Sunday, March 28, 2027. The city's free Eggstravaganza scattered 15,000 eggs at John Hunt Park in 2026; Burritt's Easter Jubilee ran the same day.
Mother's Day
Mother's Day in Huntsville 2027: brunch, events and gift markets
Mother's Day is Sunday, May 9, 2027. Last year the Botanical Garden held a Mom & Me Tea and the city a free moms' night out; markets reopen in early May.
Father's Day
Father's Day in Huntsville 2027: events, car shows, brunch
Father's Day is Sunday, June 20, 2027. The city has held a free dads' day with a car show or home run derby; 2027 plans and brunches added as announced.
Labor Day
Labor Day in Huntsville 2027: events, closings, trash pickup
Labor Day is Monday, Sept. 6, 2027. In 2026 city offices and buses closed, garbage ran a day late all week and splash pads stayed open; Music Month follows.
Kids
Kids' activities in Huntsville: playgrounds, splash pads, story times
Kids' Space playground, three free splash pads, library story times, EarlyWorks and indoor rainy-day picks in Huntsville, with hours from each official page.
Downtown Huntsville
Downtown Huntsville guide: Big Spring Park, museums, events
A guide to downtown Huntsville: Big Spring Park, the courthouse square, the Museum of Art, the Von Braun Center, Twickenham, markets, trails and parking.
Free things to do
Free things to do in Huntsville: parks, trails, concerts, markets
Free things to do in Huntsville: Big Spring Park, greenways and Land Trust preserves, splash pads, Kids' Space, Lowe Mill concerts and markets, and free city events.
Rocket City Marathon
Rocket City Marathon 2026: Dec. 13 start times, prices
The Rocket City Marathon starts at 7 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, at the Von Braun Center. Marathon entry is $140 until Nov. 22; the 10K and 5K run Saturday, Dec. 12.
Panoply
Panoply Arts Festival 2027: April 23-25 in Big Spring Park
Panoply Arts Festival returns to Big Spring Park April 23-25, 2027. Day passes $15, weekend $20, kids 12 and under free. Hours, closures, what to bring.
Cotton Row Run
Cotton Row Run 2027: Memorial Day 10K, 5K and 1-mile guide
The Cotton Row Run 10K, 5K and 1-mile is Huntsville's Memorial Day race downtown. 2027 entry is $25 through Feb. 28; no race-day sign-up. Schedule, closures.
Restaurant Week
Huntsville Restaurant Week and Culinary Month every August
Huntsville Restaurant Week ran Aug. 14-23, 2026, inside August's Culinary Month. 2027 dates are due in summer. How the Dish Pass and Food Truck Fridays work.
Monte Sano Art Festival
Monte Sano Art Festival: September art show on the mountain
The Monte Sano Art Festival brings 140-plus artists to Monte Sano State Park each September. Free entry; parking $10 a car, cash only. 2027 dates not out yet.
Ice cream
Ice cream and desserts in Huntsville: downtown, Jones Valley and more
8 ice cream and dessert shops in Huntsville, with hours from their own sites: downtown, Jones Valley, Stovehouse, Whitesburg Drive and Memorial Parkway.
Latest stories
Things to do
Things to do in Huntsville this weekend, Oct. 23 to 25
A free police Halloween party and Hocus Pocus in Big Spring Park Friday, the Monster Mash and the last Lowe Mill outdoor market Saturday, and Spellbound.
Trees
Huntsville's first city arborist wins Tree Hero Award
Chuck Weber helped write Huntsville's 1981 tree ordinance and became its first city arborist. The Tree Commission gave him its Tree Hero Award on Tuesday.