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What's On

What's On in Huntsville

Events, markets, games, library and parks programs in and around Huntsville, with times, prices 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. · 8 min read

Coming up

The full month
  1. Sun. Nov. 1 Wintergreen Holiday Market 11 a.m. · Huntsville Botanical Garden
  2. Now through Nov. 1 Zombie Prom 2026 (ages 21 and older) The Electric Belle at Stovehouse
  3. Mon. Nov. 2 City Council oath of office ceremony 4 p.m. · City Council Chamber, City Hall
  4. Thu. Nov. 5 Santa's First Holiday Visit, Parkway Place Parkway Place, lower-level center court
  5. Fri. Nov. 6 VBC Tree Lighting with Santa and Mrs. Claus 4 p.m. · Von Braun Center, Propst Arena entrance
  6. Fri. Nov. 6 Huntsville Symphony Orchestra: Pictures for Your Ears 7:30 p.m. · Mark C. Smith Concert Hall, Von Braun Center
  7. Sat. Nov. 7 Paws in the Park, Hays Nature Preserve 8 a.m. · Hays Nature Preserve
  8. Sat. Nov. 7 Mayor's Tree Planting Day 9 a.m. · Lakewood Park
  9. Sat. Nov. 7 Round Top Folk Festival 10 a.m. · Burritt on the Mountain
  10. Sat. Nov. 7 Round Top Happy Hour Concert: Otis Walker Band 4 p.m. · Burritt on the Mountain
  11. Sat. Nov. 7 A Celtic Christmas 7:30 p.m. · Mark C. Smith Concert Hall, Von Braun Center
  12. Mon. Nov. 9 Serving for Service veterans pickleball 10:30 a.m. · Optimist Recreation Center

Plan your weekend

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. · 4 min read 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. · 4 min read 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. · 5 min read High school football Huntsville football 2026: playoff games and final scores Huntsville football playoffs 2026: Mae Jemison at A.H. Parker and Huntsville at Vestavia Hills in round one, plus every final score for all five city teams. · 5 min read 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. · 5 min read 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. · 5 min read Thanksgiving Huntsville Thanksgiving 2026: turkey trots, closings, trash Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 26. City offices close Nov. 26-27, Thursday trash moves to Friday, schools are out Nov. 23-27, and two 5K turkey trots run. · 5 min read Black Friday Black Friday and holiday shopping in Huntsville 2026 Black Friday is Nov. 27 and Small Business Saturday Nov. 28. Holiday markets at Lowe Mill, Big Spring Park and the Botanical Garden, plus downtown parking. · 4 min read 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. · 6 min read 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. · 4 min read 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. · 3 min read 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. · 4 min read 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. · 4 min read 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. · 4 min read Memorial Day Memorial Day in Huntsville 2027: ceremony, closings, trash Memorial Day is Monday, May 31, 2027. Last year city offices and buses closed, garbage ran a day late and the ceremony was at the Veterans Memorial at 11 a.m. · 4 min read Summer camps Summer in Huntsville 2027: camps, pools and splash pads City day camps ran June 1 to July 24 in 2026, with sign-up from April 13. Indoor pools open all year; three free splash pads open daily in summer. · 5 min read 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. · 4 min read 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. · 3 min read Brunch Brunch in Huntsville: where to go and when it is served Where to get brunch in Huntsville, with hours from each restaurant's own site: Rhythm on Monroe's rooftop, Revivalist downtown, Superhero Chefs and more. · 3 min read Dogs Dog-friendly Huntsville: parks, patios, trails and leash rules Huntsville's four off-leash Dog Spots, the greenways and preserves where leashed dogs are welcome, dog nights at Galaxy of Lights and the city's leash rules. · 4 min read 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. · 4 min read Trails Huntsville walking and biking trails: greenways, loops, parking Huntsville's greenways with miles and trailhead parking from the city, plus Monte Sano State Park and the Land Trust's free nature preserves. · 5 min read 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. · 4 min read Live music Live music and nightlife in Huntsville: venues and where to go Huntsville's live music venues with addresses and official links: the Von Braun Center, Orion Amphitheater, Stovehouse, Campus No. 805, Lowe Mill and downtown clubs. · 4 min read 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. · 4 min read Date night Date night in Huntsville: restaurants, shows, wine bars, late hours Date night in Huntsville: dinner on the courthouse square, a rooftop over Big Spring Park, shows at the Von Braun Center, wine tastings and late museum hours. · 4 min read 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. · 6 min read 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. · 4 min read 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. · 4 min read 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. · 3 min read 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. · 3 min read Restaurants Where to eat in Huntsville: lists by category Every Huntsville where-to-eat list in one place: wings, pizza, Mexican, barbecue, breakfast, burgers, sushi, desserts, bakeries and patios, plus brunch. · 3 min read Wings Where to get wings in Huntsville: University Drive and Stovehouse 6 places to get chicken wings in Huntsville, with hours from their own sites: most on University Drive, plus Stovehouse and Providence. · 4 min read Pizza Where to get pizza in Huntsville: downtown, Clinton Avenue and more 12 places to get pizza in Huntsville, with hours from their own sites: downtown, two on Clinton Avenue West, Jones Valley, Providence and University Drive. · 5 min read Mexican food Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants in Huntsville 13 Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants in Huntsville, with hours from their own sites: University Drive, downtown, Clinton Avenue, Stovehouse and Hampton Cove. · 5 min read Barbecue Where to get barbecue in Huntsville: downtown, Five Points and more 6 barbecue restaurants in Huntsville, with hours from their own sites: downtown, Five Points, North Memorial Parkway, University Drive and Stovehouse. · 4 min read Breakfast Breakfast and coffee in Huntsville: downtown, Jones Valley and more 21 breakfast spots and coffee shops in Huntsville, with hours from their own sites: downtown, Five Points, Jones Valley, Airport Road and Stovehouse. · 6 min read Burgers Where to get burgers in Huntsville: downtown, Research Park and more 11 places to get burgers in Huntsville, with hours from their own sites: downtown, Research Park, University Drive, Hampton Cove and West Huntsville. · 4 min read Bakeries Bakeries in Huntsville: downtown, Airport Road and Providence 7 bakeries in Huntsville, with hours from their own sites: three downtown, plus Airport Road, Providence, Stovehouse and North Memorial Parkway. · 4 min read 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. · 4 min read Patios Patios and outdoor dining in Huntsville: downtown and beyond 15 Huntsville restaurants whose own sites list a patio, rooftop or outdoor seating: nine downtown, plus Stovehouse, Clinton Avenue and Jones Valley. · 6 min read Sushi Sushi and Asian restaurants in Huntsville 16 sushi, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, Korean and Chinese restaurants in Huntsville, with hours from their own sites: University Drive, Airport Road and more. · 6 min read

Event news

Veterans Day Huntsville Veterans Day parade 2026: Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. Huntsville's 2026 Veterans Day Parade steps off at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, downtown. Times, free breakfast, band show, road closures and holiday trash. · 5 min read Arts Arts and exhibitions in Huntsville: November 2026 Huntsville arts to mid-December: Valor opens Nov. 13 at the Museum of Art, the symphony Nov. 6, A Beautiful Noise Nov. 20-22 and the Nutcracker Dec. 11-13. · 6 min read 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. · 4 min read