Typically the first full weekend in October, the Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention attracts approximately 15,000 folk music fans and more than 200 musicians who compete for prize money in 19 different categories of competition, including several fiddle and guitar categories, mandolin, bluegrass, banjo, old time singing and Appalachian buck dancing. The Convention culminates on Saturday evening when the new Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddle champion is announced. The three-day event also offers concerts, food vendors and arts and crafts on a theme of authentic workmanship while celebrating traditional old-time music. Admission charged.

A project of Athens Main Street, Merchants Alley features a series of music-themed murals, each one paying tribute to the city's musical legacies. The focal point of the alley is entitled "Playing the Sound of the Wind." Spanning 20' high and 40' wide, the mural aims to pay respect and acknowledge one the city's top annual events, Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention. It was designed and painted by Adam Stephenson and Pamela Tellez Coria. The alley also includes art passages created by students at the Alabama Center for the Arts, selfie murals made by local high school artists and a Brittany Howard mural. Howard is best known as the lead singer and guitarist for the American rock band Alabama Shakes and is a native of rural Athens.

The mural in downtown Decatur is a tribute to Johnny Sandlin, a renowned record producer who worked with many notable musicians, including the Allman Brothers, Widespread Panic, and Wet Willie. And it doesn’t just commemorate Sandlin’s music career, it also showcases the many famous artists who created music in Decatur with him including musician David Hood from the band the Swampers, Jimmy Hall of Wet Willie, Derek Trucks with Tedeschi Trucks Band, along with John Bell from Widespread Panic. The mural, painted by Steven Teller, a muralist from St. Augustine, Florida, aims to celebrate Sandlin's musical contributions and showcase the rich musical heritage of Decatur. 

An open-air venue, the Amphitheater features general admission upper-level lawn seating, fixed ground-level seating, and VIP upper-level box seating, along with two LED video walls and two concessions areas with high-quality food and beverage options. It hosts a wide range of musical genres, from country and rock to pop and more, featuring both local and national touring acts. Additional amenities in the park include 16 tennis courts, 14 outdoor turf fields, an 8-lane indoor competition pool, an outdoor water park, playgrounds, an RV park, and a 5,000+ sq. ft. state-of-the-art fitness center.

A berry sweet celebration is planned the last Friday and Saturday in April when the North Alabama town of Cullman gears up for its annual festival centered around strawberries. The Alabama Strawberry Festival celebrates the region's rich agricultural heritage, offering two days filled with family-friendly activities, live entertainment and fresh strawberries. The 2025 event welcomed to the stage Russell Dickerson, Lauren Alaina, Austin Williams, Griffin William Sherry, Chase Matthew, Kidd G, Sam Donald and Graham Barham.

Over fifty years ago, the first 911 emergency call was made in the United States and the call was placed in the North Alabama town of Haleyville. To celebrate the monumental occasion, the Haleyville Area Chamber of Commerce and the town come together each year to host a two-day festival in June. The 9-1-1 Festival offers activities for kids, arts and crafts vendors, parade, live music, motorcycle, classic car and antique tractor show and more. The 2025 concert headliner was Parmalee.

The Red Bay Museum brings local history to life with immersive displays of the town’s artifacts but the highlight is a framing spotlight exhibit honoring Tammy Wynette, who spent her childhood in Red Bay Though born, raised, and schooled across the state line in Mississippi, Tammy called Red Bay her hometown since it was where she would go to shop, to the movies, to the doctor, and to visit relatives. Only display are items from her career from stage gowns to everyday clothes and even her personal makeup train case. Iron pieces, TW and GJ, once on the bedroom windows of the Nashville home she shared with George Jones are on display. Covers from all 50 of her vinyl albums are shown, as well as a seat from her private airplane. At this time, this is the largest collection of Tammy Wynette items on display.

The 15’10” H x 30’ W mural highlights two remarkable artists from Leighton, Alabama. Percy Sledge and Jimmy Hughes are cousins that both experienced fame in the music industry and played huge roles in the development of Muscle Shoals Sound that the world came to know and love. Percy Sledges’ song “When a Man Loves a Woman,” written by Calvin Lewis and Andrew Wright, was released in 1966 from Norala (Sheffield, Alabama) under the Atlantic label. It received world recognition and became No. 1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and R & B charts. The mural’s mid-century design was inspired by the atomic design on the Fame label, as Jimmy Hughes’s song “Steal Away” was the first hit for Fame Recording Studios.

Alabama is home to many great singers, songwriters, producers, and musicians. From Hank Williams, Lionel Richie, The Temptations, Jamey Johnson, Riley Green, Jason Isbell, and many more, here you can find their incredible stories of how it all began and see who the next music legend will be to land in the Hall of Fame.

The AMHOF, a place Curb Free with Cory Lee called “surprisingly accessible” in his blog… which, honestly, is one of the highest compliments in accessible travel, incorporates every genre of music as well as every area of the field of music in the museum, honoring music achievers from the great state of Alabama. Music actually got its start right here in Alabama with some of the greatest, most well known singers, songwriters, bands, producers, managers and recording studio's all having strong ties to Alabama.

Rattlesnake Saloon sports an old-fashioned saloon feel, with swinging doors and a large porch that hosts live music from local artists. The Saloon is situated under a bluff where Native Americans took shelter hundreds of years ago. When you arrive, you'll park and then catch a ride down into the cavern in a flatbed truck, which is an experience in itself. The saloon is known for their burgers, but its location under a natural rock bluff provides a unique and rustic setting for the live music performances, making it a truly memorable experience for diners and music lovers. 

The GunRunner is a boutique hotel located in the heart of downtown Florence. The hotel contains 10 themed suites are uniquely designed to showcase the legendary musicians, world-class fashion designers, architectural icons, thoroughbred racehorses, historical landmarks (and outlaws) who shape the fabric of this corner of Northwest Alabama. The hotel is within walking distance of restaurants, bars, live music venues and historical attractions.

Art and music come together each year the last weekend in April for a three-day celebration in Big Spring Park located in the heart of downtown Huntsville. The Panoply Arts Festival offers three days of live music from over 20 local and regional musical acts in a variety of genres – jazz, rock, R&B, indie rock, blues, pop and more. Additional activities include shopping for original works of art, demonstrations and hands-on activities along with two nights of fireworks.

Von Braun Center (VBC) is the go-to entertainment venue. On any given night, there's something spectacular happening at this premier multi-purpose complex. Venues inside the VBC include the Propst Arena, the Mark C Smith Concert Hall, the Playhouse, and the newly added Mars Music Hall, which all work seamlessly together to bring in a variety of entertainment options from large-scale to intimate. Recently added is a full-service restaurant and rooftop bar-Rhythm on Monroe. Rhythm offers delicious cocktails, craft brews, and freshly prepared, locally sourced urban fare. Rhythm is the perfect spot for a pre-show dinner or post-show drinks. The VBC has hosted a wide array of top performers in recent years. Some notable names include Harry Connick Jr., Miranda Lambert, Rascal Flatts, Jason Aldean, Weird Al Yankovic, Willie Nelson, The Beach Boys, Little Big Town, Elton John, and Kid Rock. Recent arena shows have featured Katt Williams, a tribute to George Jones, and Riley Green. The Mars Music Hall has hosted artists like Jason Isbell, Tig Notaro and Lindsey Buckingham.

The Orion is an 8,000-capacity destination venue that marks a bold new chapter in the Southeast’s unparalleled musical history. With its proximity to the iconic Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, Huntsville enjoys its status as part of the Americana Music Triangle, known for its cultural achievement as the birthplace of one of our country’s greatest exports, music – particularly blues, soul and rock’n’roll.

Since opening in the spring of 2022, The Orion has received widespread accolades as it was featured on Billboard’s global Top Music Venues 2024 list, nominated for Amphitheater of the Year at the 2023 and 2022 IEBA Awards, nominated for New Concert Venue of the Year at the 2022 Pollstar Awards, won the 2022 Partnership in Tourism Award from the Alabama Tourism Department and 2022 Attraction of the Year from the Alabama Mountain Lakes Association.