STEP OUTDOORS
With eight well-managed lakes and 170,000 acres of wildlife management areas and national forests, these three counties have an abundance of natural resources including the largest deer population in the state, many opportunities to canoe, kayak and tube, several campsites and more. Sipsey Valley River Wilderness Area, in the Bankhead National Forest, offers 12 trails and more.
TAKE TO THE WATER
The 234-mile Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, running from the Tennessee River to the junction of the Black Warrior-Tombigbee River, offers all types of water recreation. Bear Creek Lakes, in the pine hills of Northwest Alabama, offers camping, fishing, cabins, hiking and more. The four lakes are rated among some of the cleanest recreational waters in the South.
JUMP IN
Fayette Aquatic Park at Guthrie Smith Park features a multi-purpose pool, interactive play features, a lazy river, multiple water slides and a splash pad. Guin Water Park, in Hayden Riley Park, features an Olympic-size pool with two diving boards, a large waterslide and a raintree. The park also offers walking trails, picnic areas, playgrounds and more.
EYE TREAT
Guin, Hamilton and Winfield are home to about a dozen murals on the North Alabama Mural Trail.
HISTORIC HIGHLIGHTS
Fayette Depot Museum is in the restored, historic train station that was built in 1887. It has many local historical artifacts, including a mint condition still, a Civil War-era drum and more. It is maintained by the Fayette Historical Society. In Hamilton, Hamilton-Sullins House, managed by the Marion County Historical Society, is the historic home of Captain A.J. Hamilton.
CATCH A SHOW
Pastime Theatre Complex, in downtown Winfield, is a historic theater dating to the 1930s and restored in the 1980s by Winfield Main Street. The Pastime hosts children’s events, concert series and theatre productions. The Fayette Civic Center/Fayette Art Museum also sponsors performances year-round in a renovated 1930 school building with a 350-seat auditorium and more.
JUST FOR FUN
Fayette Multi-Purpose Complex features barrel racing, motocross and more in its 1,500-seat arena.
OUTDOOR MOVIES
Blue Moon Drive-In offers the nostalgic view-from-your-car experience at its twin-screen drive-in.
SOMETHING OLD
Falkner Antique Mall, in Vernon in Lamar County, is home to more than 70 dealers offering antiques and collectibles.
Festivities & Events:
Jerry Brown Arts Festival — March | Hamilton This popular two-day festival is an indoor, juried arts festival named in honor of the late Hamilton resident and Smithsonian potter Jerry Brown.
Neighbor Day — Spring | Hackleburg No one is sure how Neighbor Day began in Hackleburg, but this event is all about caring and getting to know your neighbor better.
Spring Fest — Spring | Guin This annual festival in Guin features live entertainment, music, food vendors, games, carnival and more.
Mule Day — September | Winfield This popular event began in 1975 when two citizens wanted to honor the hard-working mules of the day. Today, crowds of 25,000 enjoy arts and crafts, Civil War re-enactments, a pageant, a Pre-Mule Night Madness Sale from area business owners and more.
Fayette Arts Festival — September | Fayette One of the oldest, continual art festivals in Alabama, this popular festival includes a juried outdoor arts and crafts show with free art lessons/activities for K-6th graders and live entertainment.
Buttahatchee River Fall Fest — Fall | Hamilton This annual festival features arts and crafts, a motorcycle/tractor/car show, live entertainment, food, kid’s area and more.
Frog Level Festival — October | Fayette Live entertainment, an antique car/truck/motorcycle show, frog jumping contest, bed race, a 5K run, arts and crafts and more can be found at this festival.
Old Fashioned Day — October | Sulligent This event features live entertainment, a carnival, parade, barbecue, arts and crafts, a 5K run, games and more.
Old Fashion Christmas — December | Fayette This event features carriage rides, train rides, pictures with Santa, live music, food vendors, shopping and family fun.
This article appears in the February 2024 issue of Business Alabama.
