Visit the Forest
The Talladega National Forest and Oakmulgee Wildlife Management Area, located partially in Hale County, host year-round, nature-focused and educational events, typically managed by the U.S. Forest Service. These events include seasonal hunting for animals such as deer, turkey and small game, as well as fishing derbies and trail-based events like competitive horse riding and endurance races.
If you just want to learn more about the history of hunting in West Alabama without actually going into the woods, consider visiting the Alabama Whitetail Records Museum in Thomaston. The museum preserves and showcases Alabama’s most impressive whitetail deer harvests, and visitors can explore mounted trophy bucks, learn about record-setting hunts, and celebrate the state’s rich hunting heritage, as well as learn about deer management and conservation efforts.
Experience History
The Safe House Black History Museum in Greensboro repurposes the home where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. sought refuge from the Ku Klux Klan two weeks before his assassination. The museum highlights the history of the Civil Rights Movement in Hale County, documenting the 1950s and 1960s struggle for equality.
In Demopolis, visitors can learn about the history, culture and people of Marengo County or conduct genealogical research at the Marengo County History and Archives Museum. The city also is home to historic homes that have been preserved and are available for tours, including the Bluff Hall Museum, Lyon Hall, Laird Cottage and Gaineswood Mansion. The C.S. Golden House in Thomaston also is open for historic tours.
Visitors can experience more distant history at Moundville Archaeological Park, one of the nation’s premier Native American Heritage Sites. Once the site of a powerful prehistoric community, the park preserves 326 acres where, 800 years ago, native people constructed 29 massive, flat-topped earthen mounds, arranged carefully around a vast central plaza. Today, the landscape provides stunning views of these ancient monuments, along with a museum that displays many of the treasures that have been unearthed at the site.
Bask in the Outdoors
West Alabama is an ideal spot to enjoy the rivers, lakes, creeks and trails of the state. Chickasaw State Park, for example, includes 520 acres of nature with campsites, rental pavilions, hiking trails and birdwatching opportunities. Foscue Creek Park and Campground, located on Demopolis Lake along the Black Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway, is known for its birding trails. Lake 5 Park is a recreational spot on the Black Warrior River managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Appreciate the Architecture
The Black Belt has been a frequent destination for architecture projects for students participating in Auburn University’s Rural Studio. Visitors can explore the area, experiencing unique, sustainable architecture that students have designed and constructed across West Alabama, such as the Hale County Animal Shelter, the Newbern Firehouse, Newbern Town Hall and Akron Boys & Girls Club.
Festivities & Events:
Mardi Gras – March | Livingston
Mardi Gras Ball – March | Demopolis
Sucarnoochee Folklife Festival – April | Livingston
Rooster Day – April – Demopolis
Hale County Hospital Main Street Festival – April – Greensboro
Jefferson Barbecue – April – Jefferson
Greene County Freedom Day – July – Eutaw
Freedom on the River – July – Demopolis
Black Belt Folk Roots Festival – August – Eutaw
UWA Ghost Walk – October – Livingston
Haints and Haunts – October – Demopolis
Greene County Historical Society Pilgrimage – October – Eutaw
Moundville Native American Festival – October – Moundville
Hunt & Gather Fundraiser – November – Livingston
Christmas on the Square – December – Livingston
Christmas on the River – December – Demopolis
This article appears in the June 2026 issue of Business Alabama.
