THE HUNTSVILLE FAMILY FUN GUIDE
Looking for a way to immerse your family in the best that Huntsville has to offer? Here are the Huntsville must-visit area attractions throughout the year! Created by Jessica Aguirre-Cantrell, The Huntsville Mom, read on for a cheat sheet on local Huntsville attractions around the city and surrounding areas for family fun.
Want more to read Jessica’s in-depth article on all things family fun? Visit her Voices of Huntsville feature here.
January—US Space & Rocket Center
The U.S. Space & Rocket Center housed in Huntsville, Alabama is a landmark and cornerstone for the Huntsville community. It has one of the largest collections of rockets and space memorabilia on display anywhere in the world!
February—Early Works Children’s Museum & Cook’s Museum
Early Works is an interactive children’s museum located in the heart of downtown Huntsville. This museum is interactive and built especially for children featuring exhibits such as their kidstruction zone, federal house, general store, and a Talking Tree.
Another favorite indoor museum of ours is the Cook Museum, a state-of-the-art natural science museum located in downtown Decatur, Alabama. Children can explore, play, touch, and learn about nature through their interactive activities and exhibits.
March—Tulip picking at Hubert Family Farms
Nestled in the Tennessee Valley, Hubert Family Farms provides a beautiful backdrop to over 380,000 tulips for families to enjoy. Families can make a day out of this event to picnic, play, and pick tulips!
Kicking off in March and running through September, Burritt on the Mountain’s annual special event features exhibits, family-fun adventure and activities in the historic park. In 2022, the special event is Treasure Hunt at Gold Mountain where kids and family’s experience the Alabama Gold Rush of 1829 and the theme changes every year!
April—Strawberry Picking at Brown Farms
Brown Farms features pick-your-own strawberries on an 18-acre farm located in New Market, Alabama. This is a great family outing because it is outdoors, strawberries are sold by the gallon bucket, and there is NO admission fee!
May—Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Festival in Decatur
The Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Festival is held each year at Point Mallard Park in Decatur, just a 30-minute drive from Huntsville. This event lets visitors mingle with balloon pilots as they inflate and launch their seven-story tall balloons!
June—Concerts in the Park
Pack your favorite picnic, and your lawn chairs, and come enjoy a Huntsville summer tradition that celebrates creativity, diversity, and local talent! “Concerts in the Park” is FREE to the public, child friendly, and your children will love feeding the ducks, geese, and koi as you listen to the sounds of live music at Big Spring Park.
July—Huntsville City’s Splash Pads
There’s no better way to beat the Alabama heat than with a visit to one of Huntsville’s splash pads. There are three splash pads locations in Huntsville, and all are FREE!
August—Huntsville Botanical Garden
The Huntsville Botanical Garden is a city gem. It is a year-round attraction that always has exhibits and learning experiences to offer. Along with water play and outdoor interactive exhibits in the summer, The Botanical Garden also houses the world-famous Purdy Butterfly House which is a must-see!
September—Lowe Mill, Campus 805, MidCity District, and Stovehouse Entertainment
The rebirth of Huntsville’s urban core has provided new opportunities for fun, food, and entertainment. The rehabilitation of an old textile factory became Lowe Mill Arts and Entertainment, an old school campus is now known as Campus No. 805, an old regional mall is now the bustling MidCity District, and an old stove factory is now a mixed-use development called Stovehouse.
October—Tate Farms & Maple Hill Cemetery Stroll
Tate Farms includes 80 acres of pick-your-own pumpkin fields and 20 acres of play and entertainment. Corn cribs, hay rides to pick pumpkins, a barnyard playground, bounce pads, barnyard animals, corn trains, slides, and photo ops will keep your family busy all day long!
Another notable Huntsville Fall tradition is the Maple Hill Cemetery Stroll. This annual tradition has become one of the largest living history strolls in America with more than 75 costumed characters detailing Huntsville’s rich history, along the pathway of the cemetery.
November—Christmas at the Corner
Christmas at the Corner is a 53-acre farm and 7-acre lake in Hazel Green, Alabama with over 900 planted Christmas Trees. More than just a tree farm, they offer cookie decorating, petting zoo animals, hot chocolate, and a tractor-drawn sleigh bell ride to enjoy Christmas lights.
December—The Living Christmas Tree (A Tree for the Children Edition)
The Living Christmas Tree choral presentation is known specifically to Huntsville as it is located at one of the most famous landmarks, First Baptist Church of Huntsville, or as it is sometimes affectionately called, “Egg-beater Jesus.” The musical event features a children’s edition that is shorter and features musical selections ideal for children so it is a more laid-back and enjoyable show for families.
Jessica Aguirre-Cantrell, The Huntsville Mom, July 2022
I’m Jessica. I am a wife of 10 years, a mother to Atticus and Camila, and an educator. I am a first generation American, and I hold dear all of the values of family, education, and the American dream that I learned from my father and family in Mexico.
I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in English and a Master’s Degree in Instructional Leadership. I help oversee the English Learner (EL) department for our local school district, serving as an advocate and resource for teachers, students, and families. I have a passion for education, writing, helping families, trying new things, and for creating memories.
My goal at The Huntsville Mom is to do MORE of what I love and to help others find inspiration and information easily in one spot. I aim to help encourage and support other women as much as I can along the way. We cannot do it all alone. It takes a village. Come, join me at @TheHuntsvilleMom and let me be a part of yours.
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