FORT PAYNE – The month of October brings cooler temperatures and glorious fall colors to DeKalb County, making it an ideal time to plan a trip to the northeastern part of Alabama. Grab a friend and make plans to check out these great events and enjoy the scenic drive with the windows rolled down.
Set for Oct. 8-9, 2021, the Vintage Pickin Fall Market features approximately 60 hand-selected artisans and pickers from across the southeast who will bring truckloads of vintage, one-of-a-kind antiques, fall home decor and vintage-inspired handmade goods, turning the two-day event into a pickers paradise. During the sale, there will be live music and a variety of food trucks for attendees to enjoy while shopping.
Hours and admission tickets are:
Friday, Oct. 8
Early Pickin’ (*Shop all weekend with the Early Pickin’ ticket)
12 – 3 p.m. / $18 + fee for online presale ($20 cash only at gate if tickets are still available)
General Admission
3 – 7 p.m. / $8 + fee for online presale ($10 cash only at gate)
Saturday, Oct. 9
General Admission
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. / $8 + fee for online presale ($10 cash only at gate)
Event is held rain or shine and tickets are non-refundable. The sale is held at the VFW Fairgrounds located at 151 18th Street NE in Fort Payne. For more details and to purchase tickets, visit https://www.vintagepickin.com/
Runners will make their way to the Little River Canyon on the second Saturday for what is considered one of the most scenic half marathons in the country. Set for October 9, 2021, the Little River Canyon Half Marathon gets underway at 8 a.m. The certified course loops 13.1 miles on paved roads, starting and ending at the Little River Canyon Center located at 472 Alabama Highway 35 in Fort Payne. The first five miles of the run will follow the Little River Canyon National Preserve’s scenic and sometimes challenging rim of the canyon, as the remainder winds through gently rolling farm country including Randy Owen Drive and his famous Tennessee River Music Hereford and Angus cattle ranch. Early registration fee is $50 and is available online at http://www.active.com. Registration is available at 7 a.m. the morning of the race for $70 per person. Packet pick up will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. the day before the race and at 7 a.m. on race day. For more information, call 256.782.8010 or visit http://www.jsu.edu/epic/
Set for October 16-17, 2021, Colorfest celebrates the talented work of regional artists and craft makers, delicious food from local restaurants and food trucks, live music from gifted musicians, beautiful fall foliage and more. Hosted by the Mentone Area Preservation Association (MAPA), the annual event has been a Mentone tradition for 37 years.
On Saturday morning, the festival opens at 9 a.m. to a display of handmade arts and crafts from approximately 75 talented artists and craftsmen, a wide selection of food and beverage vendors to please the whole family and a children’s area. Situated at Mentone’s Brow Park along North Cool Street, festival-goers enjoy sweeping views from Lookout Mountain westward to the valley below and beyond in addition to the activities.
While the annual event focuses on the artisans and their handmade works of art, local acoustic musicians will fill the air with music, keeping festivalgoers dancing and entertained throughout the weekend. There will be opportunities for children to express their artistic side in the art and activities tent. The tent will be located in the shady area on North Cool Street from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days of the festival.
Additional activities include strolling through Scarecrow Holler to admire all of the creatively crafted scarecrows and checking out the clever costumes in the Howl-O-Ween pet parade.
Festival parking will be available at designated lots for a fee of $5 per car. A free shuttle service will be available at the parking areas outside of walking distance. Masks are required as per current CDC regulations for enclosed public transportation and will be provided.
Festival hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 16 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 17. Admission is free and all activities are held rain or shine. Check next month’s Groundhog (https://www.mapamentone.com/
Media Release/John Dersham, President & CEO/DeKalb Tourism
