THE SHOALS-The first music festival dedicated to W. C. Handy was held in 1982 in the Florence, AL (Shoals area). Since then, each year the Festival has attracted a growing number of talented musicians from around the world, who draw increasing numbers of visitors from many states and countries to the Shoals area, providing an economic tourism boost to the state of Alabama.
The W.C. Handy Music Festival was initiated with the help of musician and Sheffield native Willie Ruff, who along with Dr. David Mussleman and others, envisioned and helped The Music Preservation Society to present the first W.C. Handy Music Festival. That first festival was a long weekend of music featuring Dizzy Gillespie as the headliner artist. Since then, the annual celebration has evolved into a nearly two-week long festival. The festival showcases music at locations throughout northwest Alabama including parks, restaurants, stores, libraries, museums, art galleries, sidewalks, parking lots, and lawns. It also features athletic events, plays, music classes, car shows, and much more.
The WC Handy Festival runs from July 15th through July 26th in all four cities of The Shoals. Online schedule of Handy events HERE
The W. C. Handy Music Festival is recognized as:
- An Alabama Top 20 Event
- Southeast Tourism Society Top 20 Events for the months of July, August, September since 1986
- Geotourism MapGuide to Appalachia Featured Site
- Three time Cultural Olympiad Regional Designee
- Southeast Tourism Top 21 Event for July
- Travelocity.com – “Local Secret, Big Find”
- Top 100 Event in North America
Media Release/W.C. Handy Music Festival
