DeKalb Tourism Announces September Family-friendly Festivals

FORT PAYNE-As children return to the classroom, family fun awaits visitors on the weekends in September as a county fair and a downtown music festival offer two good reasons to plan a visit to northeast Alabama. The popular Boom Days Heritage Celebration and the DeKalb County Agricultural VFW Fair both scream all things fall, and within a short drive of the events lie scenic mountaintop vistas, waterfalls and a variety of lodges, camping and cabins. When combined with milder days and crisp, cool evenings, a perfect weekend getaway for the family is in the making.

Music, art and history are at the center of the annual Boom Days Heritage Celebration set for September 15-16, 2023. Year after year, Boom Days attracts thousands of visitors to the historic downtown area for some free family-friendly fun in celebration of the city’s unique beginnings over 130 years ago.

During the two-day event, about a dozen acts are set to perform in five different areas. Music gets underway at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 15 and at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 16. The lineup for Friday consists of Chasing Payne and Night Moves: A Tribute to Bob Segar. Saturday’s lineup includes Dusty Smith, The Locals, Gospel by Sara Roe, Jess Goggans, Adam Fields,  The Underwoods Motown, Dooley’s Blue Revue, Boys in the Band, an Alabama Tribute; Sammy Kershaw, Aaron Tippin and headliner Collin Raye.

Along with live music on Sept. 16, City Park will be booming with activities including a variety of vendors and fun for kids including face painting, pony rides, wipe out, balloon man and more from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

During the late nineteenth century, Fort Payne experienced a huge coal and iron boom, and in the twentieth century, a boom in textile manufacturing led to the city’s one time claim of “Sock Capital of the World.” As a nod to its unique beginnings over 130 years ago, the mountaintop town hosts the Boom Days Heritage Celebration. For more information, visit www.boomdays.org.

Fall has officially arrived when the county fair comes to town. Held in Fort Payne, the DeKalb County Agricultural VFW Fair arrives September 25, 2023, and for six days, visitors are treated to exciting midway rides, daily livestock shows, nightly chainsaw carvings, agricultural displays, funnel cakes and themed nights in addition to the nightly live music listed below.

While the highlight each year is the exciting midway rides, the DeKalb County Agricultural VFW Fair also offers an incredible lineup of entertainment and special pricing each night.

 

Sept. 25

Ronnie Osborn / Still Kickin’

Regular Ticket Pricing

 

Sept. 26

WQSB night​

$25+tax armband

 

Sept. 27

Southern Gospel Night’  presented by The Fortner Brothers 4 Christ

$2 Night (all rides $2+tax)

 

Sept. 28

Chris Roberts School of Music and FPHS guitar class

2 armbands for $30+tax Night

 

Sept. 29

The Pickin Post presents Crossroad country music

Regular Ticket Pricing

 

Sept. 30

Gospel singing featuring The Sharps & Gold City

$30+tax armband (from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. only)

Gates open at 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. on Saturday. Admission is $5 for 6 years and older and free for 5 years old and under with an adult. Parking is $5 per vehicle. Tickets for Kissel Entertainment on the Midway are $1.50 each or 22 for $30. Sponsored by the DeKalb County VFW Post 3128, the fair is held at the DeKalb County VFW Post located at 151 18th Street Northeast in Fort Payne. For more information including a schedule of events, visit www.dekalbcountyvfwfair.com or call 256.845.9745.