FORT PAYNE-A county fair, hot air balloons and a downtown music festival offer three opportunities to plan a visit to northeast Alabama and a chance to get outdoors in the coming weeks. The last Saturday in August offers a day of free family fun as the town of Fyffe comes together for its annual Fyffe UFO Day Festival and September is the month for the popular Boom Days Heritage Celebration and the DeKalb County Agricultural VFW Fair.
Located on the top of Sand Mountain, part of the southern most tip of the Appalachian Mountains, is the town of Fyffe where
numerous sightings of unidentified flying objects in 1989 garnered national attention for the small community. Now recognized by the state as the UFO Capital of Alabama, the town comes together the last Saturday in August each year to host the Fyffe UFO Day Festival.
Set for August 27, 2022, the Fyffe UFO Day Festival offers hot air balloon rides, arts and crafts, games and inflatables for children, a 5k run, an antique car and tractor show, an assortment of food vendors and live music. During the one-day event, the only flying objects spotted in the sky are colorful hot-air balloons.
Headlining this year is a young and upcoming star, Jackson Chase (jacksonchasemusic.com). A native of Tuscaloosa, Jackson’s music is a blend of country, bluegrass and gospel with a classic country sound. His first EP is being released at the age of 16 and includes collaborations with John Schneider, John Anderson and Tayla Lynn. Also performing for the first time, Pop Christian artist, Caroline Grace, from Chattanooga, Tenn. She released her first Pop Christian single, “I’m All In” July 2021. She is currently a featured artist with The Grove Jesus Music productions and her latest single “How It Feels” will be available to stream August 2022 on all streaming platforms. Other entertainers slated to perform are AnnaLee Austin, JT Clark and Jay Jenkins, Chasing Payne, Still Kickin’ among others.
The UFO Days 5K will be hosted by Fyffe High School Baseball Diamond Club. For more information text or call 256-899-9119. Pre-registration is $30 per person and is available by clicking here. Registration on day of race is $35 per person.
A disc golf tournament, presented by Angry Goose Disc Golf, gets underway at 10:00 a.m. More information and pre-registration is available here. .
Gates for UFO Day Festival open at 9 a.m. with the entertainment getting underway at 10 a.m. Festivalgoers are encouraged to arrive as early as 6 a.m. to watch the hot air balloons launch. Tethered rides for the public are generally offered around 6 p.m. Also, in conjunction with the UFO Day Festival, hot-air balloon rides across the Sand Mountain area will be available, weather permitting, by advance reservation only. For more information, visit www.ballooningal.com or call 256.461.8612 or send an email to rides@ballooningal.com.
All activities are held at the Fyffe Town Park located at the corner of Paul Benefield Lane and Church Street unless noted otherwise. Admission is free. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and picnic blankets.
Music, art and history are at the center of the annual Boom Days Heritage Celebration. Set for September 16-17, 2022, 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 nearly 130 years ago.
During the two-day event, over a dozen acts will perform on five different stages. Music gets underway at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 16 and at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 17. Headlining on Sept. 17 is Billy Dean at 6 p.m. with Joe Nichols following at 8 p.m. Dean’s musical roots are a blend of Folk, Southern Rock, Bluegrass and Classic Country however, he is best known in the country music genre for his 11 top ten singles, five number one’s and over 5 million albums sold. Joe Nichols has been a mainstay of country music for two decades, receiving a half-dozen Number 1 singles and ten Top 10 hits. His newest single, “Home Run,” is written by award-winning songwriters Ashley Gorley, Dallas Davidson and Ross Copperman.
City Park will be booming with activities including live music, dog demonstrations and art demonstrations and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17, children will be treated to a variety of unlimited activities including pony rides, triple play sports and giant slide with a $10 per wristband. Ticket activities include a bungee jump, rock climbing wall, wipeout, face painting, balloon art and spin art and free train rides will be available in the Depot parking lot along with free tours of the Depot Museum.
Activities in the Coal and Iron building include more live music, a meet and greet with nationally renowned local authors and artists, art activities for children, wine tasting and a model train exhibit.
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 nearly 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 26, 2022, and for six days, visitors are treated to exciting midway rides, livestock exhibits, nightly live music, agricultural displays, funnel cakes and themed nights.
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.
DATE/ENTERTAINMENT/SPECIAL PRICING
Sept. 26
Autism Sings featuring Reid Soria
Regular Ticket Pricing
Sept. 27
WQSB night
$25 armband
Sept. 28
Vietnam veteran’s night and gospel music by ReJeana Leeth and Friends, New Grace, the Hindmans, Christianaires, Nate Fortner, and Amy Harris
$2 Night (all rides $2)
Free admission for Vietnam Veterans (with proof of service)
Sept. 29
Chris Roberts School of Music featuring young musicians of DeKalb County
2 armbands for $25 Night
Sept. 30
The Pickin Post
Regular Ticket Pricing
Oct. 1
Gospel singing featuring Brian Free and Assurance and The Sharps
$20 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 $4 for 6 years and older and free for 5 years old and under with an adult. Parking is $3 per vehicle. Tickets for Kissel Entertainment on the Midway are $1.25 each or 22 for $25.00. 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.
Media Release/John Dersham, President & CEO/DeKalb Tourism
