Are you bummed out that the Fourth of July holiday doesn’t fall on a weekend this year? Do you need more time to celebrate your freedom without having to worry about work in the morning? No worries—you can keep the party going by making the short drive up Lookout Mountain to Mentone, Alabama for the second annual Julyfest.
After drawing thousands of people to Mason Park last year, Julyfest is back and bigger with plenty of music, arts & crafts, pet parades and more. Running July 6 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and July 7 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (CST), the festival is free and open to the public, and attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy the entertainment in comfort.
The festivities kick off, rain or shine, with a pet parade at 10:30 a.m. (registration for the parade begins one hour before). Music will follow soon after and continue throughout the day, starting with saxophonist Bill Henson at 11 a.m., and culminating with a performance by country singer Leah Seawright and her drummer Mark Herndon, formerly of the band Alabama, at 7 p.m.
There will also be a juried arts and crafts show throughout both days that will feature more than 50 talented artists and craftspeople showcasing their skills in painting, sculpture, photography, wood art, pottery, and jewelry.
In addition to the music and crafts, there will be a silent auction and dog adoption to benefit the Humane Society and Animal Resources of DeKalb County, plus barbeque provided by Old Tymer’s of Fort Payne. Fireworks will be blasting all night on Thursday throughout Chattanooga, but if you want to keep celebrating America all weekend, what better way than with a good ol’ Southern fried festival in Sweet Home Alabama?