What's On in Montgomery
Events, markets, games, library and parks programs in and around Montgomery, with times, prices and the organizer's own link.
Top story
Youth mentorship golf classic set for Nov. 12 at Cottonwood
A charity golf classic pairing young people with mentors tees off Nov. 12 at Cottonwood Golf Club, opening the XIXI NOW International Convention in Montgomery.
Coming up
The full month- Thu. Nov. 5 Pulp Fiction
- Now through Nov. 15 August Wilson's Fences
- Nov. 5 to 7 Fall Festival of Shakespeare
- Fri. Nov. 6 Providence Christian at Montgomery Academy (AHSAA Single-A playoffs)
- Fri. Nov. 6 Cottage Hill Christian at Trinity Presbyterian (AHSAA Single-A playoffs)
- Fri. Nov. 6 Cloverdale Playhouse 2027 season announcement
- Nov. 6 to 8 Montgomery Fall Home Show
- Sat. Nov. 7 Mini Makers: Art + Gratitude
- Sat. Nov. 7 Parks and Rec Fall Festival
- Sat. Nov. 7 Montgomery Street Market Trail
- Sun. Nov. 8 Epic Classics: The Great Escape
- Tue. Nov. 10 Veterans Day Celebration at Crump Senior Center
Plan your weekend
Fourth of July
Montgomery Fourth of July fireworks 2027
Montgomery's 2026 Independence Day Celebration at Cramton Bowl was free, with a National Guard band and fireworks at 9 p.m. The 2027 plans are not out yet.
Halloween
Trick-or-treat hours in Montgomery: 2027 hours to come
Halloween 2026 in Montgomery is over, and the city set no official trick-or-treat hours this year. Halloween 2027 is a Sunday; this page will carry the hours.
Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day in Montgomery 2027: events, dinners and date ideas
Valentine's Day 2027 is a Sunday. The symphony plays La Boheme Feb. 12; last year the Harriott II, the zoo, the Capri and B.B. King's all marked the day.
Spring break
Spring break in Montgomery 2027: school dates and things to do
Montgomery Public Schools' spring break is March 29 to April 2, 2027. Ideas for the week: free museums, the zoo, Montgomery Whitewater's spring season and more.
Easter
Easter in Montgomery 2027: egg hunts, brunch and services
Easter 2027 is Sunday, March 28. Last year the city's free Bunny Hop 5K ran the day before Easter and the zoo opened all weekend. Egg hunts are added as announced.
Mother's Day
Mother's Day in Montgomery 2027: brunch, events and gift markets
Mother's Day 2027 is Sunday, May 9. Last year Montgomery had brunch buffets at The House and Itta Bena, a Harriott II cruise, a Fitzgerald Museum tea and zoo visits.
Memorial Day
Memorial Day in Montgomery 2027: events, closings and trash pickup
Memorial Day 2027 is Monday, May 31. Last year Montgomery had the symphony's free Jubilee Pops, ZooBrews and an open zoo; trash runs early that week.
Summer
Summer in Montgomery 2027: camps, pools and splash pads
Montgomery's four city pools opened May 26 last summer at $2 a swim. Zoo camps ran June 1 to July 24, and the riverfront splash pad is free. 2027 dates to come.
Father's Day
Father's Day in Montgomery 2027: events, car shows and brunch
Father's Day 2027 is Sunday, June 20. Last year dads got into the Montgomery Zoo free, and a free dance show played the Riverwalk Amphitheater that weekend.
Labor Day
Labor Day in Montgomery 2027: events, closings and trash pickup
Labor Day 2027 is Monday, Sept. 6. Last year's weekend had a free block party, a riverfront concert, a Whitewater 5K and an early, one-pickup trash week.
Christmas
Montgomery Christmas parade 2026: Friday, Dec. 11, 6 p.m.
The Capital City Christmas Parade rolls down Dexter Avenue at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11, live on WSFA. Entries close Dec. 4. Zoo lights run nightly Dec. 1-27.
High school football
Montgomery high school football 2026: 7 teams in playoffs
Seven Montgomery teams are in the AHSAA football playoffs. Montgomery Academy, 10-0, hosts Providence Christian; Carver hosts Robertsdale. First round Nov. 6.
Fall festivals
Montgomery fall festivals 2026: free hayrides Nov. 7
Penton Farms' pumpkin patch is closed for 2026. Montgomery's free fall festival with hayrides and a pumpkin patch is Nov. 7, and Gather Montgomery is Nov. 28.
Halloween
Montgomery Halloween events: 2026 is past, 2027 to come
Halloween 2026 in Montgomery is past: the trunk-or-treats, the Haunted Coliseum and the zoo party ran Oct. 28-31. Halloween 2027 is a Sunday; dates will follow.
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving in Montgomery 2026: Turkey Day Classic, trash
The Turkey Day Classic parade steps off at 8 a.m. Nov. 26 on Dexter Avenue; kickoff is 2 p.m. Trash runs early that week, and MPS is off Nov. 23-27.
Black Friday
Black Friday and holiday shopping in Montgomery 2026
Black Friday is Nov. 27, with a 7 a.m. start at The Shoppes at EastChase. Santa photos there run Nov. 14 to Dec. 24; Gather Montgomery is Nov. 28.
Christmas
Montgomery Christmas 2026: zoo lights, Elf, 2 Nutcrackers
Montgomery Christmas 2026: zoo lights Dec. 1-27, the parade Dec. 11, Elf at ASF from Nov. 25, Montgomery Ballet's Nutcracker Nov. 17-18 and Santa at EastChase.
New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve in Montgomery 2026: Downtown Countdown and fireworks
Montgomery's free Downtown Countdown at Riverfront Park had fireworks and a Biscuit lift at midnight last year. 2026 plans are not out yet; here is what to expect.
Brunch
Brunch in Montgomery
Where to brunch in Montgomery: Bubbly Hen serves brunch daily 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Cork & Cleaver does weekend brunch 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Hours from each restaurant.
Nightlife
Live music and nightlife in Montgomery
Montgomery's live music and nightlife: B.B. King's Blues Club, Red Bluff Bar at the Silos, the Lower Lounge, Sinclair's, the Harriott II and the big stages.
Date night
Date night in Montgomery: dinner, theater, films and the river
Date night in Montgomery: films at the Capri, the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, a Harriott II river cruise, dinner on Cloverdale Road and a nightcap downtown.
Downtown
A guide to downtown Montgomery and the riverfront
Downtown Montgomery in one walk: Riverfront Park and the Riverwalk, the Harriott II, the Legacy Museum, the Rosa Parks Museum, the Capitol and where to park.
Kids
Kids' activities in Montgomery: playgrounds, museums and rainy days
Kids' activities in Montgomery: the zoo, the riverfront splash pad, a Boundless Playground, free hands-on museum galleries and rainy-day picks indoors.
Trails
Montgomery walking and biking trails
Montgomery trails: five miles of walking and biking at Lagoon Park, the Riverfront Greenway and Riverwalk downtown, AUM's three trails and park loops across the city.
Free things to do
Free things to do in Montgomery
Free in Montgomery: the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, the state archives museum, Capitol tours, the Civil Rights Memorial, the Riverwalk and city parks.
Dogs
Dog-friendly Montgomery: parks, trails and the leash rules
Montgomery has four city dog parks. Off your property, the city code requires a leash no longer than six feet, and a collar with a current rabies tag.
Alabama National Fair
Alabama National Fair in Montgomery: 2026 fair is over
The 2026 Alabama National Fair ran Oct. 8-18 on Federal Drive and is over. 2027 dates are not posted yet; here are the prices, parking and bag rules to expect.
Salute to Veterans Bowl
Salute to Veterans Bowl at Cramton Bowl: date, tickets, parking
The 13th IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl, formerly the Camellia Bowl, kicks off 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2026, at Cramton Bowl on ESPN.
Montgomery Half Marathon
Montgomery Half Marathon and 5K: date, course, prices, parking
The Montgomery Half Marathon and 5K is Saturday, March 13, 2027. The half starts at 7 a.m. by The Alley water tower and finishes at Riverwalk Stadium.
Flimp Festival
Flimp Festival at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts: 2027 date
The free Flimp Festival returns 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 10, 2027, in the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts sculpture garden. Rain or shine.
Restaurants
Where to eat in Montgomery: lists by category
Montgomery restaurant lists by category: wings, pizza, Mexican, barbecue, breakfast, burgers, sushi, desserts, bakeries and patios, plus brunch.
Wings
Where to get wings in Montgomery: Atlanta Highway and Vaughn Road
7 places to get chicken wings in Montgomery, with hours from their own sites: most on Atlanta Highway, Vaughn Road and Eastern Boulevard.
Pizza
Where to get pizza in Montgomery: downtown, Eastchase and Vaughn Road
6 pizza places in Montgomery with hours from their own sites: Bibb Street downtown, Pies & Pints at Eastchase and the delivery chains.
Mexican food
Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants in Montgomery
6 Mexican and Tex-Mex places in Montgomery with hours from their own sites: the Alley, Old Cloverdale, Vaughn Road, Zelda Road and Eastchase.
Barbecue
Where to get barbecue in Montgomery: downtown, Cloverdale, Eastchase
5 barbecue places in Montgomery with hours from their own sites: Dreamland downtown, two on East Fairview Avenue, Eastchase and Atlanta Highway.
Breakfast
Breakfast and coffee in Montgomery: downtown, Zelda Road, Vaughn Road
7 breakfast and coffee places in Montgomery with hours from their own sites: Dexter Avenue and Montgomery Street downtown, Zelda Road and the east side.
Burgers
Where to get burgers in Montgomery: Dexter Avenue to Eastchase
7 places to get a burger in Montgomery with hours from their own sites: Dexter Avenue downtown, East Fairview, Eastern Boulevard and Eastchase.
Bakeries
Bakeries in Montgomery: Dexter Avenue, downtown and Eastchase
4 bakeries in Montgomery with hours from their own sites: Lorraine's on Dexter Avenue, D'Road Cafe downtown, Eastchase and Atlanta Highway.
Ice cream
Ice cream and desserts in Montgomery: Dexter Avenue and Vaughn Road
6 ice cream and dessert shops in Montgomery with hours from their own sites: Lorraine's on Dexter Avenue, Vaughn Road, Eastchase and Atlanta Highway.
Patios
Patios and outdoor dining in Montgomery: the river, Coosa Street
4 Montgomery restaurants whose own sites list a patio, deck or rooftop: Capitol Oyster Bar on the river, Waterworks downtown, Cloverdale and Zelda Road.
Sushi
Sushi and Asian restaurants in Montgomery: Union Station to Eastchase
5 sushi, Thai, Lao, Chinese and Japanese restaurants in Montgomery with hours from their own sites, from Union Station downtown to Eastchase.
Montgomery Home Show
Montgomery Home Show: 2026 dates, hours and admission
The Montgomery Home Show is Nov. 6-8 at Garrett Coliseum on Federal Drive, with free admission and remodeling and home improvement vendors under one roof.
Santa Drop
Prattville Santa Drop: 2026 date, time and giveaways
Santa and the Grinch parachute into the Willis Bradford YMCA in Prattville on Saturday, Nov. 14, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Free, with food trucks and live music.
Event news
Events
Free TV premiere showcase set for Nov. 15 at Brewer Heights
XIXI Now and XStream Television preview their 2027 shows at a free Premiere Showcase on Sunday, Nov. 15, at Brewer Heights Baptist Church in Montgomery.
Veterans Day
Montgomery Veterans Day 2026: parade Nov. 14 at 10 a.m.
Montgomery's Veterans Day Parade steps off at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, on Veterans Way, then a free resource fair and a 1 p.m. ceremony. What to know.
Nutcracker
The Nutcracker in Montgomery 2026: Nov. 17-18 and Dec. 3
Montgomery Ballet's Nutcracker plays MPAC at 6 p.m. Nov. 17 and 18 ($22 to $52); World Ballet Company's touring version with live orchestra is Dec. 3.
Arts
Arts and exhibitions in Montgomery: November 2026
Montgomery arts, November 2026: Fences at ASF to Nov. 15, Elf from Nov. 25, MMFA shows closing Nov. 22, three Nutcrackers and a busy month of concerts at MPAC.
Things to do
Things to do in Montgomery this weekend, Oct. 30 to Nov. 1
Halloween weekend in Montgomery: the Haunted Coliseum Friday and Saturday, the zoo's HOWL-o-WEEN BASH, three trunk-or-treats and Fences opening at ASF.