Best Things To Do in Huntsville in Spring (From a Local!)

One of the things I love best about living in Huntsville (besides, you know…my family) is that it that there are great things to do in every season!

Our winters are usually mild, but still...when spring hits we are all ready to get outside and enjoy the beautiful weather!

Here are some of my favorite things to do in Huntsville during the Spring including some of my favorite hikes and seasonal celebrations, plus a few things I have on my list to try.

Things To Do in Huntsville in Spring

Visit the Huntsville Botanical Garden

Location: 4747 Bob Wallace Avenue, Huntsville

A brick garden pavilion with arched openings sits beside a reflecting pool with small fountains. Wooden pergolas extend from the structure, and lush trees and flowering plants surround the peaceful garden setting. — The Aquatic Garden at the Huntsville Botanical Garden

The Huntsville Botanical Garden is one of my absolute favorite spots in the city! If you have kids, this should be your go-to spot! There’s an entire children’s garden full of interactive play areas, room to run, and a butterfly house. We spent SO many hours here when my daughter was a preschooler!

But even more than for kids, the Botanical Garden is a haven for adults. There are lots of walking trails that wind through the 118 acres. You can visit the Aquatic Garden, the Fern Glade, the Herb Garden, and more. And during spring, it’s especially lovely as everything start to bloom!

If you love flowers or you’re just looking for a peaceful oasis, the Huntsville Botanical Garden is my number one recommendation!

Hike the Wildflower Trail

Location: Near 603 Cleermont Drive, Huntsville

A shallow creek winds through a lush green forest, with smooth rocks scattered along the water’s edge and leafy trees arching overhead to create a peaceful woodland scene. — A peaceful hike on the Wildflower trail. Sometimes it’s hard to believe this is just five minutes from downtown Huntsville!

The Wildflower Trail is one of my favorite hikes in the city. It’s beautiful, easy enough for the entire family, and it’s just 5 minutes from downtown Huntsville!

It’s rated easy and is just 1.25 miles total.

This trail is part of the Monte Sano Nature Preserve, tucked at the base of Monte Sano Mountain. The trail takes you along Fagan Creek, which is so peaceful. And there are a couple of small waterfalls along the way, with a slightly bigger one at the end.

And at certain times of the year (and depending on the rain), you can wade in the creek or find slabs of rock next to the creek perfect for a picnic.

Pro Tip: This trail is very popular and can get very crowded and parking is limited. I recommend visiting early in the day or on a weekday!

Hike the Madison County Nature Trail on Green Mountain

Location: 5000 Nature Trail Road, Huntsville

Another great family-friendly hike in Huntsville is the Madison County Nature Trail on Green Mountain.

This easy trail is a 1-mile loop around a mountain-top lake and includes a covered bridge, a log cabin, and a small chapel. Spend time hiking, exploring, or just enjoying the views of the small lake.

There is also a large pavilion with lots of picnic tables here that you can use. Plus there are restrooms on site.

See the Cherry Blossoms in Big Spring Park

Location: 200 Church Street, Huntsville

Close-up of delicate white cherry blossoms with soft pink centers blooming on a tree branch, with the trunk and blurred water in the background creating a calm spring scene. — Enjoying the Cherry Blossoms in Big Spring Park!

Did you know Huntsville is a great place to see Cherry Blossoms?

In 1976, Japan gifted Huntsville with the red Friendship Bridge you’ll see in Big Spring International Park along with these Cherry Blossom trees that still line the lake at Big Spring International Park. They were a thank you gift for our city’s hospitality when one of Major General Mikio Kimata attended a program at Huntsville’s Redstone Arsenal.

I believe only a couple of these original cherry blossoms remain in the park, but there are other more recent trees planted around the lake that are beautiful to see!

The Cherry Blossoms usually bloom around sometime in mid-March so make plans to take a picnic down to the park and enjoy them!

Pick Tulips at Hubert Family Farms

Location: 432 Narrow Lane, New Market

A woman stands beneath a decorative arch covered in colorful flowers in the middle of a tulip field, with rows of blooming tulips stretching across the farm landscape under a cloudy sky. — Ready for some tulip picking at Hubert Family Farms! I love going on a weekday when it is less crowded.

Tulips are my favorite flower, so when Huntsville got a tulip farm several years ago I was SO excited!

Picking tulips at Hubert Family Farms has become a must-do activity for me in the Spring! Enjoy their rows and rows of tulips and pick your own to take home. Plus during their tulip season they have live entertainment, food trucks, an animal barn, and sometimes even hot air balloon rides on the weekends.

Tulip season is short lived and not always predictable, so you’ll want to watch their social media for updates. Usually their open date is sometime in mid-March, and the season only lasts a couple of weeks.

Pro Tip: Wear shoes you can get muddy here! Cute rainboots are my go-to recommendation.

Visit Burritt on the Mountain

Location: 3101 Burritt Drive, Huntsville

Burritt on the Mountain is Huntsville’s historic open-air museum with log cabins and houses from the 1800s, a historic mansion built by notable Huntsville resident Dr. Burritt, farm animals, a blacksmith shop, and more.

Spring can be such a great time to visit Burritt because the weather is beautiful and the sometimes have baby animals. Plus there are a few nature trails on the property that you can hike!

Explore the Foundations of Faith Trail

Locations: Around Madison County

Downtown Huntsville and larger Madison County is home to several beautiful historic churches! In fact, there are over 16 church in Madison County that are over 100 years old, many of them downtown.

And as they celebrate Easter in spring, it can be a great time to enjoy the beauty of these historic buildings on the Madison County Foundations of Faith Trail.

My recommendation would be to walk through downtown to see churches like the Church of the Nativity Episcopal Church, First Presbyterian Church, First United Methodist Church, and more.

If you’re really into churches, you can drive to see the other historic churches too, like Walnut Grove Cumberland Presbyterian Church and New Market Presbyterian Church.

Play and Hike at Hay’s Nature Preserve

Location: 7153 Hwy 431, Owens Cross Roads

A quiet wooded picnic area with wooden tables and benches sits among tall trees, with playground structures and seating scattered throughout the shaded forest setting. — The play area at Hay’s Nature Preserve.

Hay’s Nature Preserve is a great place to get outside in Huntsville during the Spring. For kids, there is a play area with playground equipment constructed from natural materials.

You can also hike along the 10 miles of trails and greenways and enjoy views of the Flint River.

Enjoy Live Music at Stovehouse

Location: 3414 Governors Drive, Huntsville

An outdoor concert takes place at a brewery patio at dusk, where a live band performs on a small stage lit with colorful lights while guests sit at tables and bar stools in front of large metal brewing tanks. — Live Music at Stovehouse

Stovehouse is such a fun Huntsville spot! This old stove factory has been converted into a dining and entertainment complex with restaurants, shops, and some great outdoor space to enjoy.

During the spring (well really a lot of the year) they have live outdoor music, where you can grab some food from one of the restaurants and enjoy live music in the courtyard.

Enjoy the Arts at Lowe Mill

Location: 2211 Seminole Drive, Huntsville

One of the best places to see local art is Lowe Mill!

This is another old space that’s been converted into something new, and it’s now the largest privately owned art facility in the United States.

There are ENDLESS things you can do here! Visit artist studios, take classes, and enjoy art everywhere you go at this facility! You’ll find everything here from painting to fiber arts to glassworks to pottery to a dance space and more!

And there are other things to do at Lowe Mill too: play with cats at Cattyshack, sip on a variety of drinks (there are mead, tea, and whiskey spots here!), grab ice cream at the Fizzy Flapper, or grab a bite to eat at one of the local restaurants.

Plus during May they have their outdoor Concerts on the Dock music series!

Take a Tour of the Weeden House Museum

Location: 300 Gates Avenue, Huntsville

Touring the Weeden House Museum is still one of those things that’s on my Huntsville to-do list! In all honestly, I’ve been to a wedding reception here, but I’ve never take a proper tour!

Maria Howard Weeden lived in this house for 55 years and she is probably Huntsville’s most famous painter. She is especially well-known for her portraits of freed African American post Civil War.

Take the Kids To a Huntsville Playground

There are so many great playgrounds in Huntsville, and Spring is of-course the perfect time to get out and enjoy them! Here are some of my favorites:

Kid’s Space — Recently rebuilt and it’s awesome! Located just 10 minutes from downtown Huntsville.
Kid’s Kingdom — The go-to playground in Madison, this one has also been recently rebuilt!
Kidsville at Brahan Spring Park — An accessible playground located 10 minutes from downtown.

Spring Events to Enjoy in Huntsville

While everything I’ve already mentioned are more general activities for Huntsville in Spring, here are some specific events you’ll want to add to you Spring calendars!

Go to the Community Kite Festival

Location: John Hunt Park, 2151 Airport Road, Huntsville
Event Date: Usually the first Saturday in March (In 2026: March 7)

The Community Kite Festival is put on by the City of Huntsville Multicultural Office and the non-profit AshaKiran, the festival brings the community together and promotes inclusion.

Bring a kite to fly or just enjoy watching others fly their kites. There are also food trucks, entertainment, and other activities to enjoy.

Check Out the Cigar Box Guitar Festival

Location: Throughout Huntsville (mostly Lowe Mill and The Orion)
Event Date: Late May/Early June (In 2026: May 29-31)

The Cigar Box Guitar Store in Lowe Mill is the world’s only brick and mortar cigar box guitar store. And every year they have a 3-day Cigar Box Guitar Festival, the longest running cigar box guitar festival in the world.

Here you can enjoy live music, daytime activities, and more.

Attend the Panoply Arts Festival

Location: Big Spring Park, 200 Church Street, Huntsville
Event Date: Usually the 4th weekend in April (In 2026: April 24-26)

A city park with a large reflecting pond and fountain is surrounded by festival tents and crowds of people, with modern downtown buildings and a bright blue sky with fluffy clouds in the background. — All the artist tents lined up in Big Spring Park for Huntsville’s Panoply Arts Festival!

The Panoply Arts Festival has been happening in Huntsville since 1982! It’s a weekend long celebrations of all things arts, with visual arts booths, music, food, performances, and more. And it’s a BIG deal around here!

My favorite thing to do is stroll around the park looking at all the art booths. We’ve bought art here to hang in our house a couple times!

They also feature art from local schools which is really fun. In 2025, my daughter has a piece featured in the student tent!

Pro Tip: Locals know…it’s always going to rain at some point during Panoply weekend! Some years it’s a downpour all weekend, and some years it may just be one day that’s subject to rain. But be prepared!

Have Fun at the Big Ol’ Ballpark Fair

Location: Toyota Field, 500 Trash Panda Way, Madison
Event Date: May (In 2026: May 7-17)

Want some good old-fashioned fair fun? Head to the Big Ol’ Ballpark Fair at Toyota Field! This fair takes place in the stadium parking lot and is full of rides, games, and food. It’s a perfect way to spend an early Spring evening!

Celebrate Independent Bookstore Day

Locations: Snail on the Wall Bookstore, 816 Wellman Ave, Huntsville & Blue Apple Bookstore, 14 Main Street, Madison
Event Date: Last Saturday in April (In 2026: April 25)

A chalkboard sidewalk sign outside a bright green storefront reads “I love my indie bookstore,” decorated with hearts, balloons, and stacked books. A yellow “Snail Crossing” sign and a shop window with reflections of people and a parked car appear in the background. — Chalk sign outside Snail on the Wall for Independent Bookstore Day!

One of my favorite additions to Huntsville in recent year has been the TWO independent bookstores we’ve gotten!

The first one in the Five Points area of Huntsville is Snail on the Wall, a local bookstore run by two women who are pretty awesome. (I actually got to do some work with them years ago when they were just a pop-up store before they had their brick-and-mortar location!). They always have a great selection!

The second one is Blue Apple Books in downtown Madison, and this one is actually run by a former teacher of mine! It’s also attached to South & Pine, a gift and home store that always has such a lovely selection and some of my favorite candles that are locally poured.

Both stores go all-out on Independent Bookstore Day in April, and event that celebrates our indie bookstores and encourages you to shop there. So if you’re in town that Saturday be sure to stop by and enjoy the events and buy some books!

Attend the Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic

Location: Point Mallard Park, 2901 Point Mallard Drive, Decatur
Event Date: Memorial Day Weekend (In 2026: May 23-24)

One of the most famous festivals in North Alabama might be the Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic at Point Mallard Park in nearby Decatur. This festival takes place on Memorial Day Weekend and includes tethered rides you can pay for, food trucks, entertainment, arts & crafts, a tractor show, and an auto show.

The hot air balloons all in the fields together are really amazing to see, especially at night when they all light up. But this event is SUPER popular, so pack your patience when it comes to getting there!