Fall Into Fun with Your Four-Legged Friends

By Amy Mayfield and Hector

I swear it’s fall, right? We have Halloween decorations out at my house. The temperatures may not be here yet but all of the fall fun sure is! Read on for fall fun that allows you to include your best friend.


Lowe Mill Concerts on the Dock

Fridays through 10/6/23
One of the best concert series around is back for the Fall season and you can always find plenty of pups. Don’t forget to wander inside and visit the artists and makers that call Lowe Mill home. Make sure to carpool, parking on-site is $10.


Monte Sano Art Festival

September 15-16, 2023
We have been going to this event for longer than I can even remember. It’s one of our favorites and it’s always a little cooler up on Monte Sano-bonus. Artists come from across the nation for this carefully curated event and I always find things I have to have. Dogs are welcome in the park but please keep them leashed and clean up after them. Admission is $10 per car or $5 per walk-in attendee. Admission is cash only and supports our wonderful state parks.


Hubert Family Farms

Fall Market
September 16, 2023
Everyone’s favorite local farm is back in bloom! Head to their Facebook for up-to-date hours and events and get out there and enjoy. This farm features photo-ready spots at every turn and is also hosting one of their markets on September 16. A Day Pass is $8 per person and children 2 and under are free.


Yellowhammer Oktoberfest

September 16, 2023
Raise a glass to our four-legged friends at Yellowhammer’s Oktoberfest. Music, food trucks, vendors and German-style beers will make up this fun-filled day.


The Orion

If you’re looking for some out of this world fun, fetch your pup and head to The Orion. Most events that aren’t in the bowl are dog-friendly; leashed and well-behaved of course. There’s more on their website but we will be checking out the Sip & Stroll Series, the first one is coming up September 19, 2023, and Movies in the Meadow for sure. If they decide to show The Sandlot, I’ve got just the dog for that. Also cause we love ALL the Halloween, we’ll be checking out Halloween and Haunted House on October 28. Head to their website for all the happenings.


Back to the Felines

September 22, 2023
What’s not to love about 80s music, food trucks and prizes at the Orion campus? Oh wait, you can bring your dog and it supports the Greater Huntsville Humane Society as they work to create the first sanctuary in Alabama for cats diagnosed with FIV and FeLV. It’ll be totally awesome. Like totally. Tickets available online.


Cullman Oktoberfest

September 23-September 30, 2023
Cullman Oktoberfest features several days of activities, and we always head down for at least one. And yes, they do have Cullman OktoFURfest as well. There will be the annual Wiener Dog Race, the Pet Parade and a few more fun things like a Zoomie Zone, best trick and more. There is a Pet Costume Contest but be prepared. They take their pet costumes seriously in Cullman and Hector lost out at the Strawberry Festival to a Golden Retriever dressed up like a farmer.


Das Stahl Oktoberfest

September 23, 2023
Das Stahl Bierhaus features one of our favorite pet-friendly patios AND a great selection of beer. Win-win. For Oktoberfest, they will have German food, live music, drink specials and more. This event gets crowded so if you want to eat, you’ll definitely want to pre-order your ticket. Maybe bring a lawn chair too.


Hidden Rivers Farm Dog Fridaze

September 29-October 27, 2023
This fun farm down in Hartselle is going to the dogs on Fridays from 4p-8p with fresh air, photo opps and pup treats! Admission is $8 per human and pups get in free.


Huntsville Botanical Garden Pooches and Pupkins

September 30, 2023 12p-2p
Break out the pup costumes and go to the Garden. (This is harder for some of us than others. Not a lot of options for 200 pound dogs.) There will be a doggy costume contest with winner taking home “barking” rights, had to do it, and a Golden Dog Pass for 2024. Garden admission or membership plus $5 per dog.


Explore the Camp

If you’re looking for fall fun, The Camp is a good place to start. With events like Oktoberfest on October 7, 2023, and the MidCity Monster Mash from October 13-31, 2023, there’s plenty of fun to be had. And, of course, there’s always live music and markets and more to explore.


Halloween Pooch Party

Cheekwood
October 21-22, 2023
Pop up to Nashville for the Halloween Pooch Party at Cheekwood. We love this Botanical Garden and they always provide fun for pups. Their fall décor is amazing and on these two days, there will be costume contests, vendors, and more. Reserve your tickets online.


Boofest

Baxter Bailey & Company
October 28, 2023
Also up the road in the Music City is Boofest at Baxter Bailey & Company. We love this pet store on Fatherland and yes, I absolutely drove Hector up there for a Harry PAWter PAWty and it was the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. They will have a ticketed VIP Preview Party on October 27.


What events are on your list? Got a favorite that I missed?

Fall Into Fun with Your Four-Legged Friends

Amy Mayfield and Hector

Amy has lived in Huntsville for more than 40 years and works for the Southeast Region of a large non-profit. Hector, an English Mastiff who weighs 200 pounds, is a newer transplant moving to the area in June of 2019. In her free time, Amy enjoys reading, art, camping and spending time with her husband and daughter. Hector is a fan of naps, snacks, breweries and bowties. Together, they are a therapy dog team with Therapy Partners. They also serve as ambassadors for both Visit North Alabama and Downtown Huntsville. Fall is Amy's favorite season. If you see them out, say hello-Hector loves meeting new people. You can follow their pawventures on instagram at @hectortheenglishmastiff