5 Reasons to Come to our Food Truck vs Food Trailer Kick Off Event

by: Alyssa Lee, DHI Communications Coordinator

We are very excited to bring back food truck season with our Food Trucks vs Food Trailers theme presented by Amanda Howard Sotheby's International Realty. Food Trailers will be lining the streets around Big Spring Park this Friday from 5-9pm to kick off this great season! We doubt you need any more reasons to attend other than the delicious food, but just in case you were hesitant, here are the top 5 reasons you should come to our Food Truck/Trailer Rallies this season!

DOUBLE THE FUN

Let the battle commence! Food Trucks vs Food Trailers is the fight of the century in Downtown Huntsville! On the 1st Fridays of every month, Food Trailers will show us what they have, while the 3rd Friday of every month is the Food Trucks time to shine! This means, this year is going to be double the fun! That means you have two chances every single month from May to October to enjoy local food on wheels.

NEW OPTIONS

It’s a good thing there are extra opportunities to attend our Food Truck/Trailer Rallies, because we have so many new options this year! Compared to last years events, we have 8 new food trailers and 5 new food trucks! Plus, returning are some of your favorites including Beast Mode, What’s Popp’N, Hippea Camper, and so much more! Along with the trailers and trucks, we are also bringing back our tent vendors including adding in some new interactive vendors. Check out the full list for Friday May 7th below and make sure to RSVP for the event on our Facebook Event Page!

Tents
Forever Grateful, LLC
Nanny's Old Fashioned Lemonade
Piper and Leaf
Regale Cupcakery
Suzy's Pops
AT&T
Onin Staffing

Trailers
2 Chicks on a roll
Bruster's Ice Cream
Delicious
Grumpy's
Highway Kabobery
HIPPEA Camper
Level Up
Nanny's Old Fashioned Lemonade
Newsouth Hot Dog & Sushi
O Taste & See BBQ LLC
Southerland Sno Depot
Triple L BBQ

NEW LIGHTS AND ART IN THE PARK

While at Big Spring Park, in between your meals, check out the new lights and art around the park. Local artist, Jessie Andrews, and sponsor Lockheed Martin have worked hard to add new art pieces to Downtown Huntsville. Around Big Spring Park, you can find 7 utility boxes painted in honor of Mae Jemison, the first African American woman in space! This new segment of our Secret Art Trail is fun for all ages and a map with the box’s locations can be found here. Once the sun has gone down, head over to the far end of Big Spring Park West where you will see new colorful lights illuminating the canal under Williams Avenue. This is a great photo spot and a nice place to relax and enjoy your food.

PURPLE CUP OPTIONS

What would make our Food Truck Rallies better? Beer! Don’t forget that you can grab a purple cup drink from any of the surrounding establishments in Downtown Huntsville. Closest to the park you can visit Rhythm on Monroe, Pane e Vino, and BarVista. We also have nearby Craft Beer Trail stops like Green Bus Brewing and Chandlers Ford on the Historic Square just a short walk from the park. Ask for your favorite adult beverage in a purple cup and stroll along the park with cup in hand! You might even find a new perfect pairing!

GIVEAWAYS

Food, Drinks, and Art all sound great, but did you know there will be giveaways at our rallies! Amanda Howard Sotheby's International Realty is giving away a prize each month at the Food Truck Rallies, plus one $500 Grand Prize giveaway at the end of the season! How do you enter this giveaway? Make sure to keep a lookout for one of their signs at the Food Truck/Trailer events and scan their QR code to be entered to win!

These rallies can be fun for the whole family or just something to do with a group of friends. Come out to try our new food vendors, enjoy some art, and possibly even win a prize! Food Truck season is back and better than ever! So, come see who will win the fight to the finish in our Food Trucks vs Food Trailers kicking off May 7th at 5pm!

Introducing the Downtown Huntsville Craft Cocktail Trail!

It might be April Fools Day, but there won't be any tricks in this edition of the Downtown Explorer. The Easter edition of our Super Saturday Sidewalk Sale is happening this Saturday! Plus, we are so excited to announce a new Downtown Huntsville Trail! Keep reading to learn more!

Our Super Saturday Sidewalk Sales are a safe and fun way to shop in Downtown Huntsville!

Local restaurants and retail shops around the downtown area will be expanding their businesses onto the sidewalk outside of their doors, offering special deals and sales. Pop-Up Buskers will offer live music and a Pop-Up Art Walk with vendors will surround the downtown area.

For this Easter edition, 5 of our downtown businesses will be giving away a box of Maddie's Cookies from Maddie's Cookie Company! Plus, you can also join in on a fun "Easter PIE Hunt" in Downtown Huntsville. We are working with The Bakingtist to giveaway one Easter Pie to whoever can follow the clues (provided on our Instagram on Saturday) and find the pie! 

It's going to be a Super Saturday so RSVP on our Facebook Event Page for updates!

A new trail has been added to the Downtown Huntsville Trail Network! Downtown Huntsville Inc. is proud to unveil the Downtown Huntsville Craft Cocktail Trail! For this inaugural release, 7 stops are included on the Craft Cocktail Trail passport.

1. The Bottle

2. Phat Sammys

3. Purveyor

4. Stellas Elixir Lounge

5. La Esquina Cocina

6. Rhythm on Monroe

7. Ruth’s Chris Steak House

If you are interested in trying out the Craft Cocktail Trail, grab a card from any of the trail stops or the Huntsville-Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau and begin collecting stamps. Each stop has a featured cocktail you can order made specifically for the trail, or you can order your favorites. Once, you have completed the card, you will receive a free cocktail strainer!

The Craft Cocktail Trail is the fourth addition to our Trail Network which also includes the Craft Beer Trail, Craft Coffee Trail (presented by ValleyMLS.com), and the Secret Art Trail (presented by Polaris). To learn more about the Craft Cocktail Trail, please visit downtownhuntsville.org/craftcocktailtrail or follow us on our new Instagram page @CraftCocktailTrail.

Come out and see what this new Trail has to offer in Downtown Huntsville. Cheers!

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Looking for Easter Activites and Brunch options? Check out last weeks Downtown Explorer here.

St. Patricks Week in Downtown Huntsville- Shopping, Dining, and Beer!

Downtown Huntsville is turning green! This Saturday join us for a St. Patrick's Day Super Saturday Sidewalk Sale and the Holmes Ave. Block Party! Also in this edition of the Downtown Explorer, we give you our picks for the best St. Patrick's Day Beer in Downtown Huntsville! You don't want to miss this lucky week!

This St. Patrick's Day edition of our Super Saturday Sidewalk Sale is going to be a special one!

We are so excited to announce that we are doing another giveaway with our Downtown Businesses this Saturday!!! If you want to win a Shamrock Key Lime Pie from The Moon Bakeshop here's how:

• Roosevelt & Co.: After making a purchase on Saturday, you will get a chance to draw a ticket. If you draw the winning ticket, you will get to take home the Shamrock Key Lime Pie!

• Caley Paige Home & Gifts: Make a purchase Saturday before 3pm and be entered into the drawing! At 3pm a name will be drawn to decide the winner of the pie!

• Indigo's Boutique: On Indigo's Facebook Page you will find a social media contest taking place. Enter to win your pie online and pick it up in person on Saturday!

• Creative State at Clinton Row Shops: Customers will throw their name and number into the green hat for a chance to win the pie on Saturday at participating Clinton Row Shops.

• La Esquina Cocina: La Esquina will be open all day (not closing for a break after lunch like normal) offering their entire menu. If you want a free slice of pie with your meal, all you have to do is wear green!

• Phat Sammy's: Eat at Phat Sammy's on Friday, and get your name entered to win a pie on Saturday!

• Elitaire Boutique: Make a purchase Saturday before 3pm and be entered into the drawing! At 3pm the name will be drawn to decide the winner of the pie!

• Green Bus Brewing: Stop by Green Bus on Saturday between noon and 4pm to register for the drawing. The winner will be announced at 4pm!

• Honest Coffee Roasters: Honest will begin their giveaway on Friday morning on Instagram. Go like, save, share, tag ( all the good stuff ) on the post for a chance to win. The winner will be announced on social media and contacted by DM on Saturday at 10:30 a.m.

• Corner Pour: Check out Corner Pours social media accounts to be entered to win the pie. The winner will be announced on Saturday!

This event is going to have local art vendors, musicians, retail deals, giveaways, and contests! But, that's not all! After our Super Saturday Sidewalk Sale, join us on Holmes Ave. for a St. Patrick's Day Block Party! Don't miss out on any updates and RSVP to our Facebook Event Page!

Join us on Holmes Avenue on the 13th from 3-9 pm for an amazing St. Patrick's Day-themed Block Party!

Live music will start at 11 am and last all the way until 9 pm! Melt Huntsville will be offering a traditional Reuben made with corned beef and Reuben fries, drink specials all day, and street seating from 3-9 pm. Moes Original BBQ will have a delicious crawfish boil. La Esquina Cocina will be open all day with their entire menu and drink specials. Plus, finish off the night at Stellas Elixir Lounge where a DJ will start playing at 9 pm.

Vendors will line the street and there will be great specials all day long. We hope to see you there!

St. Patrick's Day wouldn't be St. Patrick's Day without a glass of beer! Here are our holiday beer picks for this special occasion:

• Straight to Ale: Rocket City Red- a yearly St. Patrick's Day special brew. This Irish Red Ale- is light, malty, and sessionable at 5% ABV. And, The Cow Tipper is Straight to Ale's take on a traditional Car Bomb cocktail, featuring a shot of Shelta Cavern Spirits Whiskeynaut and Irish Cream Liquor dropped into a pint of Lily Flagg Milk Stout.

• Old Town Beer Exchange: Cahaba Brewing Irish Stout on Nitro and Black Warrior Irish Red

• Yellowhammer Brewing: The Kolsch- a light and crisp German-style beer that has been given the luck of the Irish with its whimsical green color, and The Barrel-Aged Wee Heavy- aged for 15 months in Willett bourbon barrels, this silky smooth brew gives you caramel and heavy malt with a warm bourbon finish.

• Green Bus Brewing: Green Omnibus Cream Ale - A traditional American Cream Ale served up Green for St. Paddy's Day. Dominant Red - A traditional Irish Red Ale, an easy-drinking red ale made with an imported Irish malt.

• Chandlers Ford Brewing: Red Bird - Irish Red Ale - 4.2% ABV, Palate Dry Irish Stout - 5.4% ABV, and Catarina Sour - Guavasteen - 3.5% ABV

• Innerspace Brewing: Paddy's Dry Stout, a traditional Irish Stout served on nitro, and the Pub Ale, a traditional English bitter meant to be enjoyed with friends in a proper pub environment.

• Liquor Express: All of the Guinness Family of Brands including the new Nitro Cold Brew Coffee will be at Liquor Express Saturday through St. Patrick's Day. Plus, get 10% off all sizes of Jameson and Proper Twelve Irish Whiskies. The Craft Bar will have $5 Shots of Jameson and Cahaba Brewing Irish Stout on Tap!

• Corner Pour: A Beer by Against the Grain Brewery & IPAcalypse Now by the Singin' River Brewing Company

• Purveyor: Luck of the Irish, Lepre "matcha" Chan, and Irish Sour

• Pourhouse: Irish Mule (Far Left), Guinness Draught, and Lucky Sour Appletini (Far Right)

Drink up Downtown Huntsville!

Date Night in Downtown Huntsville: Where to go this Weekend!

Spend this weekend in Downtown Huntsville! Starting Friday, the Von Brewski Festival kicks off. Saturday is the return of our Super Saturday Sidewalk Sale! On Sunday, treat your Valentine to a great date night! We feature all of that and more in this edition of the Downtown Explorer!

The 2021 Von Brewski Beer Festival is going to be spread out in 4 3-hour events this year, filled with plenty of beer on tap, live music, and pretzel necklaces! Beers will be served at each of the three bars in Mars Music Hall and will include over 70 taps including local, regional, and international brews! A cash bar will be onsite for non-beer drinkers and food will be available for purchase. Plus, a special treat this year, a different solo artist will perform live during each event!

Mars Music Hall Showtimes:
Friday, February 12, 2021 from 6 - 9 p.m.
Saturday, February 13, 2021 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Saturday, February 13, 2021 from 3 - 6 p.m.
Saturday, February 13, 2021 from 7 - 10 p.m.

Tickets:
$40 Pre-Sale Sample Ticket; $15 Non-Sampling Ticket
($50 Sampling ticket at the door)
Tickets available at the VBC Box Office or on Ticketmaster.
You must be 21 or older and have a valid ID to attend.

Learn more information through this Facebook Event Page.

This Saturday, enjoy the return of our Super Saturday Sidewalk Sale with this special Valentines/Mardi Gras edition!!! Shopping for that special someone is a tradition for most during this holiday and we want to be able to provide that for you in a safe way. This fully outdoor event will allow you to walk the streets of downtown to shop from local small businesses and art vendors. Plus, hear live music from our amazing local musicians.

To celebrate Mardi Gras coming up, DHI has partnered with our local small businesses and The Moon Bakeshop to giveaway 10 King Cakes at this event! 10 small businesses have been provided a King Cake from The Moon Bakeshop to giveaway during the event.

View our Facebook Event Page for a map of vendors and buskers, and a list of businesses participating in the King Cake Giveaway! Be sure to follow them to find out how to win a king cake from their business!

We can't wait to see you there!

Need a date night idea in Downtown Huntsville? We've got you covered!

Looking for a nice rooftop brunch or dinner with live music? Then Valentines at Rhythm on Monroe is the date for you! They will be serving a limited edition Valentines Menu for brunch and dinner on Sunday along with live music from Lamont Landers Band during brunch.

Looking for a quick snack to take with you while you walk around downtown? Visit Honest Coffee Roasters for their special collaboration with Maddies Cookie Company! The Honest Coffee x Maddies Cookie Company Valentines special comes with their limited-time White Chocolate Raspberry Mocha and a double chocolate cookie!

On Friday the 12th, Saturday the 13th, and Sunday the 14th enjoy Commerce Kitchen Surf N' Turf Dinner along with their regular menu. On Sunday they will provide their normal brunch menu from 10:30am-2pm and dinner will start at 4pm. Searching for a cocktail? Try their Valentines themed "cupids cocktail" and "pom of her heart". Similarly, you can also grab a Valentines Brunch & Dinner at Cotton Row!

Forgot to get a gift? Grab the Mason Dixon Bakery & Bistro Macaroon Gift Set! Complete with flowers and macaroons, date night is saved!

Another date night option in downtown is Dinner & Brunch at La Esquina Cocina. They will be serving a special Valentines Dinner on Saturday the 13th with items like Ribeyes and Salmon. Then on Sunday the 14th they will have a special Valentines Brunch menu featuring Eggs Benedict, Vegtable Omlettes, cocktails, and much more!

Once your stomachs are satisfied, consider taking a stroll through the historic square or visiting the Downtown Districts. Downtown Huntsville can be a pretty romantic place this time of year!

Super Bowl, Valentines, and Mardi Gras Oh My!

Super Bowl, Valentines, and Mardi Gras are quickly approaching! With an exciting lineup like this, you know Downtown Huntsville has you covered! In this edition of the Downtown Explorer, we list out some amazing Valentine's Day dining and shopping specials, show you some great ways to enjoy the Super Bowl, and announce an exciting giveaway taking place at our Super Saturday Sidewalk Sale!

Looking for a sweet treat or a nice dinner to enjoy this lovely holiday? Trying to find the perfect gift for someone special? Here is a list of some great dining and shopping options in Downtown Huntsville this week (or that require preordering/reservations)!

Dining
MELT- Limited Edition "Pink Panther" Cosmo with a twist
Honest Coffee Roasters- Limited Edition White Chocolate Raspberry Mocha
Pizzelles Confections- 5 piece, 12 piece, and 24 piece chocolate boxes
Mason Dixon Bakery & Bistro- Pick up and reheat 5-course dinner for 2 (preorder online)
The Moon Bakeshop- Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cupcakes and Valentines Themed Lattes
Cotton Row- Valentines Brunch or Dinner (Reservations Required)
Canadian Bakin- Pretzel Bouquets (preorder online)
Rhythm on Monroe- Valentines Day Brunch or Dinner (Reservations Required)
Commerce Kitchen- Valentines Dinner (Reservations Required)
Char Restaurant- Fully Booked for Valentines Day, but order takeout Feb 12-14
Domaine South- February's Six Pack Wine set

Shopping
Mason Dixon Bakery & Bistro- Flower and Macaroon Set
Elitaire Boutique- Valentines Day Cards
Roosevelt and Co.- Shaving Kit Gift Package
In Bloom- Flowers, flowers, and more flowers
Silhouette Shopping- Gift cards
Indigos Downtown- Winter Sale 50% off
AM Collective- Handmade Valentines Earrings
Church Street Wine Shoppe- Valentines Day Gift Baskets

Make sure you view next week's blog for special Date Night Ideas in Downtown Huntsville to learn about even more Valentine's Day Dining and Shopping options!

Want to enjoy Super Bowl Sunday without having to cook your own game day meals? Commerce Kitchen is doing a Super Bowl Sunday Meal Kit specifically for that reason! You can pick up meals for 3, 6, or 10 at Commerce Kitchen between 2 and 3 pm and have them home just in time for kick-off!

Meal for 3 - 4 $42.00
-16 wings celery/carrots and ranch/bleu cheese
- 8 beef sliders
- Queso/salsa and chips

Meal for 6 - 8 $60.00
- 30 wings celery/carrots and ranch/bleu cheese
- 16 beef sliders
- Queso/salsa and chips

Meal for 10 - 12 $100.00
- 45 wings celery/carrots and ranch/bleu cheese
- 24 beef sliders
- Queso/salsa and chips

In case you haven't heard the news, Super Saturday Sidewalk Sales are back for 2021! During this event, local small businesses will extend their merchandise to the sidewalks with special deals and sales. Plus, we will have local art vendors selling their products and buskers providing live music.

On Feb 13th, this special Valentines/Mardi Gras-themed Sidewalk Sale will come with some exciting giveaways! 10 of our local small businesses have been provided with a delicious King Cake from The Moon Bakeshop, and they will randomly be giving them out to customers during the event! So, if your lucky you not only will be going home with a successful shopping trip, but you will also be going home with a King Cake to celebrate Mardi Gras with!

We hope to see you in Downtown Huntsville next Saturday from 11am to 3pm. Don't forget to RSVP to our Facebook Event Page where we will announce the list of businesses that will be giving out the cakes and we will also showcase our map of art vendors and buskers. We can't wait for this Super Saturday!

Downtown Huntsville's 2020 Year In Review

This unique and rough year has sure surprised all of us. 2020 has been a year of transformations and adapting for Downtown Huntsville. As we wave goodbye, we wanted to take a look back at this extraordinary year and what came out of it in this last edition of the Downtown Explorer for 2020!

As the lockdowns began, we strived to do our best to continue to support downtown businesses and provide activities and events for the community. With physical distancing in mind, DHI made significant changes to some of your favorite annual events.

This year, we offered physically distanced Friday Night Art Walks, presented by
Amanda Howard Sotheby's International Realty, Food Truck All Stars, presented by valleymls.com, Downtown Open Putt Putt, presented by Crunkleton Commercial Real Estate Group, and Tinsel Trail, presented by Facebook! These fan favorite events looked a little different this year, but nonetheless, were just as exciting as years past.

Along with these events, we also created a few new ones for 2020! Our downtown businesses placed their merchandise on the sidewalks of downtown in our Super Saturday Sidewalk Sales. This new event was a great way to enjoy shopping in downtown while remaining outdoors in a fresh air environment.

These changes and new events showcased how adaptable our community, local artist, and small business owners are. We plan on continuing to make downtown safe for 2021!

Staying outdoors was a priority in 2020 and Downtown Huntsville is a perfect place to take advantage of that!

This year, we relaunched our Blue Bikes bike share program powered by Tandem Mobility and sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama. With 30 bikes across 11 stations its easier than ever to explore our downtown.

We also released a new set of our Explorer Vlogs showcasing some of the best parks around Downtown Huntsville. You can view the full playlist here.

Our 2020 Pop-Up Parks, presented by Redstone Federal Credit Union, were one of the major highlights of this year. All built by construction companies and architectures, these miniature urban parks included dog parks, physically distanced work spots, and many great relaxation locations.

Downtown Huntsville still has so much to offer outdoors including our Secret Art Trail, presented by Polaris Inc., and right outside the downtown core you can explore Monte Sano Mountain hiking, biking, and more.

Downtown's food and retail businesses sure took a hit this year, but they still have been able to adapt to these challenges.

DHI was able to launch a 7 week campaign known as the Super 7 in 2020! We asked the community to nominate and vote on their favorite breakfast items, food truck items, desserts, coffees, and beers within Downtown Huntsville. The results can be viewed here!

Our Craft Coffee and Craft Beer Trails are still an amazing way to get out and explore downtown while enjoying your favorite beverages. We even added a community favorite, Canadian Bakin, to our Craft Coffee Trail this year! In 2021 you can expect more exciting announcements regarding our trails, so stay tuned!

You can learn more about our downtown small businesses by watching our Small Business Profiles here. These short videos showcase what unique things these businesses bring to our Rocket City Center.

Although 2020 forced us further apart, it showed us how close together our community can be. Moving into 2021, lets continue to support our local community and businesses.

If you are looking for ways to enjoy a New Years cocktail safely this year, visit our Facebook or Instagram account! From all of us at Downtown Huntsville, Inc. we hope you have a great New Year!

Free, Outdoor activities to enjoy Christmas week!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Downtown Huntsville, Inc.! In this edition of the Downtown Explorer, we will share with you free, outdoor activities you can enjoy this week in Downtown Huntsville.

Tinsel Trail is quickly coming to a close, so be sure to visit this free, outdoor event before its gone! Tinsel Trail, presented by Facebook, is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week for you to enjoy at your own convenience.

Food trucks, hot chocolate, desserts, and pop-up Craft Coffee Trail tents are at Tinsel Trail almost every day! So, be sure to check out the special events happening at Tinsel Trail this year through our Special Events Facebook Event Page!

We can't wait to see you at the trail this season!

The Historic Downtown Huntsville houses are some of the most beautiful sites to see this year. Take a stroll through the downtown historic districts to enjoy these gorgeous lights in person. This is a great activity to enjoy with your family safely this season.

Plus, you can visit our DHI Instagram page to see the winner of our Holiday House competition!

Looking for ways to stay active after a big holiday meal? We have many options here in Downtown Huntsville!

Hike, bike, or ride the Monte Sano Mountain Trails! Monte Sano has the best views and fresh air on cool clear days.

Are you a runner? Join in on We Run Downtown Huntsville's outings. Join their Facebook group to post when you'd like to run, meet friends and activity partners, get a workout, and have fun! You can also check out Great Runs website for a comprehensive list of great places to run in and around Downtown Huntsville.

Want to take a quick bike ride around our Rocket City Center? Rent on of our Blue Bikes, presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, around downtown at great affordable prices! Find out more information here.

If you are in search of a less intense outdoor activity, you can participate in the Lucky Duck Scavenger Hunt! The Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau has cleverly hidden 14 ducks around downtown Huntsville, and it’s up to you to find them all. And while you're looking, you can experience the sights and history that the heart of our city has to offer. Perceptive players who find all 14 ducks can stop by the Visitor Center and get a special prize.

An Exclusive Sneak Peek of the Holidays in Downtown Huntsville!

The air is crisp and the holidays are quickly approaching! In this edition of the Downtown Explorer, get a sneak peek at what events are coming to downtown Huntsville this Winter. From the grand opening of Skating in the Park, the new 10 Nights of Santa, and of course our very own Tinsel Trail, this holiday season is guaranteed to be filled with cheer!

The Huntsville Museum of Art (HMA) is opening its ninth season of Skating in the Park this year! The outdoor ice skating rink will officially open at 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 20.

The Museum invites people of all ages to make their holiday season merry and bright at Skating in the Park. Skating in the Park has updated its health and safety policies. All patrons must wear a mask when inside Skating in the Park's boundaries. Guests should also practice social distancing. The rink is limited to 125 skaters at one time, and railings will be disinfected every 90 minutes.

The rink will close on Sunday, Jan. 10 at 8:00pm. Visit HMAs website for hours, special events, and pricing.

Amidst the uncertainty of the pandemic the organizers of Santa’s Village, a north Alabama holiday tradition, have decided to reimagine and relocate the family experience for this year. The 2020 edition of Santa’s Village will be called Ten Nights of Santa. The event will be held indoors December 13-23 at the EarlyWorks Children’s Museum. The new location will allow organizers to uphold safe capacity limits, social distancing and sanitizing protocols.

The reimagined program will offer several “safety inspired” twists, including Santa visiting with children while being protected by “Santa’s Magic Snow Globe.” Due to an accidental spill of “magic elf dust” at the North Pole, Santa has been confined in a “magic snow globe.” However, the jolly old elf is determined that his confinement will not impact his ability and desire to meet with children and spread Christmas cheer.

A limited number of tickets for the 10 night event will be offered online and will adhere to EarlyWorks and ADPH safety protocols. This will be a timed entry, limited capacity event to ensure the safety of all involved. Tickets for the 10 night event will sell out fast!

Tickets for the event must be pre-purchased online. Cost for Ten Nights of Santa is $10 per person (children 12 months and below are free and do not require a ticket). For more information visit online at earlyworks.com

Tinsel Trail 2020, presented by Facebook, is only a few days away!

This years lighting ceremony will be held on November 27th at 6pm as Mayor Battle will kick off Tinsel Trail in Big Spring Park East. After the lighting of the trees, enjoy a special appearance by Mr. and Mrs. Claus, as well as, food from Golden Years Ice Cream Parlor and Diner food truck, hot chocolate from Southerland Sno Depot’s truck, treats from Nothing Bundt Cakes tent, and coffee from Gold Sprints pop-up tent available for purchase.

This free annual event will last from November 27th until January 3rd! Visit Tinsel Trail’s Facebook or Instagram page for more information and a list of special events!

It's Halloweek in Downtown Huntsville!

Ghosts, witches, and scarecrows have been roaming the streets of downtown Huntsville and now they have taken over our Downtown Explorer. In this edition of the Downtown Explorer, we will give you the exclusive on all the tricks and treats you can get in downtown this Halloweek! From daytime dress-up activities to evil evening plans, Downtown HSV has lots of physically-distanced and mask-friendly Halloween festivities. Even if you plan on having a quiet night alone (or so you think), we have a list of some chillingly good Halloween inspired menu items to enjoy this weekend. So, prepare for the fright of your life this week in downtown Huntsville!

You don't have to wait until the sun goes down to enjoy Halloween festivities in downtown Huntsville.

On Friday. Oct. 30th enjoy shopping at the Clinton Row shops for Freaky Friday! Special sales, deals, and food vendors will be there!

Saturday morning, you will see some witches riding through downtown. Don't be frightened, they have some candy to offer the little monsters on their way through! The Blossomwood Witches Ride is a fundraiser for Blount Hospitality House, in Huntsville - as well as an excuse for ladies to let out their witchy side! Their ride has been rescheduled for Halloween morning and we are so excited to see them riding their brooms (bikes) through our city center!

Want to enjoy trick or treating in a safe way this year? Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment is hosting a trick or treat parade! From 2-3pm on Saturday Oct. 31, load up your vehicle with costumed kids (or grown folks) and roll on through Lowe Mill for some sweet treats!

If you'd rather enjoy Halloween under the moon this year, downtown Huntsville has plenty to offer!

Halloween parties are being hosted at Stovehouse, Mars Music Hall, Palms Nightclub, and Sammy T's! Plus, live music is available at Rocket Republic, Furniture Factory Bar & Grill, Sidetracks Music Hall and The Bar at 805.

Straight to Ale will be hosting a Drag Queen Bingo on Friday night and a Horror Movie Trivia on Saturday night both at 6pm in their speakeasy!

You can also celebrate Dia De Los Muertos at La Esquina Cocina on Friday from 5:30-9pm. Live music, salsa lessons, an outdoor street market with local vendors and authentic Mexican food and drinks are provided for FREE!

If you would like a more active Halloween activity to enjoy with your friend group, consider booking the Rocket City Rover for a Boo's Cruise! 

Don't feel like partying for Halloween, enjoy a nice meal and cocktails instead! Here is an extensive list of the variety of Halloween inspired treats our downtown restaurants are offering!

Commerce Kitchen: Halloween cocktails: Black Magic Margarita, Candy Corn Martini, Poison Appletini, Witches Brew.
Humphreys Bar and Grill: Ghoulish brunch at 11am with Tim Cannon with $3 mimosas and $4 bloody Marys. Costume contest, Halloween themed drinks and much more. The Beasley Brothers play at 9pm! NO cover charge!!
Oshi Poke Bowl and Sushi: Spooky Sushi Roll, specialty Pumpkin Spiced Bobba Tea, candy for all,
free select sushi roll to guests wearing sushi themed costumes, streaming family friendly Halloween movies all day long, and $10 Hot Sake $1 off all Import Beer!
Pourhouse: Halloween cocktails: Old Kraken, The Candy Corn, The Raven, and The Cauldron.
Honest Coffee Roasters: The Hex Best Thing, spiced orange and vanilla latte with just a hint of activated charcoal.
MELT: A limited supply of delicious apple cider slushie! Kid-friendly for $3 or spike it with your favorite spirit!
Sam and Gregs: Spooky gelato!
Pane e Vino: Buy one get one half off on all pizza, kids eat free with purchase of adult meal, candy for all kids, Halloween movies all day, $4.99 Pumpkin Martinis $3 Bottle Beer $4 Draft.
The Moon Bakeshop: Cookies-n-ScReAm Cupcakes!
Cotton Row: Sleepy Hollow Cocktail.

Step Outside and Enjoy Downtown Huntsville!

The weather is perfect here in Downtown Huntsville and we want you to take advantage of it! In this edition of the Downtown Explorer, we step outside to enjoy the 2020 Downtown Open course, the soon-to-come 2020 Pop-Up Parks, and watch our new Explorer Vlog series to learn more about our beautiful and unique downtown parks!

Have you been out to enjoy our 2020 Downtown Open course presented by Crunkleton Commercial Real Estate Group? This 17 hole course can be found around the downtown square and surrounding areas. Putt your ball around corners, through tanks and houses, into cups, and much more on this unique course. 

The scorecards and more information about the course can be found on our website. We hope to see you out there putting a hole in one!

Coming soon: 2020 Pop-Up Parks! Downtown Huntsville is welcoming back our Pop-Up Parks for 2020, presented by Redstone Federal Credit Union. Move out the cars and bring in the people from October 15th through the 25th!  

There will be 7 parking spots around the downtown square converted into mini parks for you to enjoy. Some may include fun activities while others may be a relaxing conversational space! 

This 10-day event is free to attend and open to the public! RSVP to our Facebook Event Page!

Did you know Downtown Huntsville is home to many unique and beautiful parks? In our new Explorer Vlog series, we are exploring some of these parks to see what they have to offer. Already checked off of our list is the urban pocket park, Washington Park, as well as the splashpad park, Bicentennial Park! 

You can view these videos on our website and don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel. Join us each week to learn about more of our urban parks in Downtown Huntsville!

Tips For Making the Most of Your Food Truck All Stars Experience!

We are so excited that the 1st Food Truck All Stars is tomorrow night! We know this year's rally may look a little different than in the past, so we want to share our top three tips for having the best time at the event!

Tip #1: Bring Back the Progressive Dinner!
You remember progressive dinners, right? As a refresher, progressive dinners are when you travel to different restaurants for each part of your meal, so you could have appetizers at one place, entrees at another, and finally move to a different place for dessert! Our Socially Distant Food Truck All Stars is the PERFECT opportunity for a progressive dinner! Maybe you can stop for some Truffle Parmesan Fries at I Love Bacon, move to Beast Mode for a Cuban Burger, and then grab a cold treat from Suzy's Pops. The possibilities are endless!

Tip #2: Enjoy Your Favorite Purple Cup Drink While You Explore the Food Trucks!
It's not a coincidence that all of our food trucks are located within a Downtown Huntsville Entertainment District! That means you can grab your favorite beer, wine, or cocktail in a purple cup (adults only, of course!) and take it with you to your next food truck destination! There are plenty of places throughout the event that sell drinks in purple cups. Check out a few below!

• Old Town Beer Exchange (OTBX)

• SiP

• Below the Radar Brewing Company

• Purveyor

• Melt

• Moe's Original BBQ

• Humphrey's Bar and Grill

• The Bottle

• Self-Serve Drinkery

• Phat Sammy's

• The Poppy

• Green Bus Brewing

• Commerce Kitchen

• Cotton Row

• Pane e Vino

• Bar Vista

• Rhythm on Monroe

Tip #3: Explore Downtown Huntsville Between Courses!
While you are waiting for your appetizers to settle before getting your entrees, use that time to take advantage of the many activities that Downtown Huntsville has to offer! We have included some of our favorite things to do when we have free time below.

• Explore the Downtown Huntsville Secret Art Trail and see how many hidden pieces of art you can spot before you finish dessert.

• Experience live, local music through the entire event with Arts Huntsville's Summer Street Jams! They will host performances in three different locations throughout Food Truck All Stars.

• Dinner and a shopping spree? Yes, please! Downtown Huntsville is home to some of the best shopping in the area, so we recommend browsing the selections of our local shops on your way to your next course.

• Enjoy Big Spring Park! See if you can spot any of the ducklings that were born this spring or bring a frisbee to toss under a shade tree. Once the sun goes down, you can enjoy the nightly light show at the grotto in Big Spring Park East. 

Tip #4: Remember to Stay Safe and Socially Distanced!
Although we are trying to get back to a sense of normalcy, we do need to remember that we are still in the middle of a pandemic. Please wear a face covering at all times while standing in line or near any group that isn't in your immediate household. You will see the food truck employees wearing them also! Stay at least 6 feet apart, even while standing in line or waiting for your food. After you get your food, move away from the trucks to avoid congestion. There are plenty of great places to eat around Downtown Huntsville! Most importantly, be respectful to our trucks and those around you. Be kind and patient, and you will have a great experience!

RSVP to the Facebook Event Page and make plans to attend the first Food Truck All-Star rallies on June 5th and 19th from 5:00-9:00 pm! The event is free and open to the public, so we can't wait to see you there!