Cool Down in Downtown

by: Sydney Kate Watson, DHI Communications Intern

As summer starts to heat up, it’s the perfect time to cool down! We have some fun Downtown activities that will entertain you and your family while you beat the heat!

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Water Fun

The Splash Pad in Bicentennial Park is a fantastic way for the kids to cool off! The park is located directly behind the EarlyWorks Children’s Museum and is open to the public for free! While at the splash pad, there are several benches for you to relax while watching your children plus enjoy a shady pergola and several public art pieces. Or you can check out another splash pad in our Merrimack District, the Everybody Can Play Splash Pad, located in Brahan Spring Park. There is a large pavilion that you can rent for parties, but the splash pad itself is free to the public!


If your family is more interested in the full-on water experience, we have what you need! Also located in the Merrimack District is the Huntsville Aquatics Center. After its renovations were completed in 2017, the Aquatics Center is one of the largest indoor facilities of its kind in the United States. General admission to this great facility is only four dollars!

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Mountain Breeze

Another escape from the heat is to head to the mountain, Monte Sano Mountain! As you drive to the top of Monte Sano, the air becomes cooler due to the higher elevation. On the mountain, there are plenty of activities! You can check out Burritt on the Mountain where you can step back in time to the 1800s and discover a different way of life. They also offer a variety of different activities, for the family or for adults only. This summer, Burritt on the Mountain is presenting Cocktails at the View sponsored by First Bank. At this event, you can enjoy the sun setting over Huntsville all while sipping a cocktail! 

Other family-friendly activities include hiking opportunities! There are Burritt Nature Trails and also Land Trust of North Alabama Trails on Monte Sano Mountain. Each trail varies in difficulty and length to provide opportunities for all hiking levels. Monte Sano also has its very own State Park! This park is complete with hiking and biking trails, campsites, cabins, and even a playground for the kids or kids at heart!

If you’re not a hiking enthusiast but still want to enjoy the mountain breeze, visit The Little Green Store and Gallery! The store showcases regional and local jewelry, glass, pottery, and art. It’s a must if you’re interested in shopping locally!

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Cool Treats

Any hot and humid summer day can be cooled off with a tasty summer treat! Piper and Leaf in Constitution Hall Park offers iced teas of all flavors, and as a true Southerner, there’s nothing that beats an iced tea on a hot summer day! There are also creamier options, such as grabbing some ice cream from the Cozy Cow by Big Spring Park, gelato from Sam and Gregs on the Southside Square, or a milkshake from Cookie Dough Magic on Holmes. If you’re looking for a cool treat with adult options, check out Suzy’s Pops at Lowe Mill, Greene Street Market, or our Food Truck and Trailer Rallies! Their pops feature fresh produce from local farmers, and some of their pops are made with adult beverages.

Whatever way you decide to cool off, we hope you will check out these fun options Downtown Huntsville has to offer!

Parade Season in Downtown Huntsville

We love this time of year because it means we’re in the middle of what we like to call “parade season” in Downtown Huntsville.  

What is “parade season”?  

It’s actually pretty simple: beginning in November with the Veterans Day Parade (the second largest in the country, by the way), Downtown Huntsville hosts what is typically five straight months of parades.

December brings the nighttime Christmas Parade, followed by the inspiring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Parade in January.  Then in February and March, the Mardi Gras Parade and St. Patrick’s Day Parade, two of the most festive parades in the area, roll into the Rocket City Center.

While shorter than the others, the Downtown Huntsville Mardi Gras Parade still brings the party. Local groups create quirky krewes and floats with plenty of beads to be shared.  This year’s route will run down Green Street to Gates Avenue, follow Southside and Eastside Courthouse Square, and return on Washington Street and Jefferson Street to end at The Furniture Factory. And, while we love the beads, please note that they may be only thrown and received in designated areas with metal barricades.  Never fear though, as many Downtown establishments feature parade after-parties where the beads flow as freely as the fun.

Wrapping up Downtown Parade Season is the long-standing Huntsville St. Patrick’s Day Parade.  Officially known as the Ellen McAnnely Memorial St. Patrick’s Day Parade, it brings throngs of green-clad participants to the Rocket City Center.  The route includes the traditional procession down Jefferson Street, where the parade is blessed by Saint Mary of the Visitation Church. Thousands of parade participants and onlookers prepare for a day (and night) filled with green memories and fun.

As you can hopefully see, November through March is an amazing time to experience a parade of almost every kind right here in Downtown Huntsville!