Moundville Native American Festival
Fall festival · Alabama
Every October, Moundville Archaeological Park sets up between its earthen mounds south of Tuscaloosa for two days of Native American dance, music and storytelling. Artisans sell beadwork and pottery, and demonstrators show flintknapping and hide tanning against a backdrop the Mississippian people built a thousand years ago.
Don’t miss
Plan your visit
Both days 9am-3pm
Dates from the official announcement — always confirm before you go.
Color nearby peaks: November 13–November 17
Color builds from October 31 · mostly bare by December 9
Method: daily ERA5 temperatures drive a photoperiod + chilling phenology model, sampled at Moundville Native American Festival’s own coordinates and elevation (58 m) rather than a regional average. Estimates, not promises — check locally before you plan a trip around it.
Moundville Native American Festival on the map
More things to do in Alabama
Cheaha State Park
State parkPeak November 11
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Don’t miss: Bunker Tower overlook · Alabama's highest point · Pinhoti Trail access
DeSoto State Park
State parkPeak November 10
Little River Canyon's upper reaches cut through this Lookout Mountain park, where 104-foot DeSoto Falls drops into a rhododendron-lined gorge and trails color up through late October and into November, later than most of the state.
Don’t miss: DeSoto Falls · Little River Canyon access · Late-season color
Old Baker Farm
Pumpkin patchColor nearby peaks November 14
A Shelby County farm with over 200 years of history, opening its pumpkin patch southeast of Birmingham on September 26, 2026. Visitors ride a hay wagon out to the field, walk a corn maze and pick cotton straight from the row.
Don’t miss: Hay wagon out to the pumpkin field · Corn maze and hay maze · Pick-your-own cotton
Atrox Factory
Haunted attractionColor nearby peaks November 13
Fifty thousand square feet of indoor haunt east of Birmingham, billed as the largest all-indoor haunted house in the Southeast and ranked among the top 10 in the country. Over a quarter-mile of hallways; the 2026 season opens Friday, October 2.
Don’t miss: 50,000 sq ft, quarter-mile of hallways · Lights Out nights Oct 31 and Nov 1 · Child-friendly actorless night Oct 14
Plan from a city
Frequently asked
- When is Moundville Native American Festival open in 2026?
- The 2026 season runs Oct 1 – Oct 2. Both days 9am-3pm. Dates can shift, so check the official site before you go.
- When does Moundville Native American Festival peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for November 13–November 17 (best estimate November 15). Color starts around October 31 and is mostly bare by December 9.
- What is Moundville Native American Festival best for?
- A cultural day trip from Tuscaloosa or Birmingham.
- How do I get to Moundville Native American Festival?
- The closest city is Birmingham, about 59 mi away. It's part of Alabama's fall lineup.
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