Calendar of Events

ANNUAL Calendar of Events

AWF Wild Game Cook-off Coosapalooza

Eclectic Easter Egg Hunt

JANUARY

Taste of Elmore County: This annual event hosted at the Wetumpka Civic Center showcases local restaurants and caterers. Proceeds benefit the Elmore County Food Pantry. FEBRUARY

Mardi Gras celebrations: The Millbrook Krewe of Revelers host an annual Mardi Gras Parade and Festival the Saturday before Fat Tuesday. With a mile-long parade along Main Street and dozens of vendors selling Mardi Gras-themed food and items, thousands turn out to this event. The Order of Cimarron in Wetumpka also hosts a Mardi Gras Parade and includes entertainment, vendors and children’s activities, as well as the parade in downtown Wetumpka.

Murder on the Menu: Friends of the Wetumpka Library host an annual fundraiser featuring top-notch mystery authors in a roundtable format.

Paint the Park for Jody 5K Color Fun Run: In memory of Wetumpka high school student and crosscountry athlete Jody Marie Sanford, this fun run raises money for a memorial scholarship in her honor.

ECAG Winter Show: Elmore County Art Guild hosts its annual winter art show with awards and a reception.

Millbrook Mardi Gras Parade MARCH

Easter Egg Hunts: The Alabama Wildlife Federation presents an annual Nature Eggstravangza at the Alabama Nature Center with activities for children. Included in the event are egg hunts, games, crafts and a visit from the Easter Bunny. Various Easter egg hunts are also held throughout the area in Eclectic, Wetumpka, Millbrook and Tallassee. They are sponsored by the towns’ local organizations and churches.

Art Walk Wetumpka: The Third Friday of the month (March to June), artists set up throughout downtown Wetumpka to sell their handmade goods. APRIL

Big Fish Bass Tournament: The Millbrook Area Chamber of Commerce hosts this annual fishing tournament at Bonner’s Landing on Lake Jordan the Saturday before Easter, with hourly weigh-ins for biggest fish.

AWF Wild Game Cook-off: Hosted by the Alabama Wildlife Federation, this event invites participants around the county to compete with their best dishes. Attendees have the chance to taste the food and enjoy the entertainment, which draws hundreds to Lanark in Millbrook.

Coosapalooza Brewfest: Nearly 40 breweries gather in Merchants Alley offering samples of their unique brews. The event, taking place along the Coosa River, is for ages 21 and older. Proceeds benefit Main Street Wetumpka’s downtown revitalization.

Tallassee Annual Golf Tournament: The Tallassee Chamber of Commerce host its annual golf tournament at Wynlakes Country Club.

Tallassee Chamber Golf Tournament

MAY

Wetumpka FFA Alumni Rodeo: Hosted at the Wetumpka Sports Complex, this annual rodeo features bull riding, bareback riding, barrel racing, steer wrestling, team roping, break-away and more. Proceeds benefit the Wetumpka FFA.

Millbrook Farmers Market: The season kicks off in May with the weekly farmers markets on Main Street every Tuesday morning through August. JUNE

Tallassee Summerfest: This summer event features vendors, kids activities, pancake breakfast, dog costume contest and a patriotic concert held at Tallassee City Hall. JULY

River and Blues Festival: The River and Blues Fest is a day full of music, entertainment and vendors held in downtown Wetumpka along the Coosa River.

Fourth of July events:

Lake Jordan HOBOs hosts a firework show on Lake Jordan every year, which can best be seen by boat. It also hosts an annual boat parade on Lake Jordan. The City of Wetumpka usually displays fireworks over the Coosa River, which residents enjoy from Gold Star Park.

Russell Lands On Lake Martin hosts fireworks and a concert at the Lake Martin Amphitheater in Eclectic each year, along with Russell Marine July 4th Boat Parade, starting at Kowaliga Marina and parading passed Children’s Harbor.

Grandview YMCA hosts a fireworks display and cookout on its grounds during the week of July 4. AUGUST

AWF Youth Fishing Rodeo: Designed to give youth the chance to experience the outdoors and learn about fishing, this annual occurrence is held on Lanark’s grounds in Millbrook. The rodeo is open to anyone age 15 and under, and admission is free.

Reimagine Women’s Summit: A convention for women hosts a line-up of inspirational speakers who encourage attendees to reimagine their lives. The event includes a business expo, networking opportunities, gourmet lunch and fashion show and more. The event is hosted by the Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce.

Titus Bluegrass Festival: For more than two decades, the Titus Community Center has presented live music throughout the day in its shady grove with multiple artists performing, along with food vendors and booths filled with crafts, cookbooks and peanuts. OCTOBER

MAX4Kids 23rd Annual Charity Golf Tournament:

Played at RTJ Capitol Hill in Prattville, Max Credit Union hosts this annual fundraiser benefiting children’s charities and high school scholarships in the region.

Alabama Cotton Festival: For nearly three decades, the Town of Eclectic balloons with thousands of visitors, vendors and loads of entertainment for all ages.

Coosa River Whitewater Festival: This two-day annual event, sponsored by the Coosa River Paddling Club, includes kayaking competitions, activities for amateur boaters, live entertainment and more. Proceeds benefit nonprofits dedicated to environmental protection.

Coosa River Challenge: This team-adventure race is a course that combines trail running, mountain biking, paddling, repelling and surprise obstacles along the way. Individuals may participate as well. The route incorporates the Coosa River and its shorelines and concludes in downtown Wetumpka.

Halloween events: Each town holds a candy walk or festival and churches host various trunk-or-treat activities.

Alabama Frontier Days: Visit Fort Toulouse-Fort Jackson State Historic Site in Wetumpka for a reenactment

of Alabama’s frontier days from French Colonial times to the Early American period. It includes Native American reenactors, period traders, merchants and entertainers. NOVEMBER

Great Balls of Fire Golf Tournament: The Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce hosts this annual tournament to raise funds for year-round programs and events.

Wetumpka Wildlife Arts Festival: The Kelly

Eclectic Cotton Festival Fitzpatrick Memorial Gallery will hold its inaugural wildlife festival in downtown Wetumpka celebrating wildlife and field sports through the arts with exhibits, vendors, expert demos and educational classes. DECEMBER

A Downtown Dickens Christmas: This joint event, hosted by the chamber, city and Main Street Wetumpka, celebrates Christmas over two nights with a tree lighting set back in time. Participants adorn period costumes from A Christmas Carol, and there are photo opportunities with Father Christmas, authentic vendors and decorated downtown businesses.

Christmas Parades: Tallassee, Millbrook, Wetumpka and Eclectic all have Christmas parades throughout the holiday season that feature organizations in the community, along with festive decorations. The parades typically coincide with other events, such as open houses, tree lightings and festivals.

An Eclectic Christmas: Hosted by volunteers from An Eclectic Ministry, this annual live showing of the Christmas story draws crowds from around the country. Experience the story in an outdoor walking trail and be part of the live drama that is set during the Roman Empire. Usually taking place the first week of December, guests must make reservations, but admission is free.

Christmas on the Coosa: The City of Wetumpka hosts this annual event on the second Saturday of December. The full-day event features activities throughout Gold Star Park and along the Coosa River, including arts-and-crafts vendors, kids’ activities, live music, a street parade, fireworks and the highly anticipated wakeboarding Santa.

Millbrook Christmas Parade