Pickens County Alabama Carrollton Fall Festival
Each October, the historic square at the center of Carrollton fills with tents, food trucks, and the smell of fall cooking. The Carrollton Fall Festival is the county seat’s biggest day of the year, a street fair that brings the whole of Pickens County together around its most famous landmark.
The festival takes place on the Pickens County Courthouse Square, a setting that gives the event much of its character. The old courthouse and the buildings around the square provide a backdrop that no temporary stage could match, and the whole downtown becomes a walkable fairground for a Saturday.
Carrollton is a small town with a long history. As the seat of Pickens County, it has been the center of local government and commerce since the early nineteenth century, and its square has hosted gatherings of one kind or another for most of that time. The fall festival is the latest in a long line.
| Festival name | Carrollton Fall Festival |
| Location | Pickens County Courthouse Square, Carrollton, Pickens County, Alabama |
| Typical timing | October |
| Format | One-day street festival on the courthouse square |
| Admission | Open to the public |
| Organizers | Town of Carrollton and community volunteers |
| Signature features | Vendors, food trucks, family entertainment, and a 5K |
About the Carrollton Fall Festival
The fall festival is a straightforward, well-loved community event. Vendors set up around the square, food trucks park along the surrounding streets, and the day is filled with entertainment for families. There is no elaborate theme and no gimmick, just a town opening its center to visitors for a day.
Over the years the festival has grown into one of the county’s signature events, with recent editions marking more than a decade of annual celebrations. It has become a tradition for families across west Alabama, and it draws visitors from beyond the county line. For a look at how it fits the local calendar, it sits alongside events such as the Pickens County Alabama Mule Day/Chickenfest Festival in June.
A 5K run and walk has become part of the day, starting early and finishing back at the square in time for the festival to get going. The course loops through historic downtown Carrollton, passing the courthouse and the surrounding streets, and it gives the event an active start before the vendors open.
The Square and Its Legend
The Pickens County Courthouse Square is the heart of Carrollton, and it carries a story that has made the town known across Alabama. In 1876 a freedman named Henry Wells was accused of burning the county courthouse. Two years later, as a mob gathered to hang him, he stood on the roof of the new courthouse and swore that his face would haunt the town. The legend has been told ever since.
As the story goes, a bolt of lightning struck nearby and etched the image of his face into a windowpane of the courthouse. A vague likeness is still pointed out in the glass today, and the tale has become one of the state’s best-known ghost stories. The old courthouse is a landmark that visitors come to see in its own right, and the window remains the most photographed detail on the square.
- County seat of Pickens County, Alabama
- Home of the historic Pickens County Courthouse
- Site of the “Face in the Window” legend
- Host of the annual Carrollton Fall Festival
- Intersected by Alabama Highways 17 and 86
What to Expect at the Festival
Vendors and food trucks
The vendor area is the center of the festival. Booths ring the square with handmade crafts, clothing, jewelry, home decor, and seasonal goods, and food trucks serve everything from barbecue and burgers to festival sweets. The mix of local makers and small businesses gives the event a distinctly homegrown feel, and there is usually a fall theme running through the decorations and the goods on offer.
Family entertainment
Live music and family entertainment run through the day, and activities for children are set up around the square. The event is designed to be easy for families, with everything within walking distance and plenty of space to move around. It is a relaxed, unhurried kind of festival.
The 5K run and walk
The fall festival 5K has become a local tradition, with runners and walkers of all ages taking part. The course climbs and turns through downtown, and the finish brings participants right back to the middle of the action. Registration is handled in advance, and the race is one of the day’s most anticipated events.
Planning Your Visit
Getting to Carrollton
Carrollton sits at the crossroads of Alabama Highway 17 and Alabama Highway 86 in the center of Pickens County. Tuscaloosa is roughly an hour away, and the drive from Birmingham takes a little longer. U.S. Highway 82 passes just north of the county, giving travelers from the west an easy route in.
Where to stay
Carrollton is small, and lodging options in town are limited. Most visitors base themselves in Tuscaloosa or the neighboring towns, or make the festival a day trip. October is a busy month for travel in Alabama, so it pays to plan ahead if you are staying overnight.
Logistics and tips
The festival runs through the day, with the 5K in the morning and the vendor area open into the afternoon. Bring cash for vendors, wear comfortable shoes for the square and surrounding streets, and arrive early to find parking near downtown. Vendors should register in advance with the organizers.
A Day at the Festival
The day starts with the 5K, as runners and walkers gather near the square before the sun has fully warmed the morning. The course takes them past the courthouse and through the surrounding streets, and the finish draws a crowd back to the center of town.
By mid-morning the vendors are set up and the square is filling. Families arrive, food trucks start serving, and the music begins. The middle of the day is the busiest stretch, with the square packed and the surrounding streets lined with cars.
The afternoon passes in an easy rhythm of shopping, eating, and talking with neighbors. As the light turns golden over the courthouse, vendors begin to pack up, and Carrollton settles back into its usual quiet. Visitors often linger for a last look at the square before heading home.
How It Compares to Nearby Events
Pickens County and its neighbors keep a full festival calendar, and each event has its own feel. The table below places the Carrollton Fall Festival alongside a few others in the area.
| Festival | Focus | Typical season |
| Carrollton Fall Festival | Courthouse square street fair with a 5K | October |
| Face in the Window Fest | Legend, history, and downtown vendors | October |
| Mule Day/Chickenfest | Mule-drawn parade and street vendors | June |
| Aliceville Dogwood Festival | 5K, rides, games, and family fun | April |
A Festival Checklist
- Register early for the 5K if you want to run
- Bring cash for food trucks and craft vendors
- Take a look at the old courthouse and the famous window
- Wear comfortable shoes for the square and side streets
- Confirm the current year’s date with the town before you go
Beyond the Festival
Carrollton rewards a closer look. The historic courthouse and the surrounding downtown are worth a walk, and the Face in the Window legend gives the square a story to go with its architecture. The town also serves as a good base for exploring the rest of Pickens County.
To the west, Aliceville offers the Tom Bevill Visitor Center and Museum and the preserved riverboat Montgomery, along with the history of the wartime prisoner-of-war camp. To the east, Gordo holds its own traditions, and the rural roads in between wind through farmland and pine. For visitors who come for the fall festival, a drive through the county makes the day complete and shows how much variety a single rural county can hold.
Why the Festival Matters
The Carrollton Fall Festival matters because it keeps the county seat at the center of county life. In a rural area where people are spread across a wide landscape, a day on the square is a chance to see neighbors, support local makers, and mark the turn of the season together.
It also matters because of where it happens. The square is the physical heart of Pickens County, and filling it with people once a year keeps that role alive. The festival is a small event with a large purpose, and it has earned its place as a local tradition.
Festival Area Map
The Carrollton Fall Festival is held on the Pickens County Courthouse Square in Carrollton, Alabama, at the crossroads of Alabama Highways 17 and 86 in the center of the county.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Carrollton Fall Festival held?
It is held each October, usually on a Saturday. The day begins with a 5K and continues with vendors and entertainment on the square into the afternoon.
Where is the festival held?
It takes place on the Pickens County Courthouse Square in Carrollton, Alabama. The square and the surrounding streets host the vendors and activities.
Is there an admission fee?
The festival is open to the public at no charge. Food, goods, and the 5K have their own costs, so bring cash for vendors and check the race details in advance.
What can I expect at the festival?
Expect a street fair on the courthouse square with craft vendors, food trucks, live entertainment, activities for children, and a 5K run and walk earlier in the day.
Is the festival good for families?
Yes. Everything is within walking distance of the square, the atmosphere is relaxed, and there is entertainment for children. It is an easy day out for families of all ages.
What is the Face in the Window?
It is a legend tied to the old Pickens County Courthouse. The story holds that the face of Henry Wells was etched into a windowpane by lightning in 1878, and a likeness is still pointed out in the glass today.
What to Expect From the Next Carrollton Fall Festival
The fall festival has become an annual fixture in Carrollton, and the town and its volunteers continue to organize it each year. The combination of vendors, food, entertainment, and the 5K has proven popular and durable.
How often is the Carrollton Fall Festival held?
It is held once a year, in October, and has marked more than a decade of annual celebrations.
When is the next Carrollton Fall Festival?
The next edition is expected on a Saturday in October, with the date announced by the town in advance. Check the current schedule before you plan your visit.
Will the festival change?
The core of the day, vendors, food, entertainment, and the 5K on the courthouse square, is likely to remain the same. Specific attractions are set each year by the organizers.
Last updated: October 2026
