Franklin County Alabama Spirit of Hodges Festival
Most small-town festivals are named for a crop, a season, or a founder. The Spirit of Hodges Festival is named for a fighter plane. During World War II, the residents of Hodges raised more than $47,000 in war bonds to buy a P-51 Mustang, and they named it after their town. The festival keeps that story alive.
Held each October at Hodges Town Park, the festival is a free, full day of music, food, and family fun in a small Franklin County town. Pony rides, a miniature train, a fish fry and chicken supper, crafts, and vendors of all kinds fill the park, and the name on the banner carries a genuine piece of history.
That history is what lifts the festival above a routine community fair. The Spirit of Hodges was a real aircraft, bought by ordinary people who pooled their money for the war effort, and the town has never forgotten it. The festival is both a celebration and a memorial.
Franklin County keeps a busy fall calendar, and the Franklin County Alabama Red Bay Founders Fest Festival shows how a neighboring town honors its own heritage with a September celebration in much the same community spirit.
Spirit of Hodges Festival: Quick Facts
| Festival | Spirit of Hodges Festival |
| County | Franklin County, Alabama (seat: Russellville) |
| Town | Hodges |
| Venue | Hodges Town Park, Hodges |
| Timing | Second weekend of October, typically a Saturday |
| Admission | Free |
| Highlights | Live bands, pony rides, fish fry and chicken supper, crafts, miniature train rides, vendors |
| Organizer | Town of Hodges |
| Region | Northwest Alabama, hill country east of Red Bay |
| Best for | Families, history lovers, and anyone wanting a relaxed fall Saturday |
What the Spirit of Hodges Festival Is
The Spirit of Hodges Festival is a one-day community celebration at Hodges Town Park. It brings together vendors of all kinds, food, live music, and children’s activities, and it runs from morning into the afternoon with free admission throughout.
The program is designed to be broad rather than focused. A full lineup of bands, pony rides and a miniature train for children, a fish fry and chicken supper for the crowd, and craft and vendor booths for shoppers give visitors several different ways to spend the day. Nothing requires a ticket.
The Story Behind the Name
The festival’s name comes from a remarkable piece of local history. In 1943, the people of Hodges raised more than $47,000 in war bonds during an auction, enough to purchase a P-51 Mustang fighter aircraft for the war effort. In recognition, the plane was named the “Spirit of Hodges.”
For a small town, that was an extraordinary sum and an extraordinary gesture. The festival takes its name directly from the aircraft, and the story is the reason the event carries more meaning than its modest size might suggest.
A Memorial as Much as a Festival
Because of that history, the Spirit of Hodges Festival functions as both a celebration and a memorial. The community gathers to enjoy itself, but the name on the banner points back to a wartime sacrifice that the town made together.
It is a rare thing for a small festival to carry that kind of weight. Visitors who learn the story behind the name tend to see the day differently, and the festival’s identity is inseparable from the history it preserves.
Hodges Town Park
Hodges Town Park is the festival’s home, a community green space that hosts the stages, vendor booths, and children’s activities. Its open lawn and pavilion give the event a comfortable, informal setting that suits a town of Hodges’ size.
Because the park is the center of everything, the festival stays compact and easy to navigate. Visitors can move between the music, the food, and the kids’ rides in a few minutes, which keeps the day relaxed rather than rushed.
What to Expect at the Festival
Live Bands All Day
An all-day lineup of bands anchors the festival, with local and regional performers playing through the afternoon. The music ranges across the familiar small-town mix of country, gospel, and rock, and it gives the day a steady rhythm.
The sound carries across the park, so visitors can listen while eating or browsing the vendors. Because the entertainment runs continuously, there is no need to plan around a single headline act; the music is simply part of the atmosphere all day.
Food: Fish Fry and Chicken Supper
The festival’s food is a draw in its own right. A fish fry and a chicken supper are among the offerings, alongside the usual festival fare and the vendors selling sweets and drinks throughout the park.
This is home-style cooking rather than fairground food, and it fits the festival’s character. Plan to eat on the grounds, and bring cash as a backup, since not every vendor is set up to take cards.
Family Activities
Children are well provided for. Pony rides, a miniature train, inflatables, and door prizes give younger visitors plenty to do, and the park’s open space lets families spread out without losing track of one another.
The family focus is one of the festival’s strengths. Rather than a program aimed at adults, the day is built so that children and grandparents can enjoy the same event, which is exactly what a community festival should offer.
Crafts and Vendors
Crafts and vendors of all kinds fill the park, offering handmade goods, local products, and the seasonal items that appear at fall festivals. With the holidays approaching, the festival doubles as an early chance to shop.
The variety is part of the appeal. A festival that welcomes many kinds of vendors feels lively, and the mix gives visitors something to browse between the music sets and the children’s activities.
Planning Your Visit
Getting to Hodges
Hodges sits in eastern Franklin County in northwest Alabama, reached by Alabama routes 172 and 187, between Red Bay and Russellville. It is about 30 minutes from Russellville and roughly an hour and a half from Huntsville. The festival is centered on Hodges Town Park.
Parking and Getting Around
Parking is on the streets and lots around the park, and because the festival is contained within a small area, visitors can park once and walk the rest of the day. Arriving near the start gives the best choice of spaces.
Admission and Costs
Admission is free. You pay only for food, drinks, and vendor goods, and the music and children’s activities cost nothing. Set a small budget for food and crafts, since those are the main places money changes hands.
Weather and What to Wear
Early October in northwest Alabama is mild by day and cooler in the morning and evening, with highs in the 70s. Dress in light layers, bring a jacket for the early hours, and wear comfortable shoes for walking the park.
Where to Stay
Hodges is small, so most visitors stay in Red Bay, Russellville, or the surrounding Shoals area and drive in. For a fall weekend, the nearby lakes and the region’s natural attractions make the trip worth extending beyond the festival itself.
A Sample Festival Saturday
Arrive in the morning, when the park is still quiet and the vendors are setting up. Walk the booths first, then let children enjoy the pony rides and the miniature train before the afternoon crowd arrives.
Eat from the fish fry and chicken supper around midday, then settle in for the afternoon music. The bands play continuously, so there is no wrong time to find a seat, and the day stays relaxed from start to finish.
Before leaving, take a moment with the festival’s namesake story. Knowing that the town bought a fighter plane with its own war bonds gives the day a weight that a simple street fair could never carry.
Other Festivals to Compare
Franklin County and the surrounding area host a range of events through the year:
| Franklin County Watermelon Festival | Russellville, August — free watermelon, contests, and music |
| Red Bay Founder’s Fest | Red Bay, September — heritage, crafts, and a car show |
| Phil Campbell Festival | Phil Campbell, June — music, contests, and a cruise-in |
| Spruce Pine Day | Spruce Pine, October — a small-town community festival |
| Jam on Sloss Lake | Russellville, July 4 — food, music, and fireworks |
Practical Checklist
- Arrive in the morning for the best parking near the park.
- Bring cash for food and craft vendors.
- Pack a jacket for the cooler early-October hours.
- Plan to eat from the fish fry and chicken supper.
- Take a moment to learn the story behind the festival’s name.
Beyond the Festival
Hodges sits in the hill country of eastern Franklin County, an area of woods, farms, and quiet roads. The surrounding region offers rural drives and access to the lakes and recreation areas of northwest Alabama, and the nearby towns each have their own character.
Red Bay, a short drive west, holds its history museum and downtown shops, while Russellville to the north anchors the county with its larger festival calendar. Dismals Canyon, a scenic gorge known for its glowworms, lies within reach for anyone extending the trip.
The wider county keeps a steady rhythm of events. Phil Campbell celebrates in June, Russellville hosts the Watermelon Festival in August, and Red Bay holds Founder’s Fest in September. The Spirit of Hodges closes the county’s outdoor season in October, the last big gathering before winter.
The Significance of the Spirit of Hodges
The Spirit of Hodges Festival matters because of what it remembers. A town that raised more than $47,000 in war bonds to buy a fighter plane did something extraordinary, and the festival keeps that achievement in front of the community year after year.
At the same time, it is a genuinely enjoyable fall Saturday: free music, good food, children’s rides, and crafts in a small-town park. That combination of remembrance and celebration is what makes the festival distinctive, and it is why the name still means something in Hodges.
Festival Area Map
The festival takes place at Hodges Town Park in Hodges, in eastern Franklin County.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Spirit of Hodges Festival?
It is held on the second weekend of October, typically on a Saturday. Confirm the exact date with the Town of Hodges before you travel.
Where is it held?
At Hodges Town Park in Hodges, Alabama, in eastern Franklin County.
Is admission free?
Yes. Admission is free, including the live music and children’s activities. You pay only for food and vendor items.
Why is it called the Spirit of Hodges?
The name honors a P-51 Mustang fighter aircraft that residents of Hodges bought for the World War II effort in 1943 by raising more than $47,000 in war bonds. The plane was named the “Spirit of Hodges.”
Is it good for children?
Yes. Pony rides, a miniature train, inflatables, and door prizes make it a family-friendly day, and the compact park setting keeps everything within reach.
What is Hodges known for?
Hodges is a small town in eastern Franklin County, Alabama, known for its annual Spirit of Hodges Festival and the wartime history behind the festival’s name.
What to Expect From the Next Spirit of Hodges Festival
The festival is an annual event and is expected to return to Hodges Town Park on the second weekend of October, organized by the Town of Hodges.
How often is the Spirit of Hodges Festival held?
Every year, on the second weekend of October. It is a standing part of the town’s calendar.
When is the next festival?
The next edition is expected on the second weekend of October. Organizers publish the music lineup and schedule in advance.
Will the schedule change?
The early-October timing has been consistent, but the exact date, entertainment, and attractions can change year to year, and fall weather can affect an outdoor event. Check the current schedule before you go.
Last updated: October 2026
The Spirit of Hodges Festival is a free, one-day October celebration with a remarkable story behind its name — live bands, a fish fry and chicken supper, pony rides, and crafts at Hodges Town Park. Come for the music and stay for the history.
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