Jackson County Alabama Art Sunday Arts & Crafts Festival

On the Sunday before Labor Day, King Caldwell Park in Scottsboro becomes an open-air gallery for the Art Sunday Arts & Crafts Festival, one of the longest-running juried art shows in north Alabama. Now in its sixth decade, the event gathers more than a hundred artists and makers from across the Southeast under the park’s shade trees for a single, unhurried day of art, music, and food.

Art Sunday is organized by the Scottsboro Three Arts Club, and proceeds from the show support a long list of community programs, from violin lessons for local third graders to scholarships and library support. That charitable backbone gives the festival a purpose beyond shopping, and it helps explain why artists and visitors return year after year.

Art Sunday Arts & Crafts Festival: Quick Facts

Location	King Caldwell Park, 1004 South Broad Street, Scottsboro, Jackson County
Typical timing	The Sunday before Labor Day
Admission	Small fee for adults; free for young children, military ID holders, and event shirt wearers
Scale	100-plus juried artists and makers
Highlights	Fine art, crafts, photography contest, live entertainment
Organizer	Scottsboro Three Arts Club

A Juried Show with a Small-Town Feel

Art Sunday is a juried show, which means the work on display is selected rather than simply rented a booth. That standard shows in the mix, which ranges from painters and potters to jewelers, woodworkers, and textile artists. Many of the participants are established regional names, while others are emerging makers showing in public for the first time, and the blend keeps the show from feeling either stuffy or thin.

Art-driven festivals appear throughout the state, and the Jackson County Alabama Scottsboro BBQ Festival shows how a nearby county blends craft vendors with the rest of a downtown celebration.

The park setting does a lot of the work. King Caldwell Park is a shaded, walkable space with a pavilion and open lawns, so the festival spreads out comfortably rather than crowding along a single street. Visitors move at their own pace, stopping to talk with artists, and the atmosphere stays relaxed even when attendance is high.

What to See and Do

Shopping is the main draw, but Art Sunday offers more than booths. A photography contest invites amateur photographers to submit an 8×10 print for a small entry fee, with entries earning free admission and a shot at prizes. Children’s activities are scattered through the park, ranging from face painting and balloon art to hands-on craft stations, and a stage near the food vendors hosts singers, dancers, and musicians from the area.

Food and beverage vendors line the park, offering the usual festival fare along with local favorites. Because the show runs from morning to late afternoon, it is easy to arrive early, shop slowly, break for lunch, and still have time to circle back for anything you decided to think about. Prizes are typically awarded in the mid-afternoon.

A Day Out in Scottsboro

Scottsboro makes a natural base for a Labor Day weekend that mixes art with the outdoors. The town sits near the Tennessee River and within reach of the mountains and waterways that define northeast Alabama, so visitors often pair the festival with a hike, a boat outing, or a scenic drive. The downtown and riverfront are close enough to the park that a full day of exploring is easy to arrange.

Because the show falls on a holiday weekend, it draws visitors from across the region, including from neighboring states. That breadth is part of the appeal for artists, who reach an audience larger than a typical small-town show would provide. For visitors, it means a wider selection of work than the size of the town might suggest.

Why It Endures

Art Sunday has lasted more than fifty years because it never lost sight of its purpose. It is a fundraiser, a marketplace, and a community gathering rolled into one, and it treats all three with equal seriousness. For a town of Scottsboro’s size, that is a remarkable run, and it speaks to the value residents place on the arts and on the organizations that keep them alive.

Buying Art at a Juried Show

Buying at a juried show is different from browsing a general market. Because artists are selected, the quality is more consistent, and many of the makers are present at their booths, which means you can ask directly about materials, techniques, and care. That conversation is often the most valuable part of the purchase, especially for first-time collectors.

Prices at a show like this span a wide range, from inexpensive prints and small crafts to significant original pieces. If a work catches your eye, it is worth asking whether the artist takes commissions or has related pieces available, since many do. Because the show is a fundraiser, buying local art here also supports the community programs the Three Arts Club funds.

The Photography Contest

The annual photography contest gives amateur photographers a reason to take part rather than simply attend. Entrants submit an 8×10 print for a modest fee, and every entry earns free admission to the festival along with a chance at prizes. Submissions are accepted ahead of the event and also on the morning of the show at a designated location in the park.

The contest is deliberately open to beginners, which keeps the barrier to entry low and the spirit friendly. Winners are announced during the afternoon, and the display of entries becomes an attraction in its own right, giving visitors a look at how local photographers see the region. It is one of the details that gives Art Sunday its community character.

A Labor Day Weekend in Scottsboro

Art Sunday lands on the Sunday before Labor Day, which makes it a natural part of a long holiday weekend. Scottsboro sits near the Tennessee River and within reach of the mountains, so visitors can pair the art show with a hike, a boat outing, or a scenic drive. The town’s downtown and riverfront add options for the rest of the day.

Because the show runs from morning to late afternoon, there is time to shop, eat, and still get outdoors before evening. For families, that flexibility is a real advantage, and for travelers it means the festival can be one part of a fuller weekend rather than the whole trip. Lodging in and around Scottsboro fills early on holiday weekends, so planning ahead helps.

Tips for First-Time Visitors

Come early for the best selection and the easiest parking. Bring cash for the entry fee, the photo contest, and smaller vendors, and wear comfortable shoes, since the show spreads across a shaded park with uneven ground in places. A tote bag makes carrying purchases easier.

Talk to the artists. Because this is a juried show with makers on site, the conversations are part of the experience, and many are happy to explain their process. If you plan to enter the photo contest, check the submission rules and deadline in advance, and remember that the prize announcements usually come in the afternoon.

The Value of a Juried Show

Not every arts festival is juried, and the distinction matters. In a juried show, a panel reviews applicants and selects participants, which raises the overall quality and gives buyers confidence that the work has been vetted. For artists, acceptance is a mark of credibility; for visitors, it means a show worth traveling to.

That selectivity is part of why Art Sunday has endured for more than five decades. By holding a standard, the organizers built a reputation that attracts both serious artists and serious collectors, and the show’s longevity has made it a fixture on the regional arts calendar. It is a small-town event with a big-city standard.

Art as Community Investment

The money raised at Art Sunday goes back into the community in concrete ways. Proceeds have funded violin lessons for third graders, field trips to plays and symphonies, scholarships for graduating seniors, the public library, and local learning centers. Each purchase at the festival contributes, indirectly, to those programs.

That model turns an afternoon of shopping into something larger. Visitors are not just buying art; they are supporting a cycle in which the arts fund more arts, and children who might never otherwise encounter classical music or live theater get a chance to. For a town of Scottsboro’s size, that is a meaningful return on a day in the park.

The Park as a Venue

King Caldwell Park does much of the work of making Art Sunday pleasant. Its shade trees, open lawns, and pavilion give the show a relaxed, garden-party feel that a parking lot or convention hall could never match. Visitors can wander without the press of a crowded street, and artists can set up in a setting that flatters their work.

The park’s central location also makes the show easy to reach, whether on foot from downtown or by a short drive. A photography contest, children’s activities, and a stage near the food vendors fill out the day, and the overall layout keeps everything within a comfortable walk. It is a venue that has grown with the event.

Festival Area Map

The map below marks King Caldwell Park in Scottsboro along with the main roads and surrounding Jackson County communities. The park sits just south of the downtown core on South Broad Street, making it easy to reach on foot or by a short drive.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Art Sunday?

It is held on the Sunday before Labor Day each year at King Caldwell Park in Scottsboro, Alabama.

Is there an admission fee?

There is a modest fee for adults and school-age children. Entry is free for children five and under, for visitors with a military ID, and for anyone wearing that year’s Art Sunday shirt.

What kind of art is for sale?

The juried show includes painting, pottery, jewelry, woodwork, textiles, photography, and more, with work from established and emerging artists across the Southeast.

Is there a photography contest?

Yes. Amateur photographers can submit an 8×10 print for a small fee, and entries include free admission to the festival plus a chance to win prizes.

Where do the proceeds go?

Proceeds support community programs such as violin lessons for third graders, student field trips, scholarships, the public library, and other local arts and education efforts.

What forms of payment do artists accept?

Many accept cards, but not all, especially smaller vendors. Carrying some cash ensures you can buy from every booth and cover the entry and contest fees.

Is the park accessible?

King Caldwell Park has paved areas and a pavilion, though some ground is uneven. Visitors with mobility needs can generally navigate the main paths, and staff can point out the easiest routes.

Planning Ahead for Next Year

How do artists apply to show?

Applications are handled by the Scottsboro Three Arts Club, and juried artists are selected ahead of the event. Inquiries are best made in the spring or early summer.

How do I enter the photo contest?

Contest rules, deadlines, and drop-off locations are published by the club in the weeks before the festival, usually in August.

What should I bring?

Comfortable shoes, sun protection, and a tote for purchases will serve you well, along with cash for smaller vendors and the entry fee.

Can I volunteer with the Three Arts Club?

The club welcomes community support, and its members organize the show each year. Inquiries about volunteering can be directed to the club ahead of the festival.

Last updated: October 2026

Art Sunday is what happens when a community decides that art is worth an annual celebration. More than a hundred makers under the shade trees, a photography contest for amateurs, children painting at craft tables, and proceeds that quietly fund the next generation of local artists. It is a Labor Day weekend tradition that rewards a slow, curious walk.