St. Clair County Alabama Lakeside Live Musicfest Festival
On a Saturday in September, the lawns of Lakeside Park on Logan Martin Lake fill with lawn chairs, food trucks, and the sound of live bands. The Lakeside Live Musicfest is a free, family-friendly festival in Pell City, and it has become one of St. Clair County’s signature fall events.
The music runs all day across the park, with a lineup of regional acts taking the stage from mid-morning into the evening. Around the music, the festival adds food trucks, craft vendors, carnival rides, and a car show, which together turn a single Saturday into a full community day.
Pell City sits on Logan Martin Lake in St. Clair County, about thirty-five miles east of Birmingham along Interstate 20. The festival is held at Lakeside Park, right on the water, and the city partners with the Five16 Foundation to put it on each year.
| Event name | Lakeside Live Musicfest |
| Location | Lakeside Park, Pell City, St. Clair County, Alabama (Logan Martin Lake) |
| Typical timing | A Saturday in September (starts at 10 a.m.) |
| Format | Free outdoor music festival with vendors and family activities |
| Admission | Free |
| Organizers | Five16 Foundation, with the City of Pell City and Pell City Parks & Recreation |
| Signature features | Full-day live music lineup, Battle of the Badges, car show, carnival rides |
A Full Day of Music
Music is the reason for the festival, and the schedule runs nearly nonstop from morning to evening. A typical lineup opens with a local act at 10 a.m., moves through regional bands across the afternoon, and closes with a headline set around 6 p.m. The genres lean toward rock, country, and Americana, chosen to keep a broad crowd on its feet.
Because the park is on the lake, the stage setting is open and relaxed. Visitors spread blankets and set up chairs on the grass, and the music carries across the water. It is a festival built for lingering rather than rushing from one attraction to the next.
The daylong format is part of what makes Lakeside Live work as a community event. Families can come for the morning, stay through lunch, and leave whenever the children run out of steam, without feeling like they missed the main event. The free admission removes the pressure to get a full day’s value out of a ticket.
Battle of the Badges
One of the festival’s most popular traditions is the Battle of the Badges, a friendly competition between the Pell City Police Department and the Pell City Fire Department. Officers and firefighters square off in relay races, a tug-of-war, and other contests while the crowd cheers them on.
The event is as much about community relations as competition. It puts the city’s first responders in front of residents in a lighthearted setting, and it gives families a reason to gather around the field between music sets. For many visitors, it is the highlight of the afternoon.
What Else Is Happening
- Food trucks: a range of local vendors serving through the day.
- Craft vendors: handmade goods and local retail booths.
- Carnival rides: rides and games for children and families.
- Car show: a display of classic and custom vehicles.
- Battle of the Badges: police versus fire competitions.
Anyone who comes for the music can also plan around the St. Clair County Alabama Logan Martin LakeFest Festival, the spring boat show that opens the lake season at the same Pell City park.
A Charitable Festival
Lakeside Live is a charitable event, with proceeds supporting the St. Clair County Children’s Place and other local organizations. Local businesses sponsor the festival, and the Five16 Foundation organizes it in partnership with the city. That structure keeps admission free while still funding a good cause.
The charitable focus fits the character of the event. It is a festival built by and for the community, and the money it raises stays close to home. Visitors get a free day of music and activities, and local organizations get support they would otherwise have to raise separately.
Planning Your Visit
Lakeside Park is on the Pell City waterfront, reached from Interstate 20 and U.S. 231. From Birmingham the drive is about thirty-five minutes east. The festival begins at 10 a.m. and runs into the evening, with the headline act taking the stage around 6 p.m.
Admission is free, and the park’s lakeside layout keeps the festival compact enough to walk easily. September weather in central Alabama is warm, so shade, water, and sunscreen are worth planning for. Bringing lawn chairs or a blanket makes the music far more comfortable, since seating is on the grass.
Parking fills as the day goes on, so arriving in the morning is the easiest strategy. Visitors who come for the opening acts get the best parking, the coolest hours, and a relaxed first look at the vendors before the afternoon crowds build.
A Festival Day Plan
- 10 a.m.: Arrive at the opening set for the best parking and the quietest hours.
- Midday: Work through the food trucks and craft vendors.
- Afternoon: Catch the Battle of the Badges and the car show.
- Late afternoon: Take children to the carnival rides.
- 6 p.m.: Settle in for the headline music set as the sun drops over the lake.
Other St. Clair County Festivals
- Logan Martin LakeFest in Pell City: a spring in-water boat show and lake festival.
- Pell City Hometown Block Party: a free summer block party in historic downtown Pell City.
- Homestead Hollow in Springville: a fall arts and crafts weekend on a historic homestead.
What to Bring
- Lawn chairs or a blanket for the grass.
- Sunscreen and water for a warm September day.
- Cash for food trucks, vendors, and carnival rides.
- A hat for the sunny afternoon hours.
- A light layer for the evening once the sun drops.
Around Pell City
Pell City is the county seat of St. Clair County and sits along Interstate 20 between Birmingham and Talladega. Its waterfront on Logan Martin Lake anchors the city’s recreational life, and Lakeside Park hosts both the music festival and the annual farmers market. The downtown area, a short drive from the park, has its own calendar of community events.
The Lineup and the Setting
A typical Lakeside Live schedule opens with a local act at 10 a.m. and runs through the afternoon with a string of regional bands before a headline set around 6 p.m. The genres lean toward rock, country, and Americana, and the bands are chosen to keep a broad, all-ages crowd engaged through a long day.
The park setting on Logan Martin Lake is central to the experience. The stage faces open lawns that run down to the water, and visitors spread blankets and set up chairs on the grass. Because there is no admission charge, families can come and go as the day suits them rather than committing to a full day.
Food and Vendors
Food trucks are a fixture of Lakeside Live, with a range of local vendors serving through the day and into the evening. The food area sits close to the lawns, so visitors can grab something and return to their spot without missing much of the music. Local vendors also sell crafts and goods alongside the food.
Carnival rides and games round out the festival for families, and the car show gives visitors another reason to walk the park between sets. Together, these attractions turn a music festival into a full community day with something for every age in the crowd.
The mix also keeps the festival moving. Visitors who tire of one area can wander to another, and the compact park layout means nothing is more than a few minutes away. That ease of movement is a big reason families can stay for most of the day without wearing out.
Getting to Lakeside Park
Lakeside Park sits on the Pell City waterfront, reached from Interstate 20 and U.S. 231. Pell City is roughly midway between Birmingham and Talladega, which puts the festival within an easy drive for much of central Alabama. The park is a short trip from downtown Pell City as well.
Parking fills as the day progresses, so arriving near the 10 a.m. start is the simplest strategy. Because the festival is free and runs all day, there is no rush to arrive at any particular hour, but early arrivals get the best parking and the coolest weather for setting up a spot on the grass.
The Music Lineup and Community Spirit
What gives Lakeside Live its character is the mix of music and community. The bands are regional rather than national, which keeps the day rooted in local talent, and the charitable mission gives the festival a purpose beyond entertainment. Visitors are not just watching a show; they are supporting the St. Clair County Children’s Place and other local organizations.
That spirit shows up in the details. Local businesses sponsor the stages, community groups run booths, and the Battle of the Badges puts the city’s first responders at the center of the afternoon. It is a festival that reflects the town that puts it on.
Why the Festival Endures
Lakeside Live has lasted because it does a simple thing well: it gives the community a free, well-run day of music on the water. The charitable mission, the first-responder competition, and the family activities all reinforce the same idea, that the festival belongs to Pell City rather than to any single organizer.
Festival Area Map
Lakeside Live Musicfest is held at Lakeside Park on the Pell City waterfront, on Logan Martin Lake in St. Clair County, just off Interstate 20.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lakeside Live Musicfest free?
Yes. Admission is free and the festival is open to the public.
When is the festival held?
It is held on a Saturday in September, beginning at 10 a.m. and running into the evening.
Where is it held?
It is held at Lakeside Park in Pell City, Alabama, on Logan Martin Lake.
What is the Battle of the Badges?
It is a friendly competition between the Pell City Police Department and the Pell City Fire Department, with relay races, a tug-of-war, and other contests.
Who organizes the festival?
The Five16 Foundation hosts Lakeside Live, partnering with the City of Pell City and the Pell City Parks & Recreation Department.
Is it good for children?
Yes. Carnival rides, food, and the outdoor park setting make it a family-friendly event.
What to Expect From the Next Lakeside Live
Lakeside Live returns each September with the same free, full-day format on the lake. The music lineup and vendor list change year to year, but the location at Lakeside Park, the Battle of the Badges, and the charitable mission stay the same. Because admission is free, it is an easy festival to attend on a whim.
How often is the festival held?
It is held once a year, on a Saturday in September.
When is the next festival?
The next edition is expected on a Saturday in September. Confirm the date and the music schedule with the organizers before you go.
Will the music lineup change?
Yes. The bands change each year, while the free admission, the location, and the family activities stay the same.
Last updated: October 2026
