Cullman’s annual sweet celebration returns April 25-26, when the Alabama Strawberry Festival celebrates the region’s rich agricultural heritage, offering two days filled with family-friendly activities, live entertainment and fresh strawberries.

Along with fresh strawberries, the festival offers a variety of food vendors with strawberry menu items, a kid’s area, a doggie pawgeant, a strawberry-inspired baking contest and more than 80 artisan vendors selling strawberry-themed food, handcrafted collectibles, boutique-style clothing and locally sourced products.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, April 25 and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, April 26 at the Festhalle Farmers Market and Depot Park located at 309 1st Avenue NE in downtown Cullman. Admission is free.

This year’s event welcomes Russell Dickerson, Lauren Alaina, Austin Williams and Griffin William Sherry to the stage on Friday, April 25 and Chase Matthew, Kidd G, Sam Donald and Graham Barham Saturday, April 26. Anyone will be able to view the concert, but reserved seating will require a ticket. A premium general admission ticket is $29.99 for a single day concert ticket and $49.99 for a two day concert ticket. VIP concert tickets are $79.99/single day and $99.99/two day pass. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased at alabamastrawberryfest.com/tickets. Gates open at 3 p.m. both days with bands beginning around 4 p.m. Stay tuned to alabamastrawberryfest.com/artists for additional announcements.

The following streets will be closed April 25-26:

— Arnold Street NE from 1st Avenue NW to 2nd Ave NE (closing Tuesday, April 22 at 8 a.m. Reopening April 28 at 7 a.m.)
— Warehouse District Parking Lot (closing Tuesday, April 22 at 10 p.m. Reopening April 28 at 7 a.m.)
— First Ave NE from Clark Street NE to Arnold Street NE (closing Tuesday, April 22 at 10 p.m. Reopening April 27 at 10 p.m.)
— Cullman Museum Parking Lot (closing Tuesday, April 22 at 10 p.m. Reopening April 27 at 10 p.m.)
— First Ave NE from 1st Street NE to Clark St NE (closing Wednesday, April 23 at 10 p.m. Reopening April 27 at 10 p.m.)
— Clark Street NE from 1st Avenue NE to 2nd Avenue NE (closing Wednesday, April 23 at 10 p.m. Reopening April 27 at 10 p.m.)
— Second Avenue NE will not close.

As far back as 1898, the strawberry has been an agricultural calling card for Cullman. To celebrate, the town comes together to offer an event centered on the red berry. In 2023, Governor Kay Ivey officially recognized the annual strawberry celebration in Cullman as the Alabama Strawberry Festival. Now in its 86th year, the event is Alabama’s longest-running strawberry festival. Many local farmers will be on hand selling their produce, and most importantly, fresh, locally grown strawberries. Make sure to stop by the Festhalle Marketplatz early to purchase a basket of berries to take home.