How to Celebrate Father's Day Weekend

Father's Day Weekend events, a new wings place, and Huntsville #1 donut shop!

Happy Friday!

It’s hard to believe that we are already halfway through June, summer is flying by!

As promised, I’m excited to announce that our first Premium Subscriber giveaway is here, and it’s a good one.

Drumroll……

We are giving away a one-night stay at The Haven Treehouse!

If you’ve never heard of it, it’s a local Airbnb in Huntsville that encourages you to get off your phone and spend some time in nature. My wife and I recently stayed there and had such a great time. You can read about our trip and see some pictures here. 

This giveaway is only available to our Premium Subscribers. So if you don’t subscribe, you won’t have a chance to win.

Plus, our Premium Subscriber membership has some other great perks, including a free Huntsville-themed coffee mug!

Alright, enough about that. Let’s get to this week’s newsletter!

This Email is Sponsored By Nutty Scientists Kids Camp

Summer is finally here, but that doesn’t mean the learning has to stop!

Nutty Scientist of Rocket City is hosting fun and interactive camps this summer, like Nutty Jurrasic Camp and Invent-O-Mania!

I have fond memories of going to camps over the summer while school was out. It was always a great source of entertainment and a good opportunity to make new friends.

Nutty Scientist camps will be held throughout the summer, but spots are filling up fast!

Go ahead and sign up now to make sure your kids get a spot!

Blast Off

4 Ways to Celebrate Father’s Day Weekend in Huntsville

Jazz, Blues, and BBQ Father’s Day Festival

Sunday is Father’s Day, so if you haven’t bought a gift for your dad yet, you still have time! But if your dad is anything like mine, he’d probably prefer a day with his family over another coffee mug or tool for his grill.

So I thought I’d highlight a few Father’s Day events going on in Huntsville this weekend.

The Dad Games

Dave and Busters is holding its first-ever Dad Games. Bring your family and compete against other families in an epic arcade showdown. The winning family will receive free Dave and Buster’s for a year.

Father’s Day Brunches

A couple of restaurants in town are hosting a special Father’s Day brunch. If your dad likes to eat, then check out the Father’s Day brunch menu at Commerce Kitchen, Cotton Row, and Grille on Main.

Jazz, Blues, and BBQ Father’s Day Festival

John Hunt Park is hosting the Jazz, Blues, and BBQ Father’s Day Festival. There will be a Father of the Year contest, a BBQ contest, music, vendors, games, and more.

Touch-A-Truck

Head out to Bridge Street's Touch-A-Truck event and get an up-close look at your favorite emergency vehicles, trucks, and tractors. They’ll also be hosting a Tools for School supply drive, so be sure to bring some school supplies to donate.

Taking Flight

Dave’s Hot Chicken Coming to Madison

Hot wing lovers rejoice, Dave’s Hot Chicken is coming to Madison. They're known for their deep-fried wings that come in varying levels of heat! It’ll be located where Smash Burger used to be at The Shoppes of Madison.

Bigfoot’s Little Donuts Is the#1 Donut Shop in Alabama

According to the recently released Yelp Elites 2024 survey, the #1 donut shop in Alabama is located right here in Huntsville. That’s right—Bigfoot’s Little Donuts is the top donut shop in the state. Congrats!

The Rocket City Fair Is Back!

The Rocket City Fair is coming back to John Hunt Park from June 20-30. There will be rides, delicious junk food, live music, a petting zoo, and much more. They’ve also introduced a Rocket Pass that will let you skip to the front of the line!

Premium Subscriber Shoutout

Thank you to our Premium Subscribers for making Huntsville Explorer possible!

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Don’t forget that we are giving away a free night’s stay at The Haven Treehouse to our Premium Subscribers at the end of the month. Be sure to join in time to participate!

Explore The Rocket City

The Rocket City Fair Is Coming June 20-30

The Rocket City Fair will be back in Huntsville from June 20-30! They’ve got fun rides, classic games, delicious junk food, a multi-day concert series, and more! Get your tickets today!

Friday, June 14

  • Flag Day Challenge at the Downtown Huntsville Library: See if you can identify US and other national flags! More info.

  • Hoedown at The Camp: Live music from Dawson Slade and Caleb Mills to kick off Hoedown weekend at The Camp. This is a free event. More info.

  • Matt Rife at The Orion: Enjoy a night of laughter from one of the fastest-growing comedians on TikTok. Get tickets.

  • Paul Thorn at Mars Music Hall: Paul Thorn will be performing live at the Mars Music Hall starting at 8 PM. More info.

  • A Tribute to AC/DC at Furniture Factory: A night full of AC/DC music performed by Hells Bells. More info.

  • Karaoke at Tailgaters: Free Karaoke night at Tailgaters. More info.

  • Live Music at Stovehouse: Kam Jones will be performing live at STovehouse from 7 - 10 PM. This is a free show. More info. 

Saturday, June 15

  • 249th Army Birthday Celebration at Redstone Gateway: Celebrate the Army’s 249th birthday with cake, vendors, live music, fireworks, a car show, and more! More info.

  • Hoedown at The Camp: Giddy up, Huntsville! The Camp is throwing a good ol' fashioned Hoedown. There will be a mechanical bull, live music, local vendors, and more. More info.

  • Super Scavenger Hunt at Next Step Farms: Hunt around Huntsville to solve clues and complete a scavenger hunt. Then enjoy lunch at Next Step Farms. More info.

  • Five Points Community Cleanup Day: Help clean up Five Points and serve your local community. More info. 

  • Touch-A-Tuck at Bridge Street: Celebrate Father's Day weekend and come explore your favorite vehicles up close at Touch-A-Truck. More info.

  • 0.5K Fun Run at Town Madison: The Rotary Club is hosting a 0.5K Fun Run with tons of prizes throughout the day. More info.

  • Big Blue Bash at UAH: Celebrate 55 Years of UAH with entertainment, nostalgia, friendly competition, and all-around, family-friendly fun. This is a free event. More info.

  • Beppe Gambetta at Tangled String Studios: Enjoy an evening of music and storytelling with Italian flat-picking legend Beppe Gambetta. More info.

  • Art Walk at University Pickers: Over 20 local art vendors will showcase their artwork for sale. More info.

  • Concert at Three Caves: Enjoy a night of music at a truly unique outdoor venue while supporting local land conservation. More info.

  • Bailey Cove Farmer’s Market: The market is located at St. Thomas Episcopal Church and will be open from 8 AM - 12 PM. More info.

  • The Village of Providence Farmer’s Market: The market is located at The Village of Providence Town Center and will be open from 9 AM - 2 PM. More info.

  • Lowe Mill Outdoor Market: The perfect market for pickers and art lovers! It will be open from 11 AM- 4 PM at Lowe Mill. More info.

Sunday, June 16

  • Father’s Day Brunch at Commerce Kitchen: Treat your dad to a three-course brunch that’s sure to make him smile! More info.

  • Father’s Day Brunch at Cotton Row: Celebrate Father’s Day with a three-course brunch made with the finest seasonal ingredients! More info.

  • The Market at MidCity: If you like farmer’s markets, you’ll want to check out The Market at MidCity this Sunday from 12-4 PM. It’s one of the biggest in town, with 45 vendors! More info.

  • Huntsville City FC Home Game: The game starts at 6 PM against Chicago Fire II. Get tickets.

  • The Dad Games at Dave and Busters: Compete against other families in an epic arcade showdown! More info.

  • Live Music at Rhythm on Monroe: Victoria Greer will be performing live at Rhythm on Monore. More info.

Monday, June 17

  • Summer of Horror Movie Series at Downtown Public Library: This week’s movie is The Curse of Frankenstein. More info. 

  • Concerts in the Park at Big Spring Park: Live music from The Collection featuring JeShun and Alex Banks & Co. starting at 6:30 PM. More info.

  • World Traveler: Multicultural Experience Summer Camp: Travel the world with a Multicultural Experience and discover countries from around the world with art and science. More info.

  • Mini Me Fitness Class at Momtastic Fitness: A free workout class designed for new moms. More info.

  • Dad’s Day Donut Dash: Celebrate Father's Day with a 3 or 5-mile run, beer, and donuts! More info.

Tuesday, June 18

  • Mixx Madness at The Camp: Enjoy an evening of good vibes with some of Huntsville and the surrounding area’s best DJs. More info.

  • Trivia Night at Urban Cookhouse: A free trivia night with prizes for the winners! More info.

  • Swing Dance Classes at Stovehouse: A free swing dance class followed by open dancing! More info.

  • Live Music at Rhythm on Monroe: Mike Roberts will be performing live at Rhythm on Monroe. More info.

  • Parks and Rec Trivia at The Brass Tap: Test your Parks and Rec knowledge with a free trivia night! More info.

  • Rocket City Trash Pandas Home Game: The first pitch will be thrown out at 6:35 against the Biloxi Shuckers. It’s also Faith Night with a pre-game concert by Rock Porch. Get tickets.

Wednesday, June 19

  • Rocket City Trash Pandas Home Game: The first pitch will be thrown out at 6:35 against the Biloxi Shuckers. It’s also Dog Day. Get tickets.

  • Cocktails at The View: Enjoy a cocktail and watch the sun go down at the elevated overlook at Burritt on the Mountain. More info.

  • Live Music at Grimaldi’s: Brandon Elder will be performing live at Grimaldi’s starting at 6 PM. More info.

  • Bingo at The Camp: Enjoy a night of Bingo with your friends! More info.

Thursday, June 20

  • Rocket City Fair: The fair is back in Huntsville from June 20-30. Enjoy rides, games, food, live music, and more! More info.

  • Rocket City Trash Pandas Home Game: The first pitch will be thrown out at 6:35 against the Biloxi Shuckers. They’re also a hat giveaway. Get tickets.

  • Greene Street Market: Shop local and support local farmers at Greene Street Market! More info.

  • Third Thursdays on Main: Head to Downtown Madison for food trucks, live music, vendors, and family activities. More info.

  • 805 After 5: Lilly Hiatt will be performing live at Butler Green. There will also be food trucks, games, and more! More info.

  • Line Dancing at PBR Lockhart: Enjoy a night of free line dancing class and amazing BBQ. More info.

*Red boxes indicate a sponsored event

Let’s Vote

Last week we asked you which type of event calendar you’d prefer. Here are the results:

🟩🟩🟩🟩⬜️ As many events as I can find listed day by day (80%)

🟩⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Only highlight the 10 best events of the upcoming week (20%)

Here’s This Week’s Poll:

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As always, thanks for taking the time to read this email!

I hope all the dads have a great Father’s Day weekend!

Talk soon,
Andrew Smith