Family events in Florence, AL

Hometown Festival 2026 brings Southern Soul back to Town Creek for a full day of live music, Southern hospitality, and hometown fun. Favorite artists from the genre take the stage alongside local talent, with sets from DJ Mack, known as Your Momma’s Favorite DJ, and DJ Kutsum of Razor’s Edge Entertainment. Expect great food and vendor offerings, a family friendly setting, and room for reunions. Attendees can bring lawn chairs and showcase cowgirl and cowboy outfits, with Best Dressed Cowgirl and Best Dressed Cowboy contests awarding 100 dollars each. Tickets are 35 dollars in advance or 40 dollars at the gate. Parking is 10 dollars. Vendor spots are 75 dollars. R.V. spots are 150 dollars and include one ticket, and grills are allowed for R.V.s only. All ticket sales are final and non transferable, with no refunds or exchanges for any reason, including weather conditions, scheduling changes, or inability to attend.

Explore the birdlife of Joe Wheeler State Park on a guided hike led by the Park Naturalist in Florence. Binoculars and bird books will be available, and participants are encouraged to bring their Junior Ranger booklet. This free outing is open to the public, and Junior Ranger participants can be ages 3 to 103. The Alabama State Parks Junior Ranger program is a statewide effort that encourages students to learn about and care for outdoor spaces. Alabama is among the most biodiverse states in the nation, and Junior Rangers play a role in keeping state parks beautiful. Through the program, participants receive a booklet and guidance for completing it, and those who finish can earn badges. Additional sessions are planned in the future.

Gather your mom friends for a casual splash pad get together. Enjoy water play and a relaxed time together.

At Nerd Café, this family-focused evening is designed for kids to play and learn. Children can enjoy activity sheets and kid-friendly board games, little ones have access to a portable playpen, and there is a safe spot for card trading and other games. A movie suitable for children will be playing in the lounge. With the purchase of an entree, each child may receive one complimentary item, choosing from a grilled cheese, a grilled peanut butter and jelly sandwich, or a cheese quesadilla. Limit one free item per accompanying purchased entree.

Explore the wonders of water at the Cook Museum with a family-friendly series that blends interactive classroom stations, time in the exhibits, and a museum-wide scavenger hunt highlighting nature and animals. Classroom activities are designed for participants in grades K through 6 to complete with a registered adult, and a separate craft area welcomes all ages, including younger siblings and adults. Each session costs $15 plus tax per participant, with a $5 discount for members. Children 2 and under are free with a ticket. Space is limited and advance registration is encouraged. Sessions are purchased individually, sales are final and nonrefundable, and exhibit admission is included. Different sessions spotlight Wetlands and Rivers or Creeks and Habitats, and the activities and scavenger hunt repeat on the second offering of each theme. After check-in, spend time at the classroom stations, then head into the galleries for the scavenger hunt. A reserved lunch area will be available, and guests may bring their own food or purchase meals from Nature’s Table. Participants 14 and under must remain with a registered adult at all times, including in the classroom. Only registered participants may enter the classroom, and anyone not registered will need to wait outside. A separate companion program for students in grades 7 through 12 is available at the WaterWorks Environmental Learning Lab.