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W.C. Handy Festival 2025


  • Florence, Alabama (map)

This year’s festival celebrating the “Father of the Blues,” W.C. Handy, will be held from July 16-27.

More information including the event schedule will be added soon.

History
The W. C. Handy Music Festival was initiated with the help of musician and Sheffield native Willie Ruff, who along with Dr. David Mussleman and others, envisioned and helped MPS to present the first W. C. Handy Music Festival. That first Festival was a long weekend of music featuring Dizzy Gillespie as the headliner artist. Since then, the annual celebration has evolved into a ten-day Festival with nearly 200 events. The Festival showcases music at locations throughout northwest Alabama including parks, restaurants, stores, libraries, museums, art galleries, sidewalks, parking lots, and lawns. It also features athletic events, plays, music classes, car shows, and much more.

  • Handy On The Plaza – National Hot Dog Day
    Starts: 6:00 PM | Ends: 10:00 PM
    Location: Mobile Plaza, Florence, AL
    Featuring: Local Brand, Weston Harris Hill, DJ Pedialyte

    • Local bands, wiener dog races, a hot dog eating contest, a dunking booth, prize raffles, and so much more!  Don't miss the fun!  Contact Downtown Florence Alliance for more info!

    Handy Musical Night: Rising Crust Pizza
    Starts: 7:00 PM | Ends: 10:00 PM
    Location: Rising Crust Pizza, 4136 Florence Boulevard, Florence, AL
    Featuring: Music Trivia and Karaoke

  • Handy On The Plaza – Thursday Night Downtown Florence Celebration
    Starts: 5:30 PM | Ends: 10:00 PM
    Location: Mobile Plaza, Florence, AL
    Featuring: Ghost River Revival, Lucie Tiger, North Mississippi Allstars

    Karaoke Idol for Salvation Army
    Starts: 6:00 PM | Ends: 10:30 PM
    Location: FloBama, 311 North Court St., Florence, AL

    • Festuring 35 of the best Shoals Area singers!  Plus dance offs!  Plus a silent auction! Sign up begins at 5pm.  Singing begins at 6pm. No charge to attend.  Only $25 to enter the contest.  (And the money goes to a very good cause!)

    Evening At The Roxy With The Great Pretenders

    Starts: 7:00 PM
    Location: Historic Roxy Theatre, 200 North Jackson St., Russellville, AL
    Featuring: Local Talented Performers

    • Doors and box office open at 6pm.  Tix available at the door - $10 Adults, $5 ages 6 to 12, Free kids under 6.  Available at the Roxy Box Office on day of show.  Support the Historic Roxy Theatre!  

    Happy Musical Night: On The Rocks
    Starts: 7:00 PM | Ends: 9:00 PM
    Location: On the Rocks, 110 North Court St., Florence, AL
    Featuring: Ty Moore

    Handy Musical Night: Rising Crust Pizza
    Starts: 7:00 PM | Ends: 10:00 PM
    Location: Rising Crust Pizza, 4136 Florence Boulevard, Florence, AL
    Featuring: Ryan Lindley, Tre Srygley

    Handy Musical Night: The Boiler Room
    Starts: 9:00 PM
    Location: Boiler Room, 313 N Court St, Florence, AL
    Featuring: Jax Greenhill

  • Handy Musical Hour: Big Bad Breakfast
    Starts: 9:00 AM
    Location: Big Bad Breakfast, 315 N. Court St., Florence, AL
    Featuring: Alexis Jackson

    Jazz It Up With Your Trash
    Starts: 10:00 AM
    Location: Sheffield Public Library, 316 N. Montgomery Ave., Sheffield, AL
    Featuring: Microwave Dave

    • Bring the kids of all ages and join the Microwave Dave Band! Bring your own recyclable plastic bottle or can, shoebox, or coffee can to make musical instruments and play with Microwave Dave's improptu band! For ages 3 and older.

    Luther Jarmon’s Line Dancing Friday Class!
    Starts: 11:00 AM
    Location: Michael Community Center, 1001 SE 17th St., Sheffield, AL
    Featuring: Luther Jarmon

    • Put YOUR boots on the ground!  Two days of fun at the Michael Community Center with Luther Jarmon, Jr., choreographer and instructor from Birmingham, Alabama.  Bring the family for fun exercise, with healthy snacks and water provided by Joyous Line Dancers.  And kids who have swimwear and towels can play on the slip and slide in the playground area provided by Double D Entertainment!  

    Handy Musical Night: Swampers
    Starts: 5:00 PM | Ends: 7:00 PM
    Location: Swampers Bar and Grille, Renaissance Shoals, 10 Hightower Pl, Florence, AL
    Featuring: Malcolm Singleton

    Handy On The Plaza – Friday Night Downtown Florence Celebration
    Starts: 5:30 PM | Ends: 11:00 PM
    Location: Mobile Plaza, Florence, AL
    Featuring: Billy Allen and The Pollies, Warren Ertle’s Corpse Revivers

    • 5:30-7:00 pm - Dr. Warren Ertle and the Corpse Revivers (Music so good it can revive the deadest!) 9:00 pm-11:00 pm - Billy Allen & The Pollies (You won't want to miss these guys!) Rain or Shine.  For more info, contact Downtown Florence Alliance  

    A Dr. Willie Ruff Night with the Tennessee Valley Masters of Jazz
    Starts: 6:00 PM | Ends: 8:00 PM
    Location: Sheffield Public Library, 316 N. Montgomery Ave., Sheffield, AL
    Featuring: Tennessee Valley Masters of Jazz

    • You won't want to miss this night of celebration at the Sheffield Public Library as the Tennessee Valley Masters of Jazz celebrate the memory of Dr. Willie Ruff, co-founder of the W.C. Handy Music Festival.

    Leighton’s Kickback – Chicken & Fish, Blues & Line Dancing
    Starts: 6:00 PM | Ends: 11:00 PM
    Location: Downtown Leighton, 8655 Main Street, Leighton, AL

    • It's the first annual Town of Leighton Kickback with food and fun probably some fans! That's right, bring your fan and be boots on the ground line dancing in L.A. - that's Leighton, Alabama! It's taking place in front of the Eleven03 Event Center so bring your tents and chairs to set up starting at 6pm, with food and activities from 7pm til 11pm.  They'll have a live dj bringing the best in blues and southern soul music and dance instructors teaching all the latest line dances.

    Safer Birth In Bama Block Party
    Starts: 6:00 PM | Ends: 10:00 PM
    Location: Singing River Brewery, 526 East College Street, Florence, AL
    Featuring: Mama ‘Nim

    • 6–10 PM Outside on the Patio (Open to the Public): Bring a lawn chair and enjoy live music from Mama’Nim at the Safer Birth in Bama Block Party—free and open to all! Vendors, food trucks, and open tap room!

    Handy Musical Night: FloBama
    Starts: 6:30 PM | Ends: 9:30 PM
    Location: FloBama, 311 North Court St., Florence, AL
    Featuring: Kerry Gilbert Band

    Handy Night: Champy’s World Famous Fried Chicken
    Starts: 7:00 PM
    Location: Champy’s World Famous Chicken, 102 Second St., Sheffield, AL
    Featuring: Christine Ohlman the Beehive Queen

    • It's a tribute to the Decoys!  Come and hang out with the Beehive Queen Christine Ohlman and have some Champy's Chicken!

    First Metro Bank: Sax In The City
    Starts: 7:00 PM
    Location: Wilson Park, 350 North Wood Ave., Florence, AL
    Featuring: The Midnighters

    • Don't miss one of the Handy Festival's most popular and well attended events!  Delicious food from vendors on site!  In case of rain, event moved to Florence-Lauderdale Coliseum.

    Shoals Mom Prom
    Starts: 7:00 PM | Ends: 11:00 PM
    Location: Singing River Brewery, 526 East College Street, Florence, AL
    Featuring: DJ Gorgeous

    • SHOALS MOM PROM / SAFER BIRTH IN BAMA BLOCK PARTY It's Prom Night for grownups! 7–11 PM at Singing River Live (Tickets Only): A fun, ladies-only night of dancing and celebration at Shoals Mom Prom! Vendors, food trucks, and open tap room also! This event benefits Safer Birth in Bama so please get your tickets now at ShoalsMomProm.com!

    Handy Musical Night: Swampers
    Starts: 8:00 PM | Ends: 11:00 PM
    Location: Swampers Bar and Grille, Renaissance Shoals, 10 Hightower Pl, Florence, AL
    Featuring: Ryan Lindley

    Handy Musical Night: Rising Crust Pizza
    Starts: 8:00 PM | Ends: 11:00 PM
    Location: Rising Crust Pizza, 4136 Florence Boulevard, Florence, AL
    Featuring: The Victoria Band

    Handy Musical Night: The Boiler Room
    Starts: 9:00 PM
    Location: Boiler Room, 313 N Court St, Florence, AL
    Featuring: Alexis Jackson

    Handy Musical Night: FloBama
    Starts: 10:30 PM
    Location: FloBama, 311 North Court St., Florence, AL
    Featuring: Dixie Mafia

  • DaDooRunRun – 5K and 1 Mile For Fun Run
    Starts: 6:00 AM
    Location: W.C. Handy Home & Museum, 620 W. College St., Florence, AL
    Featuring: Florence High School Jazz Band

    The DaDooRunRun is back!!! 5K and 1 mile Fun Run with awards, door prizes, and special Handy shirts for participants.  Race Day Registration begins at 6:00 a.m.   5K Run is at 7:00 am, and 1 Mile Fun Run (or Walk!) is at 8:00 a.m.  Advance Registration for the 5K Run is $20, and for the Walk is $15.  Or sign up for both Run and Walk for only $25.  (Add $5 to each category on Race Day.)

    W.C. Handy Festival Shoals Car & Truck Show
    Starts: 8:00 AM | Ends: 2:00 PM
    Location: McFarland Park – Florence Harbor, 1050 Clayborn Liles Dr., Florence, AL

    • NOTICE:  This event will again be in McFarland Park!!! 8am-12n Registration (Fee $20) 8am-2pm Show Time! Pre-registration $18 by July 9th.  Mail to Post Office Box 3672, Muscle Shoals, AL  35662 Awards include $2000 in cash plus prizes!  Dash plaques givin to the first 200 cars registered! For more info, call Ronnie James at 256-366-0564 or Terry Mashvurn at 256-366-0564 or visit www.ShoalsCarandTruckClub.com    

    Luther Jarmon’s Saturday Line Dancing Class!
    Starts: 11:00 AM
    Location: Michael Community Center, 1001 SE 17th St., Sheffield, AL
    Featuring: Luther Jarmon

    • If you missed the chance to do it Friday, or even if you did let's do it again, let's put YOUR boots on the ground! Two days of fun at the Michael Community Center with Luther Jarmon, Jr., choreographer and instructor from Birmingham, Alabama.  Bring the family for fun exercise, with healthy snacks and water provided by Joyous Line Dancers.  And kids who have swimwear and towels can play on the slip and slide in the playground area provided by Double D Entertainment!

    A Dr. Willie Ruff Brunch: Southern Grocery
    Starts: 11:00 AM
    Location: Southern Grocery, 1419 East Second St., Sheffield, AL
    Featuring: Libby Counts, Ronnie Eades, Terry Richardson

    • Enjoy brunch and celebrate the Legacy of the co-Founder of the W.C. Handy Music Festival!  

    Village School Songwriter Showcase – Saturday
    Starts: 3:00 PM | Ends: 7:00 PM
    Location: Village School House, 200 Chickamauga St., Sheffield, AL
    Featuring: Caleb Elliott with Austin Motlow, James LeBlanc, Jimmy Nutt, Pat Huggins, Steve Conn, The Burney Sisters, Will McFarlane

    • Songwriter Caleb Elliott with guitaist Austin Motlow * James LeBlank * The Burney Sisters * Steve Conn with Will McFarlane * Pat Huggins with Jimmy Nutt & Will McFarlane!!!

    Handy On The Plaza – Saturday Downtown Florence Celebration
    Starts: 5:00 PM | Ends: 11:00 PM
    Location: Mobile Plaza, Florence, AL
    Featuring: Drew Dixon & The Real Thing, Funk Brotherhood

    • Handy on the Plaza is finally back on Mobile Plaza between Court and Seminary Streets.  Enjoy music performed by Drew Dixon and the Real Thing performing from 5-7 pm, then The Funk Brotherhood from 9-11 pm.

    Handy Musical Night: On The Rocks
    Starts: 6:00 PM | Ends: 9:00 PM
    Location: On the Rocks, 110 North Court St., Florence, AL
    Featuring: Whiskey Ridge

    3rd Avenue Sheffield Block Party!
    Starts: 6:00 PM | Ends: 9:00 PM
    Location: Ryan’s Barbershop, 201 South Atlanta Avenue, Sheffield, AL
    Featuring: Tommy “Sax Legend” Friend, DJ Dez

    • Meet up with your friends and neighbors on Atlanta Avenue in Sheffield and enjoy the Sax Legend! * DJ Dez! * and Line Dancing!  This event is free for performances, with food available for purchase.  Rain or Shine!

    Handy Musical Night: FloBama
    Starts: 6:30 PM | Ends: 9:30 PM
    Location: FloBama, 311 North Court St., Florence, AL
    Featuring: Howell Sledge & Friends

    Dinner and Allstar Jazz at Old Grace Church
    Starts: 6:30 PM
    Location: Old Grace Church, 700 N Montgomery Ave, Sheffield, AL
    Featuring: Jazz Allstars

    • Doors open at 6:30pm. Dinner and entertainment featuring the Jazz Allstrs begins at 7pm. Tickets are $40 each and include a buffet meal with your choice of meats.  Bring your own wine, $5.00 corking fee.  For more info or to purchase tickets in advance, call 256-740-1383.

    Happy Musical Hour: Lil Capone’s
    Starts: 6:30 PM | Ends: 9:30 PM
    Location: Lil Capone’s, 3370 Cloverdale Road, Florence, AL
    Featuring: Jesse Lee

    Handy Night: Champy’s World Famous Fried Chicken
    Starts: 7:00 PM
    Location: Champy’s World Famous Chicken, 102 Second St., Sheffield, AL
    Featuring: Billy Lawson, Wishbone

    CB&S Bank: Music In The Park With Rewind
    Starts: 7:00 PM | Ends: 10:00 PM
    Location: Wilson Park, 350 North Wood Ave., Florence, AL
    Featuring: Rewind of the Shoals

    Handy Musical Night: Swampers
    Starts: 8:00 PM | Ends: 11:00 PM
    Location: Swampers Bar and Grille, Renaissance Shoals, 10 Hightower Pl, Florence, AL
    Featuring: Dave Anderson

    Handy Musical Night: Rising Crust Pizza
    Starts: 8:00 PM | Ends: 11:00 PM
    Location: Rising Crust Pizza, 4136 Florence Boulevard, Florence, AL
    Featuring: Ghost River Revival

    Handy Musical Night: The Boiler Room
    Starts: 9:00 PM
    Location: Boiler Room, 313 N Court St, Florence, AL
    Featuring: Max McDonald

    Handy Musical Night: FloBama
    Starts: 10:30 PM
    Location: FloBama, 311 North Court St., Florence, AL
    Featuring: Carson Carlisle Band

  • Handy Musical Hour: Big Bad Breakfast
    Starts: 9:00 AM
    Location: Big Bad Breakfast, 315 N. Court St., Florence, AL
    Featuring: Ellie Clayton Bowling

    Old-Time Bluegrass Gospel Music Hour
    Starts: 3:00 PM | Ends: 4:00 PM
    Location: First United Methodist Church, Tuscumbia, 104 E 3rd St, Tuscumbia, AL
    Featuring: Lisa Lambert Band

    Village School Songwriter Showcase – Sunday
    Starts: 3:00 PM | Ends: 7:00 PM
    Location: Village School House, 200 Chickamauga St., Sheffield, AL
    Featuring: Bryan Joyce, Clint Bailey, Dirty Rain Revelers, Kara Hesse, Mitch Mann, Rob Aldridge, Russell Mefford, Will McFarlane

    Handy Musical Happy Hour: Lil Capone’s
    Starts: 6:30 PM | Ends: 9:30 PM
    Location: Lil Capone’s, 3370 Cloverdale Road, Florence, AL
    Featuring: CONNR, Taylor Grace

    Official Handy Sunday Ceremony at the Handy Gym!!!
    Starts: 6:30 PM
    Location: Harvest Mitchell Gym at Burrell Slater School, 610 W. College St., Florence, AL
    Featuring: Pastor Jerry Reeves & Friends, Quad Cities Mass Choir directed by Aaron Freeman, Saxman Shelly Williams, Shane D. Rainer & Fresh Wind

    • Handy Praise at Handy Gym!  The official W.C. Handy Sunday Ceremony will be held in the W.C. Handy School Gymnasium!  There will be plenty of chairs already set up, or you can bring your own if you want.  Handy Fest food trucks will be on site in the parking lot. Come and get your praise on with music by Trumpeteer Shelly Williams, the Quad Cities Mass Choir directed by Aaron Freeman, and two of WZZA Radio's favorite air personalities:  the Reverend Shane Rainer and Fresh Wind AND the one and only Reverend Jerry Reeves and Friends!  This was one of the very best performances last year, so please tell all of your friends and loved ones that we'll be in the air conditioning and we won't have to worry about rain!

    Woodmont Baptist Church Presents WC Handy Songwriter Showcase
    Starts: 7:00 PM
    Location: Woodmont Baptist Church East Campus, 2002 Darby Drive, Florence, AL
    Featuring: Bobby Tomberlin, Gary Baker, Becky Hobbs, Jerry Salley

    Handy Musical Night: Rising Crust Pizza
    Starts: 7:00 PM | Ends: 10:00 PM
    Location: Rising Crust Pizza, 4136 Florence Boulevard, Florence, AL
    Featuring: Cole Nichols

    Handy Musical Night: Swampers
    Starts: 7:30 PM | Ends: 10:00 PM
    Location: Swampers Bar and Grille, Renaissance Shoals, 10 Hightower Pl, Florence, AL
    Featuring: Tim Cannon

    Handy Musical Night: The Boiler Room
    Starts: 8:00 PM
    Location: Boiler Room, 313 N Court St, Florence, AL
    Featuring: Lucie Tiger

  • Jazz It Up With Your Trash – Florence Library
    Starts: 10:00 AM
    Location: Florence-Lauderdale Public Library, 350 N. Wood Ave., Florence, AL
    Featuring: Microwave Dave

    • *IN HARMONY WITH NATURE LITTER-FREE EVENT* Bring your own recyclable plastic bottle or can, shoebox, or coffee can to make musical instruments and play with Microwave Dave's impromptu band! For ages 3 and over, but everyone will enjoy this!

    Handy Musical Lunch: FloBama
    Starts: 11:30 AM | Ends: 2:00 PM
    Location: FloBama, 311 North Court St., Florence, AL
    Featuring: Max Russell

    Scope Live On Helton Drive!
    Starts: 11:30 AM | Ends: 1:00 PM
    Location: Scope 310, 4129 Helton Dr., Florence, AL
    Featuring: The Midnighters

    Book It With Jazz
    Starts: 12:00 PM
    Location: Helen Keller Library, 511 North Main St., Tuscumbia, AL
    Featuring: Jazz Allstars

    Shoals Songwriter Showcase #1
    Starts: 1:00 PM | Ends: 3:00 PM
    Location: Florence-Lauderdale Tourism & Visitors Center, McFarland Park 200 Jim Spain Dr., Florence, AL
    Featuring: Angela Hacker, James LeBlanc, Phillip White

    • Florence-Lauderdale Tourism is offering an opportunity to hear how your favorite songs came to be!

    WC Handy Movie: St. Louis Blues
    Starts: 3:00 PM
    Location: Alabama Music Hall of Fame, 617 US Hwy 72 West, Tuscumbia, AL

    • A screening of the film St. Louis Blues, starring Nat "King" Cole at WC Handy.  While you're there, tour the Alabama Music Hall of Fame and visit the gift shop!

    Check Out the Blues
    Starts: 4:00 PM | Ends: 6:00 PM
    Location: Florence-Lauderdale Public Library, 350 N. Wood Ave., Florence, AL
    Featuring: Jazz Allstars

    • Free to enjoy the music.  Fun games for small kids!  Come early to find books by your favorite authors.

    Songwriters and Stories At Sheffield Public Library
    Starts: 5:00 PM | Ends: 7:00 PM
    Location: Sheffield Public Library, 316 N. Montgomery Ave., Sheffield, AL
    Featuring: James LeBlanc, Phillip White, Randy O’Dell, Renee Armand

    Handy Musical Night: Swampers
    Starts: 5:00 PM | Ends: 7:00 PM
    Location: Swampers Bar and Grille, Renaissance Shoals, 10 Hightower Pl, Florence, AL
    Featuring: Maggie Granlund

    Handy Musical Night: Pie Factory
    Starts: 6:00 PM | Ends: 9:00 PM
    Location: Pie Factory (Florence), 106 North Court Street, Florence, AL
    Featuring: Gracie Harris

    Sips, Sounds, and Stogies at Superhero Chefs
    Starts: 6:00 PM | Ends: 8:00 PM
    Location: Superhero Chefs, 104 S Main St, Tuscumbia, AL

    • It's a bourbon sipping, cigar smoking, sampler plate tasting classy event just for the grownups.  Pay only $60 and you'll receive three each of cigar and bourbon samples, plus a small plate of three appetizer samples!

    Handy Musical Happy Hour: Lil Capone’s
    Starts: 6:30 PM | Ends: 9:30 PM
    Location: Lil Capone’s, 3370 Cloverdale Road, Florence, AL
    Featuring: Microwave Dave

    Rock N’ Soul on Mobile Plaza
    Starts: 7:00 PM | Ends: 9:00 PM
    Location: Mobile Plaza, Florence, AL
    Featuring: CC Jags

    • This event WILL BE HELD OUTSIDE!!! *IN HARMONY WITH NATURE LITTER-FREE EVENT* In case of rain, event will be moved to Gattman Park, Muscle Shoals.

    Joyful Sounds
    Starts: 7:00 PM
    Location: First United Methodist Church, 415 N. Seminary St., Florence, AL
    Featuring: FUMC Choirs and guests

    Handy Musical Night: FloBama
    Starts: 7:00 PM | Ends: 10:00 PM
    Location: FloBama, 311 North Court St., Florence, AL
    Featuring: Deja Vu

    Handy Musical Night: Rising Crust Pizza
    Starts: 7:00 PM | Ends: 10:00 PM
    Location: Rising Crust Pizza, 4136 Florence Boulevard, Florence, AL
    Featuring: Jax Greenhill

    Handy Musical Night: Sheffield Public House
    Starts: 7:00 PM | Ends: 9:00 PM
    Location: Sheffield Public House, 312 North Montgomery Avenue, Sheffield, AL
    Featuring: Hannah Clarke

    • We've got a brand new pub in Sheffield with delicious food and tasty drinks!  Check them out.

    Handy Night: Swamper’s
    Starts: 7:30 PM | Ends: 10:00 PM
    Location: Swampers Bar and Grille, Renaissance Shoals, 10 Hightower Pl, Florence, AL
    Featuring: Nettie & Delta Boy

    Handy Musical Night: Swampers
    Starts: 7:30 PM | Ends: 10:00 PM
    Location: Swampers Bar and Grille, Renaissance Shoals, 10 Hightower Pl, Florence, AL
    Featuring: Nettie & Delta Boy

    Handy Musical Night: The Boiler Room
    Starts: 8:00 PM
    Location: Boiler Room, 313 N Court St, Florence, AL
    Featuring: Andy Lyle Hall

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Beats & Eats ft. Trey Nichols