W.C. Handy Music Festival

W.C. Handy Music Festival

July 20th, 2025 - July 27th, 2025Varies by Event

Florence

The W.C. Handy Music Festival is a weeklong celebration of the musical heritage of northwest Alabama, honoring Florence native, W. C. Handy, "Father of the Blues." Over 200 events take place during the week, ranging from mini-concerts to headliner concerts, plays to art exhibits, picnics to restaurants and clubs. We are located almost equidistant from Nashville, Memphis and Birmingham. The area known as "The Shoals," where the majority of the events take place, includes the cities of Florence, Sheffield, Tuscumbia and Muscle Shoals.

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    W.C. Handy Music Festival

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    • East Tombigbee Street
    • Florence, AL 35630
    Personalized Directions

    Directions

    The Shoals

    Region

    Florence is located in the The Shoals Area of the North Alabama Region

    Fees

    Varies by event

    Where to Stay

    Hampton Inn Florence Midtown

    Not provided

    Comfort Suites

    Book a room at the Comfort Suites hotel in Florence, AL

    Quality Inn

    Book a room at the Quality Inn hotel in Florence, AL

    Shoal Creek Gibbons Home

    Wilson Lake Vacation Rental Home

    Hampton Inn & Suites Downtown Florence

    Conveniently located in the heart of the Shoals area, we are within walking distance of fantastic shops, restaurants and the historical district. From the rushing waters of the Tennessee River to the tranquil beauty of historic Florence, our convenie...

    Residence Inn by Marriott

    Not provided

    Limestone House Bed & Breakfast

    Limestone Bed & Breakfast sets just a 5 min. walk from old downtown Florence, Alabama and just one block from the UNA campus. The Limestone House was built in 1915 by Col. CW Ashcraft. Close to almost everything, it is a great location to stay when ...

    The Stricklin Hotel

    Nestled among the rich history and beauty of downtown Florence, The Stricklin Hotel guests will enjoy southern charm and hospitality as well as an atmosphere of timeless elegance, making every guest feel like The Stricklin is their home away from hom...

    GunRunner Boutique Hotel

    A 9 room Boutique Hotel in an historic building full of charm and character. It features a large common area perfect for corporate meetings, retreats and privacy. Suites are themed for area attractions and Alabama makers, like fashion designer Billy...
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    Where to Eat

    Milla's Place

    Milla's Place is a family owned and operated diner serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner in downtown Florence, AL.

    Smokin' On The Boulevard

    Alabama Food's 2014 "Quest for the Best BBQ" Champion. Dry-Rub Hickory Smoked BBQ Meats. Carryout only. Thurs., Fri & Sat

    Big Bad Breakfast-Florence

    Every morning we serve families, old friends catching up, business meetings, students on their way to school, and college football fans headed to the game. We love being a place for you to gather together and fuel up for the coming day. And don’t ...

    The Factory Cafe

    The Factory is home to Alabama Chanin's flagship store and a full-service café, along with the Alabama Chanin design and production studios and Building 14 Design + Manufacturing services.

    Bunyan's Bar-B-Q

    With two locations, one in Florence and one in Sheffield, owner John Cole's caters to barbecue lovers with his special smoked barbecued chicken, ribs and pork meat.

    Dick Howell's Barbecue

    Barbecue restaurant in Florence, Alabama

    Trowbridge's Ice Cream & Sandwich Shop

    Talk about love at first sight! In 1917, Paul Trowbridge stopped in Florence on his way to a dairy convention in North Carolina. He liked the area so much that he returned to Texas, packed his possessions and moved his family to Florence.

    Odette

    Odette is a neighborhood eatery and shop in historic downtown Florence, Alabama serving elevated American fare with southern and international influences.

    Singin' River Brewing Co.

    We love to celebrate the variety of song that the Singing River brings with our brews for every taste. You will find a full range of beers including the smooth flavor of the Handy’s Gold and the rich, full taste of our Porter.
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    What to See & Do

    W.C. Handy Birthplace, Museum and Library

    W.C. Handy, the “Father of the Blues,” wrote beloved songs such as “St. Louis Blues” and “Beale Street Blues.” The W.C. Handy Birthplace, Museum & Library in Florence houses the world’s most complete collection of Handy’s personal papers and artifact...

    Alabama Barn Quilt Trail

    A colorful treasure hunt! The Alabama Barn Quilt Trail is a collection of hand painted renderings of traditional patchwork quilt blocks displayed on barns all across Alabama. Take a drive through the beautiful Alabama countryside and tour the trail.

    Pope's Tavern and Museum

    Stagecoach stop, tavern, inn used as hospital by Confederate and Union forces during Civil War. Extensive collection of Civil War artifacts. Antiques. Pope's Tavern Museum focuses on telling the early history of Florence, Alabama, from roughly 1818...

    Children's Museum of the Shoals

    Fun, creative, enriching "touch everything" experiences focusing on places and heritage of the Tennessee Valley at Muscle Shoals, where exploration stimulates lifelong curiosity and learning.

    George S. Lindsey Theater

    The George S. Lindsey Theater is an intimate "black box" theater.

    Ye Ole General Store

    A unique store that has been featured in Elle, Men's Journal, GQ, Men's Vogue, and The Wall Street Journal.

    Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum House Museum

    This house is Alabama's only structure designed by the most famous American Architect Frank Lloyd Wright. It is one of Wright's first Usonian Style Houses constructed (1939). This house and its contemporaries influenced American housing styles from ...

    Blackberry Trail Golf Course

    Steven Plumer design. Rolling fairways, fairway and green-side bunkers, undulating Bermuda grass greens, wetlands.

    Billy Reid - Florence

    We welcome you into our corner of the world, and we hope you’ll welcome us and our work into yours — wherever you go.
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