WORLD'S LONGEST-RUNNING
CIGAR BOX GUITAR
MUSIC FESTIVAL
Save The Date...May 30-31, 2026
TRAVEL TO HUNTSVILLE
Travel Packages
Whether you are traveling from a distance or just want to have a local getaway, our hotel sponsor has you covered. The official hotel of the World's Longest-Running Cigar Box Guitar Festival is the Holiday Inn Huntsville Research Park, conveniently located in the Mid-City District, walking distance to The Orion Amphitheater for Sunday's Festival activities, as well as numerous restaurants and activities. This location is just a few minutes' drive from our Friday and Saturday Festival locations.
Click here to reserve at the special Festival rate.
Click here for a map of the Festival locations within Huntsville.
Click here for RV and camping options.
Visiting Huntsville for the First Time?
While Huntsville may be part of the South, it is surprisingly close to much of the U.S. It is just 1.5 hours from Nashville and Birmingham, about 3 hours from Atlanta and Memphis, and 5-6 hours from St. Louis and New Orleans. And if you are traveling from Chicago, Orlando or Washington D.C., you can be here in a day's drive!
Known as Rocket City due to its role in producing the Saturn V rocket that put men on the moon, Huntsville/Madison County is not only home to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, but also one of the largest concentrations of Antebellum homes in the South, the second largest research park in the U.S., award-winning chefs and more than a dozen craft breweries.
Learn more about things to do in Huntsville at the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau website or review their suggested itineraries for variety of interests. Once you've settled on what to do in addition to cigar box guitar music, access the free Huntsville Attractions Pass for coupons or buy the 1 Day or 2 Day Huntsville and North Alabama Attraction Ticket.
And Just a Short Drive West...Visit The Shoals
One Singing River. Four Cities. Endless Hit Songs.
Just 90 minutes west of Huntsville, The Shoals is a place with deep roots and a lot of soul. Made up of Florence, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia, this corner of Northwest Alabama has played a major role in American music history. Artists like Aretha Franklin, Etta James, and The Rolling Stones came here in search of a sound—and they found it. The story of that sound is told in the award-winning documentary Muscle Shoals, which helped introduce this small but mighty music hub to the world when it debuted in 2013.
You can still step inside the legendary studios—FAME, Muscle Shoals Sound and Cypress Moon—where hits were recorded and history was made. Florence is also the hometown of W.C. Handy, the “Father of the Blues,” whose influence helped shape American music as we know it. His legacy is celebrated every July during the W.C. Handy Music Festival, when the entire area comes alive with music performances in parks, restaurants, and venues throughout The Shoals.
Photo: Billingsley Photography
But music is just part of the story. The Shoals is known for its laid-back vibe, scenic riverfronts, and a growing arts and food scene. You’ll find independent shops, local restaurants, and festivals that celebrate everything from storytelling to the life of Helen Keller, who was born here in Tuscumbia. Architecture fans make a point to visit the Rosenbaum House—Alabama’s only Frank Lloyd Wright design.
Whether you’re into music, history, food, or just a good view at sunset, The Shoals invites you to slow down, explore, and stay awhile.
Plan your visit today at TheShoalsAL.com
Photo: Billingsley Photography