Helen Keller Festival returns June 26-29

Summer in Tuscumbia means one thing: the return of the Helen Keller Festival. Now in its 47th year, the celebration takes place June 26–29 and brings with it four days of live music, family activities, local art, and a renewed emphasis on community connection.

Festival Chairman Ashley Burnell said this year’s event feels like a new chapter.

“I’m most excited about all the activities and getting everyone down to Spring Park,” Burnell shared. “There’s such a strong sense of community around this event. I’d love to see the festival get back to what it once was and keep growing from there.”

The celebration stretches beyond the weekend. Festivities began early with the Helen Keller Festival Color Run on June 7 in downtown Tuscumbia, raising funds for the festival and the Keller Kids program. At the Tennessee Valley Museum of Art, the Helen Keller Art Show of Alabama opened June 3 and runs through June 27.

The juried exhibit features artwork from students across the state who are blind, visually impaired, or deaf-blind, showcasing creativity through a variety of tactile media.

Additional events during festival week include Keller’s Canvas on June 24, an evening of discussion and reflection at the museum, and Keller Kids Discovery on June 25 at AIDB Shoals Regional Center.

This hands-on program invites kids ages 8 to 14 to explore sensory differences through games, crafts, and adapted learning activities. Lunch is provided and registration is now open.

The main festival weekend kicks off Thursday, June 26, with a 6 p.m. parade through downtown Tuscumbia followed by a street party with food vendors, late-night shopping, and free live performances by Kyndal Kilpatrick and Madlin McGee, Bound South, and Sipsey Falls.

Spring Park will be the hub of activity on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday with the return of the popular Marketplace and live music on the main stage.

• Friday, June 28: Music begins at 5 p.m. with Eli Hannon, Ghost River Revival, ViCTORiA, and Empire Strikes Brass. Marketplace open 3–10 p.m.
• Saturday, June 29: Music kicks off with Will Paustian, Greentown, Bluewater Revival, and Ledbetter, with country artist Drew Baldridge headlining. Marketplace open 12–10 p.m.
• Admission: $5 at the gate on Friday and Saturday. Kids 10 and under are free.

Saturday morning includes Paint in the Park, a guided art session hosted by The Artsy Place of Muscle Shoals. Festival wristbands and supplies are included in the ticket. From noon to 4 p.m., the Keller Kids Pavilion offers free hands-on fun by the splash pad with activities like slime making, pinwheel painting, and more.

The festival will feature some new events as well as returning favorites. A petting zoo with Three Chicks Farm, a paint splatter tent with Pinspiration, axe throwing with Kick it in the Sticks and dance lessons with Sav’s Dance.

There will also be a community art project with Emily Cooper Art Studio and a 360 photo booth with Downtown Tuscumbia.

The weekend concludes on a high note Sunday evening with FIX Night at Keller Fest, a free night of worship presented by 91.3 WFIX. Performers include Joel Vaughn and Love & the Outcome, beginning at 7 p.m. The Marketplace remains open Sunday from 12–9 p.m.

Susann Hamlin, President and CEO of Colbert County Tourism, emphasized the importance of the festival to the region. “The Helen Keller Festival is one of the most cherished traditions in our area. It brings visitors from across the region to experience the music, the art, and the story of Helen Keller in the place she called home. Events like this highlight the soul of our community and remind people why Tuscumbia is such a special place to visit.”

Tickets for Spring Park events can be purchased at the gate or online at helenkellerfestival.com. For more information, including full event schedules, artist lineups, and vendor details, visit the website or follow the Helen Keller Festival on social media.