Ardmore's annual Crape Myrtle Festival, which celebrates the colorful blooms of the flowering tree that grows throughout the South, is typically held from early morning to mid-afternoon on the last Saturday in August at John Barnes Park. Admission to the festival is free, although numerous varieties and sizes of crepe myrtles and other plants and flowers are available for purchase.
The Crape Myrtle Festival is much more than just trees. The festival also has a number of activities for attendees, including arts and crafts booths, food vendors and live entertainment throughout the day, including bluegrass, country and gospel music. Other attractions include a collection of antique cars and tractors, as well as a children's play area with an obstacle course, giant slide and bounce house.
The Miss/Master Crape Myrtle Pageant typically is held on the weekend before the festival. Open to girls ages 19 and under and boys ages 5 and under, winners and runners-up are chosen in several divisions, with winners being announced at the following weekend's festival. The winner of the Miss Crape Myrtle Division for older girls is awarded a scholarship. Pageant entrants are not required to be Ardmore residents.
Before or after the festival, spend time enjoying John Barnes Park's other attractions, including tennis and basketball courts, a playground and walking track. The city of Athens, Alabama, less than 20 miles south of Ardmore, has more than a dozen nearby walking trails, including some that take you through the downtown historic district, which includes homes built in the mid-1800s and early 1900s. Downtown Athens also is home to several museums and a variety of antique shops. Huntsville, approximately 25 miles southeast of Ardmore, also has a variety of attractions, including the U.S. Space and Rocket Center and the North Alabama Railroad Museum. If you'd like to stay overnight, Ardmore is home to two economy hotels, and Athens and Huntsville also provide a variety of accommodations options.
