Crush Wine & Food Festival

Jason & Lori Boatfield Elizabeth East, Christopher & Patrick Pape

Crush Wine & Food Festival 2022

Photos by Steve Babin

The Crush Wine & Food Festival culminated on September 24 at Big Spring Park East in Downtown Huntsville. The event serves to cultivate an experience that engages the community while also highlighting wine education through Huntsville’s wine and food scene.

Around 2,000 attended the 8th annual event. “Guests experience a week of culinary bliss as we showcase local chefs and highlight spirits and wines from around the world,” said Ashley Ryals, owner and creative director for Homegrown, LLC. Ryals continued, “I love that this event brings the entire community together. Whether you’re a novice or a sommelier there is something for everyone!” n continued on page 58

Cortney Hardiman, Meghan Stevenson, Michelle Miles Bailey Siniard, Samantha Coveney, Aaron Justice Chris & Christy Holmes Michelle O’Rear, Lynn Williams

Andy & Kristen Bernard, Martell Holt

Katiya McKinney, Carolyn Stephenson Kelley Jensen, Kristin Bernard

Tom & Ashley Brown Darious & Ashley Bland

Stephanie Dyer, Bradley & Melissa Lowe, Caroline Torello, Amanda Snell

Eric St.John, Meagan Owens, Emily Burnett Tom & Rana Godfroy, Cody Lambert, Edgardo Luna

Quin Harris, Antwaun Grant, Akeilah Merchant, Elijah Hurskin

Judy, Bo & Dave Ryals Lana & Josh White

Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau

Photos courtesy of Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau

It’s the Rocket City holiday season, and there are plenty of fun events and activities for all to enjoy! The Huntsville Botanical Garden again illuminates the nights with its Galaxy of Lights. This year there are walking nights from November 11-27 and December 17 through January 1. Your dog(s) can enjoy a festive walk on Monday and Tuesday evenings. If you prefer to drive, head out to the Garden December 1-16.

There are plenty of other outdoor events, including Skating in the Park in Big Spring International Park, starting on November 18, along with the Tinsel Trail, opening to the public on November 25. Christmas on the River at Ditto Landing features Christmas Card Lane, an indoor holiday train display, and special events run from December 2 through the end of the month. The annual Christmas Parade is on December 8 in downtown Huntsville.

Burritt on the Mountain may still have tickets for their alwayspopular Candlelight Christmas and Holiday Magic Dinner events. The Orion Amphitheater will host Christkindlmarket Huntsville on December 10 and 11. There are some incredible holiday shows at the Von Braun Center, and enjoy a game at Huntsville Havoc hockey.

The Huntsville Museum of Art has some great exhibitions, including Donato Giancola: Adventures in Imagination which includes paintings and drawings based on the popular HBO series Game of Thrones, J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter, J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, and fantasy tabletop role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons.

Harrison Brothers Hardware, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, other museum gift shops, and the Huntsville/Madison County Visitor Center® are all great places to find unique gifts. A local museum membership is a gift that can be used year-round!

The events and activities mentioned above, and listed below, are scheduled for November, December, and early January. Visit huntsville.org for updates, and don’t forget to use our Holiday Magic Coupons to stretch your holiday entertainment dollars.

Ongoing events: Huntsville Museum of Art | Another Point of View: Art by American Women Part II (through November 13); American Studio Glass; Buccellati: A Silver Menagerie; Betty Grisham: A Celebration (through November 13); Encounters: Vadis Turner (through November 27); Encounters: John Cleaveland, Jr. (starts December 11); The Ponchin Legacy: Two Generations of Masterful Art; Looking at the Collection: Hidden Treasures (starts November 20) and African American Art and Artists (starts November 27) U.S. Space & Rocket Center | Space Craze: A Space-Age Journey Through Pop Culture Recurring events: Rocket City Rover Mixer Rides | downtown Huntsville, weekly on Friday & Saturday Shenanigans Comedy Theatre | Rocket City Improv Presents, monthly on the first Friday Huntsville Brews Cruise | downtown Huntsville, weekly on Friday & Saturday Food Truck Fest | Cummings Research Park, monthly on the second Tuesday Live Music featuring Lamont Landers | Humphrey’s Bar & Grill, weekly on Monday Test Flight: A Blind Tasting Challenge | Stovehouse, weekly on Tuesday Scenethat Walking Tours | downtown Food Tour, weekly on Wednesday & Thursday Downtown Walking Tours | weekly on Friday, Saturday, & Sunday Civil Rights Landmarks Tour | weekly on Sunday $5 After 5 | Huntsville Museum of Art, weekly on Thursday Friday Farmers Market | Oakwood Farms Market, weekly on Friday through November 11 Friday Night Art Walk | downtown Huntsville, monthly on the second Friday Yoga | The Camp, weekly on Saturday The Market | MidCity, weekly on Sunday through November The Merrimack Market | University Pickers, monthly on the second Saturday through December 10 Jazz Jam Sessions | Valley Conservatory, monthly on the fourth Saturday Huntsville’s Only Drag Brunch | Speakeasy at Straight to Ale Brands, monthly on the last Sunday

One-time events: Churchill starring David Payne | VBC Playhouse, November 3 Jim Parker’s Songwriter’s Showcase | VBC Playhouse, November 4 Round Top Folk Festival | Burritt on the Mountain, November 5-6 Huntsville Havoc Hockey | VBC Propst Arena, November 3, 18, 19, 24, 25; December 3, 17, 23, 28, 30; January 6, 13, 14, 20, 21 Mr. Chuck D. in Huntsville! | Von Braun Center, November 4 Under the Christmas Tree: A Holiday Shopping Marketplace | Von Braun Center, November 4-6 Rocket City Championship Wrestling | Rocket City Wrestling Championship Arena, November 5, 19; December 3, 17 ZZ Top Raw Whiskey Tour with Special Guest Austin Meade | VBC Mark C. Smith Concert Hall, November 5 Disney Princess – The Concert | VBC Mark C. Smith Concert Hall, November 6 Mat Kearney Live! | VBC Mars Music Hall, November 7 Voices of Our Times with Greg Sankey & Abraham Madkour | Huntsville Museum of Art, November 10 Anastasia | VBC Mark C. Smith Concert Hall, November 11-13 Joe Satriani Earth Tour 2022/2023 | VBC Mars Music Hall, November 14 MANIA – The ABBA Tribute | VBC Mars Music Hall, November 18 Warren Zeiders: The Up To No Good Tour | VBC Mars Music Hall, November 19 Straight No Chaser | The 25th Anniversary Celebration, VBC Mark C. Smith Concert Hall, November 20 Paw Patrol Live | Von Braun Center, November 22 Million Dollar Quartet Christmas | VBC Mark C. Smith Concert Hall, November 25

Drive Your Dream Cars Show | Von Braun Center South Hall, November 27 Galaxy of Lights 5k Race | Huntsville Botanical Garden, November 28 Galaxy of Lights 3k Fun Run | Huntsville Botanica Garden, November 29 Nate Bargatze: The Raincheck Tour | VBC Propst Arena, December 1 A Christmas Carol | VBC Playhouse, December 3-11 (various days & times) Krampus Run 5k | Grissom High School, December 3 Yule Y’all | Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment, December 3 Simply Christmas Artisan Sale | Monte Sano United Methodist Church, December 3 Rocket City Hot Wheelers Diecast Show | Jaycees Building, December 10 Winter Solstice Artist Market | Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment, December 17 n