FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: John Dersham, Executive Director
DeKalb Tourism
PHONE: 256.845.3957 or 888.805.4740 ext. 35
info@tourdekalb.com
A Barn Sale, Yard Sales and Rhododendrons Take Over DeKalb County in May
Fort Payne, Ala. (March 26, 2019) – At the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains lies DeKalb County, known for its abundance of outdoor recreation and beautiful scenery. Along with exploring nature and soaking in all that Mother Nature has to offer, the area also offers some incredible shopping adventures, and May is one of the best months for shoppers to visit.
A pickers’ paradise, the Vintage Pickin’ Barn Sale in Fyffe, Ala. will be held May 3-4, 2019. Shop from over 55 hand-selected artisans and pickers from across the southeast that will be bringing truckloads of farmhouse treasures, primitive pieces, rustic junk, industrial pieces and repurposed goods. During the sale, there will be live music and local food vendors and food trucks for attendees to enjoy while shopping.
Hours and admission tickets are:
Friday, May 3, 2019
– Early Pickin’ (limited number of tickets available)
11 a.m. – 2 p.m. / $18 plus fees for online presale only ($20 cash only at gate if tickets are still available)
*Shop all weekend with the Early Pickin’ ticket.
– General Pickin’ (general admission)
2 p.m. – 7 p.m. / $8 (can be pre-purchased online or cash only at gate)
Saturday, May 4, 2019
– General Pickin’ (general admission)
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. / $8 (can be pre-purchased online or cash only at gate)
Event is rain or shine and tickets are non-refundable. The sale is held on White Oaks Farm located at 202 Farmer Road in Fyffe, Ala. For more details and to purchase tickets, visit https://vintagepickin.com/.
For a scenic shopping experience, visitors can take the back roads through the Appalachia region for a shop ‘til you drop experience. Set for May 16-19, 2019, the US 11 Antique Alley Yard Sale offers 502 miles of roadside sales from Meridian, Miss. through DeKalb County, and ending in Bristol, Va. Hundreds of yard sales offering treasures, unique finds and southern hospitality can be found along U.S. Highway 11 through Hammondville, Sulphur Springs, Valley Head, Fort Payne, Colbran, Portersville, and Collinsville, all located in DeKalb County. For more information, visit https://visitlookoutmountain.com/antique-alley-yard-sale/.
Every year, thousands of visitors flock to the town of Mentone, a mountain village nestled atop the west brow of Lookout Mountain, for a two-day event paying tribute to rhododendrons and its bright showy flowers while showcasing the best of the mountaintop town. Presented by the Mentone Area Preservation Association, the Rhododendron Festival features an array of handmade arts and crafts and live music from local musicians, with the highlight of the festival the beautiful bursts of rhododendron blooms covering the mountaintop town. This year’s event is set for May 18-19, 2019.
The Rhododendron Festival kicks off on Friday, May 17th with a fish fry and fried pies beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Mentone Inn followed by a free concert by Will Dooley and Company at 7 p.m.
On Saturday, May 18th and Sunday, May 19th, over 70 talented artists and craftsmen offering their handmade creations will fill Brow Park and the old Mentone Springs Hotel site. Festivalgoers can peruse the works of art from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. The Mentone Area Preservation Association will be selling rhododendrons for festivalgoers to purchase and take home.
In addition to art and music, scenic boat rides will be offered on Little River, weather permitting. The boat will leave from DeSoto Falls and travel up river before returning. Hours are from 1 p.m. to dusk on Friday, from 10 a.m. to dusk on Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Boats will depart approximately every 45 minutes. Cost is $15 per person.
Master herbalist Darryl Patton will lead two plant identification walks on Sunday, May 19th. Known for his easy going approach towards teaching the identification and uses of medicinal plants, Darryl has been called a walking encyclopedia of herbal folklore. For 12 years, Darryl was privileged to spend thousands of hours studying under the late A. L. “Tommie” Bass, one of the last of the old mountain herb doctors. Walks are set for 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
