150 ways to celebrate the Cullman countryside on our 150th birthday

The 1870s founders of Cullman County in the “Hill Country” of north Alabama traditionally celebrated the area’s birth year as 1873. So, 2023 is our 150^th birthday celebration even though the town was legally established in 1875 and Cullman County in 1877.

Cullman County offers you these 150, fun and often FREE, ways to celebrate with us this year and every year:

1. Every season, the Cullman countryside is a confetti of camera-ready colors
2. We’re not city slick, but the muddin’ at Stony Lonesome is country slick
3. In a cabin in the woods, little ole you can stay by the window and view the 1904 Clarkson Covered Bridge (special rate of $150 per night for fully refurbished 2-bedroom with kitchen, during our 150^th birthday celebration, make reservations at vrbo.com)
4. Have a barrel of fun with barrel races and bull-bucking at the AG Center
5. Cullman County’s grandest park, Sportsman Lake is FREE, open to all, and a nature lover’s haven with a giant lake reflecting the glorious natural beauty surrounding it
6. Shhh…I think I hear banjos, The Beatles and Beethoven
7. Be a pie judge for the Cullman County Fair
8. Give “Bocephus,” Hank Williams, Jr.’s, house a shout-out in the Vinemont community
9. We say “sir” and we say “ma’am” and if some don’t like it, we don’t give a darn
10. FREE, Fa-So-La, Sacred Harp singin’ at the Cullman County Courthouse or country church
11. Forage for mushrooms in the Berlin (pronounced “burr lun”) community
12. Christmas mistletoe is found throughout the Cullman countryside
13. “Howdee, I’m jez so proud to be here!” you’ll holler like Minnie Pearl in Baileyton, her birthplace
14. Stroll the leafy, tree-lined, paved walking path in Colony
15. “BIG FISH,” the hit movie, Broadway musical and bestselling book was inspired by the childhood summers that author, Daniel Wallace, enjoyed on Smith Lake
16. Cullman is Alabama’s no. 1 county for beef cattle
17. Savor sizzling steaks at the Branding Iron in West Point
18. Smell sweet, wild honeysuckle in Holly Pond pastures
19. The Cullman County Quilt Show stitches folks together throughout the countryside
20. Thrill to the “dawn chorus” trills of: Bluebirds at Sportsman Lake, Redbirds at Clarkson Covered Bridge, Yellowhammers at Stony Lonesome and eagles soaring at Smith Lake Park
21. “Grits just come with it” at a Cullman country café breakfast
22. The War Memorial at Sportsman Lake honors those who gave their all for America and gives peace to their families
23. Go frog-giggin’ then eat a tasty mound of fried frog legs at Pop’s Café in Hanceville, but not so many you croak
24. Rope and tie and brand ‘em at the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office Rodeo
25. Even the hen-pecked appreciate Cullman County is no. 1 in poultry and egg
26. Ask for eggs cooked the way you want ‘em at the Holly Pond Café
27. Fresh collards and turnip greens are waving for you to pull off Highway 69 for Burk’s produce in Fairview
28. Fish tacos at Café Tula Taqueria blend the delicious taste of fresh fish with Mexican spice
29. The classic, $4 dollar lunch at Sportsman Lake (hotdog, chips and soft drink) keeps locals returning and tourists full and happy
30. Every 1870s homestead in this part of Alabama had a smokehouse for curing meats and that culinary legacy assures Cullman County the best barbecue and country ham 150 years later
31. Want outdoor “big boy toys?” Haul hiney to Van’s Sporting Goods
32. As seen in the national press, “Best Houseplant Selection in Alabama,” Man Cave Market in Vinemont has super-friendly, knowledgeable service from owners, the Thompson twins (Chris and Pat) and Miz Angela
33. Pumpkin patch, Fall harvest festival at 4-Seeds Farm in Welti
34. “The Most-Scenic Fall Foliage in Alabama” is the stretch of Highway 31 from Garden City to Smokerise
35. Come for the fishin’ at Smith Lake Park and stay to cook your own fish fry
36. “Winter Wonderland” Christmas lights-on-the-lake, a holiday tradition, brings carloads of family fun and benefits Sportsman Lake.
37. Real feed-and-seed is found at Federer’s in Grandview. Feel the deer corn, smell the tomato leaves
38. Gibbs Nursery in Good Hope with sixteen greenhouses, is a “go to” plant source for central and north Alabama
39. “Best Outdoor Café Seating,” with many options in the Cullman countryside is Sunflower Café on County Road 222
40. Sitting high on a rocky cliff, Hi-Way Pickers Antique Mall looks like a gold-mining operation, and you’ll be panning for treasures through this cavernous, shopping and history adventure
41. “HILL YEAH!” we’ve got hills galore for you to hike up and around the Cullman countryside
42. Miz Sandy, owner of Mustard Seed Nursery doesn’t have just a “green thumb,” she’s got a “green arm” and acres of variety of heirloom and hybridized beauty
43. The FREE, waterfront promenade around Sportsman Lake is ideal for dads to guide baby strollers and walk pups while mom relaxes with a pillow and a good book in a Victorian-style gazebo
44. 76 trombones and as many flutes and clarinets offer you a rousing, musical invitation to the Cullman County Marching Band Expo each fall
45. Stroll with your sweetheart searching for a basket of American ginseng, an Appalachian aphrodisiac, and enjoy a romantic, candlelit evening in the cabin of Clarkson Covered Bridge
46. Rock out at Rock the South, one of the country’s most popular country music festivals and stay at a Cullman County campground
47. Host a family reunion or a wedding at the family-friendly Gin at West Point, a museum and event venue in a re-imagined cotton gin
48. The distinctive, Southern trait of time-weaving the past and present beckons you around every bend on Cullman country roads
49. Colony, Alabama is a beautiful and meaningful destination point on any heritage tour
50. Rolling pastureland and horse farms grace the landscape throughout the Cullman countryside
51. The authentic, decades-popular, old-fashioned, ice cream parlor at the Hanceville Drugstore is the “heart of the village”
52. Cullman County is dog-friendly–we’re also cat-friendly–Darn it, we’re just friendly
53. Come to your senses; the Cullman countryside is a sensory delight. Taste the fish, feel the cotton bolls, see the pine-studded forests, hear the babbling brooks, stop and smell the magnolias
54. American perspectives need new optimism; we offer you high points in Alabama Hill Country for that uplift
55. Say “Mornin’ deer.” Also, “Midday deer” and “Dusk deer.” Cullman County is like a 743 square mile deer park on the Cumberland Plateau
56. Planted between the rumble of the “Rocket City” and the manic “Magic City,” there’s the calming, Cullman countryside
57. Get an armload of sweet corn at the Johnson’s Crossing farm stand
58. Mudlarking magic happens where the Confederate Army camped
59. Swoon-inducing sweet potato treats lure you to the Sweet Tater Fest at Smith Lake Park
60. Sling more mud than an New York political rally at Stony Lonesome Park
61. Find the “hidden objects” in the Jack Tupper murals at various sites throughout the county, like an “art museum without walls”
62. Re-wild your natural spirit in real world wilderness
63. LOOK! LOOK! Instagram-worthy pix are just a click away, ask Cullman County nature photographer, Jake Calloway
64. Open a new window–Open a new door–Open yourself to the fresh-air and fresh perspectives at Clarkson Covered Bridge Park
65. Expand your real knowledge of Alabama history, geography and the natural sciences
66. Plunge into refreshing Cullman County swimming holes where folks have for 150 years
67. Make a hammock your personal retreat at: Clarkson Covered Bridge, Smith Lake Park, Sportsman Lake, Stony Lonesome and many, publicly owned tree glades in the Cullman countryside
68. Smith Lake Park launches you to 500 miles of shoreline to explore
69. Eat catfish and listen to “live music” at Brothers on Smith Lake
70. Lodging options welcome you to Airbnbs, lakeside rentals and unique stays like the cabin at Clarkson Covered Bridge (Make an online reservation at vrbo.com)
71. Cool down with a chest of RBC (really cold beer) at Cabin Fever in Good Hope
72. Flip-Flops make fine footwear everywhere, even an easygoing Sunday service at a church-on-a-lake
73. Appreciate the artistry and charm of Cullman County artisan crafts
74. Come as you are, “dress to impress” is for city folks
75. Boy Brings Grill—portable cookout options let you cook your catch at many approved spots around Cullman County
76. Alabama is an arboretum and Cullman County “Champion” trees stand tall and proud
77. Wind your way through the stately, acorn-laden oaks and tall pines of the Woodlands and Wildflower Garden at Sportsman Lake, an arboretum-worthy, natural oasis maintained by Cullman County Master Gardeners where the German-American Schmidt farm and orchard thrived 150 years ago
78. Strap on your binoculars to sight red-bellied woodpeckers and yellow-bellied sapsuckers
79. Belly up to any bar across Cullman County and order, locally brewed, award-winning Goat Island beers
80. There’s a kinda hush all over the Cullman countryside from tranquil hilltops to still water lakes
81. The best apple-picking and cider is at family-owned Steele Orchard in West Point
82. Step up to Cullman County hikers’ heaven from gentle slopes to uphill climbs that let you hit the goals of your fitness tracker
83. Biking options and miles-and-miles of paths meander through Cullman County parks and backroads, perfect for all speeds from fat-tire cruisers to bugs-in-your teeth motorbikes
84. You’re never far from a buttered biscuit in Cullman County and one great wayside stop for breakfast is Whitlock’s in Trimble; “goodness gracious it’s good”
85. Get a spa-caliber manicure at Hanceville Pro-Nails, then head out for target practice with your pretty trigger fingers
86. Go lakefront paddling through breath-taking Water Oaks
87. Our thrill rides, magic mountains and wildlife are the “real deal” not an artificial theme park
88. Ballcaps, bucket hats, bandanas and cowboy/cowgirl hats mean every day is a no-fuss, “good hair day” in Cullman County
89. Ask  them to cook their delish “No Wake Chicken Sandwich” at Trident Marina just for you!
90. Go pray at the Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament, then go tubing on the nearby Warrior River
91. Pet the baby farm animals and their adoring parents at Snead Farm
92. Get a bushel and a peck at Bagwell’s U-Pick Blueberry Farm in early July
93. Crank some ice cream and camp all night at Stony Lonesome Park
94. Read Cullman County’s nationally acclaimed poet, Will Drake, and see the farmland that inspires his agrarian poems
95. Natural beauty is appreciated in Cullman County, and we believe everyone is beautiful in their own way
96. Pick a posey at one of the flower farms blooming across the Cullman countryside
97. Native American arrowheads are found in this county’s ancient hunting grounds every year
98. “Unalii Otali,” translated as “Friends Mountain” from the Cherokee language welcomes you unto our hills
99. De-stress with Zen-like mindfulness on a wooded ridge in a community called Harmony
100. Peter Piper picked that peck of peppers at Calvert’s Farm in Bremen, and you can, too
101. Bring your authentic self to Cullman County where we value authenticity
102. Feed the quacking ducks and honking geese at Sportsman Lake
103. Grab a cup of fresh, hot coffee in Cold Springs at The Petro
104. Sit on the dock and strum your guitar at Sportsman Lake
105. Bring your telescope for epic stargazing and wish upon a star without “light pollution” across the starlit Cullman countryside
106. Lift your spirit with jubilant Black Gospel singing at a church in Colony
107. Do Si Do and swing your partner at a Cullman County Square Dance
108. Honey, come and buzz around the countryside with the Cullman County Beekeepers
109. We’re tossing 150 “wildflower seed bombs” to help butterflies and other pollinators across the Cullman countryside celebrate the 150^th birthday
110.  Play croquet on public, greenspace lawns throughout Cullman County
111. Enjoy the championship “disc golf” course at Wallace State Community College in Hanceville
112. Add to the stacked rock, “happy wanderer” cairns in all the Cullman County parks
113. Take a book and leave a book at some “Little Free Library” you’ll find in the county
114. “Plein air,” outdoor artists and nature photographers creatively capture dramatic landscapes and sweeping vistas across the Cullman countryside
115. Location. Location. Location. The finest real estate under the stars in Cullman County is under the stars.
116. “Forest bathing” is legal and encouraged in Cullman County public woodlands; keep your shirt on…this simply means immersing yourself mindfully in nature, “being one with the universe”
117. The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach and that road winds throughout Cullman County
118. Go to extremes, “sport,” climb the highest peak and ford the stream on Lacon Mountain
119. Let the kids “splish splash” FREE at the Splash Pad at Sportsman Lake
120. We’ve got vintage cars, guitars, snack bars and wanna-be swim stars at Smith Lake Park
121. Country store with a welcoming door is the 278 East Rock Grocery, “Where Smiles Are Free”
122. We’re proud you’ll find a lot of middle-of-nowhere in the Cullman countryside, here—taking the road-less-traveled can make all the difference as farmer/poet, Robert Frost wrote
123. Posh dining could be yours in Cullman County parks; we’ll provide a beautiful setting and all you add is a basket of fine food, your silver candelabra, and the la-dee-da
124. Learn our local lingo, in Cullman County, “Y’all come back now, ya hear?” means we enjoy your visits, please return soon and often
125. Baby-making at its best is here—so far, the record goes to David “Uncle Davy” Speegle from the Brushy Creek community, who fathered his hard-working farm family with 26 children
126. Here in Alabama “Hill Country,” Cullman County offers rich history, locavore eats, and “down home,” heritage music—we’re like Gatlinburg, TN without all the trinket shops
127. Cullman countryside feels refreshingly far and away with green meadows like England and sun-blessed hills like Italy, but we are just off I-65 between Birmingham and Huntsville
128. Linger longer over an elegant, charmingly served “Slow Food” meal at Ledger’s
129. Challenge someone to dueling banjos at the next Cullman County music jam
130. Improve your mental and physical health as a Cullman County volunteer community gardener
131. Flit along the Butterfly Trail at the Woodlands and Wildflower Garden at Sportsman Lake
132. Gather at an all-day singing in Crane Hill
133. Slow down, sway with the trees, raise your branches with the breeze and breathe
134. Regain balance in your life walking the creek banks and straddling the logs at Stony Lonesome Park
135. Active anglers and busy Bass Masters flock to Cullman County fishing holes but some of the happiest smiles are on those simply enjoying some laid-back “lake lollygagging”
136. Laughter and birdsong are the sounds visitors to the Cullman countryside most recall
137. Let’s keep it real, our world doesn’t need more plastic people nor cheap stuff– together let’s preserve good, down-to-earth, quality things like “Alabama the Beautiful”
138. Summertime in the Cullman countryside brings barefootin’ on miles of soft grass, fireflies in a fruit jar with a punched-hole lid and farm-to-face muskmelons and watermelons (Note: Alabama is an agricultural Eden, but of the 67 counties, Cullman is no. 1 in melons)
139. Dance under a string of lights on a moonlit night in the parks
140. Horseshoes for good luck and for tossing on the lawn at Clarkson Covered Bridge
141. Blend a Cullman County “Tomato Tornado” mocktail/cocktail in peak season
142. When life gets too heavy–balloons, butterflies, bumble bees and birds in our parks remind us to “lighten up” and let cares, worries and regrets float away
143. WKUL, local Cullman radio, plays classic country and is enjoyed throughout the county—tune in for “The Trading Post,” the long-running “live, on-air” call-in show where someone who grew too much zucchini will swap for a truck wash
144. Friday nights in the Fall mean high school football in every community, it just happens “Autumn-atically”
145. Cullman countryside is populated with farmers, gardeners, sports enthusiasts and outdoor lovers–“The Weather Channel” is our favorite show on television, we watch all four seasons of it
146. SAD (Seasonal Affectedness Disorder) is rare in this part of Alabama—in midwinter, the leaves are off the hardwood trees, so sunshine comes through, all the pines and conifers bring evergreen hope, and drifts of sunny yellow buttercups are natural anti-depressants
147. “Gleaning” is a good, community cause in Cullman County for those who enjoy helping others on weekends and vacations—generous farmers who have some produce in the fields remaining after harvests, welcome folks to come help gather it to fill the food banks—the North Alabama Agriplex is a caring place to become a gleaning volunteer
148. Playing “Dungeons and Dragons,” cosplay and other collaborative storytelling is popular in Cullman County, you can connect online and then at a safe gathering in our parks—it’s similar to how people told stories around the hearth here 150 years ago
149. Some music lovers come together for “Big Sing” Cullman County community sing-alongs—we raise the rafters with tunes as diverse as “May the Circle Be Unbroken” and the Bama and War Eagle fight songs
150. See nos. 1-149—You can find lots to do throughout the Cullman countryside, but you could choose to “downshift,” leave the hamster wheel and the rat race, while you bliss out on a picnic blanket in a park here, happily thinking of lots not to do.

In Cullman County, we’re baking a huge cake with 150 glowing, birthday candles. We’ll save you a fresh slice. Y’ALL COME CELEBRATE SOON!