Scarecrow Trail, eighth annual, one of the Southeast’s Top 20 tourist attractions, Huntsville Botanical Garden, 4747 Bob Wallace Ave., 9 a.m.-6 p.m., $10, members free, 830-4447 or www.hsvbg.org.

Line dancing, Hog Wild Saloon, 2322 South Parkway, 7-8 p.m., $5, 882-9361, 533-7446 or hogwilddancing@netzero.com.

Ballroom dancing, Madison Ballroom Dance Studio, 9076 Madison Blvd., Suite C/D, Madison, 8-10 p.m., $5, 461-1900 or www.madisonballroom.com.

Ball in the House, Merrimack Hall Performing Arts Center, 3320 Triana Blvd., 7 p.m., $22, students and seniors 60 and older $18, 534-6455 or www.merrimackhall.com.

Riverfest, 14th annual, includes Alabama state chamionship barbecue cook-off, music by Dusty French and Dusty Winsett, Juice, Rollin in the Hay and Zac Brown Band on Friday starting at 5 p.m. and Mike Roberts, Black Label, The Golden Gears, Lynam and Whiskey Falls Saturday starting at 3 p.m., childrens area and vendors, sponsored by Decatur Jaycees, Ingalls Harbor, 701 Market St., Decatur, 10 a.m.-midnight, $10, ages 10 and younger $5, weekend passes for $15, admission by donations Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., 353-5312 or www.decaturjaycees.com.

Train ride, 90-minute train rides, North Alabama Railroad Museum, 694 Chase Road, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., $12, children under 12 $8, 851-6276 or www.northalabamarailroadmuseum.com.

Huntsville Dragway, Huntsville Dragway, 502 Quarter Mountain Road, 3 p.m., $15, under 12 free, 859-0807 or www.huntsvilledragway.com.

Max Hammond Memorial Concert, seventh annual benefit for former band member killed on 9/11 to buy instruments, performances by Grissom band, choral and dance departments, Grissom High School, 7901 Bailey Cove Road, 7:30 p.m., donations, 428-8000.

Walk to De-Feet ALS, Alabama A&M University Morrison Theater, 4900 Meridian St., Normal, 9 a.m., donations, 800-664-1242 or www.ALSAlabama.org.

5K race and 1-mile fun run, benefit for Christmas Charities Year Round and William Hooper Councill Alumni Association, registration 7 a.m., 5K at 8 a.m. and 1-mile fun run at 9 a.m, Councill High School grounds, 917 Monroe St., 7 a.m., $20, in advance $15, 837-2373 or www.christmascharitiesyearround.org.

Al Azhar Court #181 Daughters of Isis 2008 Commandress Ball, honoring Illustrious Commandress Angela Wims, live entertainment, hors d’oeuvres, Cahaba Shrine Temple, 6001 Pulaski Pike, 8 p.m.-1 a.m., $25, 859-6630.

Strausss “Ein Heldenleben“, Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Classical 1, conducted by Carlos Miguel Prieto, soprano Susanna Phillips, Von Braun Center, 700 Monroe Street, 7:30 p.m., $28-$69, 539-4818 or www.hso.org.

Swing dance, live band with Tuxedo Junction, part of Satellite Swing-Out, Elks Lodge, 725 Franklin St., 8-11 p.m., $12, students $7; UAH students free, 539-2520 or www.huntsvilleswingdance.org.

Swing dance workshops, three Lindy Hop and one Charleston class each day, beginner to intermediate on Saturday, intermediate to advanced on Sunday, part of Satellite Swing-Out, Optimist Recreation Center, 703 Oakwood Ave., 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m., $30 for one day, $50 for two days, students $40 for two days, 427-5775 or www.huntsvilleswingdance.org.

Huntsville Corn Maize, hay ride, corn-cob launcher, cow train, occasional bands, childrens play area, Huntsville Cornfield Maize, U.S. 72 between 107 and 108 mile markers, Brownsboro, 10 a.m.-11 p.m., 11 and up $8; ages 6-10 $6, ages 5 and under free with paid adult, 866-687-6293 or www.cornfieldmaze.com/alabama.html.

Oktoberfest, Activity Field, enter Gate 10, includes entertainment, carnival rides and fine art show, Redstone Arsenal, Patton Road, noon-1 a.m., $8 on Thursday and Sunday, $10 on Friday and Saturday, 876-5232 or www.redstonemwr.com.

“Laughter on the 23rd Floor“, Neil Simon play by Theatre Huntsville, Von Braun Center, 700 Monroe St., 7:30 p.m., $15, seniors, students and active military $13, 536-0807 or www.theatrehsv.org.

“GPS for the Consumer“, speaker Rod Rakes, Huntsville PC Users Group, Thomas W. Davidson Senior Center, 2200 Drake Ave., 9:15 a.m., free, 534-4324 or www.hpcug.com.

Rocket City Pattern Meet, radio-controlled model aircraft, Capt. Trey Wilbourn Field, south end of Leeman Ferry Road, 8 a.m.-7 p.m., spectators free, 859-1811.

“Pluto”, Von Braun Planetarium, Monte Sano State Park off Nolen Avenue, $5, students $3, www.vbas.org.

Book sale, Bessie K. Russell Branch Library, 3011-C Sparkman Drive, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., 859-9050.

Community Day of Service and Unity, fifth annual, meet for breakfast and travel to service sites across Madison County, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1804 Sparkman Drive, 7:30 a.m., www.seasonofunity.org.

Borden Creek/Big Tree day hike, Sierra Club, strenous, 14- mile hike in Sipsey Wilderness ledby Tom Burley, meet at Cracker Barrel in madison at 8 a.m. or at, Warrior Mountain Trading Company, Intersection of Alabama 36 & 33, Wren, 9 a.m., free, 883-4267 or tdburleyhiker@bellsouth.net.

Free day, open house, hands-on science for all ages, Sci-Quest, North Alabama Science Center, Calhoun Community College, 102-D Wynn Drive, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., 837-0606 or www.sci-quest.org.

Paintings exhibit, live painting and fine arts by Susan D. Pope, including Alabama and Auburn paintings, Olde Towne Coffee Shoppe, 511 Pratt Ave., 9 a.m.-2 p.m., 539-5399 or www.artisticdesignsbysusan.com.

Categories: Huntsville
Tags: huntsville events, huntsville festivals