By Stephen V. Smith
The Mentone Fall Festival features live music from the Shigley Amphitheater stage. Photo courtesy John Dersham, DeKalb Tourism
For the mountain hamlet of Mentone in the northeast corner of the state, fall is more than a time to mark the passage of the seasons. In this town of just over 300 residents, it’s a time to celebrate the arts while preserving a history that is central to its identity.
The Mentone Fall Festival will be Saturday, Oct. 18, on the grounds of Moon Lake Campus. More than 80 artists and vendors will offer their paintings, woodwork, pottery, metalwork, homemade specialty foods and one-of-a-kind creations. Food trucks will keep visitors fed throughout the day, and kids will stay busy with many fun crafts and activities.
Festivalgoers will also enjoy musical performances, both in front of the main campus building and from the Shigley Amphitheater stage. Headlining this year’s festival will be Three On A String. Members of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, these musical ambassadors for the state carry their songs, laughs, and signature style to events across the country.
Another main act will be Compass Records artist Pierce Pettis. The singer/songwriter has enjoyed a storied music career that includes numerous albums and a touring schedule that takes him across America.
Beyond his own albums, Pettis’ songs have been recorded by the likes of Joan Baez, Art Garfunkel, Susan Ashton and Dar Williams. Garth Brooks had a huge hit with Pettis’ song, “You Move Me.”
Mentone is known across the Southeast for its summer camps that attract thousands to the mountain town each year to grow and learn against a backdrop of forested land, trails, creeks, and a river that supports an incredible biodiverse collection of flora and fauna.
“Visitors come to Mentone to slow down, to enjoy the natural beauty, and to celebrate the arts that are such an important part of who we are,” says Rob Hammond, a local camp owner who has been Mentone’s mayor for the past 21 years.
Under Hammond’s leadership, Mentone has fought to overcome challenges that would have defeated some towns of its size. Fire has destroyed historic buildings that drew tourists to the area. The town faced safety issues on Highway 117, which were mitigated through a new bridge built by the Alabama Department of Transportation. Public water shortages that held back progress were addressed through a partnership with and the ultimate sale of the town’s system to a local water board.
The greatest blow to Mentone, however, came when the county school board closed Moon Lake Elementary at the end of the 2020-21 school year, citing declining enrollment and increasing operational costs.
This not only brought an end to a center of education, but also devastated a community that was deeply invested in the 100-year-old institution. Parents and community leaders had long supported the school by volunteering their time, donating supplies and other resources, and championing a student population that regularly scored among the best academic performances in the state.
“The loss hurt, but we didn’t let it defeat us,” says Hammond. “Assuming responsibility for that property was a huge undertaking for a town of our size, but we knew it was the only way to ensure the school would continue to be at the heart of this community.”
The school board deeded the property to the Town of Mentone, and work began transforming the campus. Today, it is home to several artist shops and galleries, and even a Cajun/Creole restaurant. The front is graced by an impressive public art installation that pays tribute to the natural world and the spirit of community. Construction will soon start on the Moon Lake Arts Collective, a public access pottery and art studio offering pottery memberships, make-your-own pottery activities, and classes led by local and visiting artists. A new outdoor music series was launched at the amphitheater this summer, and various functions are being planned for the former school gym that is being upgraded for events and performances.
Hammond points out that these efforts would be impossible without the support of town councilmen, local citizens, and elected officials at the state and federal levels. For instance, the town was recently awarded a $300,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission to be matched by town resources. The work will improve the structural integrity, accessibility, and safety of the main building.
The Mentone Fall Festival is an important part of this work. A local non-profit originally coordinated the festival, known then as ColorFest. When the organization folded, the town stepped in to keep the tradition alive. Through the support of volunteers and the generosity of sponsors, the first two events raised more than $50,000, all reinvested into the campus.
“The festival is more than a celebration of the arts and a fun event for our citizens and the thousands who visit our community,” says Hammond. “It’s a major economic driver for Mentone. It helps us improve Moon Lake Campus to attract even more visitors. And when more people become aware of the campus, they also visit the other shops and restaurants in town. Everyone wins, and that’s important for a community whose main industry is tourism.”
Mentone is a town committed to preserving its history while promoting a future that embraces its character of arts, culture, and the environmental treasures that form its foundation. On the surface, the Mentone Fall Festival is a fun day of shopping, eating, listening to live music, and enjoying time with friends and family. But the real story behind the festival is the tenacity of a community that has courageously faced adversity with hope and vision by using its cultural assets to overcome.
Moon Lake Campus is located at 5866 E. River Road in Mentone. To access the parking area, travel east just past the Moon Lake Library and watch for the signs. There is a $5 parking fee. No charge for admission, but donations are welcome. Festival hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For event details, visit mentonefallfestival.com.
