Pelham Wildlife Festival

From Pelham Wildlife Festival Website:

The Pelham Wildlife Festival is held each year on the 1st Saturday in October. Each year, thousands of people gather in Pelham to experience the best in local food, photography, arts and crafts, and educational vendors. The Wildlife Festival was originally named the "Gold Leaf Festival" as an ode to one of the largest agriculturally produced crops in our region- tobacco. The name was changed to the Wildlife Festival and that's what it has remained for over 20 years.

Although visitors come for the festival, they also enjoy touring our local downtown area and the shops located within our historic district. Many of our local merchants are open throughout the day of the festival and offer unique, quality items. The store owners offer a taste of Southern hospitality and true customer service.

The Wildlife Festival also provides an opportunity for visitors to visit our local museum. Within the museum, there are numerous items of interest, all of which accurately explain the history of Pelham from it's start until present day.

The Wildlife Festival 5K and Fun Run is also a wonderful attraction for Pelham. Runners from all over Georgia, Florida, and Alabama travel to Pelham for the Wildlife Festival 5K and Fun Run.

The Wildlife Festival Pageant crowns Miss Wildlife, Junior Miss Wildife, Little Miss Wildlife, Teeny Miss Wildlife, and Tiny Miss Wildlife. The Wildlife Queens are present during our Wildlife Auction for the Arts and spend the day of the festival walking around and greeting visitors. They spend the remainder of their time as queens completing different community activities and helping the citizens of Pelham.

Approximately 3 weeks before the Wildlife Festival, the Pelham Chamber of Commerce host the Wildlife Auction for the Arts. This auction features all types of items which are auctioned off to raise money for a student interested in persuing a college degree in art. The Wildlife Auction for the Art showcases the products and services from local citizens and businesses. From custom made cheese boxes, wildlife feeders, a fly over of Mitchell County in a private plane, weekend at the Flint River, and quail hunts, the Pelham Wildlife Auction for the Arts has something for everyone.

In conjunction with the Wildlife Festival, the Pelham Chamber of Commerce hosts an art show in the historic Hand building. This art show allows artists from all over the Southeastern United States the ability to compete and showcase their talent. Prizes are awarded for the artists and artist are allowed to sell their work. During the Wildlife Festival hours, the art work is on display for all to see.

While viewers enjoy perusing the artwork, they also have a chance to tour the bottom floor of the newly renovated Hand Building. The Hand Building was constructed in 1914 and fashioned after the Marshall Fields department store in Chicago, IL. With a beautiful atrium, the Hand Building is one of a kind.