MILLBROOK, Ala. (WSFA) – Casting a line on a hot summer day is about as Alabama as you can get. You can reel in catfish all over the state and now Alabama is hoping to capitalize on that with the new Alabama Catfish Trail.

“Summertime is the perfect time to grab the family, fishing pole, and head out to the nearest pond or lake and enjoy the season,” said Marina Childress with Alabama Blackbelt Adventures.

Catfish in Alabama is a big deal. If you combine the farm raised catfish industry, restaurants, and recreation, the catfish sector contributes about $92 million a year to our states economy.

“There are 50 waterways you can enjoy on the trail, from North Alabama to Central Alabama, to South Alabama.”

State leaders hope this is a big catch for Alabama.

“Our new Catfish Trail invites visitors to experience our beautiful state through its waterways, recipes and cultural traditions,” said Alabama Tourism director Lee Sentell.

“There’s nobody, I mean nobody, who loves a plate of Alabama catfish more than I do,” said Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville. “As a former catfish restaurant owner, I know how critical the catfish industry is to our great state. The Alabama Catfish Trail is a great opportunity to recognize and thank all of our farmers who drive this industry. It’s also a chance to bring people together, to connect with friends and family, and enjoy Alabama’s waterways.”

It’s a program that’ll surely make a big splash.

“It goes back to years and years of generations, restaurants, recreation and catfish farming in general,” said Childress.

Along with the brand new trail, you can also show off you big catch. Alabama Blackbelt Adventures is hosting a catfish photo contest. The fish must be caught in the Blackbelt Region. The deadline to submit you picture is July 12th. The contest winner receiving a two-person, half-day guided trip with Bama Noodling in 2027.

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Alabama’s official celebration of America’s 250th birthday will begin this week at American Village in Montevallo.

On July 4, 2026, the United States will mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Across the country, communities are preparing to celebrate the historic milestone through America 250 events, commemorations and civic programs.

In Alabama, the centerpiece celebration is being organized by the America 250 Alabama Commission and will be held at American Village.

Sweet Home 250, billed as “Where Freedom Feels Like Home,” is a two-day music, arts and food festival scheduled for July 3 and 4. The event will honor Alabama’s musical heritage while celebrating the state’s history, visual arts, culinary traditions and place in the American story.

Festival programming will run from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. both days.

The music lineup includes 18 acts from across Alabama, ranging from legendary performers to rising artists. Scheduled performers include Taylor Hicks, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Chuck Leavell, Roman Street, Act of Congress, Will McFarland and the Muscle Shoals All Stars, the Birmingham Youth & Young Adult Fellowship Choir, the Montevallo Community Band and others.

The festival will also feature a Celebrity Chefs’ Kitchen on Friday, July 3, led by Jonathan Harrison, a Columbiana chef known for his focus on Southern food and local ingredients. Harrison, who appeared on Gordon Ramsay’s “Next Level Chef” in 2022, will be joined by Alabama chefs Annie McDaniel, Sally McKay and Natalie Gravois for cooking demonstrations and samples.

Alabama food traditions will also be part of the weekend, with eating contests featuring Blue Bell vanilla mini ice cream cups, Priester’s mini pecan pies and Conecuh Little Chief Premium Franks.

For families, the Sweet Home 250 Kids’ Zone will include Perondi’s All-Star Stunt Dog Show, with three performances scheduled each day. The festival will also feature a July 4 screening of “Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero,” the animated film about America’s most decorated war dog, at 6:30 p.m. in the West Wing Theatre.

History will be a major part of the celebration. American Village will present more than 100 short “America’s Stories” programs across the festival in settings modeled after Independence Hall, Congress Hall, Williamsburg’s Bruton Parish Church and the East Room of the White House.

The presentations will include stories from the founding era, including Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and Abigail Adams, as well as Alabama-connected history such as the Tuskegee Airmen and Gálvez and the Gulf.

Inside the Portrait Gallery of Independence Hall, visitors will also be able to view a special art exhibition honoring America’s 250th birthday, including winners of the statewide Expressions of Freedom painting contest and a commemorative quilt crafted by quilting guilds across Alabama.

American Village has long served as one of Alabama’s leading civic education landmarks, drawing students, families and visitors to learn about the American founding, citizenship and self-government.

This week, it will become Alabama’s gathering place for one of the largest patriotic milestones in the nation’s history.

More information is available at SweetHome250.com.

Sawyer Knowles is a state and political reporter for Yellowhammer News. You may contact him at [email protected].