Mentone has a cultural life that runs well beyond its size. The mountain’s arts community is organized, active, and worth planning around. What follows covers both the recurring calendar and the organizations that keep it running.
The Arts Organizations
Mentone Arts Center
A nonprofit community art center created to preserve and promote the artistic, musical, and cultural heritage of Mentone and the greater Lookout Mountain area. The gallery at the Chuck Sennett Center for the Arts displays work from more than 60 regional artists and makers — paintings, pottery, glass, jewelry, woven works, and sculpture. Classes and workshops run year-round across painting, drawing, photography, printmaking, music, and songwriting. Open Thursday through Monday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Highway 117, Mentone.
Little River Arts Council
Founded in 2006, the Little River Arts Council is a nonprofit that raises funds for the arts, sponsors events, provides educational opportunities, and strengthens cultural resources for the benefit of businesses and citizens in the Mentone area. The LRAC operates the Little River Art Gallery at Moon Lake Campus and sponsors most of the recurring arts programming in town throughout the year.
Moon Lake Campus
Once the town’s Moon Lake Elementary School, the property has been reimagined as a gathering place for culture and community, now home to shops, art galleries, offices, and a restaurant. The Shigley Amphitheater hosts concerts and outdoor events. The campus is the physical center of Mentone’s arts life and the site of most community events.
Orbix Hot Glass
Founded in 2002 by Cal and Christy Breed, Orbix Hot Glass is a working studio and gallery on 26 acres bordering Little River Canyon National Preserve. The studio produces handcrafted glassware and one-of-a-kind sculpture. Classes to blow your own ornament, tumbler, flower, or paperweight are offered regularly. Open Tuesday through Saturday. 3869 County Road 275, Fort Payne. Call ahead to confirm class availability.
Recurring Events
First Friday Art Nights
First Friday of Each Month, May through November
Held the first Friday of each month from May through November, 4 to 7 p.m., at Moon Lake Village and participating businesses throughout Mentone. Live music, food, and open galleries. One of the most consistent and well-attended community events on the mountain. Sponsored by the Little River Arts Council.
Music on the Mountain Songwriters Series
Monthly
A Nashville-style songwriters round hosted monthly at the Mentone Arts Center, featuring regional and nationally recognized singer-songwriters. Free to the public. Check the Mentone Arts Center Facebook page for upcoming dates and performers.
Summer Music Series
June through August
Four evenings of live music on the lawn at the Mentone Inn’s Linger Longer Pavilion, sponsored by the Little River Arts Council. Bring a lawn chair. Concerts run 6 to 9 p.m. One of the better summer evening options on the mountain.
DeSoto State Park Art Workshops
Year-Round
The Little River Arts Council partners with DeSoto State Park throughout the year to offer hands-on art workshops — watercolor, metal art, basket weaving, printmaking, and more. Classes run most months. Check the LRAC website for the current schedule and registration.
Annual Events
Rhododendron Festival
Third Weekend of May
An annual two-day arts and crafts festival held at Brow Park in Mentone, timed to coincide with the peak bloom of native rhododendrons and mountain laurel. Artisan vendors, live entertainment, food, and a bonfire on Friday evening. One of the best weekends of the year to be on the mountain.
Follow Your Art
Late August
Mentone’s only juried art show, held annually on the MERF Community Walking Trail, featuring cash awards for visual art and a sidewalk chalk art contest. Twenty to thirty artists show work across painting, ceramics, woodcarving, photography, textile arts, and jewelry. Live music and food trucks round out the day. Free to attend.
Bloom Fest
May
A spring market day at the Log Cabin Village on Highway 117. Local artisan shops, handmade goods, and a relaxed afternoon in town.
Mentone Fall Festival
October 17, 2026
Held at the historic Moon Lake Campus, the Fall Festival features live music, art vendors, food trucks, and activities for all ages. Peak foliage typically coincides with this weekend. One of the mountain’s signature annual events.
Creative Spirit Market
November
An annual market held at DeSoto State Park in November, organized by the Little River Arts Council. Local artisans, handcrafted goods, and a good reason to get outdoors before the Lodge closes for the season.
Seasonal Community Events
US 11 Antique Alley Yard Sale
Weekend Following Mother’s Day
A multi-day yard sale running along US Highway 11 from Mississippi to Virginia, passing through Fort Payne’s historic downtown. Good hunting for antiques, collectibles, and local goods.
Alabama Fan Appreciation Week
June 18–21, 2026
An annual event in Fort Payne — hometown of the country music group Alabama — featuring live music, songwriter showcases, and fan events. Fort Payne fills up for this weekend. Book well in advance if your stay overlaps.
World’s Longest Yard Sale
August 6–9, 2026
A four-day event the first Thursday through Sunday of August, covering 690 miles across six states. The route runs directly through Mentone along the Lookout Mountain Parkway. Whether you are a serious collector or along for the scenery, it is worth building a trip around.
Third Saturday Sunset Cruise-In
Monthly, May through October
A monthly gathering in downtown Fort Payne featuring food, live music, motorcycles, and an antique car show. Third Saturday of each month, 5 to 9 p.m.
Event dates and schedules are confirmed where available. For the most current arts programming, follow the Mentone Arts Center and Little River Arts Council on Facebook, or visit mentonealabama.gov.
