Editor Pick
Big Spring Jam
- July 11, 2008
- Rated 4 of 5 by
ssullivan from Atlanta, Georgia
Since 1993, each September Huntsville residents join visitors from all over the country for this large outdoor festival. Big Spring Jam is held in the city's Big Spring Park and spans an entire weekend. The festival is primarily a series of concerts held at numerous outdoor stages for musical performers of all genres, including some very well-known acts. In addition to the music, there are a variety carnival games and small rides, a huge selection of food vendors selling everything from Asian foods to festival favorites like corn dogs and funnel cakes, to barbecue and Greek gyros.
I experienced Big Spring Jam quite by accident. Due to the approach of Hurricane Rita in September 2005, I was unable to return home from Huntsville for several days after a work trip there. After finding out I'd be stranded for the weekend with little to do, one of the employees at my client offered an extra ticket to the Saturday night Big Spring Jam concerts that she was unable to use. I had a great time listening to a variety of live music acts, including Journey, the Black Crowes, and Billy Dean. Even though there are always several acts performing at the same time, the stages are arranged in such a way that the sound from each stage does not affect the listening experience at other stages. This is also helped by the sheer size of the festival grounds, which occupy not only the park but a variety of surrounding city blocks and parking lots.
Big Spring Jam is one of the largest, if not the largest, events in Huntsville each year. As a result, hotels tend to fill up early for the weekend. However, if you enjoy live music, it's one of the premier events in the Southeast, and definitely worth making a visit. More information can be found on the Big Spring Jam website.
From journal Huntsville: Space City, Alabama