We have just around a month of summer left before the air grows crisper, and you need to remember where you last put the kids’ backpacks. Now is the time to take advantage of the summer’s simple joys of sunshine and clear skies! Luckily for you, Shelby County is hosting some of the best local events to round up the summer! Whether you’re looking to participate or spectate some friendly competition, enjoy live performances, or explore some of our favorite Shelby County attractions, we can serve as a one-stop directory for the events we’re most looking forward to before September rolls around.

Trail Races!

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Shelby County is home to almost 150 miles of trails, drawing avid hikers and mountain bikers from all over the world and making it a prime location for some of the best trail races in the American Southeast. For all of the trail runners, Oak Mountain State Park is hosting a diverse, packed schedule of trail races for athletes at every stage.

The Hotter 'N Hell Trail Race will not be for a beginner runner, but the more experienced trail runners among us will find a one-of-a-kind challenge and adventure on this fourth leg in the Southeastern Trail Series. This race has both a 9-mile and an 18-mile course and offers some of the most exciting and testing terrain, with racers traversing the summit of Double Oak Mountain and taking on Peavine Gorge. Registration is running low, so be sure to secure your spot ASAP! Parking will be located in front of the Dogwood Pavilion, and everyone must enter through the South Entrance. Be mindful that the temperatures of this race are as high as the race’s title advertises, so you must prepare with proper electrolytes.

Who wants to be the King and Queen of the Mountain? Oak Mountain State Park is hosting its King of the Mountain 5k, a race that is shorter in distance but not at all lacking in scenic views, with the summit of King’s Chair serving as the race’s halfway point. Get to the finish line within 40 minutes, and you will be “knighted”!

Celebrating 41 years of racing, the Buster Britton Triathlon encourages its participants to push themselves to their limits, all while remembering to forge community with their fellow racers. Focused on accessibility, the race is tailored to beginner and experienced racers and offers a variety of options in how you tackle the course, whether you want to complete the entire triathlon, to just swim and bike, to just bike and run, or to compete with friends as a relay team! It takes little to see why this triathlon has become one of Shelby County’s most long-running (no pun intended!) race events in the county.

On the same day as the Buster Britton race, you can find a more challenging race option at the Ridge to Blazing Ridge Trail Race, the fifth leg of the Southeastern Trail series! Like on the Hotter ‘N Hell race, it is imperative that you hydrate and pack enough water for the course’s duration. Some racers take five hours to complete it. Check the Southeastern Trail Run’s site linked above to read up on some more tips for dealing with this race’s specific challenges.

There’s no race in Shelby County quite like the Zombie Backyard Ultra. When the bell sounds, it is your time to run the 4.167-mile loop, and you have one hour to return to the starting line before the bell sounds again and you can make the loop once more. If you don’t make it back to the starting line in time for the bells or choose to throw in the towel, you’re eliminated! The race goes and the bells sound until there is only one “zombie” left standing! The unique rules of this race make it an exciting one for racers and spectators alike, who can set up set up tents and canopies for supplies for the runners.

Live Performances!

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The Southeast is one of the capitals of American music. Shelby County dedicates itself to organizing live music performances from local artists that showcase why the country genre has become such a staple in America’s music culture. This past summer, Shelby County has served as home for concert series concert series such as Montevallo’s Friday Nights at the Cove, Columbiana’s Music on Main Street, and Alabaster’s Siluria Sounds! Make sure you can make it to the final dates of these performance series before you have to wait until next summer for them to come back around!

Inducted into the Alabama Blues Hall of Fame in 2025, Mother May I is coming to rock Montevallo one last time before the Friday Nights at the Cove series wraps up for the summer. This event offers a performance for everybody of every musical preference, with Mother May I specializing in a wide variety of genres ranging from Motown, R&B, classic rock, funk, and the current pop hits. While you’re near Montevallo Main Street, you can’t miss strolling through some local shops, businesses, and restaurants! Use Discover Shelby’s guide to Montevallo Main Street to ensure you don’t miss a thing.

This event has been a summer tradition of the Montevallo area for years now, and if you get the chance to attend, you will soon see why! Music on Main Street serves as the epitome of Southern small-town charm, hosting an outdoor market for local vendors and artisans underneath the string lights and historic Southern buildings. Pontoon Radio, a 90s country cover band, is headlining and will be playing all of your favorite country music hits. The markets open at 6, special presentations begin at 6:30, and Pontoon Radio takes the stage at 7, a packed schedule that guarantees an exciting summer night!

  • Siluria Sounds: August 15th at 7 PM at Alabaster Amphitheatre

The local favorite Siluria Sounds Concert Series’s August line-up is sure to end up being one of your highlights of your 2026 summer. FINISH. In October, the Alabama Symphony Orchestra takes the Siluria Sounds stage, and for later concert dates, follow the City of Alabaster’s social media pages, which update frequently with new information about their upcoming concerts and events!

Thanks to the Shelby County Arts Council, the performances don’t stop just because the summer has. Check out some of their events that they’re hosting at the end of the summer, but be sure to keep your eye on their upcoming events year-round! From an immersive Color + Sound Gallery Exhibit to a John Lennon tribute performance, the SCAC ‘s got a little bit of something for everyone. You can find their calendar of events and ticketing here.

Local Attractions!

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Shelby County’s attractions are getting in on the summer fun as well! The Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum is hosting events geared toward the whole family! For all of these end-of-summer events, check out their events page for more details and to secure your spot!

At this event, you will board the Calera and Shelby Railroad on a historic train car on a trip back in time to an outdoor theater experience like no other. Fit with interactive performances from sheriffs, cowboys, and outlaws, the Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum immerses you in the fun of the Wild West through staged shoot-outs and arrests. This event is one-of-one, and your family won’t want to miss out on the fun!

The last Bourbon and Brisket Train Ride of the summer is here. In partnership with Ozan Winery, you will get to embark on a train ride through Shelby County before arriving at your destination – Ozan’s Yella Hound (YH) Distillery. There, you will receive access to a guided whiskey tasting and barrel room tour, while also getting to take home a brisket cuisine box and keepsake YH nosing glass to take home. Make sure to get to the Museum 30 minutes early so you can check in and get your welcome drink!

Another event in collaboration with Ozan, the Summer Sunset Special is the perfect for a date night or a girls’ night out. Board the train and enjoy the scenic views rolling past until you reach the winery, where you’ll get to soak up the beauty of the sunset from Ozan’s vineyard over glasses of some of our favorite local wines and summer cocktails. Even better, all bottles available at this event are 10% off!

American Village is also in the final weeks of their Road to Independence programming! From 9:30 to 4 PM, the Village hosts programs that include costumed historical performances of colonial life during the American Revolution, interactive experiences that allow for the “young patriots” to learn about colonial spies/espionage and play colonial games, and a replica of a Continental Army encampment! The programming is slightly lighter on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so those looking for a fuller experience should look at registering their spots on Wednesdays or Fridays. After this programming concludes, American Village closes for professional development from August 1st to August 21st. If you’re hoping to take your family to visit this landmark Shelby County attraction, don’t wait until the last week of summer! Register here!

As summer winds down and your family kicks prepares to get back into the routine of the school year, Discover Shelby is here so you can make the most of this special time of year’s final weeks. You can find our comprehensive events calendar here, so you don’t miss any events all year-long. We can’t wait to see you!