ENTERPRISE, Ala. (WDNews) — The City of Enterprise announced Monday that the Alabama Sweet Tea Festival will move to historic downtown Enterprise beginning in 2027 and transition from its traditional August schedule to the spring.
According to the city, the festival has been held at the Enterprise Civic Center and Festival Field for the past three years. While the exact date has not been finalized, officials anticipate hosting the event in April 2027.
City officials said the decision follows feedback from festival attendees, vendors and community members who expressed interest in enjoying the event during cooler weather.
“We’ve already had many vendors reaching out to ask when applications will open, and that excitement is incredibly encouraging,” said Tammy Doerer, director of tourism and community relations for the City of Enterprise. “As we reflected on past events, we also listened to the feedback we received from our community. The overwhelming response was that people loved the festival, but the August heat made it difficult to fully enjoy everything it had to offer.”
Doerer said moving the festival to the spring will create a more enjoyable experience while allowing the event to continue growing.
“We believe this change will provide a better overall experience for everyone involved,” Doerer said. “Spring weather creates a more comfortable environment for guests to spend the day shopping, enjoying the entertainment, participating in festival activities and experiencing everything the Alabama Sweet Tea Festival has become known for.”
The move also creates an opportunity to partner with Main Street Enterprise by combining the Alabama Sweet Tea Festival with the community’s annual spring festival, creating a larger celebration in the heart of downtown.
“Bringing these events together allows us to create an even stronger destination event for Enterprise,” said Lily McDaniel, executive director of Main Street Enterprise. “By hosting the festival downtown, we’re able to showcase our local businesses alongside the outstanding vendors that have become a hallmark of the Alabama Sweet Tea Festival. Visitors will have even more opportunities to shop, dine and experience everything our downtown district has to offer.”
Since its inception, the Alabama Sweet Tea Festival has grown into one of Enterprise’s signature annual events, featuring specialty vendors, food, live entertainment, contests and tea-themed experiences that celebrate Southern hospitality.
Planning for the 2027 festival is already underway. According to the city, additional information, including the official event date, vendor applications, entertainment lineup and festival schedule, will be announced as details are finalized.
