Huntsville launches inaugural Rocket City Space Fest
HUNTSVILLE – Following America 250 celebrations, the new Rocket City Space Fest will celebrate Huntsville’s contributions to America’s space program.
“All roads have led through Huntsville, Alabama, since the beginning of America’s space flight program. That’s not changing,” said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman in May 2026.
In light of this sentiment, Huntsville is launching Rocket City Space Fest to highlight that Huntsville’s work from Apollo to Artemis is still very much alive.
“Huntsville didn’t just witness the Space Age. We built it. This festival is our chance to say that out loud and invite the whole community to celebrate together,” said Festival Chair Ralph Petroff.
Festivities officially kick off on the anniversary of the Apollo 11 launch with Biergarten at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. This Biergarten will feature a Saturn V theme, special guest astronaut, and vintage launch footage on the big screen.
Festivities will continue through July 25 with a planetarium show, Huntsville City Football Club match, farmers a black tie event, and Rocket City Trash Pandas game.
The centerpiece of the festival is a lunar- landing-themed Concert in the Park with a drone show on the anniversary of the moon landing, July 20.
“This is Year One of something we want Huntsville to be proud of for decades, a seed we believe grows into one of the country’s signature space celebrations,” said Petroff. Celebrations of Huntsville’s space past and present will continue with Space Exploration Month in October with the Wall of Honor ceremony and the Wernher von Braun Memorial Dinner.
The full schedule of events and more information on Rocket City Space Fest is available at rocketcityspacefest.com.
