National Peanut Festival

The National Peanut Festival, billed as the nation's largest peanut festival, fills the fairgrounds on US Highway 231 South in Dothan each fall to honor local peanut farmers and celebrate the harvest. Dothan is known as the "Peanut Capital of the World," and the majority of all the peanuts grown in the United States are grown within a 100 mile radius of the city. Dr. George Washington Carver was the guest speaker at the first festival in 1938, a three-day event with a pageant, parade, historical play and grand ball. It has grown into a ten-day fair drawing about 200,000 fairgoers, with livestock events, premium exhibits, a midway and concerts at the All In Amphitheater.

Our take: The final Sunday is open only 1 to 6 p.m. for midway rides, Kiddieland and midway concessions, so come on an earlier day for the full fair.