Can’t Miss Alabama is all about fairs, festivals and bringing the family together this weekend. 

Support Land Aid while enjoying great food and brews at Avondale Brewing Co. in Birmingham Sept. 16  

Join the Freshwater Land Trust for its eighth annual flagship event, Land Aid, at 8 p.m. Sept. 16 at Avondale Brewing Co. Enjoy good music from singer-songwriter Pete Yorn and good brews while supporting the Freshwater Land Trust’s efforts to conserve and protect open space and waterways throughout central Alabama. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Click for details.

See a terrific show of Birmingham’s modern urban life at Trucks by the Tracks Sept. 18  

Enjoy Birmingham at its best – and taste the city’s most delicious mobile cuisine – at Railroad Park on Sept. 18. During this pedestrian-friendly event, the city closes First Avenue South between 16^th and 18^th streets for attendees’ safety. About 30 food trucks will set up throughout the park. Try po’ boys, fried chicken and gourmet burgers, then top it off with cupcakes and gelato. Cool down with ice-cold Good People brews or Coca-Cola.

Gabriel Tajeau will perform. (Contributed)

Enjoy Railroad Park’s busy scene — music, food and fun at Trucks by the Tracks. (Dana McGough)

Hear Taylor Hollingsworth, right, at Railroad Park. (Contributed)

Enjoy lawn games and bands who will take the stage throughout the afternoon. The musical lineup includes Raquel Lily, Ryan Sobb, Taylor Hollingsworth, Gabriel Tajeau and others.

Gates open at 10 a.m. at First Avenue South at 17^th and 18^th streets. General admission is $7; children younger than 12 are admitted free. VIP tickets are $45. The VIP section will be stocked with snacks, soft drinks and water. Proceeds support Railroad Park.

Yee haw! Have a rip-roaring good time at Oneonta’s Blount County Fair through Sept. 17

Have an exciting time and create fond family memories by attending the fun-filled Blount County Fair through Saturday.

The exhibit hall features nightly entertainment and events, livestock shows, a petting zoo and demonstrations. Check out the vendor booths and exhibits, and take part in the nightly door prize drawing. Attend on Thursday and Friday from 5 to 10 p.m., and on Saturday from 1 to 11 p.m.

The $12 gate admission allows you to ride all rides. The event is at the Blount County-Oneonta Agri-Business Center at 500 New St.

Love your beach: Help with the Alabama Coastal Cleanup in Gulf Shores Sept. 17

Continue to make Alabama the Beautiful by “getting the trash out of the splash” at Gulf Shores on Sept. 17. You can make a real difference by helping to clean up our cherished coastal area.

Keeping the coast pristine is important to a healthy aquatic environment. (Contributed)

More than 83,000 volunteers have worked. (Contributed)

Dedicated volunteers have helped for years. (Contributed)

In the 29-year effort, more than 83,000 volunteers have removed more than 1.5 million pounds of trash from Alabama’s coastline and waterways.

Attend from 8 a.m. until noon. It gets hot, so come prepared with sunscreen, hat and lots of water. Wear shoes and gloves. Click for a list of cleanup zones, check-in areas and contacts.

Delight in the 26^th annual Monte Sano Art Festival in Huntsville Sept. 17-18

This year’s Monte Sano Art Festival features more than 140 of the region’s finest artists. Browse beautiful handmade artwork and enjoy the natural splendor of the Monte Sano State Park.

Jewelry intrigues a shopper. (Contributed)

Musicians will play. (Contributed)

Purchase pastels and other fine artwork. (Contributed)

Along with neat outdoor exhibits, you’ll find food trucks and musicians throughout the park.

Enjoy from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Find lovely, handmade items for your home at Huntsville’s Fall Craft Show Sept. 16-18

Get your home ready for fall with lovely wares from the Fall Craft Show in Huntsville Sept. 16-18. Organized by the Northeast Alabama Craftsmen Association, more than 150 artists and crafters will offer fine arts and other wares.

The show is free and open to the public. Attend from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and from noon until 5 p.m. on Sunday. The event is at the Von Braun Center at 700 Monroe St. NW.

A portion of the proceeds benefit Huntsville charities. Click for details.

Don’t be a zombie … attend the 36^th annual Hartselle Depot Days the week of Sept. 17

Bring your family and friends to the Hartselle Depot Days Festival through Sept. 17. Luckily, the town identified its “zombies” during the annual Zombie Run earlier in the week. The weekend festivities begin downtown at 8 a.m. on Saturday. “Don’t miss” events include the adult and children’s art shows; the car, truck and bike show; and the antique tractor and gasoline engine show.

Antique vehicles enthrall car lovers. (Contributed)

Kiddos find fun, too! (Contributed)

The event is a real crowd-pleaser. (Contributed)

Big talents hit the Hartselle Enquirer Stage at 8:30 a.m., where you’ll enjoy hearing the Ray Sparks Band, the Ben Parker Project, Chichi and others until 3:30 p.m.

Antiques, collectibles and specialty stores are open downtown. Enjoy festivities and shopping from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. with free admission.

Tannehill Trade Days is calling. (Contributed)

It’s a deal! Don’t miss Tannehill Trade Days in McCalla Sept. 17-18

It’s shop until you drop time at Tannehill Trade Days on Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Find dozens of vendor booths with all kinds of handmade items and collectibles.

Park admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors 62 and up, $3 for children ages 6 to 11, and free for children 5 and younger.

Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park is at 12632 Confederate Parkway in McCalla. Click for details.

Go to the Southern Treasures Arts and Crafts Festival in Trussville Sept. 17

Find your pleasure in unusual treasures at the third annual Southern Treasures Arts and Crafts Festival from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Visitors will find jewelry, stained glass and art at the Christian Life Center at First United Methodist Church, 120 North Chalkville Road.