Albany is preparing for the annual Foothills Festival, featuring pageants, worship, vendors, contests and live entertainment under this year’s theme, “American Spirit Lives in the Foothills.”
WJRS NEWS talked with Trisha Miller, a member of the Foothills Festival planning committee, who says this year’s activities begin Saturday, October 10th, with beauty pageants starting at 10 a.m. Registration forms are available on the Foothills Festival Facebook page and at The Klassic Shop in Albany.
The former “Miraculous Beauty Pageant” is now called “Crowned with Joy.” The pageant is open to anyone with special needs who would like to participate.
Miller says a night of community worship will be held Wednesday, October 14th, featuring music and testimony, with food provided by Albany Baptist Church.
Food, craft and retail vendors will line the downtown area. Friday evening will feature the Foothills Festival Parade, live music and the festival’s first-ever laser light show.
Saturday’s schedule includes a pet show and costume contest, Rolling Through the Foothills, a Dolly Parton look-alike contest and the traditional lip-sync contest.
Miller says the festival will close with a major night of country music.
Marty Brown will open Saturday evening’s free concert, followed by country music star Tracy Byrd.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
👶 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10th– PAGEANT DAY
We’re kicking off the festival with our adorable Baby Show for ages 0–4, sponsored by Marcum Trucking!
That evening, the crowns come out for more pageants:
👑 Prince & Princess Pageant
👑 Crown with Joy Pageant
👑 Little Miss, Junior Miss, Teen Miss, Miss, and Ms Beauty Pageants
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🙏 WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14th — NIGHT OF WORSHIP
One of the most special nights of the festival returns!
Our annual Night of Worship brings local church groups together to share their musical talents, testimonies, and faith with our community.
And no one goes home hungry! Food will be provided for everyone by Albany First Baptist Church.
❤️Come worship with us!
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While you’re in town, be sure to take a drive all around town! Our local businesses will have two options to win. One, a window decorating contest and two, is an outside decorating contest. Both will bring the theme “American Spirit Lives in the Foothills,” to life. 🇺🇸
The winners will receive a traveling trophy, which they’ll proudly display until next year’s festival!
🎨 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16th— THE FESTIVAL COMES ALIVE!
Friday is packed from morning until night!
🏆 School Poster Contest & Art Contest winners will be on display inside the courthouse.
The School Poster Contest is sponsored by Nathan Collins, Clinton County Clerk.
🛍️ Vendor & Craft Booths from throughout the region will fill the town square with homemade goods, crafts, boutiques, specialty items, and so much more!
🎃 Pumpkin painting and carving contest winners will be displayed, along with the winners of our Lego Building Contest.
🍴 And then there’s the FOOD!
The aroma from the food court will be calling your name! Choose from a delicious variety of American, Mexican, Asian, Greek, and Indian food, plus some festival favorites including:
🍩 Homemade donuts
☕ Specialty coffee
🐷 Flavored pork rinds
…and SO much more!
🎡 THE CHILDREN’S AREA
Our Pumpkin Patch will be open for children ages 10 and under!
With the purchase of an armband, kids (10 yrs and younger) can bounce in the bouncy houses as long as they want!
Other activities include:
🚂 Train rides
🎯 Carnival games
🎡 Ferris wheel rides
…and more!
The Children’s Area is always a HUGE hit with our younger festival-goers and is sponsored by First & Farmers National Bank.
And keep your eyes open for Smokey and the Bandit! 🚔They will see everyone at the festival Friday and Saturday! Make sure to stop and take pictures with them!
🎉 FRIDAY EVENING — THE PARADE!
Around 5:00 PM, one of the biggest highlights of the festival will roll through town — the Foothills Festival Parade!
Expect to see:
🎈 Floats
🚗 Classic cars
🏫 High school band
🏢 Local businesses
🚙 Golf carts
🐴 Horses
…and so much more!
The parade is a HUGE part of our festival kickoff, and you won’t want to miss it!
Immediately following the parade, the celebration continues with live entertainment with the band, “Timeless Highway” on Stage 1.
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✨ AND THEN… SOMETHING BRAND NEW! ✨
For the FIRST TIME IN FOOTHILLS FESTIVAL HISTORY…
🎆 LASER LIGHT SHOW! 🎆
Following the concert, stick around because we’re ending the night with something you have NEVER seen at the Foothills Festival before!
A spectacular laser light show, synchronized to music and created especially around our theme:
🇺🇸 “AMERICAN SPIRIT LIVES IN THE FOOTHILLS” 🇺🇸
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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17th — ANOTHER BIG DAY!
Saturday morning 8 AM starts with one of our favorite traditions — the Annual Foothills Festival 5K, sponsored by The Medical Center of Albany.
🏃♀️🏃♂️ More than 230 runners participated last year in the 3.1-mile run that finishes right in the middle of town!
At 9:00 AM, vendors open and the festival officially kicks into high gear for day two!
💃 Enjoy performances from two local line dancer groups: Southern Crew Line Dancers and Border Line Dancers. Plus the Clinton County High School Band will perform near Stage 1.
🛞 ROLLING THROUGH THE FOOTHILLS AT NOON
If it has wheels, decorate it and roll with us! 🇺🇸
Our “Rolling Through the Foothills” event is open to children AND adults.
🚲 Bicycles
👶 Strollers
♿ Wheelchairs
🛴 And anything else with wheels!
No gas-powered vehicles — just decorate it, bring your wheels, and join the fun around the square!
Sponsored by Jeanie Bandy, State Farm.
🎁 Every child who participates will receive an award!
🌶️ CHILI CONTEST
Think your chili is the best?
Bring it! Let the judges decide who takes home the bragging rights!
🎃 PUMPKIN DESSERT CONTEST
Have a favorite pumpkin dessert?
Bring it and let our judges decide who has the best pumpkin dessert!
🚙 JEEPIN’ THROUGH THE FOOTHILLS
Calling all Jeep enthusiasts!
Bring your Jeep and join us for “Jeepin’ Through the Foothills 2026!”
Enjoy a scenic drive through the foothills and experience the beautiful fall scenery along a route planned and sponsored by Albany AutoColor and Power Equipment.
🎭 SATURDAY AFTERNOON — MORE FUN CONTEST!
Stage 2 events:
1:00 PM — Costume Contest. Categories for ALL ages!
Followed by — Pet Costume Contest 🐶🐱
Both contest are Sponsored by The Medical Center of Albany
Then the first annual Dolly Parton Look-Alike Contest ✨
Sponsored by Jersie Smith, America’s International Teen
And yes… you may want to practice your best Dolly look AND have a Dolly quote ready! 😉
New this year! Karaoke Contest 🎤 if you love to sing and have a song you do better than the original performer- sign up and win a prize!
3:00 PM — Annual Foothills Festival Lip Sync Contest! 🎶 this is a foothills tradition that is a must to attend!
Then we turn the volume WAY up on Stage 1 with a….
🇺🇸 FREE CONCERT! 🇺🇸
⭐ 6:00 PM — MARTY BROWN
Marty Brown takes the stage for an acoustic performance!
You may know him as the singer-songwriter behind “I’m From the Country (And I Like It That Way)”.
⭐ 7:30 PM — TRACY BYRD
COUNTRY MUSIC STAR 🤠
Get ready for favorites including:
⭐ “Keeper of the Stars”
⭐ “Watermelon Crawl”
⭐ “I’m From the Country (And I Like It That Way)”
…and many more of his greatest hits!
The concert entertainment is sponsored by:
Sun Pools • Tyson • Clinton County Community Foundation • Clinton County Tourism • Albany Plumbing & Electric
This is going to be an unforgettable way to close out an unforgettable festival!
❤️ COME FOR THE FOOD. STAY FOR THE FESTIVAL.
LEAVE WITH MEMORIES.
The Foothills Festival is more than an event — it’s our community coming together to celebrate the spirit, people, businesses, families, and traditions that make our foothills special.
We’ll see you at the Foothills Festival!