Lester
Recreation
Food and drink
Attractions
Shopping
Slow Down in Lester
A quiet corner of Limestone County with deep roots and wide-open skies
Lester offers a peaceful escape into the simple beauty of rural Alabama. Surrounded by farmland, rolling hills, and a strong sense of community, this small town is perfect for those looking to unwind, reconnect with nature, and enjoy life at a slower pace. Whether you’re exploring the countryside or just passing through, Lester welcomes you with genuine Southern hospitality.
Reconnect with Nature in Lester
From Country Roads to Community Roots and Natural Beauty
- Ardmore Crape Myrtle Festival
- August 16, 2025
- 30515 Ardmore Ridge Road, Ardmore, TN 38449
- Known as the "Crape Myrtle Capital of the South," this annual August festival celebrates the vibrant blooms with live music, activities, and vendors. Families can enjoy crafts, arts, food, and entertainment in a welcoming community setting.
- Ardmore Police & Fire Rodeo
- 30515 Ardmore Ridge Rd, Ardmore, TN 38449
- The Ardmore Police & Fire Rodeo is a high-energy August tradition featuring bull riding, calf roping, barrel racing, a Street Dance, and Rodeo Queen Competition. Proceeds support equipment and training for the Ardmore Police and Fire Department.
- Piney Chapel American Farm Heritage Days
- 18032 Buck Island Rd Athens, AL 35614
- Piney Chapel American Farm Heritage Days celebrates American farming history with antique tractors, engines, and equipment. Starting at 7AM, enjoy family activities, a fish fry, wheat threshing, arts and crafts, and live entertainment.
- Red, White & Boom Festival
- July 4, 2025
- 1430 Highway 31 N, Athens, AL 35611
- Celebrate Independence Day at Athens’ beloved Red, White, and Boom Festival, held at the Athens SportsPlex. Enjoy a day of food, vendors, live music, and a dazzling 15-minute fireworks show visible all across town.
- Ardmore Truck & Tractor Pull
- John T Barnes Park - 30515 Ardmore Ridge Rd, Ardmore, TN 38449
- Family time couldn't be more revved up and full of mud than the annual Ardmore Tractor and Truck Pull hosted by the Ardmore Lions Club.
- Merchants Alley Happy Hour Music Series
- 107 N Jefferson St, Athens, AL 35611
- The Merchants Alley Happy Hour Music Series brings live music to downtown Athens every Friday, featuring performances across genres like country, rock, pop, and blues. Visitors can shop local, grab a drink in an Entertainment District cup, and enjoy the show from the Jefferson Street alleyway.
Recreation
- Robert Allen Tinnon 5th Avenue Park
- 5th Avenue in Athens Alabama
- This community park is located in the 5th Avenue/Athens Elementary Community. Amenities include pavilion, playground, walking track and ball field.
- Lucy’s Branch Park
- Located on Snake Road adjacent to Lucy's Branch Marina
- This Limestone County Park is part of the Tennessee Valley Authority managed lands. The park overlooks the Tennessee River/Wheeler Lake Reservoir with 1-lane boat ramp into Lucy's Branch. Adjacent to the property is the Lucy's Branch/Little Elk Community historic marker.
- Lincoln Bridgeforth Park
- 815 Westview Avenue Athens, AL
- The Lincoln Bridgeforth Park is located in the Trinity-Fort Henderson area. This community park features pavilion, playground, horseshoe pits, and basketball courts.
- Jimmy W Gill Park
- 2341 Hine St S, Athens, AL 35611
- Jimmy W. Gill Park is located south of U.S. Highway 72 at the intersection of Hine Street and Sanderfer Road. This pastorally set park offers playground, pavilion, basketball court and plenty of wide open space for play.
- Fitness Park
- Located on the corner of West Washington Street and Hine Street
- This park is located in west Athens near the Athens-Limestone Hospital and Athens-Limestone Wellness Center. The park is shaded by trees and offers a pavilion, fountain, exercise stations, walking trail and playground.
- Doug Gates Park
- Athens, Al
- Doug Gates Park in Athens, AL, is a vibrant community space featuring the Athens Farmers Market, updated facilities, and a welcoming atmosphere for local events and gatherings.
Sports Facilities
- Athens Recreation Center
- 270 Hwy 31 North, Athens, AL 35611
- The Athens Sportsplex is one of the best municipal athletic facilities in the United States. It includes eight baseball fields, five soccer fields designed for various levels of amateur competition. There is also a 19-hole disc golf course, Kid’s Dugout playground complex and a large swimming pool.
- Athens Community Archery Park
- 655 Hwy 31, N. Athens, AL
- The Athens Community Archery Park is a state- of-the-art facility equipped with four youth targets (5-20 yards), eight adult targets (15-50 yards) and a 12-foot elevated platform with four Olympic style targets (10-40 yards) available for bowhunters to simulate hunting or shooting from a tree stand. A simulated ground blind is available for bowhunters to practice shooting from a kneeling or seated position.
Food & Drink
- Washington Street Diner
- 100 E Washington St, Athens, AL 35611
- A warm, southern-style downtown diner operated by Friendship Church that serves made-to-order breakfast classics and trains employees as part of a community outreach mission
- Monday: Closed Tuesday–Thursday: 11 AM – 9 PM Friday–Saturday: 11 AM – 10 PM Sunday: 11 AM – 9 PM
- Village Pizza of Athens
- 222 W Market St, Athens, AL 35611
- A cozy, family-owned pizzeria and sports‑bar-style eatery serving handcrafted New York‑style pizzas by the slice or pie, along with subs, wings, cheesy bread, and more in a warm, laid‑back atmosphere.
- Sweet Thymes
- 407 N Clinton St, Athens, AL 35611
- A cozy to‑go bakery and café staff daily rotating homemade soups, salads, sandwiches, confections, and hearty Southern‑style casseroles, plus catering and special‑occasion sweets.
- Sweetest Things Tea Room
- 216 W Market St, Athens, AL 35611
- A cozy, family‑owned tea room serving Southern‑style comfort dishes (like champagne chicken) and fresh‑baked desserts in a charming, parlor-style atmosphere perfect for leisurely lunches and afternoon tea.
- Studio 16 Cigar Lounge
- 112 N Marion St, Athens, AL 35611
- A luxurious downtown cigar lounge offering a curated selection of premium cigars, gourmet bites, craft libations, and an elegant yet welcoming atmosphere—complete with regular tastings and community events.
- Monday: Closed Tuesday–Thursday: 11 AM – 9 PM Friday & Saturday: 11 AM – 10 PM Sunday: 10 AM – 3 PM
- The Southern Table
- 105 N Jefferson St, Athens, AL 35611
- A cozy downtown restaurant featuring elevated Southern cuisine crafted seasonally by Chef Ryan Yokley—think BBQ shrimp & grits, steak, oysters, and creative sides—in a warm, refined yet relaxed setting.
Attractions
- Isom’s Orchard
- 24012 US Hwy 72, Athens, AL
- This family-owned and operated orchard is in its fourth generation of growers. Wes Isom, current owner and farmer, is proceeded by his grandfather, E.K, who started growing peaches before World War II, and his father, Joe, who established the fruit stand we know now in 1957. Isom’s is still a family business run by Wes, Marlene and children. Isom’s will provide you with a wide variety of only the freshest and tastiest produce grown right on their farm. They operate 7 days a week with an ever-changing inventory of local fruits and vegetables. Make sure to try the famous apple slushie!
- 2025 Dates: Open Weekends in late September-Early November Fridays/Saturdays: 6:30 -9:30pm
- Starting at $20-$30/person
- Grace Hill Farms Zombie Paintball
- 22611 Grace Hill Ln, Athens, AL
- This fun, all-ages, family-friendly ride is about 30 minutes in length from start to finish with black-lights, glowing paintballs and a heart-thumping sound system. This one-of- a-kind intense ride will have your adrenaline rushing hard and fast! Other activities include a paintball shooting gallery, Zombie Mission-Walking Trail, glow-in-the-dark axe throwing, mini escape room, and movies at the farm.
- 2025 Dates: Open Weekends in Late September-Early November Friday Hours: 8pm -11pm | Saturday Hours: 7pm - 11pm
- General Admission: $28/person | Slash Pass: $50/person | Corn Maze: add $10/person
- Doomsday Haunted Attraction
- 24952 US 72 Athens, AL 35613
- Horror attraction offering a hybrid immersive experience with twisted trails and actors to engage visitors, as well as a corn maze.
- 2025 Dates: Thursday-Saturday from June 2025 – July 2025
- Free Admission; 50 cents per ride
- Athens Lions Club Kiddie Carnival
- 309 E Forrest Street, Athens, AL 35611
- The Athens Lions Club Kiddie Carnival is a seasonal attraction featuring rides especially designed for little ones. Among the rides for the little ones are a small ferris wheel, rocket ships, swings, carousel, train, roller coaster, parachute rides, bigger swings and the scrambler. There’s also bingo for the big kids to enjoy. Bring an appetite and enjoy your favorite carnival foods at the concession stand: sandwiches, french fries, popcorn, snow cones, funnel cakes, drinks and the crowd-favorite cotton candy.
- Athens Haunt Walks & Wagon Tours
- 101 N Beaty St. Athens, AL 35611
- Haunt Walks: Experience the history and mystery of Athens on these approximate 2-hour walking tours. Filled with stories inspired by Shane Black’s Spirit of Athens, wander the darkened streets of Athens, led by expert local guides who will make up to 10 spooky stops before returning. Whether you’re a history buff or just in it for the scares, the Athens Haunt Walk is a perfect blend of local history, folklore, and ghostly entertainment. Wagon Tours: If walking isn’t your speed, this approximate hour and a half horse and buggy tour will be right up your alley. Lean in as a local guide recounts spine-tingling stories of haunted landmarks and mysterious occurrences that have captivated residents for generations. Be prepared for a night of intrigue and thrills as you uncover the hidden supernatural side of Athens.
- Tuesday Markets – May 5 through August 26, 2025, 3 PM - 6 PM Saturday Markets – June 7 through September 27, 2025, 8 AM - 12 PM
- Athens Farmers Market
- 409 W. Green St. Athens, AL
- This Certified Alabama Farmers Market at the newly renovated Doug Gates Park has an array of seasonal fruits, vegetables, eggs, meats, honey, and prepared items like bread, sweets, and fried pies. Enjoy live music and kids’ activities while you shop for hand-crafted gifts like candles and jewelry as well.
Shopping
- Downtown Rescue Mission Thrift Store
- 705 US Hwy 31 S Ste A, Athens 35611
- Large charity thrift whose proceeds fund local homeless-services programs
- Athens Athletics
- 701 US Hwy 31 S, Athens 35611
- Team sporting-goods outfitter plus screen-printing & U-Haul rentals.
- 3 Hens & a Chick Quilt Shop
- 1114 Hwy 31 S Suite B, Athens, AL 35611
- fabrics, long-arm service & classes for quilters.
