Anniston, AL – Anniston Museums and Gardens will host the 46th annual Heritage Festival on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at the Longleaf Event Center in Anniston. The free community event will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is open to individuals and families of all ages.
Organized in recognition of Black History Month, this year’s festival theme is “Poetry, a Voice for Hope.” Festival founder Mrs. Georgia Calhoun and the Heritage Festival Committee invite the community to attend and support local youth while enjoying a variety of educational and cultural activities.
The day will begin with an opening ceremony at 9:30 a.m., followed by a youth oration competition from 10 a.m. to noon. The competition encourages students to share original speeches and presentations, with awards scheduled to be presented at 1 p.m.
Festival highlights will also include live music, a vintage fashion show presented by the Anniston High School Medical Science Club, and performances by the Jacksonville High School Jazz Band. Attendees will have opportunities to shop local vendors, enjoy food from on-site vendors, and tour the Anniston Museum of Natural History and Berman Museum.
At noon, current and past oration participants are invited to take part in a special group photo with Mrs. Georgia Calhoun titled “Mrs. Georgia’s Children Through the Generations,” recognizing more than four decades of student participation in the program.
Festival admission is free, and attendees who present a festival wristband on February 21 will receive complimentary museum admission. The event is designed to provide educational and cultural experiences while celebrating community history and supporting local youth.
