Auburn–Opelika
Around Auburn–Opelika
Photo: AuburnPilot at en.wikipedia · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Metro area · Alabama · 206k people
Auburn–Opelika
Locals say Auburn-Opelika · “The Loveliest Village on the Plains”
Auburn · Opelika
Where the Plains meet Southern heart
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Welcome to Auburn-Opelika, where the spirit of the Plains is strong and the sweet tea flows freely. Whether you're here for game day or just passing through, you'll find a friendly wave and a good story. Make yourself at home in the Loveliest Village.
Clubs for Auburn–Opelika
No clubs for Auburn–Opelika yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Auburn–Opelika. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Auburn–Opelika. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Auburn University Campus Home of the Tigers, with Samford Hall and the Quad
- Jordan-Hare Stadium Auburn football's home, known for its game-day roar
- Toomer's Corner Famous for lemonade and rolling the trees after wins
- Chewacla State Park Hiking, swimming, and camping just outside Auburn
- Tuskegee National Forest The smallest national forest, with trails and quiet woods
- Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art Rotating exhibits and a sculpture garden on Auburn's campus
- Outdoors Hike the trails at Chewacla State Park
- Outdoors Walk the Auburn University Arboretum
- With kids Visit the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art
- With kids Take a stroll through the Auburn University Arboretum
- Evenings Bar-hop on Magnolia Avenue in Auburn
- Evenings Catch live music at the Opelika Courthouse Square
- Locals love Tailgating lots
- Locals love Downtown squares
Through the year
- Auburn CityFest April Music and arts festival in downtown Auburn
- Opelika Songwriters Festival October Intimate performances by songwriters in venues around Opelika
- Auburn Tigers home football games Fall Game-day Saturdays at Jordan-Hare Stadium with tailgating and traditions
- Auburn-Opelika Restaurant Week January Special menus and deals at local restaurants
- Downtown Opelika Art Walk Monthly Monthly gallery openings and street art in the historic district
Auburn-Opelika has a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild winters. The best times to be out are spring and fall when temperatures are moderate. Summer brings frequent afternoon thunderstorms, fall is crisp and pleasant, winter is cool with occasional cold snaps, and spring is warm and blooming but with a tornado risk. Best: Spring and fall are the most comfortable, with mild temperatures and lower humidity.
Talk like a local
- “War Eagle”
- Auburn's battle cry and a greeting among fans
- “The Plains”
- Auburn's nickname, from a poem about the 'loveliest village'
- “Toomer's”
- The famous corner in Auburn, known for lemonade and tree rolling
- “Loveliest Village”
- Auburn's nickname from Oliver Goldsmith's poem
Getaways
- Columbus Riverwalk, museums, and the historic district
- Montgomery State capitol, civil rights sites, and the Alabama Shakespeare Festival
- Alexander City Lake Martin for boating, fishing, and lakeside dining
- LaGrange Historic downtown, Hills and Dales Estate, and West Point Lake
Local flavour
Teams
- Auburn Tigers NCAA Division I
Eat and drink
- Sweet tea Staple Southern drink, often served at tailgates and local diners
- Barbecue Pulled pork, ribs, and smoked meats with Alabama white sauce
- Toomer's-style lemonade Fresh-squeezed lemonade, a tradition at Toomer's Corner after wins
- Fried green tomatoes Classic Southern appetizer found on many local menus
Where people go
- College campus Auburn University's oak-lined Quad and historic buildings
- Tailgating lots Sprawling pre-game gatherings with grills and tents, especially around Jordan-Hare Stadium
- Historic downtown squares Opelika's and Auburn's charming main streets with local shops and eateries
- State parks Chewacla State Park offers trails, lakes, and camping
Heritage and traditions
Auburn-Opelika is proud of its deep-rooted traditions, from the spirited Auburn football culture to the historic legacy of Tuskegee University and the Tuskegee Airmen.
This time of year in Auburn–Opelika
- Football season Fall Fall Saturdays are all about Auburn Tigers games.
- Songwriters festival October Opelika hosts intimate concerts in October.
- Opelika Songwriters Festival October Intimate performances by songwriters from across the country.
Say it like a local: “Fixing to” — To be doing well or having a good time.
Festivals
- Opelika Songwriters Festival October Intimate performances by songwriters from across the country.
- Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site events Year-round Commemorations and educational programs honoring the Airmen.
- Auburn-Opelika Restaurant Week January Special menus and deals at local restaurants.
- Downtown Opelika Art Walk Monthly Gallery openings and street art in the historic district.
- Tuskegee Macon County Agricultural Heritage Festival Spring Celebrates local farming and rural traditions.
Landmarks with a story
- Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site Preserves the training grounds of the first Black military pilots.
- Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site Includes Booker T. Washington's home and the campus.
- Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art Auburn's art museum with Southern and American works.
- Downtown Opelika Historic District Victorian architecture and brick streets.
- Auburn University Chapel A historic chapel on campus, built in the 1850s.
- Union Springs Confederate Cemetery A small cemetery with Civil War graves.
Food traditions
- Catfish dinners Fried catfish with hushpuppies and coleslaw, a Friday night tradition.
- Pecan pie A Southern dessert made with local pecans.
- Lemonade at Toomer's Auburn fans sip lemonade after wins, a tradition since the 1950s.
- Barbecue plates Pulled pork with white sauce, a regional style.
- Peach cobbler Made with Georgia peaches, a summer staple.
Music and arts
- Auburn University Marching Band A spirited band that energizes football games.
- Southern folk art Quilting and woodcarving traditions in the area.
- Bluegrass and country music Local venues host live acoustic performances.
- Gospel music Church choirs and community singings.
A little history
- 1856 Founding of Auburn University
- 1881 Booker T. Washington founded Tuskegee Institute
- 1941-1946 Tuskegee Airmen trained at Moton Field
- 1892 Auburn's first football game
- Late 1800s Opelika's railroad boom
Rivalries
- Iron Bowl Auburn vs Alabama football, the biggest game of the year
- Deep South's Oldest Rivalry Auburn vs Georgia, a long-standing SEC matchup
- Auburn vs LSU The Tiger fight, a heated SEC West battle
- Game day Toomer's Corner rolling
- Game day Tiger Walk
- Outdoors Hike at Chewacla State Park
- Outdoors Paddle on Lake Ogletree
- With kids Toomer's Lemonade
- With kids Auburn University Arboretum
People speak with a Southern accent, often drawing out vowels. You'll hear 'y'all' and 'fixing to' commonly.
Only here
- Toomer's Corner is where fans roll the oaks with toilet paper after a win.
- Auburn's football team has a live eagle that flies over the stadium.
- Tuskegee is home to the only national historic site for Black military pilots.
- The town of Notasulga has a blueberry festival every summer.
New here? A few tips
- Expect hot, humid summers and mild winters; air conditioning is essential.
- Learn to say 'Opelika' as 'OH-puh-ly-kuh'.
- Traffic on game days in Auburn can be heavy; plan ahead.
- Try a lemonade from Toomer's for a local treat.
- Embrace the slower pace; folks are friendly and polite.
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Part of Columbus area
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Auburn-Opelika, AL. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.