Montgomery area
Around Montgomery area
Photo: DXR · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Greater area · Alabama · 423k people
Montgomery area
Locals say River Region · “The Gump”, “Capital of the Civil Rights Movement”
Where the South's story unfolds.
Alabama State University goldAlabama River blueMontgomery Biscuits red
Welcome to the River Region! You'll find a mix of southern hospitality, deep history, and a growing food scene. Whether you're exploring the riverfront or catching a game, there's always something to do.
Clubs for Montgomery area
No clubs for Montgomery area yet.
The room
Montgomery area is big: its rooms are its areas'. This is Montgomery's; the others are below.
One room for everyone around Montgomery. 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 Montgomery area. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Alabama State Capitol Seat of state government, end of the Selma to Montgomery march.
- Rosa Parks Museum Dedicated to the civil rights icon and the bus boycott.
- National Memorial for Peace and Justice Memorial honoring victims of racial terror lynchings.
- Alabama Shakespeare Festival One of the largest Shakespeare festivals in the world.
- Montgomery Riverfront Park Riverfront green space with an amphitheater and walking trails.
- Montgomery Zoo 40-acre zoo with over 700 animals.
- Outdoors Walk or bike the Alabama River Trail
- Outdoors Picnic at Blount Cultural Park
- With kids Spend a day at the Montgomery Zoo
- With kids Explore the Rosa Parks Museum
- Evenings Catch live music at the Alley Station
- Evenings Bar hop on Commerce Street
- Locals love Barbecue joints
- Locals love Riverfront parks and trails
Through the year
- Alabama National Fair October Annual fair with rides, livestock, and food.
- Montgomery Biscuits home games April–September Minor league baseball season at Riverwalk Stadium.
- Alabama Shakespeare Festival Year-round Year-round theater performances, especially summer.
- Montgomery Jazz Festival April Live jazz performances across the city.
- Alabama Book Festival April Literary event at the State Capitol.
Montgomery has a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild winters. The best times to be out are spring and fall. Best: Spring and fall are ideal for outdoor activities, with mild temperatures and low humidity.
Talk like a local
- “River Region”
- The local nickname for the Montgomery area.
- “The River”
- How locals refer to the Alabama River.
- “Downtown Mont”
- A term for the downtown area.
- “Howdy”
- A friendly greeting, often shortened.
Getaways
- Selma Civil rights history, Edmund Pettus Bridge.
- Auburn College town, Toomer's Corner.
- Talladega NASCAR racing at Talladega Superspeedway.
- Alexander City Lake Martin recreation.
Local flavour
Teams
- Montgomery Biscuits Double‑A Southern League
- Alabama State Hornets NCAA Division I FCS
Also rooting for Alabama Crimson Tide (college football, from Tuscaloosa), Auburn Tigers (college football, from Auburn)
Eat and drink
- Barbecue (pulled pork) Montgomery is part of Alabama's barbecue belt, with a distinct vinegar‑and‑pepper style.
- Fried chicken A Southern staple, often served with sides like collard greens and mac and cheese.
- Sweet tea The quintessential Southern drink, served over ice.
- Biscuits and gravy
Where people go
- Civil Rights landmarks
- Barbecue joints Family‑run smokehouses serving pulled pork and ribs.
- Riverfront parks Along the Alabama River, with walking trails and views of the water.
- Alabama State Capitol The historic seat of state government, with a gold‑topped dome.
Heritage and traditions
Montgomery is proud of its central role in the civil rights movement, as well as its Southern hospitality, literary heritage, and the musical legacy of Hank Williams.
This time of year in Montgomery area
- Alabama National Fair Fall A classic state fair with rides, food, and livestock.
- Prattville Arts and Crafts Festival October Local artisans and crafts in historic Prattville.
Say it like a local: “fixin' to” — about to do something
Festivals
- Jubilee CityFest May A multi-stage music and arts festival in downtown Montgomery.
- Montgomery Greek Festival September Greek food, dancing, and cultural exhibits at the Greek Orthodox Church.
- Montgomery St. Patrick's Day Parade March A family-friendly parade celebrating Irish heritage in downtown.
- Prattville Arts and Crafts Festival October Local artisans and crafts in historic Prattville.
Landmarks with a story
- Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church Historic church where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. served as pastor.
- First Baptist Church Historic African American church, a center of civil rights activity.
- Civil Rights Memorial A memorial to those who died in the civil rights movement, designed by Maya Lin.
- Alabama Department of Archives and History The oldest state archives in the nation, preserving Alabama history.
- Hank Williams Museum Dedicated to the country music legend, who lived and is buried in Montgomery.
- Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum The only museum dedicated to the Fitzgeralds, located in their former home.
Food traditions
- Alabama white barbecue sauce A tangy mayonnaise-based sauce often served on smoked chicken, a local twist on BBQ.
- Fried catfish From the Alabama and Coosa rivers, often served with hushpuppies and coleslaw.
- Pecan pie A Southern dessert made from local pecans.
- Collard greens with smoked turkey A soul food staple, often served with cornbread.
- Sweet potato pie A classic Southern dessert, especially at holidays.
Music and arts
- Jazz heritage Montgomery has a vibrant jazz scene, celebrated at the Montgomery Jazz Festival.
- Country music Hank Williams' legacy is preserved at the Hank Williams Museum.
- Literary arts The Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum honors the literary couple.
- Visual arts The Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts features American and Southern art.
A little history
- 1861 Montgomery served as the first capital of the Confederate States of America.
- 1955-56 The Montgomery Bus Boycott, sparked by Rosa Parks' arrest, led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
- 1965 The Selma to Montgomery marches for voting rights ended at the Alabama State Capitol.
- 1961 Freedom Riders were attacked in Montgomery, drawing national attention to segregation.
- 1886 Montgomery had the world's first electric streetcar system.
Rivalries
- Alabama vs Auburn football The Iron Bowl is a statewide obsession.
- Alabama State vs Tuskegee Historic HBCU football rivalry.
- Montgomery Biscuits vs Birmingham Barons Minor league baseball rivalry.
- Montgomery vs Prattville Friendly competition over the best BBQ and local pride.
- Game day Friday night lights
- Game day Alabama State Hornets tailgating
- Outdoors Kayak or canoe the Coosa River near Wetumpka
- Outdoors Explore the Wetumpka Impact Crater
- With kids Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts
- With kids Alabama Shakespeare Festival
Montgomery locals speak with a Southern accent, using phrases like 'y'all' and 'fixin' to.' They often say 'coke' for any soft drink and 'tump' for overturn.
Only here
- The world's first electric streetcar system operated in Montgomery in 1886.
- The first White House of the Confederacy is located here.
- Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church is where Dr. King preached.
- The National Memorial for Peace and Justice is the first memorial to victims of lynching.
New here? A few tips
- Be prepared for hot, humid summers and mild winters.
- Try the white barbecue sauce on smoked chicken.
- Visit the Civil Rights landmarks to understand the city's history.
- Learn to say 'y'all' – it's part of the local charm.
- Traffic can be busy on I-85 and I-65 during rush hours.
Make this page better
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Areas in Montgomery area
Nearby
Every areaTroyAlabamaSmall-town warmth, Trojan spirit.Alexander CityAlabamaWhere the lake meets the pinesDemopolisAlabamaWhere the Black Belt meets the riverAuburn–OpelikaAlabamaWhere the Plains meet Southern heartTuscaloosaAlabamaWhere the river meets the TideOzarkAlabamaWhere the pines meet the sky and the tea is sweetAndalusiaAlabamaDeep in the pines, where neighbors are family.TalladegaAlabamaWhere the roar of engines meets the quiet of marble.
Montgomery-Selma, AL CSA. 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.