LMS to host Downtown Music Crawl, inaugural Grill-Off
BY SAM VISE
THE LAFAYETTE SUN
LAFAYETTE — Downtown LaFayette will come alive with live music, local flavors and friendly competition next month as LaFayette Main Street hosts its second annual Downtown Music Crawl on Saturday, Oct. 10.
Running from 1 to 9 p.m., the daylong event invites residents and visitors to stroll the square, shop local, enjoy food trucks and experience back-to-back musical performances.
“The idea behind the ‘crawl’ is that the music and activity keep people experiencing different parts of downtown rather than coming for one performance and leaving,” said DeAnna Hand, executive director of LaFayette Main Street. “We want people to make a day of it — bring a chair, bring your friends and family, shop, eat, listen to some great music and enjoy LaFayette.”
The festival is built on local tradition, drawing inspiration from the community’s historic celebrations.
“The Music Crawl actually has roots in LaFayette from years ago, with our beloved Pine Tree Festival,” Hand said. “During this annual festival, many local talents performed music, and it was so fun. Bringing it back was about taking something people remembered and giving it new life. When we started looking at events for LaFayette Main Street, we didn’t necessarily want to reinvent everything. Sometimes the best ideas are already part of your community’s story.”
This year’s entertainment will feature an eclectic mix of solo artists, duos and bands performing throughout the downtown district, including The Huck’s, Luke Keel & Kealey Clark, Big Saxy, Raley Montana, Dean Sheffield and Kit from Kit and Char.
“We have a great mix of musicians this year, and that is intentional,” Hand said. “We want the music to appeal to different ages and musical tastes while also highlighting talent that people in our area know and enjoy. Some have strong local connections, which is important to us. We want someone in their 20s and someone in their 70s to both be able to come downtown, hear songs they recognize and have a good time.”
New to the crawl this year is the first-ever Downtown Grill-Off, sponsored by Newman’s Farm Supply. Amateur and seasoned pitmasters will face off for bragging rights and a $500 top prize.
“This was an idea from a local small business owner who wanted to sponsor this addition — Newman’s Farm Supply,” Hand said. “This will bring some friendly competition to downtown and the entire event. We know there are some great grill masters in this area, so now they get a chance to prove it and a chance to win $500. With a low registration fee of $50, the Grill-Off will give teams the opportunity to compete while attendees get to experience another fun part of the day.”
Competitor registration packets can be picked up in person at Newman’s Farm Supply or accessed online through the LaFayette Main Street Facebook page.
While attending the crawl and watching performances is open and free to the public, LaFayette Main Street is offering a limited VIP ticket package for $45. VIP ticket holders will receive access to an exclusive hospitality area with complimentary food and beverages, premier stage seating, an official event swag bag, a Comfort Colors festival T-shirt and a Grill-Off tasting wristband.
VIP passes must be purchased by Oct. 5 via PayPal or Venmo links available on the LaFayette Main Street Facebook page.
For Hand and the LaFayette Main Street board, the music and food serve a vital long-term mission: downtown revitalization and sustained local economic development.
“Every person we bring downtown is a potential customer for a restaurant, retailer or service business,” Hand said. “They may notice a business they’ve never visited before, discover a building they didn’t know was being renovated or simply see downtown LaFayette differently than they did before. We want people from LaFayette to be proud of their downtown, but we also want people from surrounding communities to see LaFayette’s charm.”
The 2026 event is supported by community partners, including Gold and Silver sponsors Chambers County Development Authority, GreenStone Construction, Harmon Insurance, Vines Funeral Home, Local Productions, Guthrie’s Lanett, Valor Strategies, Farmers and Merchants Bank and Pepsi. Bronze sponsors include Vision Media, Silmon-Seroyer Funeral Home, Krave Korner, The Oaks, Auburn Opelika Dental and Newman’s Farm Supply.
Vendor applications and general event details are available by contacting LaFayette Main Street directly at (334) 524-1992 or by visiting the organization’s Facebook page.
“Come early, stay late, bring your family and friends, support our businesses, cheer on the Grill-Off teams, listen to some great music and enjoy downtown LaFayette,” Hand said.
