All you need to know for a day trip to Leighton for soul music, soul food + rich history

A band performs in front of Leighton, Alabama's music mural featuring the likenesses of Jimmy Hughes and Percy Sledge — A band performs during Sledgefest in Leighton in front of a mural by Missy Miles that depicts two of the town’s most famous natives, Jimmy Hughes and his cousin, Percy Sledge. (Town of Leighton)

Leighton, Alabama, is a tiny, whistle-stop town of less than 700 people in the state’s northwestern corner. Known as the “Crossroads of the Shoals,” it’s only one square mile and packed with more history than larger places many times over.

The people of Leighton, Alabama, are the kind who dive in and make things happen for their enjoyment first. Think community parks, festivals, a thriving library and benches so folks can watch the trains pass through town like rolling graffiti art galleries.

They have the attitude that if you happen to think these things are cool, too, well, c’mon then! It’ll take you about an hour to drive over from Huntsville, and Mayor Derick Silcox says you are more than welcome.

Read on for everything you need to plan a perfect day trip to Leighton from Huntsville.

Leighton’s music legacy + Sledgefest

Residents fill the street and cheer for musical performances at Sledgefest in Leighton, Alabama — Hundreds of people gather to enjoy live music during Sledgefest in Leighton. (Town of Leighton)

If you love to see what makes this community click, it’s celebrations—and there’s a huge one coming up in mid-June with Sledgefest.

The event is named for native son Percy Sledge and honors the town’s musical legacy. Of course, that includes Sledge, as well as his cousin Jimmy Hughes, and the man who introduced them to music producer Rick Hall of FAME Recording in the Shoals—radio DJ and station owner Robert “Bob Carl” Bailey, also of Leighton.

Hughes’ and Hall’s collaboration on the song “Steal Away” was one of first big hits for FAME and launched Muscle Shoals into R&B history. Sledge convinced Hughes to connect him with Hall, and they worked together to produce his best-known hit, “When a Man Loves a Woman.” As locals will tell you, you wouldn’t have the Muscle Shoals Sound as we know it without Leighton.

📆 Mark your calendar for Sledgefest: Join Leighton in celebrating its soulful roots through music, socializing and dancing over the weekend of June 13–15, 2025. The event starts at 7PM on Friday, 3PM on Saturday + 2PM on Sunday.

Make a first stop @ the Leighton Museum

Leighton Museum in Leighton Alabama — Students check out history exhibits at Leighton Museum. (Town of Leighton)

A group of children and adults observe an exhibit at the Leighton Museum in Leighton Alabama — Students check out history exhibits at Leighton Museum. (Town of Leighton)

Even if you can’t make it to Sledgefest this year, Leighton has plenty to keep you interested for a day trip anytime. Plus, there’s even more local history beyond its musical legacy, and you’ll discover those stories at the Leighton Museum.

Reimagined in 2019 and relocated from the library to Bank Independent on Main Street, the museum began in 1954 with many artifacts from the collections of local historians Frank King and Horace Holland. Today, here are some of the exhibits you’ll find there:

Native American artifacts + interpretive displays
Military artifacts + memorabilia from the Civil War and World Wars
Memorabilia from the first state-chartered college, LaGrange College
Storytelling about the Leighton Training School, a significant institution in local Black history
Photos + other items from early life in Leighton, including the railroad + agriculture industries
Leighton’s famous residents, from music greats to sports legends

📍Visit the Leighton Museum

Where: Bank Independent, 8720 Main St, Leighton, AL 35646
When: Monday-Friday, 9AM-5PM
How Much: Free
More Info: Facebook | Website

Leighton Library + Inspiration Park

A man explains to a youth how to lay dirt in a community garden bed in Leighton, Alabama. — The Leighton Public Library + Inspiration Park are must-dos for getting a feel for the town’s community spirit. (Town of Leighton)

A seed catalogue made from a repurposed book catalogue at the Leighton Library in Leighton, Alabama — The Leighton Public Library + Inspiration Park are must-dos for getting a feel for the town’s community spirit. (Town of Leighton)

The Leighton Public Library is not your typical library, especially for a town this size. It’s a frequent community gathering spot, and of course, you’ll find books and see flyers for reading programs and the like.

If you’re just visiting and not checking out any media, it’s still worth a stop to see its exhibit showcasing women artists before wandering out back to visit Inspiration Park, a family-friendly space with a new storybook trail and thriving community garden.

🛝A New Park: In the fall of 2024, volunteers with Moving Leighton Forward worked to open Community Park along Nora Morgan Street and the railroad. The park features a playground, a shaded gazebo with a swing, a multi-use pavilion and open greenspace.

📍Visit the Leighton Library

Where: 8740 Main St, Leighton, AL 35646
When: Monday-Friday, 1PM-5PM
How Much: Free
More Info: Facebook

Where to eat in Leighton

(F & D's Soul Food) A fried chicken plate with greens, beans and cornbread at F & D's Soul Food in Leighton, Alabama — You’ll find delicious, down-home Southern comfort food at F & D’s Soul Food in Leighton, Alabama. (F & D’s Soul Food)

(F & D's Soul Food) An iron skillet of cornbread at F & D's Soul Food in Leighton, Alabama — You’ll find delicious, down-home Southern comfort food at F & D’s Soul Food in Leighton, Alabama. (F & D’s Soul Food)

Sometimes you don’t need a long list of dining options but just one really good one. That’s F & D’s Soul Food, and that’s the only one right now in this tiny town.

This local favorite is known for its hearty plates of home-cooked Southern classics. While daily specials vary (check their Facebook page below), you will have choices that include:

Meats: fried pork chops, hamburger steak, shrimp boils, meatloaf + BBQ ribs
Sides: macaroni + cheese, collard greens, pinto beans + cabbage
Breads + Treats: cornbread, pudding, cakes + cobblers

🍗 Hot Tip: If it’s the last day of the work week, you’ll be singing TGIF for Catfish and Fried Chicken Fridays at F & D’s.

📍Visit F & D’s Soul Food

Where: 2240 Railroad St, Leighton, AL 35646
When: Wednesday-Sunday, 11AM-5PM
More Info: Facebook

Spirit, small-town charm + more

A child holds a Colbert County Indians football at a downtown pep rally in Leighton Alabama — The Leighton community loves to get together, whether for homecoming week pep rallies or volunteering to keep park spaces fresh. (Town of Leighton)

Youth volunteers put the finishing touches on bench seating for a new outdoor classroom and nature park in Leighton, Alabama — The Leighton community loves to get together, whether for homecoming week pep rallies or volunteering to keep park spaces fresh. (Town of Leighton)

Beyond Sledgefest, Leighton’s community spirit shines during seasonal events and festivals like the summertime Leighton Farmers Market, trick-or-treating downtown around Halloween, Colbert County High School homecoming parade, the Leighton Vintage Christmas Parade and LaGrange Christmas in the Country.

Amid all the community spirit, you’ll find a smattering of local businesses, including some art galleries open only for special events. There are a couple of essentials, like Colbert Farmers Co-Op Leighton, Leighton Pharmacy, and yes, a Dollar General. There’s a little florist shop called Flower Box on Main Street, and Eleven 03 Event Center for special gatherings.

If you’re planning more than a day trip to the Shoals area, Leighton got its first Airbnb not long ago. The Berryman House represented three generations of a local family and advertises “nothing fancy, just cozy with character,” which sums up the whole town.

Mayor Silcox says it’s been a hit with folks who want a quiet retreat with proximity to:

⛳️ Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Muscle Shoals: Two 18-hole championship courses
🛶 Alloys Park: Walking trails, boat ramp, kayak launch + rental, archery + more
🥃 Dawson Distillery: First legal moonshine operation in NW Alabama since Prohibition
🎵 Alabama Music Hall of Fame: 12,500 square feet of music storytelling + treasures

Let us know when you go! We would love to hear about your experience and what you discover in the tiny town of Leighton.

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