Newer storm update, added 10:22 a.m. CDT Friday, Oct. 9: Isaias is now a Category 3 hurricane, and NWS Birmingham has issued a High Wind Warning for Blount County along with a Flood Watch. The storm information in this story is from Thursday and is out of date. See our latest hurricane update.
Hurricane Isaias is changing weekend plans in west Blount County. The Blount-Oneonta Chamber of Commerce has canceled the Covered Bridge Festival in Oneonta, and the Smoke Rise Community Yard Sale and Market at the Maze have been postponed, to Oct. 24 and Nov. 7. This list will be updated as organizers announce more changes.
The National Weather Service in Birmingham has issued a High Wind Watch for Blount County, with gusts up to 50 mph possible from late Friday night through late Saturday night, and a Flood Watch for all of Central Alabama from Friday evening through Sunday morning. Isaias had 100 mph winds at 4 p.m. Thursday, is forecast to peak near 110 mph early Friday and is expected to reach the northern Gulf Coast late Friday or early Saturday. Our storm coverage has the forecast.
Canceled
Blount County Covered Bridge Festival, Saturday, Oct. 10, downtown Oneonta. The Blount-Oneonta Chamber of Commerce canceled the 42nd annual festival because of the threat of severe weather. The Chamber cited the possibility of heavy rain, flooding and high winds on Saturday and said “the safety of our vendors, volunteers, and the public must come first.” It said rescheduling is not possible because of the number of vendors, volunteers, law enforcement, city services and entertainment involved. The festival is a Chamber fundraiser, and the Chamber said it will take a financial loss. Vendors should check their email for details. The Chamber said it looks forward to seeing everyone next year.
The announcement did not mention the free bus tour of the county’s three covered bridges that was listed with the festival. We have not confirmed whether it has changed. The Blount County Quilters’ website still lists the Quilt Show for Oct. 9 and 10, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Palisades Park in Oneonta, with no change posted. Friends of the Locust Fork River’s annual fall hike at Swann Covered Bridge, set for Saturday at 9:30 a.m., is part of the festival’s schedule and is expected to be canceled as well. Check with the group.
Postponed
Smoke Rise Community Yard Sale. The sale, set for Saturday, Oct. 10, has been postponed to Saturday, Oct. 24, because of the storm. Details are on our event listing.
Market at the Maze. The West Blount Corn Maze announced Thursday that it has postponed the market, set for Saturday, Oct. 10, to Saturday, Nov. 7, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., because of the approaching tropical weather. The maze is extending its season one more weekend: Saturday, Nov. 7, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 8, 1 to 6 p.m., the final day of the 2026 season. Details are on our event listing. The announcement did not address the Oct. 24 market or whether the maze will be open Saturday, Oct. 10, so check with the maze.
No change announced yet
Hayden football at Guntersville, Friday, Oct. 9. The game has not been moved and is set for 7 p.m. Friday. The National Weather Service forecast for Guntersville shows no rain through 11 p.m. Friday and wind of 10 to 15 mph, with rain not expected until after 1 a.m. Saturday. Other Alabama teams have moved Friday games to Thursday because of the storm, including Clay-Chalkville and Pinson Valley, Pell City and Southside, and Chilton County and Helena, so confirm the kickoff with the school before you travel.
Blount County Schools. Schools are not closing Friday. They are already scheduled to be closed Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 12 and 13.
Other weekend events. We have not found an announcement of changes to the corn maze’s regular hours or to Frightful Fridays at Rickwood Caverns State Park, Friday at 4 p.m. Alabama State Parks lists Gulf State Park as closed and Meaher State Park closing Friday, and does not list Rickwood Caverns. Check with each organizer before you go.
Around Alabama
Gov. Kay Ivey declared a state of emergency for 40 counties, effective Wednesday at 4 p.m. through Oct. 14. Tuscaloosa County is included. Blount, Jefferson, Shelby, Cullman, St. Clair and Walker counties are not.
The governor ordered non-residents, tourists and visitors out of south Baldwin County, including Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, and Dauphin Island, and state offices in nine south Alabama counties close at noon Friday. Montgomery Public Schools is closed Friday. The 53rd National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores was canceled after the hurricane center’s 4 a.m. Wednesday advisory.
Tell us what is changing
If you run an event, a business or a program in west Blount County and are closing or changing plans, send it to westblount.com/submit and we will add it here.
This story was last updated at 9:40 p.m. CDT Thursday, Oct. 8.
Sources: West Blount Corn Maze announcements on Market at the Maze; Blount County Quilters; Blount-Oneonta Chamber of Commerce announcement (blountoneontachamber.org); National Weather Service Birmingham alerts (weather.gov/bmx) and Huntsville forecast (weather.gov/hun); National Hurricane Center advisory 9 (nhc.noaa.gov); MaxPreps Hayden schedule; Blount County Schools; WVTM 13 and the governor’s office on the state of emergency; WBRC on football; WSFA on Montgomery schools; ABC 33/40 on the Shrimp Festival; Outdoor Alabama on state parks.