Apollo Day celebrates Huntsville’s legacy during Rocket City Space Fest

Hundreds gathered at Big Spring Park on July 20 to commemorate the anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing during Apollo Day, one of the signature events of the inaugural Rocket City Space Fest.

The evening included an official proclamation read by Huntsville City Administrator John Hamilton, with Madison County Commissioner Phil Riddick and event champion Ralph Petroff. As night fell, the celebration culminated with a spectacular drone show from Sky Elements Drone Shows, where 600 drones told the story of Apollo—from liftoff and the Moon landing to splashdown—before looking ahead to NASA’s Artemis program.

This audio postcard, created by Marsha Arends for Tennessee Valley Mornings, captures the voices, atmosphere, and moments that celebrated Huntsville’s enduring place in the history of space exploration.