PIKE ROAD, AL – The Town of Pike Road’s annual hay bale decorating contest, “Hay, Look at Us!,” is rolling into town for its 15th year, inviting neighborhoods, businesses and organizations to transform an ordinary hay bale into an extraordinary work of art. The Town provides the hay bale at no cost; participants bring the creativity and bring it to life.
Presented by the Pike Road Neighborhood Leaders ENHANCE Initiative Committee, the contest has become a beloved fall tradition — one that Kim Isbell, a longtime participant, has decorated with her family for 14 years. She said it brings out something special in the community.
“It’s definitely a chance to be creative,” Kim said. “It gives people a chance to meet your neighbors and get out and kind of use that creative bone that I know we all have somewhere.”
In the Boykin Lakes neighborhood, Katherine Hatfield said her neighbors break the work into manageable chunks so that no artistic skill is required to take part.
“So maybe you’re not artistic, but you at least know how to use a can of spray paint,” Katherine said. “Or maybe you can’t even use spray paint, but you know how to drive to Home Depot and pick up the products that we need. We really have, in our neighborhood over the years, found a way to incorporate a lot of people in a lot of different ways. Sometimes we all get together and work on it. Sometimes it’s just you get your part done, and once you’re done, you hand that off to somebody else. So whether you are super artistic or not at all, I think there’s a way you can participate and get to know your neighbors better.”
New this year, first-time participants are automatically eligible for the Rookie of the Year Award, which will go to the first-time entry receiving the highest overall score based on the contest judging criteria. Kim encouraged newcomers in the town’s growing neighborhoods to jump in.
“With a lot of our new neighborhoods popping up, we definitely need to get everyone else involved,” Kim said. “It’s just a great time to get out and meet your neighbors, have a great time, do something that’s the spirit of Pike Road.”
For Katherine, the payoff lasts long after the paint dries.
“Something else I’ve loved about it is there are people that I met through the hay bale I would not have known unless it was that,” Katherine said. “And now we look forward to it, and we have things to talk about and things to reminisce about, and it’s just been one of my favorite things about Pike Road.”
Registration forms are due by 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11, at Town Hall, 9575 Vaughn Road, or by email to info@pikeroad.us. Hay bales will be delivered to participating locations Sept. 14-25, and decorating runs Sept. 26 through Oct. 16.
Entries are encouraged to follow themes including the Pike Road Story, Pike Road Patriots Pride, Halloween Traditions, Fall Favorites, Happy Birthday Pike Road and America 250.
Judging begins Oct. 17, and winners will be announced Oct. 18 on the Mondays with the Mayor Radio Show. Community members can also vote in the People’s Choice Award on the Town of Pike Road Facebook page beginning Oct. 18 by “liking” the photo of their favorite hay bale before voting closes at 10 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25.
Decorations should remain on display through Nov. 7. Teams can also compete for the Team Spirit Award by sharing photos, videos and stories of their decorating adventure and tagging @townofpikeroad and #mypikeroad on social media or emailing info@pikeroad.us.
Click HERE for the 2026 registration packet and complete contest rules.