HUNTSVILLE — We’re No. 1! We’re No. 1!

That’s right. To celebrate being named the “Best Place to Live in America” by U.S. News & World Report, Huntsville is hosting a party.

And everyone’s invited!

The festivities, featuring live music, food trucks, a LED light show and more, are Thursday from 5-10 p.m. on the North Side Square downtown.

“Taking the No. 1 spot on the 2022-2023 U.S. News & World Report ‘Best Place to Live’ survey has been significant for not only downtown, but all of Huntsville,” Mayor Tommy Battle said. “As summer comes to a close, we invite all of our citizens to this celebration to show what makes Huntsville, Alabama, so unique.”

Huntsville’s ranking was announced in the May issue of U.S. News & World Report. The No. 1 status was based on the job market, housing affordability, quality of life, desirability, and net migration ratings.

There will be a LED Light Show by LED-Orange Productions, food artisans and more.

“Once a sleepy farming town, Huntsville gained national recognition during the Space Race of the 1960s and is now consistently among the fastest-growing metro areas in Alabama.” the U.S. News article reads. “In the past, the U.S. government relocated a team of German rocket scientists to the area and opened a NASA center that would design the Saturn V, the rocket that sent Apollo astronauts to the moon.

“Today, Huntsville residents pride themselves on being a nerdy bunch. The metro area has the most educated population in the state, and a large portion of the population works in engineering and defense thanks to the large presence of NASA and the U.S. Army’s Redstone Arsenal.

“Huntsville’s city center has undergone a renaissance in recent years. An outbreak of new construction downtown means more shopping, dining and apartment options are available. Just west of downtown, a defunct cotton mill became a bustling arts center, and craft breweries, restaurants and an ax-throwing venue have sprung up in a renovated old middle school.”