Friday Has Arrived…Here’s 32 Things to Do
1. Bob Sykes BBQ and Blues Festival
Presented by Bob Sykes Bar B Q at DeBardeleben Park in Downtown Bessemer, April 20. The 13th annual blues festival features Earl Williams, Skyler Saufley, Misty Blues, Nikki Hill, Chambers DesLauriers Band and Chris “BadNews” Barnes
2. Atlanta Renaissance Weekend
The 2024 Georgia Renaissance Festival runs April 13 through June 2, Saturdays and Sundays. Hours are from 10:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. All entertainment shows, the Jousting Tournaments, contests, the Children’s Play Kingdom, Juggling School, Reptile Farm, and much more including souvenirs, arts and crafts, food, beverages, or games and rides. The Festival is located just 8 miles south of Hartsfield-Jackson Airport on I-85 at exit 61 (Fairburn, Peachtree City Exit).
3. REDCREST 2024
March 14-17. Lay Lake. Major League Fishing’s Bass Pro Tour stops by Greater Birmingham as 50 of the country’s top anglers compete to land the big one! The BJCC will also host the REDCREST Outdoor Expo 3/15-17, with over 225,000 sq ft of tackle, boats, gear and fun for fishing fanatics, as well as a country concert at Legacy Arena, featuring Cody Johnson.
4. Holi Festival
March 16. Birmingham Museum of Art. Celebrate the vibrant and joyous Holi Festival with the Indian Cultural Society at the Birmingham Museum of Art’s 13th annual event. Embrace the spirit of Holi, a traditional Indian festival marking the arrival of spring and the triumph of good over evil. This colorful celebration is filled with live music, dance performances, art activities, and of course, the iconic throwing of colored powders.
5. St. Elias Food & Cultural Festival
April 12-13. St. Elias Maronite Church. This festival highlights Lebanese culture, food, and music. Since 1999, the festival has committed to donating 25% of its proceeds to local and national charities.
6. Gumbo Gala
April 13. Ghost Train Brewing. 18th Annual Gumbo Gala on Saturday from 12-4pm. This spicy event has grown into one of the city’s most popular cooking competitions. Proceeds benefit Episcopal Place, which provides affordable, independent living for seniors and disabled adults.
7. Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix
April 26-28. Barber Motorsports Park. The only Indy Series event in the Deep South, this motorsports event draws tens of thousands of race fans every year.
8. Magic City Art Connection
April 26-28. Sloss Furnaces. Birmingham’s largest art festival spotlights 200 juried, fine artists from around the country in all mediums alongside Corks & Chefs: A Taste of Birmingham, Imagination Festival workshops for kids, two performance stages, a cafe’ and more.
9. Birmingham Taco Fest
May 19. Sloss Furnaces. Join Bare Hands, Inc. in celebrating the city’s top taco vendors and food trucks during the seventh annual Birmingham Taco Fest presented by Rubio Law Firm.
10. MLB at Rickwood
June 20. Rickwood Field. Major League Baseball announced that Rickwood Field, the oldest professional ballpark in the United States and former home of the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues, will be the site of a special regular season contest between the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants on June 20. This experience will include a variety of activities as a tribute to the Negro Leagues and its greatest living player – Hall of Famer, Giants Legend, Birmingham native and Birmingham Black Barons player Willie Mays. Not the weekend but worth it.
11. Sidewalk Film Festival
August 19-25. Sidewalk Film Center and Historical Theatre District. Headed in to its 26th year, this showcase for independent film has gained wide notoriety in film and consumer publications for its tight organization, range of subject matter and good ol’ weekend fun.
12. Juneteenth Celebration
June 19. Kelly Ingram Park. The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute invites you to take part in a 2024 Juneteenth (Freedom Day) Celebration, a day-long jubilee from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Not the weekend but worth it.
13. Taste of 4th Avenue Jazz Festival
August. Historic 4th Avenue Business District, downtown Birmingham. Enjoy live music, spoken word and vendors at this year’s Taste of 4th Avenue Jazz Festival! Free and open to the public on Saturday and Sunday.
14. FOOD + Culture Fest
September 19-22. Pepper Place and Sloss Furnaces. Enjoy 5 signature events and an amplified Saturday Market, over 4 days, plus 10+ dinners at restaurants all over the city, and more than 50 invited featured chefs, mixologists, brewers and more.
15. Fiesta
September 28. Linn Park. Alabama’s largest celebration of Hispanic culture is a colorful event in downtown Linn Park. Learn about the many Hispanic countries and their cultures through art, music food and dance. From tortas to tacos and jerk chicken to pupusas, this fest puts on the spread. Here, you’ll find Salvadorian, Caribbean, and Brazilian food, from warm plantains, tapiocas, and quesadillas, to tamales, and corn cups. You can almost smell the homemade tortillas cooking. Come hungry!
16.Bluff Park Art
Saturday, October 5, 9 am to 5 pm at Bluff Park Community Park. the Bluff Park Art Show began as a way to raise money to expand the Bluff Park Elementary Library and has grown into a nationally recognized and acclaimed art show. Today, the event draws 3,000 to 4,000 visitors each year and artists from across the country.
17.Hangout Festival
May 17-19. Zach Bryan, Lana Del Rey, ODESZA and more at the Hangout. The Hangout Music Festival is an annual three-day music festival held on the white sand beaches of Gulf Shores
18. Greek Food Festival
October3-5. Holy Trinity-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Cathedral. The Greek Festival, Birmingham’s oldest and most anticipated cultural events will be held in a drive-thru, walk-up/take-out, to-go format with an abundance of delicious authentic Greek cuisine.
19. Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)
November 2-3, 4-10 pm. Sloss Furnaces. Attendees will see performances by Premier de America Mariachi, Emilio Crixell & Border Soul, Danza Azteca Xochipilli, Folkloric Dance San Francisco Xavier, a parade led by a procession band and a Frida Kahlo ceremony.
20. Half Mile Farm at Highlands, NC
How are you going to stay in the city after you see Half Mile Farm at Old Edwards in Highlands, NC? The climb up the roadway into the North Carolina mountains is one of the most beautiful drives in the South. But it pales in comparison to the beauty of the destination, Half Mile Farm at Old Edwards in Highlands, North Carolina. The resort is nestled in a green valley, tucked against Apple Lake and surrounded by the mountains that have made this region a top tourist destination. Feel at home in modern farmhouse guest rooms and rustic-luxe cabins with fireplaces, stylish comfy interiors, and balconies that offer tranquil views of the courtyard, lake and surrounding forest.
21. Alabama Theatre Holiday Film Series
December. Alabama Theatre. Kick off the holiday season with the Alabama Theatre’s ‘Holiday Film Series,’ where you can watch classic films such as Miracle on 34th Street, Home Alone, It’s a Wonderful Life, Elf, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, and more, all month long at the historic theatre
22. Charleston Jazz
Experience the magic of the 2024 Charleston Jazz Festival April 18th–21st in the heart of Charleston, South Carolina, where music lovers from around the globe converge to celebrate the city’s vibrant jazz heritage. An unforgettable fusion of rhythm, soul, and passion, showcasing an impressive lineup of world-renowned artists: Joshua Redman Group, René Marie, Arturo O’Farrill, Charlton Singleton, and the legendary Preservation Hall Jazz Band.
23. Moss Rock Festival
November 2-3. Moss Rock Preserve. This eco-creative festival in the Birmingham suburb of Hoover explores Nature, SmartLIVING, Art + Design and features 100 juried artists and makers, a smart living market & sweetery, hikes and outdoor activities, the Beer Garden craft tasting event, music, food, kids’ studios, and other special design features like tiny homes.
24. Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, Nashville
This world-famous Lower Broadway honky tonk has launched the careers of several legendary performers including Willie Nelson. Scenes from the movie Coal Miner’s Daughter were filmed inside. Check out the Ernest Tubb Record Shop, a one-stop retail store for a variety of country and bluegrass albums and memorabilia.
25. Kentucky Bourbon Trail
There’s something for everyone—tours, tastings, big-city nightlife, quaint country towns, Bourbon-themed restaurants and historic accommodations. Remember there is no wrong way to Build Your Own Bourbon Trail™, as long as you enjoy it responsibly.
26. St. Patty’s in Savannah
Savannah’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration is a lively affair filled with Irish traditions, lively tunes, excitement, and plenty of emerald hues. The St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Savannah is renowned as one of the biggest in the country.
27. Alys Beach Digital Graffiti Festival
The 17th annual Digital Graffiti Festival takes place in Alys Beach May 17-18, 2024. Digital Graffiti at Alys Beach is an innovative and dynamic event that celebrates the intersection of projection art and architecture. During the event, international artists display their original digital art upon the white walls of Alys Beach, transforming the South Walton town into a vibrant canvas of motion, color, light, and fun.
digitalgraffiti.com
28. Sandestin Wine Festival
The 37th Annual Sandestin Wine Festival will take place April 11-14, 2024. The Sandestin Wine Festival is the most established and continuously running wine festival on the Emerald Coast and has affectionately been called the “Kentucky Derby of Wine Festivals” because of its popularity and grandeur. Wine novices are able to learn more about wines and sample from a comprehensive selection in all varieties, styles, and price ranges. Wine aficionados enjoy meeting winemakers, asking detailed questions, and acquiring hard to get selections. Friday- $85, Saturday- $95
29. OWA in Foley, AL
Kids and adults alike will love the thrill of Tropic Falls at OWA , enjoy over 23 theme-park rides and a great selection of traditional midway games, as well as the region’s biggest indoor water park with over 11 water slides. You can also enjoy the ultimate tropical relaxation of Castaway Creek lazy river, all beneath a convertible retractable glass roof for fun any day, regardless of the weather. Adjacent to the indoor water park is Big Water Bay outdoor wave pool and surf simulator, Coastal Curl, complete with a spacious beach with ample seating, movie screen and stage, private cabana rentals and more. Squeeze in a little shopping time in Downtown OWA.
30. Mississippi Delta Blues
Tunica, Clarksdale, Cleveland, Greenwood, Indianola, Greenville, Yazoo City, Vicksburg. The towns drift slowly by like the slide on a bottel neck guitar. Pick up Highway 61 just south of Memphis and explore the land that brought the world the blues. The City of Clarksdale, located at the intersection of Highways 61 and 49 (“the crossroads”), and the surrounding Delta region are known as “the land where the blues began”. Since its creation, the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale has preserved, interpreted, and encouraged a deep interest in the story of the blues.
31. Halloween in New Orleans
Second only to Mardi Gras for its dazzling display of fun and finery, Halloween in New Orleans draws thousands to the Quarter for devilish fun while vampires, zombies, ghosts, goblins, and everything else parade up and down Frenchmen Street displaying the city’s legendary wit and creativity in their carefully crafted costumes. All Hallows’ Eve in New Orleans is an experience to remember.
32. Jewish Food and Culture Fest
The Jewish Food and Culture Fest is one of the city’s favorite outdoor food events. Favorite foods from recipes that have been passed down for generations: sweet and savory braised brisket, falafel, giant corned beef sandwiches, pickles, babka, pomegranate walnut chicken, tender stuffed cabbage rolls, rugelach, challah, sweet noodle kugel casserole, Israeli salad, couscous, savory potato burekas, matzah ball soup, and mandelbrot. Sunday, April 14, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
