The variety of annual events nourishes the Birmingham vibe.
Here are some of the festivals and events on the schedule for 2024.
Check festival websites for updated dates and times.
January:
Birmingham Squadron – November-March. Legacy Arena. Great NBA G-League basketball action.
Birmingham Boat Show – January 18-21. Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. The show is now the Oldest and largest in the State of Alabama. With over 250,000 square feet, the show highlights the latest in boats, motors, fishing gear, guides, outfitters and related outdoor gear.
February:
O’Reilly World of Wheels Custom Auto Show – February 2-4. Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. The O’Reilly Auto Parts World of Wheels are indoor shows featuring Hot Rods, Race Cars, Antique Cars, Classic Cars, Custom Imports, and Motorcycles presented in creative displays.
First Annual Railway Marathon – February 3. Fultondale. See you at the first Railway Marathon and Half Marathon presented by Craneworks. The event is open to all runners and sign-ups are open now. Railway also counts as a Boston Marathon qualifier for those that are interested.
Kami-Con – February 9-11. Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. Kami-Con is a three-day convention that celebrates Japanese culture, gaming, geek culture, anime & manga, comics, TV shows, movies, and much more! Kami-Con is also uniquely interactive, featuring events that allow attendees to affect the outcome of its ongoing story!
Heroes and Villians: The Art of the Disney Costume – February 17-August 18. Birmingham Museum of Art. Comprised of 70 costumes spanning nearly half a century, this captivating show takes visitors on a journey into the enchanting worlds of Disney, highlighting the innovative ways some of the iconic characters are brought to life through the artistry and imagination of their costumes.
Birmingham Restaurant Week – February 22-March 3. Greater Birmingham Area. For the 14th year, come get a taste of Birmingham’s unique and award-winning culinary scene, as many local restaurants, food trucks, cafes and bars across the area put out special prix-fixe menus and pricing for everyone to enjoy during dozens of events over 11 days.
March:
20th Annual Exceptional Foundation Chili Cook-Off – March 2. Brookwood Village. Join us on Saturday, March 2nd, for live music, all you can eat chili, beverages, and a KidZone at the 20th Annual Chili Cook-Off Benefiting the Exceptional Foundation!
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.
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. Suitable for all ages.
Five Points South St. Patrick’s Day Parade – March 17. Five Points South. Head downtown to Five Points South for a full week of St. Patrick’s Celebrations, including food and drink specials and other events, culminating in the parade with live music, a kid’s zone, and more!
Rumpshaker 5K – March 23. Regions Field. The Rumpshaker 5K is a family friendly run/walk event and is the largest free standing 5K in Alabama, having hosted over 36,000 participants and raised well over a million dollars over the past 15 years while promoting awareness about colorectal cancer.
Birmingham Stallions – March-July. Protective Stadium. Your 2022 and 2023 United States Football League Champions will kick off the inaugural season of the newly formed UFL on March 30, 2024, versus the 2023 XFL Champions, the Arlington Renegades! Follow the Birmingham Stallions on social media for more information as it is announced. #GiddyUp
Birmingham Legion FC – March-October. Protective Stadium. Legion FC is BHM’s first and only locally owned and operated professional soccer franchise, kicking off its sixth season in the United Soccer League in 2024. Hit the link to find the latest schedule, tickets, highlights, and more info! #HammerDown
April:
Birmingham Barons – April-September. Regions Field. Exciting AA baseball action in an award-winning baseball stadium at the heart of downtown Birmingham.
St. Elias Food & Cultural Festival – April 12-13. St. Elias Maronite Church. Voted a Family Favorite by ‘Birmingham Parent’ in 2022, this festival highlighting Lebanese culture, food, and music is a blast for all ages! Since 1999, the festival has committed to donating 25% of its proceeds to local and national charities.
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.
Gardendale Magnolia Festival – April 19-20. Gardendale Civic Center. A kid friendly event with face painting, inflatables, a rock wall and sensory-friendly stations. Enjoy a midway carnival, vendor booths, three stages of live entertainment, a pooch parade, a 5K run/fun run and much more.
Magic City Mimosa Festival – April 20. Sloss Furnaces. Bars will be dishing out tons of refreshing mimosas while the DJ plays and you enjoy fun outdoor games, grab a bite from locally loved food vendors, or check out the artists on site all under the back drop of historic Sloss Furnaces!
Bob Sykes BBQ and Blues Festival – April 20. Debardeleben Park, Bessemer. The 13th annual event will combine the best of blues music and legendary Bob Sykes BBQ from 12-8pm. Gates open at 11am. Be sure to bring your chair or blanket and set-up your spot for the day to enjoy talented blues musicians, artists, and other vendors.
Talladega GEICO 500 – April 20-21. Talladega Superspeedway. NASCAR‘s Most Competitive venue announced that select ticket options, including premium upgrade and NEW, modified fan experiences, are available. Fans are encouraged to act now as tickets are limited and pricing will increase on race week. Limited tickets available.
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.
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.
May:
Regions Tradition – May 8-12. Greystone Golf and Country Club. Annual PGA Golf Tournament benefitting local charities.
Magic City Wine Fest – May 11. Railroad Park. Come join us for the 7th Annual Autumn Air Home Services Magic City Wine Fest as we travel the globe by drinking wine and beer specific to a certain region while enjoying live music and food from local restaurants. A portion of every ticket goes to benefit Railroad Park.
Homestead Hollow Arts & Crafts Festival – May 10-12, Sept. 27-29, Nov. 8-10. Springville. See wood carving, blacksmithing, wood stove cooking, quilting, whiskey making at an original working still, tour original cabins as they were built by the early settlers. Enjoy great food, music, and children’s activities.
Do Dah Day Festival – May 18. Cahaba Brewing. Benefitting animal rescue services, this is one of the city’s most wonderful and wacky events. Homemade floats and animals dressed in costume will remain stationary while the spectators “parade” past them.
Birmingham Taco Fest – May 19. Sloss Furnaces. Taco ‘bout a good time! 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.
SEC Baseball Championship – May 21-26. Hoover Met. The SEC Baseball Tournament features premier college baseball as the top twelve teams compete for the championship. Don’t miss your chance to see six days of the best college baseball at the Hoover Met Stadium.
Barber Small Bore – May 31-June 2. Barber Motorsports Park. The world’s largest small-bore event is back at the 880-acre Barber Motorsports Park! Great routes, road racing, drag racing, stunt lot, parade laps, Moto-soccer, Creek Bottom Classic off-road racing, hill climbing, bike shows, swap meet, industry wide displays and support, games, demos, prizes, food, and the world’s largest motorcycle museum.
June:
Juneteenth Celebration – June 15. 16th St N, between 3rd & 6th Ave. The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is pleased to invite you to take part in a 2024 Juneteenth (Freedom Day) Celebration on June 15th. They will host a series of exciting features for our community and members of the Institute in this day-long jubilee from 10am until 4pm.
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, 2024. This experience, scheduled around Juneteenth, 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.
Caribbean Festival – June. DeBardeleben Park, Bessemer. A fun filled, family friendly celebration of Caribbean culture with food, music, dancing and a parade.
July:
Thunder on the Mountain – July 4. Vulcan Park and Museum. The state’s largest 4th of July celebration will again ignite the sky atop red mountain with an array of fireworks.
Transplant Games of America – July 5-10. Various Greater Birmingham venues. Every two years the Transplant Games of America gathers together thousands of transplant recipients, living donors, donor families, individuals on the waiting list, caregivers, transplant professionals, supporters and spectators for the world’s largest celebration of life. During this truly unique and inspiring week, 40 state teams and several international teams (i.e. Brazil, Australia, India), made up of transplant recipients and living donors, compete in twenty athletic and recreational competitions. The 2024 Games will bring together nearly 10,000 members of the transplant community, generating an estimated $10.2 million in economic impact for the Birmingham region.
August:
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.
Taste of 4th Avenue Jazz Festival – August 24. 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.
September:
Trussville Dog Daze – September 14. Historic Mall in Trussville. Trussville Dog Daze is a fun, family event and the admission is FREE! So much going on including kids’ activities, vendors, food trucks, side walker art contest, and lots of entertainment. Make plans to visit Dog Daze on September 14, it is a day you will not want to miss!
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.
Fiesta BHAM – 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!
Alabama Comic Con – September 28-29. BJCC. Alabama Comic Convention is a two-day event being held at the Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex (2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N., Birmingham, AL 35203) and will bring together a diverse list of guests, vendors, artists, and fan groups, in a fun, family-friendly environment.
October:
Furnace Fest – October 4-6. Sloss Furnaces. Furnace Fest returns! All the punk/emo/hardcore that you have been missing is coming to Birmingham for this three-day event. Hit the link for full lineup, to get your tickets, and for more info!
YellaWood 500 at Talladega – October 4-6. Talladega Superspeedway. The intensity of the NASCAR Playoffs returns to ‘Dega for the YELLAWOOD 500! Don’t miss this crucial middle race as NASCAR’s biggest stars continue their quest for the Bill France Cup.
Barber Vintage Festival – October 11-13. Barber Motorsports Park. It’s a motorcycle enthusiast’s dream! Enjoy three days of non-stop action and fun at Birmingham’s premier motorsports park!
Bluff Park Art Show– October. Bluff Park Community Center, Hoover. Some of the finest artists in the country show at this annual event in the Bluff Park neighborhood of Birmingham. Join us at the 61st edition for live music, great food trucks, kid’s activities and more.
Greek Food Festival – October. 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.
Taste of Hoover – October. Aldridge Gardens. The Taste of Hoover celebrates the variety of culinary styles found throughout our city. Enjoy an autumn evening of sampling delicious dishes from some of Hoover’s best restaurants and Aldridge Gardens’ preferred caterers while listening to live entertainment.
The Alabama Butterbean Festival– October. Pinson. This down-home gathering tempts you with butterbeans prepared in all sorts of ways, and then offers you one heck of a good time. In fact, if butterbeans aren’t your jam, you might want to come anyway for live music, carnival rides, food, petting zoos, pony rides, and who knows what else!
November:
National Veterans Day Parade – November 11. Downtown Birmingham. Birmingham has the oldest and one of the largest Veterans Day celebrations in the country.
Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) – November. Sloss Furnaces. In the Mexican tradition, the festival commemorates the deaths of loved ones through music, dance and amazing food.
Christmas Village Festival – November. Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex Exhibition Halls. Mothers and daughters, sisters, and friends begin their holiday shopping by meeting in Birmingham the first weekend in November to enjoy an amazing variety of gift ideas- all under one roof.
Moss Rock Festival – November. Moss Rock Preserve. This eco-creative festival in the Birmingham suburb of Hoover explores Nature, SmartLIVING, Art + Design and features 100 juried artists & 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.
December:
Christmas at Arlington Historic Home and Gardens – December 7. Arlington House. The City of Birmingham invites citizens to attend “Christmas at Arlington,” an annual event sponsored by the Arlington Historical Association (AHA) with free admission to the house and grounds. Visitors are invited to “step back in time” as local decorators adorn rooms of this historic house in seasonal period décor, and you and your family enjoy refreshments, entertainment, and children’s activities.
Alabama Theatre’s Holiday Film Series – December 13-22. 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.
Red Mountain Theatre’s Holiday Spectacular – December 5-22. Red Mountain Theatre. Join us to sing in the season at Red Mountain Theatre! Top singers, dancers, musicians, and RMT’s Performing Ensembles are all ready to celebrate the best time of the year. From heartwarming moments to hilarious comedy, this show is jam-packed with holiday cheer for the whole family!
Birmingham Bowl – December. Protective Stadium. End your sporting year by taking in a great College Football bowl game right here in Uptown Birmingham!