Festivals & Events

The race will start at 8AM at the Redbud Pavilion, near the BMX Track on Tranquility Rd.

Artist Russ Ronat is showing his latest artwork, Project Holocene, in the Birmingham Zoo’s Predator Building. This is a series of mixed media drawings of endangered and vulnerable animals. These large drawings bring attention to the rising issues of deforestation, illegal wildlife trade and the other threats that these species face. Visit the Zoo’s Predator Building during the month of May to learn about these endangered/vulnerable animals. Prints of Russ Ronat’s artwork will be available for purchase in the Zoo’s Gift Shop during the month of May. Visit www.projectholocene.com for more information about the artist and the project.

Go to homewood.beanstack.org and sign up for our Reading Rocks summer reading program! Pick up your summer reading bag at the Homewood Public Library children's desk between May 21-July 31. Starting June 3, earn prizes after each of these reading benchmarks: 100, 300, 500 and 1000 pages. Read at least 50 pages each week to enter our weekly drawing and get a weekly coupon. Check out materials from the children's department and earn chances to win a bike from Cahaba Cycles or another prize in our grand drawing on July 31.

Don't miss some of the best baseball in the country at the 2018 SEC Baseball Tournament. The top-12 teams will battle it out in Hoover, Alabama on the road to Omaha. Join us for the new indoor 2018 FanFest! The FanFest will be free to the public, open each day of the tournament and fun for all ages.

Spend your Memorial Day weekend at the Birmingham Zoo. Splash in the fountains, take a ride on the train* and carousel*, enjoy Wildlife Shows and experience all the Zoo has to offer. In honor of Memorial Day weekend, the Zoo is giving FREE admission to veterans as well as all active and retired military and their dependents. Bring your proof of military service (military ID card, dependent ID card, driver’s license, etc.) to take part in all the fun the Zoo has to offer.
*Additional cost

Part of the 10th Annual Memorial Day Celebration. Live band at 5pm; fireworks at 9pm.

Memorial Day Observance will be held at the Alabama National Cemetery on Monday May 28, 2018 at 9 am. We will also have a Flag Placement Ceremony on Saturday May 26, 2018 at 9:00 am. The general public is encouraged to attend both of these moving events.

“Wi-fi is not the only connection that matters”

This small exhibition features the work of Walker Evans, Arthur Rothstein, and Marion Post Wolcott, three photographers who documented the American South during the Great Depression. Images of hardship and hope exist together in photographs representing children in tattered clothes, underemployed young men playing midday checkers, and couples dancing on a Saturday night. Through this selection of photographs, the broader effects of the Great Depression on Alabama and the South are revealed. The photographs were made at the same time as Richard Coe’s Depression-era etchings, featured across the Bohorfoush Gallery in the exhibition Magic City Realism: Richard Coe’s Birmingham.

In the wake of the Great Depression, Birmingham experienced a remarkable transformation that helped shape the city as we know it today. Artist Richard Coe, an Alabama-native, documented the city’s rapidly changing urban fabric in his prints and paintings. Magic City Realism: Richard Coe’s Birmingham brings together over 60 of Coe’s images of the city and state from this decade for the first time.

At Chengdu Panda Base in China, scientists are dedicated to protecting the species by breeding adult Giant Pandas in order to introduce cubs into the wild. This film follows one such researcher, whose passion leads her to initiate a new technique inspired by a black bear program in rural New Hampshire. What starts as a cross-culture collaboration becomes a life-changing journey for an American biologist who crosses an ocean to join her; a scientist from Inner Mongolia; and a very curious female cub named Qian Qian, born in captivity.

Captured with IMAX® Cameras, join Qian Qian on an exciting new adventure in the mountains of Sichuan as she takes her first steps outside her protected habitat, discovering her true animal nature…even as she faces the challenges of the unknown.

Family Fun & Activities  ALL WEEKEND
FREE waterslide, Kids DJ Party & Face Painting

Waterslide Hours
Friday & Saturday 10am until 7:30pm
Sunday 12pm-6pm
Monday 10am until 7:30pm

Children’s DJ Party: May 26th, Saturday 5-9pm

Neon Face Painting: May 26, Saturday 5-9pm

FIREWORKS SHOW: May 26th, Saturday 9pm
Hosted by The Shops of Grand River
Location:  Coyote Drive-In Theater *
*DOES NOT INCLUDE MOVIE ADMISSION
Purchase your ticket online today. Movie Admission is good for double feature movies and the Fireworks show.
$8 AGES 12+ | $6 AGES 5-11 | FREE AGES 4 & UNDER
Not going to a movie? FREE parking for Fireworks will be available at The Shops of Grand River.

Event details subject to change

The former Lanark Estate in Millbrook, Alabama, was conveyed to provide for long-term stewardship of the property and development of an outdoor education facility that is now known as the Alabama Nature Center.  The Center is a planned use facility offering hands on, outdoor-based educational programs and activities for students, educators, church and civic groups, and the general public.

The Center contains 350 acres of striking forests, fields, streams, wetlands and parks that are traversed by five miles of boardwalks and trails in three regions.    Please bring $5.00 per person Nature Center admission fee with you.  Well-behaved, carefully supervised children age 7 and over able to walk two miles without complaining are welcome on this outing.

Depart for this outing at 10:00 a.m. from the McDonald’s Galleria.  Optional dinner after the hike.

Info: Dexter Duren, 205/393-0927

DIRECTIONS TO MEETING PLACE

McDonald’s Galleria-1731 Montgomery Highway, Hoover, AL 35244. Parking lot behind the McDonald’s Restaurant across U.S. 31 from the main entrance to the Riverchase Galleria Shopping Mall.

DESCRIPTION OF SOUTHEASTERN OUTINGS

Do you wish you had friends who share your active lifestyle and enjoyment of outdoor activities?  Then become active with Southeastern Outings (SEO), a nonprofit organization committed and created to serve people who enjoy being active in the outdoors.  The organization plans, organizes and leads outings such as dayhikes, easy kayak and canoe trips, stream and waterfall walks, bicycle rides, lake events and other fun activities to beautiful sites in our natural environment.  From time to time we also sponsor potluck suppers and other socials.  All events and activities of the group are open to the public.  Participating in SEO activities is a splendid, simple way to make congenial new friends who enjoy the outdoors.

NO DOGS OR SMOKING ALLOWED, PLEASE, ON ANY SOUTHEASTERN OUTINGS EVENTS.

The organization currently has about 300 members.  We scheduled eighty events during calendar year 2017 for an average of 7 fun events per month.  We enjoy the outdoors in all seasons throughout the year.  Nineteen  people on average have participated in each outing since January 1, 2017.

SEO does not charge for participation in any of its outings.  You do not have to be a member to participate in one or two SEO activities.  Dues are only $10.  Please contact Dan Frederick, President, 205-631-4680, or seoutings@bellsouth.net for more information and to obtain three free monthly newsletters with membership application and a complete description of all our outdoor events.

Southeastern Outings now has a website.  Just go to seoutings.org to find announcements of all our upcoming outings scheduled plus some brief, general information about Southeastern Outings, a membership application and 1500 lovely photographs from several of our outings.

Thank you.

Please come with us to see the largest display of blooming Cahaba lilies in the world, acres and acres of them spread out over the water in the river.  These lilies are a sight to behold!  In places, it often looks like it has snowed on the river in May.

Over seven miles of the Cahaba River lie within the Refuge boundary. The rolling uplands surrounding the river are forested with mountain longleaf and loblolly pines. Mixed upland hardwood species line ravines and the river's edge.

The largest known stand of the imperiled shoals lily (known locally as the Cahaba lily) also occurs within the Refuge. During May and June, this beautiful plant blooms, and people come from across the region to view this magnificent display of nature. There is even an annual Cahaba lily festival that draws thousands of visitors to the area in May.

Well-behaved, properly supervised children age 7 and over welcome.

Optional dinner after.

The hike is about five miles round trip.  Rated easy.  Wear sturdy footwear you don’t mind getting wet and dirty.  Old sneakers work well.  You’ll want to put on your river shoes so you can walk out into the shallow parts of the river to stroll through and touch the lilies which grow only in the water.  Bare feet, flip-flops, slip-ons and thin-soled “beach shoes” are not acceptable!! You may wear your sturdy river shoes for the entire trip if you like.  Please bring picnic lunch and your drink.  Hiking poles are strongly recommended to provide additional stability when wading in the river.

Depart 10:00 a.m. from the McDonald’s Galleria.

Info: Dan Frederick, 205/631-4680 or seoutings@bellsouth.net

DIRECTIONS TO MEETING PLACE

McDonald’s Galleria-1731 Montgomery Highway, Hoover, AL 35244. Parking lot behind the McDonald’s Restaurant across U.S. 31 from the main entrance to the Riverchase Galleria Shopping Mall.

DESCRIPTION OF SOUTHEASTERN OUTINGS

Do you wish you had friends who share your active lifestyle and enjoyment of outdoor activities?  Then become active with Southeastern Outings (SEO), a nonprofit organization committed and created to serve people who enjoy being active in the outdoors.  The organization plans, organizes and leads outings such as dayhikes, easy kayak and canoe trips, stream and waterfall walks, bicycle rides, lake events and other fun activities to beautiful sites in our natural environment.  From time to time we also sponsor potluck suppers and other socials.  All events and activities of the group are open to the public.  Participating in SEO activities is a splendid, simple way to make congenial new friends who enjoy the outdoors.

NO DOGS OR SMOKING ALLOWED, PLEASE, ON ANY SOUTHEASTERN OUTINGS EVENTS.

The organization currently has about 300 members.  We scheduled eighty events during calendar year 2017 for an average of 7 fun events per month.  We enjoy the outdoors in all seasons throughout the year.  Nineteen  people on average have participated in each outing since January 1, 2017.

SEO does not charge for participation in any of its outings.  You do not have to be a member to participate in one or two SEO activities.  Dues are only $10.  Please contact Dan Frederick, President, 205-631-4680, or seoutings@bellsouth.net for more information and to obtain three free monthly newsletters with membership application and a complete description of all our outdoor events.

Southeastern Outings now has a website.  Just go to seoutings.org to find announcements of all our upcoming outings scheduled plus some brief, general information about Southeastern Outings, a membership application and 1500 lovely photographs from several of our outings.

Thank you.

Our Iron Tour consists of park admission, guided history tour, museum entrance and a scratch block for you to create your own artwork on. Later that evening, watch as we pour your block with iron creating your own unique piece of art!!

Iron Pour at 6pm

Put the Engineer Design Process to the test and build the best paper airplane. Will your airplane fly the farthest or get the most “air time?” Explore the science behind flight in this high-flying day!

Programming
10:30 – Design Challenge: Paper Airplane, Workshop
11:30 – Combustion, Rushton Theater
12:30 – Paper Airplane Launcher, Classroom 303
1:30 – Design Challenge: Paper Airplane, Workshop
2:30 – Wind Surfin’, Explore
3:30 – Stomp Rockets, Workshop
4:30 – Hoop Gliders, Demonstration Station

May  18 through June 2
“BIOME”
A show themed on nature by Kristie David, Mary Kaiser and Shelleigh Buckingham

Opening receptions:

~ Friday May 18th, [5-8 pm] with the artists, in sync with Third Friday in Forest park and Tour de Loo.
Guest bartenders: 100% of tips will benefit a non profit organization supporting nature.

~ Saturday May 19, [10:30 am-6 pm] meet the artists from 1 to 4 pm. Caffeine and Sugar high reception. Meet the artist from 1 to 4 pm.

You are cordially invited to attend a Baby Bird Shower: Bring a gift (see Baby Bird Wish List), guided tour of baby bird nursery & aviaries, fun children’s activities, free cake and refreshments, purchase t-shirts, mugs & more! We’re expecting! Approximately 1,000 baby birds will arrive at the Alabama Wildlife Center this year. Come join in the fun and bring a gift! There are many ways to “Chirp In & Help Alabama’s Baby Birds”:

Go shopping — Purchase and donate needed items. You can even shop online from our Amazon wish list!

Volunteer — Volunteer Orientation/Intro to AWC usually held 1st or 2nd Sunday each month, 2:00 - 4:00 pm see website for dates.

Become a member — Help preserve and protect Alabama’s precious natural heritage with your annual dues.

Give what you can — Express your love for wildlife by making a donation in any amount. Our monthly animal care expenses double during baby bird season. As funding increases, so does our ability to help more injured & orphaned birds. The Alabama Wildlife Center is a 501(c)(3), 509(a)(1) nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible.

Bands
(12pm- 8pm)
The Yellow Dandies
Banjolicious
Allen Tolbert
FiddleFace
Early James & The Latest

Food Vendors On Site
Johnnys BBQ
Sgt. Johns Hotdogs
Bama Sno Cones

Coolers are welcome!