15 Things to do in Birmingham in August, including Sidewalk Film Festival, Magic City Brewfest, Secret Stages and more
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That’s right y’all … it’s August already. We are officially 2/3 of the way through the calendar year, people! The good news? August is the time to be a Bham resident. With everything from Restaurant Week to Magic City Brewfest to Def Leppard, we’ve got you covered on all things fun in Birmingham in August.
First Up
Party on the Porch at Alabama Outdoors in Homewood (August 3rd)
Each Party on the Porch raises money for a different non-profit; this week’s is the Junior League of Birmingham. Join Alabama Outdoors for beer, music and a food truck. The store will be open late for your perusal.
Chirps and Chips at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens (August 3rd)
This will be the 7th installment of the Alabama Wildlife Center Junior Board’s event. The event is casino-themed, and a ticket costs $50. Your ticket includes food, drinks, games, live entertainment, and a silent auction.
Secret Stages (August 3rd-4th)
Secret Stages is Birmingham’s annual underground music festival. Over 50 musical acts will be performing at bars and other venues across Birmingham this weekend. We would tell you more, but its a secret. Check out the lineup here.
Clear Your Schedule
Magic City Brewfest (August 10th and 11th)
Get your craft beer on, and bring your pennies! In accordance with ABC laws, you must drop a penny-per-taste at each tasting booth you attend. DD tickets are available for $10, while GA tickets are $40 per session.
Woodlawn Street Market (August 11th)
Woodlawn Street Market is an event hosted by the Woodlawn Business Association and REV Birmingham. It brings upwards of 70 local makers, chefs, bakers, and entertainers to the heart of Woodlawn for one Saturday every other month.
Get Down in Downtown Trussville (August 11th)
This new music festival takes place in the heart of downtown Trussville on Morrow Ave. You can expect great music from Park Butterworth, Preston Lovinggood and others, as well as other fun festivities.
Picasso Pets (August 11th)
Yep, its exactly what it sounds like. Hand in Paw’s beloved gala features dogs (and a host of other animals, including llamas and a miniature pony) that paint! Read this for more info on Picasso Pets.
Birmingham Restaurant Week (August 10th-19th)
This installment of Bham Restaurant Week features over 70 restaurants, as well as events that are designed to guide Birmingham’s food lovers on an educational experience. They will learn all about farm-to-table dining and gain a deeper understanding of the way food connects Birmingham. From pre-fixe menus to old-school Southern cooking, every palate (and wallet!) will be satisfied.
Art, Music, Bathrooms?
3rd Friday in Forest Park (August 17th)
Tour de Loo is back! Grab a glass of wine or a local craft beer and meander your way through the shops and bathrooms of Forest Park. Local shops participating include Zoes, Shoppe and the Naked Art Gallery. Restaurants like Rougaroux, Little Savannah and new-to-the-block Whistling Table will be open until 10 p.m. for dinner or drinks.
Art on the Rocks at the BMA (August 17th)
Make sure you head over to the Birmingham Museum of Art for artist collaborations, food, cocktails and interactive performances. This month’s Art on the Rocks musical guest is Tank and the Bangas.
Birmingham Record Collector’s 34th Annual Record & CD Show (August 17th-19th)
Spend your weekend rifling through old records and CDs at the Gardendale Civic Center. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find an old Journey LP to spin in preparation for Monday’s concert.
Pour Some Sugar On Monday
Def Leppard and Journey at the BJCC (August 20)
Don’t let a Monday stop you from getting your rock on. Go see Def Leppard and Journey jam out and make your Monday night extra special.
Sidewalk Film Festival (August 20th-26th)
Celebrate 20 years of Sidewalk Film Festival this month! Sidewalk is a non-profit that encourages filmmaking in Alabama. Also a part of the film fest is SHOUT, the LGBTQ film festival produced by Sidewalk. Sidewalk is a must for independent film lovers.
Don’t Tell The Kids It’s Still Summer
Pepper Place Farmer’s Market (every Saturday)
Just because school has started for the year does not mean that summer – and therefore, the glory of fresh summer produce – is over. Head over to the market at Pepper Place every Saturday this month for heirloom tomatoes, ripe peaches, fresh bread and anything else your summer heart (and stomach) could dream of.
Get Social
The Southern Social Summit (August 31)
This is the first S3 ever. Born from the creative minds at SociallyIn partnering with the folks at Happenins in the ‘Ham, this is a can’t-miss event. Join other creatives and social-media (ites) at Rosewood Hall from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to listen to speakers like Thomas Coiner (video marketing), Javacia Harris Bowser (blogging to brand-building) and other talented creatives based in Birmingham. Wait, did we forget to mention that Alexander Shunnarah will be there? Because he will be – talking about his marketing strategies. We told you it was a can’t-miss event!
Happy August, Bham! We’ll see you out and about. Where are you headed?
