Celebrate 4th of July with Vulcan all day long, from Magic City Market Place to Thunder on the Mountain

Thanks to our good friends at Vulcan Park and Museum – Vulcan – the world’s largest cast iron statue and best known symbol of Birmingham is once again the center of attention on Independence Day. 

This July 4th, not only are they holding the annual Thunder on the Mountain fireworks show, there is an open air-market beginning on Saturday morning, the reopening of the Anvil Gift Store and a photo contest. 

Here are the details.

Magic City Market Place  – 11:00AM to 4:00PM

I don’t know about you, but I’ve missed those events where you can walk around and look at artwork from local artisans and then have a meal or snack from a Food Truck. What better way to celebrate our community and our nation than underneath the “Big Guy.”

Here is your chance. Bring your mask (you must wear it per Jefferson County ordinance), and stroll around the Magic City Market Place at Vulcan Park.  The event begins at 11:00AM and ends at 4:00PM (remember we’ve got to let them get ready for the fireworks!). Admission is free. 

Reopening of the Anvil – Visit the Museum & Vulcan

While you are the grounds I highly recommend you “take in” the entire Vulcan Park and Museum experience. 

“While you are at the Market Place, tour the museum or go up into the tower,” said LaShana Sorrell, Director of Marketing and PR at Vulcan Park and Museum.  “We will close the park at 6PM in order to prepare for the fireworks show.”

While you are inside the museum, visit The Anvil, the gift shop inside the Vulcan Center. Open to everyone, The Anvil just reopens on July 4th for the first time since the coronavirus outbreak. Honestly, if you are looking for some of the best Birmingham gifts in town, this is the place. My personal favorites are the Vulcan’s Bobblehead (it is a Hall of Famer!) and Vulcan glass art by Amy Soverow. 

Thunder on the Mountain – Begins at 9:00

For over two decades, Birmingham has celebrated the 4th of July with Vulcan as the backdrop to a spectacular fireworks show. This year’s theme is Celebrating Resiliency and Hope.” The fireworks display is expected to last about 20 minutes.

Vulcan Park and Museum’s LaShana Sorrell described this year’s focus. 

“We hope this show leaves our community inspired. Birmingham has always bounced back and this is a sign that we are moving in that right direction. We’re coming together as one to say we’re going to come back and recover. This has been a trying few months and we know we have some trying times ahead of us. Together we have resiliency.  Vulcan is our unifying symbol. He is our inspiration, He is our hope for the future and that’s what we hope this show does.

The show is a tribute to our frontline workers. We could not have made it to where we are without the people from the gas stations to the bakers, to the uber drivers, to the doctors to the nurses.”

Here is how to watch Thunder on the Mountain, which is sponsored by Medical Properties Trust and Hibbett Sports:

• The fireworks show can be watched anywhere where you can see Vulcan and the sky above him
• Watch the show on WBRC FOX 6 – Sponsored by ALFA and Dale’s Seasoning
• Play the choreographed music along with the show at:

On iHeart Media radio stations: Magic 96.5, 102.5 The Bull, 103.1 The Vulcan, 103.7 The Q, 104.1 The Beat, Birmingham’s ALT 99.1, B106.5, 105 Hallelujah FM, , News Radio 960 WERC, News Radio 105.5. It will also be played on La Jefa 98.3.  

The fireworks show will happen rain or shine.

Participate in the Photo Contest

Last, you can’t have a fireworks show without a photo contest. 

Check out all the details at:

Vulcan Park and Museum Photo Contest Webpage

Prizes include a special Vulcan swag bag, $250 Hibbett Sports Gift Card, Earthborn Pottery from The Cook Store, Steel City Pops, Oak Street Garden Shop Gift Certificate, Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce Village Gold Card, Homewood Chamber of Commerce instagift card, Aviate products and more! 

Where are you going to be Independence Day?

Hope to see at the Vulcan Park and Museum during the day and outdoors watching the fireworks show. Tag Bham Now with your favorite photos