25 summer festivals around Birmingham you don’t want to miss

Summer festivals are rolling in hot around Birmingham. Here’s what’s ahead for May-August 2021.

May 2021

1. 2nd Annual Ascension Food Truck Festival

What to Expect: a family-friendly event with food trucks, live music and yard games. Proceeds benefit the Backpack Program, a new outreach serving weekend meal packs to children in local elementary schools. More info.

When: Thursday, May 13 | 5:30-8:30PM
Where: The Episcopal Church of the Ascension, 1912 Canyon Rd, Birmingham, AL 35216
Price: FREE

2. Cahaba Lily Festival (Virtual)

What to Expect: a virtual festival celebrating the blooming of the Cahaba Lily—an aquatic plant native to the Birmingahm area. More info.

When: Saturday, May 15
Where: Virtual via YouTube
Price: FREE 
Watch here

3. Pelham Palooza

What to Expect: local live music and vendors, food trucks and Kidszapalooza with rides, games and more. More info.

When: Saturday, May 15, 10AM-4PM
Where: Pelham Recreation Center, 2020 Ball Park Rd, Pelham, AL, 35124
Admission: FREE

4. Creek Bank Festival

What to Expect: live music, kids’ activities, Creek Bark Dog Pageant, food and shopping vendors, 5th Annual Cruising the Creek Car Show and more. More info.

When: Saturday, May 15, 10AM-4PM
Where: Leeds Memorial Park, 1159 Montevallo Rd SW, Leeds, AL 35094
Admission: FREE

5. Do Dah Day

What to Expect: live music, cute animals, food, vendors and more. Proceeds benefit local area animal shelters.  More info.

When: Saturday, May 15, 11AM-6PM
Where: Cahaba Brewing Company, 4500 5th Ave S, Building C, Birmingham, AL 35222
Price: $5 in advance | $8 at the gate
Tickets

6. Songs on the Sand

What to Expect: an outdoor concert by the lake with food trucks, beverages and live music. Bands include: The Swingin Medallions, Telluride, The Tams, The Coasters and The Drifters. More info. 

When: Friday, May 21, 5-11PM
Where: Oak Mountain State Park, 200 Terrace Dr, Pelham, AL 35124
Price: $50
Tickets

7. Zoo Brews

What to Expect: a stroll through The Birmingham Zoo while enjoying an amazing selection of beverages from the finest specialty brews and wines across Alabama and the southeast. Food trucks will also be on site and the Zoo’s Wild Burger Restaurant will serve light concessions—all for an additional cost. Nonalcoholic beverages will also be available. Ages 21+ only. More info.

When: Friday, May 21, 5-8PM
Where: The Birmingham Zoo, 2630 Cahaba Rd, Birmingham, AL 35223
Price: Designated Driver – $15 | General Admission – $35
Tickets

8. Darter Festival

What to Expect: live music, beer, food and family fun to support educational programs at Turkey Creek Nature Preserve. More info.

When: Sunday, May 23 | Noon-5PM
Where: Avondale Brewing Co., 201 41st St S, Birmingham, AL 35222
Price: General Admission – $15 | VIP – $60
Tickets

Find more May events around the Greater Birmingham Area here.

June 2021

9. Interstellar Food Truck Frenzy

What to Expect: 10 local food trucks, beer, bands, corn hole + axe throwing. Food truck lineup includes: Hollywood Grill, D’s Pastries, Wasabi Juan’s, Taqueria el Camioncito + more. More info.

When: Saturday, June 5 | 6PM
Where: Interstellar Ginger Beer and Exploration Co., 260A Regency Park Dr, Alabaster, AL 35007 
Price: FREE

10. Vulcan’s 117th Birthday 

What to Expect: a birthday celebration honoring the one and only Vulcan. Admission includes all activities and access to Vulcan Museum, Vulcan’s observation tower and the Linn-Henley Gallery exhibit. More info.

When: Sunday, June 6 | 1-5PM
Where: Vulcan Park & Museum
Price: Adults – $8 | Kids (5-12) – $6 | Kids under 4 – FREE

11. St. Elias Lebanese Food and Cultural Festival  

What to Expect: a virtual festival celebrating Lebanese food and culture. Food is available via drive thru and take out only. An online silent auction will also take place featuring a variety of items to bid on. 25% of all festival proceeds benefit local charities. More info.

When: Friday-Saturday, June 11-12 | 10AM-7PM
Where: St. Elias Maronite Catholic Church, 836 8th St S, Birmingham, AL 35205

12. Magic City Brewfest

What to Expect: a premier beer event that showcases craft beers from breweries across the state of Alabama. Check here for participating breweries. *Bring a chair—seating is limited. More info.

When: Saturday, June 12 | 4-8PM
Where: Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark, 20 32nd St N, Birmingham, AL 35222
Price: May 1-22 – $32 | May 23-June 11 – $37 | $45 at gate | *You can also buy tickets at select local retailers and save on online fees starting May 23
Tickets

13. Woodlawn Street Market

What to Expect: an outdooor parket featuring local vendors and entrepreneurs. More info.

When: Saturday, June 12 | 10AM-4PM
Where: 55th Pl N, Birmingham, AL 35212
Price: FREE

14. Juneeteenth Celebration Bessemer 

What to Expect: a celebration honoring African American history and heritage with food, shopping, live music, performances and more. More info.

When: Saturday-Sunday, June 19-20 | Noon-8PM
Where: 1826 Alabama Ave, Bessemer, Al 35020
Price: FREE

15. Juneteenth Fest  

What to Expect: a Juneteenth celebration featuring a classic car parade, hip hop showcase, BBQ showdown, vendors, food and drinks. More info.

When: Saturday, June 19 | Noon
Where: The Canvas Event Center Birmingham, 301 Green Springs Avenue S, Birmingham, AL 35205
Price: Festival Pass – $30 | Weekend Pass – $40 | Hip Hop Showcase – $20 | Shuttle Pass – $5 | BBQ Showdown – $10
Tickets

16. Funky Food Truck Festival

What to Expect: an afternoon of local food trucks, beer from Cahaba Brewing Co. and local artisans and pop-up shops. Proceeds benefits AIDS Alabama. More info.

When: Saturday, June 12 | 1-5PM
Where: Cahaba Brewing Co., 4500 5th Ave S, Building C, Birmingham, AL 35222
Price: FREE

17. Summer Music Celebration

What to Expect: 3 bands–one night. Enjoy live music from Deputy 5, Shootin You Straight: The Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Band and Departure: The Jouorney Tribute Band. More info.

When: Friday-Saturday, June 18-19 | Gates open at 3PM
Where: Homestead Hollow, 1161 Murphrees Valley Rd, Springville, AL 35146
Price: Advanced tickets – $20 | At gate – $25
Tickets

18. Euphonious

What to Expect: a new tech-minded music festival with artist like: Moon Taxi, Sister Hazel, Soul Inscribed, Drew and Ellie Holcomb and Hawthorn Street. More info.

When: Saturday, June 19 | 5:30PM
Where: The Birmingham Zoo, 2630 Cahaba Rd, Birmingham, AL 35223
Price: $99-$500
Tickets

19. Birmingham Margarita & Taco Festival

What to Expect: Birmingham’s most delicious taco vendors competing for the coveted Best Taco Awards + some of The Magic City’s most talented mixologists shaking it up to win the award for Birmingham’s Best Margarita. More info.

When: Saturday, June 26 | 4-8PM
Where: Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark, 20 32nd St N, Birmingham, AL 35222
Price: Advance Admission: – $5 | At Gate Admission – $10 | Kids 6 and under – FREE | *Admission does not include beverages or food.
Tickets

July 2021

20. Patton Creek Art Festival

What to Expect: 50 artists with original art and fine crafts + food trucks. More info.

When: Saturday, July 17 | 9AM-5PM
Where: 4445 Crreekside Ave, Hoover Al 35244
Price: FREE

August 2021

21. Secret Stages Music Discovery Festival

What to Expect: an annual Magic City concert devoted to under-exposed artists from both Alabama and around the country. Proceeds benefit Scrollworks Youth Music School. More info.

When: Friday-Saturday, August 6-7
Where: Avondale
Tickets: Stay tuned for ticket sales here.

22. 2nd Annual Birmingham Dragon Boat Race & Festival

What to Expect: dragon boat races across East Lake Park, festival activities and food trucks. Proceeds benefit Mitchell’s Place. More info.

When: Saturday, August 21 | 8AM-1PM
Where: East Lake Park, 8101 4th Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35206
Price: FREE

23. Beer Bands & Bullies 2021

What to Expect: a music festival benefiting Bama Bully Rescue with beer, silent auction and adoptable pitbulls. More info.

When: Saturday-Sunday, August 21-22 | 4-9PM
Where: Ferus Artical Ales + Trussville Entertainment District, 101 Beech St, Trussville, AL 35173
RSVP

24. Sidewalk Film Festival

What to Expect: an annual film festival highlighting Alabama’s indepdent filmmakers in Birmingham’s Theatre District. More info.

When: Monday-Sunday, August 23-29 | Time TBD
Where: Sidewalk Film Center + Cinema, 1821 2nd Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203
Tickets go on sale Monday, May 17

25. Birmingham miniFEST

What to Expect: an evening of music, art & community to support top-notch local and touring acts and visual artists. More info.

When: Friday-Saturday, August 27-28 | Gates open at 5:45PM, Music starts at 6PM
Where: Cahaba Brewing Co., 4500 5th Ave S, Building C, Birmingham, AL 35222
Price: $20 | $5 charge for anyone under 21
Tickets

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