25 January events to kick off the new year in Birmingham

January 2022 is rolling in and we’ve got the list of top events to start your New Year off right. Plan ahead for these 25 events taking place around the Greater Birmingham Area and make it the best year yet.

Want to promote an event? Let us know at hello@bhamnow.com.

1. Beyond Van Gogh

What: An immersive experience into the life and art of Van Gogh. More info.
Where: BJCC, 2100 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N, Birmingham, AL 35203
When: Now-January 2 | Times vary
Price: $21.99-$93.99
Tickets

2. Glow Wild: An Animal Lantern Celebration

What: An illuminating experience at The Birmingham Zoo featuring larger-than-life animal light displays. More info.
When: Wednesdays-Sundays, Now-January 17, 2022 | 5-9PM
Where: The Birmingham Zoo, 2630 Cahaba Rd, Birmingham, AL 35223
Price: Varies
Tickets

3. Oak Mountain State Park First Day Hike: Sunrise Hike to King’s Chair

What: A morning hike along trails at Oak Mountain State Park to start off the New Year. More info.
When: January 1 | 5-8AM
Where: Oak Mountain State Park, North Trail, 200 Terrace Dr, Pelham, AL 35124
Price: Free

4. New Year’s Brunch

What: Live music and a brunch buffet featuring traditional breakfast favorites, plus chicken & waffles and shrimp & grits catered by Simone’s Kitchen ATL. More info.
When: Saturday, January 1 | 11AM-2PM
Where: Cat-n-Bird Winery, 11661 Old Hwy 280, Chelsea, AL 35043
Price: $20
Tickets

5. Blood Drive with American Red Cross

What: A blood drive with American Red Cross. More info.
When: Thursday, January 13 | 1-6PM
Where: Sak’s Plaza at The Summit,
Schedule your appointment

6. Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony

What: A triumphant portrayal of Tchaikovsky’s spar with Fate and destiny. Alabama Symphony Orchestra Principal Trombone Jay Evans will join the Orchestra for Martin Kennedy’s Trombone Concerto. More info.
When: January 14-15 | 7PM
Where: UAB’s Alys Stephens Center, 1200 10th Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35205
Price: $24+
Tickets

7. Alabama Dance Festival

What: One of the largest gatherings of dancers and dance enthusiasts in the Southeast with master classes with world-renowned teachers, auditions opportunities, teacher training, networking, performances and more. More info.
When: January 14-23
Where: Multiple locations in Birmingham
Register

8. Dance Across Birmingham

What: A community celebration that offers a day of FREE dance classes taught by local instructors and artistic directors of local dance companies. No experience necessary. Styles range from hip-hop, belly dance and praise dance to African dance, Latin dance and more. More info.
When: Saturday, January 15
Where: BJCC Theatre, 2100 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N, Birmingham, AL 35203
Price: Free

9. MLK Day 5K Drum Run

What: The 16th annual 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk celebrating the MLK Day holiday weekend. More info.
When: Saturday, January 15 | 5K – 8AM, 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk – 9AM
Where: Historic 4th Avenue Business District, 1700 4th Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203
Price: 5K – $30 | 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk – $20
Register

10. Cheese & Balsamic Bar 

What: A free and delicious event highlighting a cheese and balsamic bar for tasting. More info.
When: Saturday, January 15 | 11AM-3PM
Where: Simply Infused Olive Oil Shop, 5287 Highway 280 #249, Birmingham, AL 35242
Price: Free

11. BrickFair LEGO Expo

What: A weekend of fun + games, make-your-own creation stations, LEGO shopping and more. More info.
When: Saturday, January 15, 10AM-5PM | Saturday, Sunday, January 16 – 10AM-4PM
Where: BJCC, East Hall, 2100 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N, Birmingham, AL 35203
Price: $7-$14 in advance | $15 at door
Tickets

12. Birmingham Pink Bridge Wedding Show

What: A wedding show featuring everything you’ll need to plan the biggest day of your life from top local vendors. More info.
When: Sunday, January 16 | Noon-4PM
Where: BJCC, 2100 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N, Birmingham, Alabama 35203
Price: $15
Tickets

Want to promote an event? Let us know at hello@bhamnow.com.

13. Fire & Ice Pop Up Shop

What: A pop-up shop featuring 30+ small, Black-owned, self-made businesses. More info.
When: Sunday, January 16 | 2-6PM
Where: Concordia Banquet Hall & Dance Club, 3400 1st Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35222
Price: Free
Register

14. Birmingham Boat Show

What: Alabama’s oldest and largest boat show highlighting the latest in boats, motors, fishing gear, guides, outfitters and related outdoor gear. More info.
When: Thursday-Friday, January 20-21 – Noon-9PM | Saturday, January 22 – 11AM-9PM | Sunday, January 23 – Noon-5PM
Where: BJCC East Exhibition Hall, 2100 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N, Birmingham, Alabama 35203
Price: $10
Tickets

15. Winter Restaurant Week

What: An eight-day celebration of local restaurants featuring deals for all budgets and neighborhoods across the Greater Birmingham Area. More info.
When: January 20-29
Where: Participating restaurants (coming soon!)

16. Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5 The Musical

What: Set in the late 1970s, follow a hilarious story of friendship and revenge as three female coworkers concoct a plan to get even with the sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot they call their boss. More info.
When: January 20-February 6 | Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30PM, Sundays at 2:30PM
Where: Virginia Samford Theatre, 1116 26th St S, Birmingham, AL 35205
Price: Reserved Seating – $43 | Student Tickets – $23
Tickets

17. A Weekend with Tragic City

What: The band Tragic City performs along with Jason Grubbs and Resort Realism. More info.
When: Friday, January 7 | 10PM
Where: The Nick, 2514 10th Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35205
Price: $12+
Tickets

18. Darsie Alexander: Recovering the Lost Stories of Looted Art

What: An evening lecture about the Jewish Museum’s recent exhibition, Afterlives: Recovering the Lost Stories of Looted Art, which explores the stores of untold numbers of artworks and pieces of cultural property stolen by Nazi forces during WWII. More info.
When: Thursday, January 20 | 6-7PM
Where: Birmingham Museum of Art, 2000 Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35203
Price: Free

19. DWB (Driving While Black)

What: A one-act opera with Opera Birmingham that explores issues of racial injustice through the story of an African American parent as her son reaches driving age. More info.
When: Friday, January 21 at 7:30PM | Sunday, January 23 at 2:30PM
Where: Red Mountain Theatre Arts Campus – Discovery Theatre, 1600 3rd Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35233
Price: Adults – $25 | Students – $10
Tickets

20. Punk Rock Art Show 19

What: A shopping event with local art and vendors. More info.
When: Saturday, January 22 | 6PM
Where: True Story Brewing, 5510 Crestwood Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35212
Price: Free admission

21. Birmingham Bandstand (Open Mic)

What: A music event for local musicians and performers. More info.
When: Monday, January 24 | 7PM
Where: The Nick, 2514 10th Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35205
Price: $3

22. From Cocoa Beans to Chocolate | Story Walk

What: A walking tour of Birmingham Botanical Gardens to see their tropical cacao tree + vanilla bean orchid and learn how cacao beans go from seeds to sweet treats. More info.
When: Saturday, January 29 | 9-10AM
Where: Birmingham Botanical Gardens, 2612 Lane Park Rd, Birmingham, AL 35223
Price: $15 (adult + child) | $5 each additional family member 
Register

23. Community Seed Swap

What: Birmingham Botanical Gardens’ first-ever community seed swap. Bring open-pollinated, heirloom seeds to share, learn tips + tricks, take home books and chat with others. More info.
When: Saturday, January 29 | 9AM-1PM
Where: Birmingham Botanical Gardens, 2612 Lane Park Rd, Birmingham, AL 35223
Price: Free

24. Black Jacket Symphony Presents The Beatles White Album

What: The Black Jacket Symphony performs The Beatles’ White Album live at the BJCC Concert Hall. More info.
When: Saturday, January 29 | 8PM
Where: BJCC Concert Hall, 2100 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N, Birmingham, AL 35203
Price: $24.50+
Tickets

25. Bourbonham

What: Birmingham’s premier bourbon and barbecue event benefiting the National MS Society. Expect: 100 different bourbons/whiskey samples, barbecue, live music, football and educational seminars. More info.
When: Sunday, January 30 | 2-6PM
Where: The Club, Inc., 1 Robert S Smith Dr, Birmingham, AL 35209
Price: $100-$200
Tickets

Want to promote an event? Let us know at hello@bhamnow.com.

For more events around Birmingham, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, plus sign up for our FREE newsletter.