Big plans in store for the 2023 FOOD+Culture Festival in Birmingham this fall

Some of Birmingham’s biggest hitters in the culinary world are joining forces to hold a transformational event for The Magic City.

Mark it down — the 2023 FOOD+Culture Festival is coming this fall on October 12-15. The festival will showcase our community’s incredible and dynamic food scene and by doing so, put Birmingham on the map as a major tourist destination.

50+ featured chefs, mixologists & brewers

Over the four days of this year’s inaugural festival, five signature events will take place. They include:

• an expanded farmers’ market at Pepper Place
• 10+ dinners
• 50+ featured chefs, mixologists and brewers 

“Food has the transformative power of bringing people together, and we look forward to seeing how our vision for FOOD+Culture Fest creates opportunities for connection, celebrating our culinary landscape while also shining a light on topics of deeper cultural significance,” Rebecca Lemelin Gann FOOD+Culture Fest Programming Director said.

Who’s Who in Alabama Culinary World

Significant partners and sponsors, such as Southern Living Magazine, Alabama Tourism Department, Protective Life, the Birmingham Museum of Art, AMAVIDA, Hellmann’s Mayonnaise and The Tony & Libba Rane Culinary Science Center at Auburn University are helping to design the 2023 events. 

“We have events including a lunch featuring all female chefs; a seated dinner celebrating Black chefs, culture and cuisines in honor of the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Movement; as well as FOOD+Fire: a Great Southern Tailgate event, presented by Southern Living.” concluded Gann.

About FOOD+Culture Festival

Formed by Sloss Real Estate, The Market at Pepper Place, FRED Communication by Design, the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) and Keri Lane Promotions, these prominent Birmingham businesses’ collective mission is to better Birmingham by celebrating its food and diverse cultures. 

The first festival reveal party happened October 2022 at Pepper Place.​​

“I’m a big cheerleader for Birmingham and have always recognized we have some of the best food in the country,” said Cathy Sloss Jones, Sloss Real Estate CEO/President. 

In addition to community growth and driving traffic into local restaurants, FOOD+Culture Festival also pledges to foster equity, the arts and sustainability in Birmingham. They have also committed to holding the festival for the next three years.

“FOOD+Culture Festival will allow us to share some of our extraordinary culinary traditions and talent with locals and visitors alike. Not only is FOOD+Culture Fest bringing the potential for tremendous economic impact, but also we hope to establish a sense of camaraderie around food, creating opportunities for community growth and a vibrant food economy,” Jones concluded.

To learn more about the FOOD+Culture Festival, go to www.bhamfoodplus.com, which provides the most up-to-date information on the 2023 schedule of events and July ticket sales. 

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