Moss Rock Festival is back Nov. 4-5—find out why you’ll want to be there

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Immerse yourself in a world of creativity at Moss Rock Festival 2023. The highly anticipated fall weekend will return outdoors at the Hoover Metropolitan Complex for an engaging, explorative experience with a focus on nature, smart living, art, design and birds.

Get your tickets now to enjoy a nexus of art, music, food, drinks and community spirit on Saturday, November 4th and Sunday, November 5th. 

Moss Rock Festival 2023 event details

• What: The 18th annual Moss Rock Festival
• When: Saturday, November 4, 10AM-5PM | Sunday, November 5 ,10AM-4PM
• Where: Hoover Metropolitan Complex, 5500 Stadium Trace Pkwy, Hoover, AL 35244
• Tickets: Includes admission both Saturday & Sunday | Advance Tickets – $11 | Tickets at door – $15 | Kids 16 + under – free
• Get tickets now

Moss Rock’s 18th year takes inspiration from the “Year of Alabama Birding”

Embracing Alabama Tourism’s “Year of Alabama Birding,” the festival will showcase special features, exhibitions, partnerships, workshops, school outreach programs and a bird-inspired commemorative art poster, which you can purchase at the Info Center during your visit.

Art galore at the Hoover Metropolitan Complex

Moss Rock Festival showcases the creative talents of 100 artists who draw inspiration from nature and or work with natural materials like wood, clay and glass. Additionally, some artists incorporate and repurpose found objects into unique creations.

This synergistic blend of artistic vision and sustainable creativity not only highlights the beauty of nature but also shows off the ingenuity of artists in reimagining everyday objects into art. 

Meet this year’s featured artist, Debo Groover

Debo Groover operates under the name “Debortina Studio” in Tallahassee, Florida, where she practices mixed media art. Debo Groover’s artistic journey has been a lifelong passion. During her artistic exploration, Groover developed a unique technique that involved using polymer clay as a painting and collage material.

This innovative approach represented a fusion of traditional and contemporary methods, showcasing her creativity and willingness to experiment with different mediums.

Artists like Groover, who continuously push the boundaries of their craft, contribute significantly to the evolution of the art world, inspiring others with their creativity and vision.

“My work is made in a place of happiness. This has always been my most accurate truth. The inspiration is very simple. I use animals to tell the stories of both ordinary and special human events from Sunday dinner to Mardi Gras and everything in between. Sometimes, a bird is more than a bird.”

Debo Groover, Featured Artist, Moss Rock Festival

While Debo is not able to be at Moss Rock Festival, there will be a special exhibition of her polymer clay paintings to accompany additional Nature Enclave features. All pieces of art in the exhibition will be for sale.

Connect with nature + animals at Moss Rock Festival 2023

Moss Rock Festival provides visitors numerous opportunities to connect with the natural world. The Nature Enclave is an area that will inspire an appreciation of, connection to and enjoyment of nature, wildlife and the great outdoors through special features, initiatives, partners and exhibitors. Find out about some of the 2023 nature partners and featured exhibitors below.

• Alabama Wildlife Center—meet majestic native birds that have been rehabilitated due to injury or being orphaned. Visit booth 501, or catch them on the stage Saturday at 10:35AM and 1PM and Sunday at 11AM and 12:35PM.
• School Planet Project installations—area school students will research Alabama birds and their physiology, behavior, migration and habitats, then will creatively interpret their chosen muse into sculpture using primarily recycled and natural materials. Find these installations at Sites 409-410 and 531-532.
• Take Root: A Tree Legacy Project—a sustainability partnership lead by Collin Williams of University of Montevallo. Enter to win one of five white oak trees plus pick up and learn about pollinator seeds for plants that sustain birds and butterfly populations in Alabama.
• Pet Adoption—Shelby Humane will be parading the site with dogs and pups who need a new home, plus Kitty Kat Haven & Rescue will be on site for cat lovers.

There’s truly something for everyone at Moss Rock Festival

Mingled among the artist booths, +Design and Smart Living Market exhibitors, makers and artisans offer interesting, everyday choices to shop in the areas of food, home, body and health.

Pop over to the Entertainment District where live music and dance performances will be on stage throughout the weekend right next to the Cafe Eatery. Along the way pick up a cocktail, wine, or beer as you pause at one of the lounges with highly colored umbrella tables. Oh, and leave room for dessert from the goodies at Sweetery booths. Yep! Come hungry for all Moss Rock Festival art, sights, sounds and tastes.

Check out the 2023 Crescent Stage lineup.

Stop by Moss Rock Festival’s WonderKid Studios

Kids can have fun making art at the Moss Rock Festival’s WonderKid Studios. Here local artists will use nature as a launching point for creative projects influenced by nature, science and recycling.

Some of this year’s workshops will be inspired by the “Year of Alabama Birding”. Here are a few studios for the little ones to explore at the Festival:

• Build-A-Bird | Sculpting birds using clay. Teaching artist: Mohamed Jallo
• FLY | A collaborative mural representing four Alabama habitats—beach, forest, swamp and grassland. The background of the mural will consist of names of Alabama birds written in different fonts. Teaching artist: Rhiannon Reese
• The Garden of Wonderful Things | A project for kids to explore pipe cleaners, foam balls and markers to allow their imagination to come together to create mixed media sculptures for the Garden. Teaching artist: Dom Bowman

Taste delicious food + craft beer at Moss Rock Festival

There’s lots to savor all weekend at the Festival. Stop by the café to grab lunch or a snack at one of the popular local food trucks serving up yummy eats from hot chicken to barbeque, burgers, tacos, donuts + pops and even vegetarian options. Check out the 2023 lineup.

PLUS—check out the 2023 Beer Garden beer craft tasting event.

Celebrate the artistry of craft brewers at the Beer Garden by trying a new beer or enjoying a local favorite.

Check out this year’s tasty lineup.

With your Moss Rock Festival Beer Garden ticket, you’ll get a 12th annual commemorative glass plus entry into the Festival Saturday and Sunday. The tasting event will spotlight 50+ brews from breweries and homebrewers, plus wine, special casks, beer floats, beer snacks and football games to watch on Mr. Mancave’s killer multi-screen display wall. Toast touchdowns and great crafts with fellow beer lovers!

• Tasting sessions: Saturday, November 4 12:30-3PM | Sunday, November 5 12:30-3PM
• Tickets: $35 per session in advance | $45 per session at the door

Grab your tickets for Moss Rock Festival 2023 taking place November 4-5 at the Hoover Metropolitan Complex. Plus, follow @mossrockfest + @mossrockbeergarden for announcements, news and updates about the event.

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