Reviewed by: Sharron Swain
Magic City Art Connection is April 26-28—discover artists, chefs + more
Reading time: 5 minutes
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Get ready for the event of the season! Magic City Art Connection (MCAC) is gearing up for its 41st year, April 26-28, at Sloss Furnaces.
From inspiring artists and amazing chefs to live performances and more, this beloved Birmingham Festival is a whole weekend’s worth of entertainment with something for everyone.
Magic City Art Connection: know before you go
- When:
- Friday, April 26 | Noon-6PM
- Saturday, April 27 | 10AM-6PM
- Sunday, April 28 | 10AM-5PM
- Where: Sloss Furnaces, 20 32nd St N, Birmingham, AL 35222
- Cost:
- Advanced: $12 (includes admission on any single day OR all 3 days)
- At gate: $15 (includes admission on any single day OR all 3 days)
- Kids 18 and under are free
- Tickets: Purchase online or at the gate
- Parking + Shuttles:
- Free parking is available at Sloss Furnaces
- Free Festival Shuttles connecting the East + West ends of Sloss are available Friday-Sunday. Catch a ride adjacent to the Festival Gate + Visitor Center.
What to expect at the 41st Magic City Art Connection
You’ll love the family-friendly festivities. (Magic City Art Connection)
MCAC is a three-day contemporary arts festival that’s spotlighted art, culture, creativity, flavor, and more in The Magic City for over 40 years.
You’ll love the abundance of art you can collect from amazing artists, plus the family-friendly activities and deep community connections the Spring Festival presents annually during the last full weekend in April.
Kids will love the hands-on activities at the Imagination Festival. (Magic City Art Connection)
Here are some of the exciting things to expect and experience this year:
- 150 juried fine artists from the state, region + around the country featuring work in all mediums, styles + price points
- Collectors Classroom printmaking demos with Paperworkers Local
- 27th Corks & Chefs: A Taste of Birmingham (more info + tickets below)
- Imagination Festival hands-on art workshops for kids
- Featured Artist Special Exhibition
- Festival Café with local food trucks
- Festival Bars & Umbrella Lounges
- Live music + dance performances
- High school sculpture project art installations
- Cultural Partners like Paperworkers Local, Studio by the Tracks, Space One Eleven, and Bare Hands Inc.
Discover incredible artists
MCAC’s biggest festival highlight is the art. Whether you’re an experienced collector or a newbie, you’ll discover works of all kinds.
Last year, I spent countless hours browsing the booths.
What’s amazing is each artist offers something truly unique, whether it’s colorful paintings, wire jewelry or metal sculptures.
Before you head to the festival, preview the 2024 Exhibiting Artists and make a list of those you’d like to see and collect.
Featured Artist Bryce Speed
Artist Bryce Speed (Magic City Art Connection)
Each year, MCAC casts a light on a featured artist chosen by a talented group that includes festival exhibitors and jurors.
Get ready to applaud—Bryce Speed is MCAC’s 41st Featured Artist for 2024.
Speed is a contemporary artist who uses shapes, lines, forms and symbols to create some pretty spectacular work.
Currently an Associate Professor of Art in Painting at The University of Alabama, Speed’s work has been showcased by MCAC in many ways.
This year, one of his paintings was selected as the design of the 2024 MCAC Festival Poster and accompanying marketing campaign.
You can check out Speed’s paintings in the Featured Artist Special Exhibition at the Info Center.
Corks & Chefs celebrates its 27th year
Corks & Chef’s is a must-attend event. (Magic City Art Connection)
You can’t have an event without food and drinks.
Get ready for cheersing—Corks & Chefs: A Taste of Birmingham (C&C) is back for its 27th year at MCAC.
The perfect MCAC pairing, C&C is one of the city’s most flavorful experiences in Birmingham.
Taking place Saturday, April 27 and Sunday, April 28, the event features a diverse selection of chefs, bartenders, brewers and wine purveyors from The Magic City and beyond.
Here’s a look at the many featured restaurants, chefs, cocktail bars and more participating in the event:
- 2024 Culinary Features—Saturday, April 27
- Arrington at Pursell Farms
- Chef Noto
- Mr. West’s Asian Chow Hall
- Slide Cafe
- Taj India
- Tasty Town
- The Lumbar
- 2024 Culinary Features, Sunday, April 28
- Arrington at Pursell Farms
- Chez Lulu & Continental Bakery
- El Barrio Restaurante y Bar
- Glass Panda
- Salud Taqueria
- Sol y Luna
- Southern Graze
- C&C Main Wine Table Curated by founding partner:
- International Wines
- Alabev will also be showcasing a selection of wines to taste nearby.
- Cocktail Features, Saturday, April 27
- Adios
- Cayo Coco
- Juniper
- The Lumbar
- The Mayor
- Cocktail Features, Sunday, April 28
- Adios
- Cantina
- Paper Doll
- Frothy Monkey
- AL Brews + More
- Avondale Brewing Company—Birmingham, AL
- Druid City Brewing—Tuscaloosa, AL
- Good People Brewing Company—Birmingham, AL
- Happy Dad Tea—Orange County, CA
- Straight to Ale—Huntsville, AL
- Yellowhammer Brewing Company—Huntsville, AL
- Urban South Brewery—New Orleans, LA
- Tasting Seminars, Saturday, April 27
- Erin Merhar + Chef Ryan Westover, Pizza Grace | “All Things Sourdough Baking“
- Rylie Hightower, The Lumbar | “Zero Waste: Bar & Kitchen Crossover Sustainability”
- Joshua Goins, Dread River | “Spirit Tasting”
- Tasting Seminars, Sunday, April 28
- Stephen Humphreys, Athens Imports | “South American Wines”
- Susan Notter, Elizabeth Moore Chocolates \ “Single Origin Chocolates & Truffles“
- Seminar 3 – TBA
Corks & Chefs: A Taste of Birmingham event details
- When: Friday, April 26 + Saturday, April 27 | Noon-3PM
- Where: Sloss Furnaces – Casting Shed, 20 32nd St N, Birmingham, AL 35222
- Cost: Advanced tickets $55 | At gate $65
- Get tickets
Want to learn more about Magic City Art Connection? Head to their website and give them a follow on Facebook and Instagram. For details on Corks & Chefs, check them out on Facebook and Instagram.
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