Reviewed by: Sharron Swain
Why you’ll love Birmingham Artwalk, a free local festival in downtown, Sept. 6-7
Reading time: 4 minutes
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On September 6 and 7, the streets of downtown Birmingham will come alive with live music, street performances, food and drink vendors and—of course—more than 100 visual artists showing their work during the 22nd annual Birmingham Artwalk.
Read on to learn more about this free, two-day festival and how you can attend.
Birmingham Artwalk is back + bigger than ever
Imagine a New Orleans-esque gallery in the streets, with visual artists, live performances, food and drink vendors and much more. That’s what you’ll find on the first day of Birmingham Artwalk.
Saturday’s events are geared toward the family crowd, with a Kid Zone open all day Saturday in the Forstall Arts Center parking lot and multiple live performers set up throughout the festival.
Fun Fact: With more talented artists than ever before, Birmingham Artwalk has extended its footprint to include an extra block as well as space inside the Iron Age Building at 212 20th Street North.
- What: The 22nd annual Birmingham Artwalk
- When:
- Friday, September 6 (5PM to 10PM)
- Saturday, September 7 (10AM to 6PM)
- Where: Artwalk District, 1st Ave. N and 5th Ave. N along 20th Street N
- Price: FREE
Support talented local artists at Birmingham Artwalk
At its heart, Artwalk is a celebration of emerging local artists. Their work is represented in a variety of mediums, including:
- Ceramics
- Digital Art
- Drawing
- Fiber
- Glass
- Jewelry
- Leather
- Metal
- Mixed Media
- Painting
- Photography
- Watercolor/Gouache
- Wood
Over 100 artists will display their work at Artwalk, such as:
- Steve Dunlap, a professional drone photographer and videographer out of Birmingham.
- Eric Poland, a local painter known for his vivid depictions of local landmarks.
- Candy Mayer, a local painter specializing in landscapes and still lifes, with a signature Van Gogh-inspired pastel style.
- Michelle Carter, a ceramic artist creating fun, functional pieces.
- Andrew and Jellique Frazier, a metalworking duo specializing in both functional and decorative objects made from copper.
Click here to check out the work of the artists participating in Birmingham Artwalk 2024.
Enjoy live music and local performers
This year, Artwalk will give a “street fair” vibe with performers located throughout the four blocks.
Two local bands will perform on Friday evening:
- The Murder of Jane Crow (Birmingham)
- Guntram Anderlik (Birmingham)
Saturday will feature several performers from across Alabama:
- Tyler AK (Huntsville)
- Cheyloe and Kyle (Birmingham)
- The Steel City Jug Slammers (Birmingham)
- Lindy Urban (Muscle Shoals)
- Jug Johnson (Tuscaloosa)
- Tony Rodio (Birmingham)
Grab a bite or drink at local restaurants, bars + food trucks
Hungry? Artwalk is the perfect excuse to visit your favorite local restaurant—or try a new one! Restaurants within walking distance of Artwalk include:
- Bistro Two Eighteen — 218 20th St N, Birmingham, AL 35203
- Brick & Tin — 214 20th St N, Birmingham, AL 35203
- Ahki’s — 121 20th St N, Birmingham, AL 35203
- Cafe Dupont — 113 20th St N, Birmingham, AL 35203
- Paramount — 200 20th St N, Birmingham, AL 35203
- Trattoria Zaza — 207A 20th St N, Birmingham, AL 35203
- The Yard — 1928 1st Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203
- Helen — 2013 2nd Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203
BONUS: This year, Artwalk is hosting concession bars on each block, with cold beer, cocktails and Coca-Cola products available for purchase.
In addition, you can take a break from the heat with a refreshing drink from one of these local bars:
- The Wine Loft — 2200 1st Ave N #100, Birmingham, AL 35203
- Paper Doll — 2320 1st Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203
- Moon Shine at Elyton Hotel — 1928 1st Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203
- Pilcrow Cocktail Cellar — 2015 1st Ave N #1e, Birmingham, AL 35203
- The Collins Bar — 2125 2nd Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203
Mark your calendar for Birmingham Artwalk, Sept. 6-7
Don’t miss out on one of the most exciting events of the year! Mark your calendars for the 22nd Birmingham Artwalk, September 6 and 7.
Birmingham Artwalk is made possible by the support of several sponsors, including:
- Lenovo
- Patty Pilkerton
- Stella Artois
- Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED
- Tito’s Handmade Vodka
- 2nd Avenue Storage
- Bancography
Planning to attend the 22nd annual Birmingham Artwalk? Tag @bhamartwalk to let them know + follow them on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on the event!
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