Forged in Steel: A Festival of Elements to Celebrate Birmingham’s Industrial Heritage and Innovation

The Symphony of Elements Foundation will present Forged in Steel: A Festival of Elements on Saturday, May 23, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark This free, family-friendly event brings together art, science, music, and history to celebrate Birmingham’s industrial legacy and its continued influence on creativity and innovation. 

Set within one of the city’s most iconic historic sites, the festival will feature live music, metal arts, iron pours, speakers, educational booths, vendors, and food trucks, offering an engaging and immersive experience for attendees of all ages. The exhibit, The Art and Science of Alabama Iron and Steel, will be open and free to view as well.

The festival celebrates the opening of the art and science exhibit (on display May 23- August 21, 2026) curated by Dr. Raymond Thompson, a celebrated engineering professor at UAB, and founder of the non-profit organization A Symphony of Elements. The exhibit features large-scale, high-definition photographic prints that expose the microscopic structures of metals, steel, cast iron, and alloys produced across the United States. Each image is a window into the invisible architecture that gives metals strength, beauty, and purpose.

Throughout the day, visitors can enjoy iron pours, performances by Swing Theory, The Jules, and DJ Alan Reagan, along with a series of presentations exploring the people, industries, and infrastructure that shaped Birmingham. Speakers will address topics including the region’s iron and steel history, mineral railroads, and the intersection of science, transportation, and culture.

Festival goers will also encounter artists and metalworkers whose work reflects the transformation of raw materials into creative expression, reinforcing the festival’s core theme that industry and art are deeply connected.

A central component of Forged in Steel is STEM education. Using the real-world setting of Sloss Furnaces, the festival highlights disciplines such as chemistry, metallurgy, geology, engineering, and manufacturing, helping attendees understand how these fields shape everyday life and future career opportunities.

Designed as an accessible and inclusive community event, Forged in Steel invites families, students, educators, artists, and history enthusiasts to experience Birmingham’s story in a dynamic and meaningful way.

About the Symphony of Elements Foundation
The Symphony of Elements Foundation is a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to inspiring curiosity through the art and science of metals. To use art to open the door to science, and in doing so, honor the metals industry that built Birmingham and continues to power the modern world.