Photo Credit: southboundfoodfest.com
September is when Birmingham starts feeling like itself again. The heat finally loosens its grip, the social calendar fills up, football returns and suddenly everyone has somewhere to be.
Here are 10 things worth making room for this September.
1. Birmingham Artwalk
September 11–12
Downtown turns into an open-air arts district for Birmingham Artwalk, a free two-day festival featuring more than 100 visual artists, live music, street performers, food and drink vendors and more. Friday evening runs from 5 to 10 p.m., with Saturday continuing from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
It’s part art show, part neighborhood walk and part excuse to spend an evening downtown.
2. A Night of Theater at Red Mountain Theatre
Through September 20
Come From Away continues at Red Mountain Theatre through September 20. The Tony-winning musical tells the true story of the small Newfoundland town that welcomed thousands of stranded airline passengers after September 11, 2001.
If you’re looking for a September night out that involves something more substantial than dinner and drinks, put this one on the list.
3. Southbound Food Festival
September 18–27
Southbound returns for 10 days of food and culture, with local restaurants, guest chefs, dinners, pop-ups and signature events throughout Birmingham. This year’s schedule includes the Heritage Dinner, Rooted: Women in Food, Food & Fire and Funk Brunch.
Birmingham takes food seriously. September is when the city gets to show off a little.
4. The Heritage Dinner
September 18
Part of Southbound, this year’s Heritage Dinner centers on chicken and the egg, with a multi-course seated dinner at Pepper Place featuring local and regional chefs. It’s a more dressed-up way to experience Birmingham’s food scene and a good excuse to make dinner the event rather than something you squeeze in beforehand.
5. Rooted: Women in Food
September 19
The Market at Pepper Place gets a Southbound takeover with female artisans, chef demonstrations, book signings and conversation celebrating the influence of Southern women in food. The event runs from 7 a.m. to noon, with a separate ticketed brunch experience at Hot and Hot Fish Club.
Go for the food. Stay for the market.
6. FitFest Birmingham
September 13
The annual September reset does not have to mean buying a new planner and promising yourself you’ll become a morning person.
FitFest Birmingham brings fitness, wellness, health, beauty, fashion and community together at the BJCC on September 13.
It’s a timely fit for the month, especially if your summer routine needs a little recalibration.
7. Hamilton Comes to the BJCC
September 22–27
Broadway in Birmingham brings Hamilton to the BJCC Concert Hall September 22–27. It’s the kind of production that gives you an actual reason to dress up, make dinner reservations beforehand and turn a Tuesday night into an occasion.
8. Fiesta BHAM
September 26
Fiesta BHAM returns to Linn Park on September 26 for a celebration of Hispanic arts and culture, with music, dance, food and cultural programming representing communities from across Latin America and beyond. The festival is one of Birmingham’s larger annual cultural celebrations.
9. Southbound Food & Fire
September 26
If one Southbound event is going to tempt you into buying another ticket, this might be it. Food & Fire takes over Sloss Furnaces for a walk-around tasting built around live-fire cooking, barbecue and Southern tailgate culture, with chefs, pitmasters, music and demonstrations.
It’s hard to imagine a more Birmingham way to spend a September Saturday.
10. The First BHAM Coffee Fest
September 26
The first BHAM Coffee Fest is coming to Pepper Place on September 26, hosted by the Lakeshore Junior Board with Southbound Food Festival. The event will be part of a particularly busy Saturday at the market and is designed to bring Birmingham’s coffee community together.
Because apparently Birmingham needed one more reason to make coffee a social activity.
Put September on the Calendar
There is a reason September feels like Birmingham’s unofficial second new year. The pace picks up, the weather starts cooperating and suddenly everyone has somewhere to go.
Make a few plans now. Leave a little room for the ones you haven’t heard about yet.
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