Can’t Miss Alabama: This week’s summertime favorites include jazz, expos and a film festival

SideWalk Film Festival. (Contributed)
Summer weekends across Alabama are packed with events. Many of these happenings allow us to enjoy the beautiful, natural landscape of our state. Here’s a quick guide if you need help determining which cool events to include in your plans.
These are Alabama NewsCenter’s recommendations in the Aug. 28 weekend edition of “Can’t Miss Alabama.”
Rick & Bubba Outdoor Expo
If you are a Rick & Bubba fan, you will want to check out their outdoor expo Friday, Aug. 28 from 5 – 9 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 29 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Sunday, Aug. 30 from noon to 5 p.m. at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex. You can expect to get all the information you need about fishing, hunting and other outdoor activities. Click here if you want to see Rick & Bubba during a special appearance at the expo or find out more about the event.
Chirps and Chips 2015
Roll your way into this casino-style event and you’ll have the best fun ever betting on birds. It happens on Friday, Aug. 28 from 7 – 10 p.m. at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. For all of you nature lovers, this is a great way to benefit the Alabama Wildlife Center by helping more than 1,000 injured and orphaned birds. Plus you’ll get to enjoy entertainment, complimentary hors d’oeurves and wine and beer. Ticket information can be found on the Alabama Wildlife Center website.
Friday Night Art Walk
Take a relaxing stroll during the Friday Night Art Walk in Downtown Huntsville around the beautiful Historic Courthouse Square Friday, Aug. 28 from 5 – 8 p.m. You will not want to miss an array of art pieces, paintings, photography and jewelry as you listen to live music. Please follow this link for more information.
Sidewalk Film Festival
This weekend, Saturday, Aug. 29 and Sunday, Aug. 30 marks the 17th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival. Filmmakers from around the world will participate. Screening venues are set up in various locations from the Alabama Theatre to the Birmingham Museum of Art. You will see the best in new independent films, narratives, documentaries and short films. The film festival also includes a number of receptions, parties, live music and pop-up restaurants. Put away those fitbits and walk the sidewalks of the beautiful Downtown Birmingham Theatre District. To get more details and ticket information, go to festival programming.
Taste of 4th Avenue Jazz Festival
You will surely want to savor every moment at the Taste of 4th Avenue Jazz Festival Saturday, Aug. 29 from noon to 8 p.m. in Birmingham’s Downtown 4th Avenue Business District. The jazz festival will feature musicians such as Kameron Dickerson, Tekneek and Sean Micheal Ray among other renowned local and national artists. The festival is free to everyone so come on out and experience jazz in a way you never have. Please visit here for all the cool happenings at this family event.
FARM Y’ALL
Come y’all to this festive event in Cullman at the Festhalle Market Platz on Saturday, Aug. 29 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. At FARM Y’ALL, the only thing you will need to do is sit back, relax and eat with regional and national celebrity chefs. The chefs will showcase fruits, vegetables and prepare dishes during their tasty food presentations. The entire family can be entertained with games, activities and contests. See y’all there!
Southeastern Outings Canoe/Kayak Trip on Tallapoosa River at Wadley
This is for all of the water enthusiasts who enjoy canoeing and kayaking. Southeastern Outings has just the trip for you Saturday, Aug. 29 at 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for an adventurous excursion on the lower stretch of the Tallapoosa River near Wadley, Alabama. For more information and directions, please contact Dan Frederick at 205-631-4680 or seoutings@bellsouth.net. To make reservations, please contact davidshep2@yahoo.com.
Okra Festival
This Okra Festival is the highlight of the summer season Saturday, Aug. 29 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Lowndes County. One of the festival features is Annie Mae’s famous pickled okra. You can also try some of the best okra pies you’ll ever eat. You will also see some of the finest arts and crafts from the great people of Burksville. For questions about the event or driving directions, please contact barbara@okrafestival.org.
Dauphin Street Beer Festival
The Dauphin Street Beer Festival is returning bigger than ever this year in Mobile on Saturday, Aug. 29 from 6 – 9 p.m. Spend an evening sampling more than 90 different microbrews and imports with a few new beers that will be introduced. This unforgettable beer fest is one of a kind and you will most certainly want to check it out by calling 251-208-1550 or by visiting them on Facebook.
Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic in Prattville
Yokohama Tire hosted the LPGA Classic Junior Clinic in Prattville earlier this week at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Capitol Hill. Hundreds of children joined professional golfers Brittany Lincicome and Dewald Gouws for this fantastic opportunity. Third-through-fifth grade students learned the game of golf and how it promotes core values, including honesty, integrity, responsibility, courtesy and sportsmanship. This event winds up August 30. Get the schedule of events, ticket information and driving directions for this exciting tournament program.
Have an event you want us to consider? Send us an email at alnewscenter@outlook.com with the details and, if you have one, a photo, logo or other image.