Enjoy a weekend of Fiesta, festivals, flea markets, art shows and more
Let Can’t Miss Alabama treat you and yours to a fantastic fall weekend.
Don’t miss the Southern Women’s Show at the Birmingham BJCC, Sept. 29-Oct. 2
It’s the main event that women anticipate all year: the Southern Women’s Show at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC). Enjoy four days of shopping, fashion shows, celebrity appearances, food sampling, pampering and more.
Attend on Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; on Friday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Adult tickets are $10 at the door, or pay $5 for tickets after 3 p.m. Buy in advance for a discount: $8 for adults and $5 for children 6 to 12; children younger than 6 get in free with an adult. Groups of 10 or more pay only $7 per ticket in advance.
The BJCC is at 2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd.
Be a part of Fiesta at Birmingham’s Linn Park Oct. 1
Enjoy Fiesta – Alabama’s largest celebration of Hispanic culture and heritage – along with delicious food and authentic music, dance and art. Fiesta activities include storytelling, wrestling, soccer and cultural education. Community and health-related resources are also part of the 14th annual event.
Attend the festivities from noon to 8 p.m. on Saturday at Linn Park. Tickets for adults are $10 at the gate, and children 12 and younger get in free.
Hear Bryan Stevenson of the Equal Justice Initiative at Samford University in Birmingham Oct. 4
Bryan Stevenson has dedicated his law career to helping the poor, the incarcerated and the condemned. You can hear Stevenson’s message and vision for the future during his talk at Samford University on Tuesday, Oct. 4, part of the 2016 J. Roderick Davis Lecture.
Stevenson’s Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) in Montgomery has challenged excessive and unfair sentencing, exonerated innocent Death Row prisoners, confronted abuse of the incarcerated and the mentally ill, and aided children prosecuted as adults. EJI has also initiated major anti-poverty and anti-discrimination efforts challenging the legacy of racial inequality in America.
Enjoy this free program at the university’s Wright Center Concert Hall at 7 p.m.
Samford University is at 800 Lakeshore Drive in Birmingham.
It’s time for Pinson’s annual Butterbean Festival Sept. 30-Oct. 1
Die-hard fans of the yummy butterbean flock to Pinson for the Alabama Butterbean Festival – pure proof that country cooks know their stuff. There’s a lot more in store, however, than good food. Take in the fireworks show on Friday night, and return early on Saturday for the 5K run, car show, carnival, arts and crafts, the Mr. and Mrs. Butterbean contest, a live entertainment stage and more. You might even discover that barbecue tastes good with butterbeans. It’s all happening on Main Street in Pinson.
Attend from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
Attend Madison’s annual Street Festival Oct. 1
Recognized as one of state’s top 20 fall festivals, the Madison Street Festival surely is a “can’t miss” event. With hundreds of vendors, performers, original artwork, muscle cars, musical floats and marching bands, Madison’s 36th annual festival has it all. For the third year running, the festival will feature gourmet food trucks.
Shop till you drop at Santuck’s Fall Flea Market on Oct. 1
Many folks have been biding their time for the opening of Santuck’s Fall Flea Market. Find everything you need for the house and more – or perhaps get a jump on Christmas shopping – while perusing crafts, home décor and apparel.
Attend from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at 7300 Central Plank Road on Highway 9 in Wetumpka.
Hit Oxford for the annual Oxfordfest on Oct. 1
For a fun time with the family, make your way to Main Street in downtown Oxford for Oxfordfest on Saturday. Enjoy arts and crafts vendors from around the South, food, live music and hourly prize drawings: Be there for the $1,000 giveaway.
Attend from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Hop on over to the Frog Festival in Sumiton on Oct. 1
With the hills and hollows awash in fall color,it’s time for Sumiton’s annual Frog Festival. The event has little to do with small, green, jumping critters; it’s more about stirring up some fun.
More than 100 vendors will sell handmade arts and crafts and other items. Kids – and kids at heart – will enjoy funnel cakes, lemonade, fried pork skins, barbecue, ribs on a stick and other festival favorites. Live country and gospel music will fill the air throughout the day.
Attend on Main Street in Sumiton from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Get Tickled Pink in Montgomery on Friday, Sept. 30
Help the Alabama News Network kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month by attending the Tickled Pink Women’s Expo on Friday.
Enjoy performances by American Idol’s Jess Meuse, Donica Knight, the Montgomery Ballet, the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra and others. Learn about fitness and beauty while enjoying good food, fun and camaraderie.
Tickets are $10 at the door. All sales benefit the Joy to Life Foundation, a nonprofit group that provides free mammograms to women in medically underserved communities.
Attend this inspirational event at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl at 1022 Madison Ave. in Montgomery.
Enjoy the “Southern Shores” reception and artwork by Capital City Artists in Montgomery Oct. 2
The Capital City Artists, a group of 24 visual artists, will hold a free reception for their 2016 showing, “Southern Shores,” from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 2 at the Armory. Visitors can buy the original artwork, meet the artists and discuss their projects.
The show is open throughout October at the Armory Learning Arts Center at 1018 Madison Ave. in Montgomery. Call 334-462-7285 for details.