Can’t Miss Alabama has great entertaining ideas for the weekend
This weekend, enjoy a variety of wine and beer at the annual Magic City Wine Fest. (contributed)
See this week’s top choices for family-friendly events across the state.
Harry Connick Jr. and his Band – Time to Play!
Harry Connick Jr. and his Band will perform Friday, Aug. 27 at the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater at 8 p.m. Connick is a Grammy- and Emmy-award-winning singer and actor. Purchase tickets at ticketmaster.com.
Magic City Wine Fest
Sample more than 100 different wines and beers from regions across the globe at the fourth annual Magic City Wine Fest Saturday, Aug. 28 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Birmingham Zoo. Buy food from local restaurants, enjoy live music and tour the zoo. General admission tickets include a souvenir tasting cup and beverage samples. A portion of every ticket will benefit the Birmingham Zoo. Magic City Wine Fest is a rain-or-shine event and no refunds will be given. Email ihmregionalevents@gmail.com or visit magiccitywinefest.com for more information. Attendees must have a valid ID and be age 21 or older. Alcoholic beverages aren’t included. Get more information about designated drivers here.
Caribbean Block Party
Have a family fun day at Fairfield Civic Center on Saturday, Aug. 28 from noon to 6 p.m. Hear reggae, afrobeat, soca and dancehall music. Enjoy a limbo line contest, Caribbean food, tropical drinks and kids’ activities. For more information, call 205-427-0710.
Anniston Heritage Festival
People of all ages will enjoy the annual Heritage Festival Saturday, Aug. 28 at Anniston’s historic Zinn Park. There will be family entertainment, arts and crafts, children’s games and food vendors on-site. Leela James will headline the festival with other performers taking the stage, including Evelyn “Champagne” King, Ronnie Bell and Wendell B. This year’s event will spotlight the 60th anniversary of the Freedom Riders, with special recognition given to Dr. David Satcher, former surgeon general; Barbara Boyd, state representative and Freedom Riders committee member; Charles Person, Freedom Rider; Hank Thomas, Freedom Rider; Ruby Evans, retired educator and organizer of the Juneteenth and Heritage Festival; Georgia Calhoun, retired educator, organizer of the Black History Festival and Freedom Riders committee member; and Teresia Hall, educator and Freedom Riders committee member. The free event begins at 2 p.m. For event information, contact 256-236-2724.
Sidewalk Film Festival
The 23rd annual Sidewalk Film Festival will screen more than 150 films. Since it is impossible to see them all, make the most of it by using the online schedule for film times and locations, educational opportunities (virtual) and filmmaker Q&As (virtual). Festival venues include Sidewalk Film Center and Cinema, the Alabama Theatre, the Lyric Theatre, First Church Birmingham, the Steiner Auditorium at the Birmingham Museum of Art and the Alabama School of Fine Arts Dorothy Jemison Day Theatre, Recital Hall and Lecture Hall. Click here for the full festival lineup and here for ticket information. Follow this link for the playlist trailer. Because of a continued increase in COVID-19 cases, shrinking hospital bed availability across the state and to promote a general interest in public health, the festival requires that all attendees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have received a negative COVID-19 diagnostic test within 48 hours before entry to any event through Monday, Aug. 29. Before you attend the festival, please read the full announcement about COVID-19.
Attendees of the 23rd annual Sidewalk Film Festival must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have received a negative COVID-19 diagnostic test within 48 hours before entry to the event. (contributed)
Ride to End ALZ
Take the Alzheimer’s Association summer challenge to raise awareness and funds toward finding a cure for Alzheimer’s disease Sunday, Aug. 29. The Ride to End ALZ is a virtual cycling event that includes novice cyclists and avid enthusiasts. Each mile will fuel cutting-edge research targeted to change the trajectory of Alzheimer’s disease. Virtual options include indoor and outdoor activities. From 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., riders are invited to join a live starting line ceremony. From 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., ride indoors on Zwift or outdoors on your own. Registration is free and open to all participants. Donations to the summer challenge are welcomed.
‘Hidden Spaces: People and Places of Northwest Alabama’ exhibit in Decatur
The Alabama Center for the Arts in Decatur will feature “Hidden Spaces” through Tuesday, Aug. 31. “Hidden Spaces” is a photo-historical documentation project that explores the people and places of lesser-known locations and histories in north Alabama communities. The exhibit identifies, displays and interprets cultural landscapes, built environments and natural features that highlight the diversity of the greater Shoals region. It spotlights Old Town in Decatur, which was explored in an in-depth manner. Collaborators worked with present and former residents to identify stories, places and people to better understand the history and identity of the community. Other locations in Morgan and Limestone counties will be featured. The exhibit is a collaboration between the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area, the University of North Alabama Public History Center and Abraham Rowe Photography. Admission is free. The visual arts gallery is at 133 Second Ave. NE.
Eat in the Streets in Birmingham
Choose from an excellent selection of dining options Friday, Aug. 27 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday, Aug. 28 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. This is the final Eat in the Streets event of the summer. It will be on 20th Street North between First Avenue North and Third Avenue North in Birmingham. Participating restaurants are Trattoria ZaZa, Paramount, Chocolata, Café DuPont, Helen, Bistro Two Eighteen, Brick & Tin, Moonshine and The Yard.
Birmingham Restaurant Week
From fine dining to down-home cookin’, lovers of food and drink with a taste for adventure can enjoy special breakfast, lunch and/or dinner prix-fixe menus ranging from $5 to $50 per person – making it easy and affordable for everyone to enjoy a taste of diverse dishes and sips. Birmingham Restaurant Week (BRW), known as Birmingham’s premier culinary and beverage event, aims to support local restaurants by giving people incentives to enjoy the city’s dynamic food scene, one bite at a time. Enjoy the annual event through Sunday, Aug. 29, with more than 60 locally owned Birmingham-area restaurants, food trucks and bars. Find participating restaurants and menus by location, meal, price point and other options. To-go and dine-in options are available. For more information, follow Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @bhamrestweek. Social Media Tags: #BhamRestWeek and #BRW2021.
