Birmingham Events Calendar: January 20th - January 27th

MLK Day is Monday and there are a few special events happening around town you can take advantage of while the kiddos are out of school.

The circus kicks off on Thursday and the Animal Walk is tentatively set for Wednesday the 23rd in the AM.. More details on that coming soon.

The new Kids a Million at the Books a Million, Brookwood now offers weekly programming for kids, we’ll be covering those now here in addition to all of the other great events happening around town.

It’s Not Our Fault if Your Kids are Bored!

Sunday January 20th:

Meet Clifford – McWane Science Center
Meet Clifford the Big Red Dog at McWane Science Center January 20 & 21! Be sure to bring your camera for pictures with the Clifford himself. Enjoy fun early learning activities and explore the Adventures with Clifford the Big Red Dog exhibit!
12:30pm, 2:30pm and 4:30pm
Cost included in the price of admission

BrickFair Lego Fan Festival – BJCC
LEGO models, displays and winding trains sprawled out over 37,000 square feet. BrickFair brings together adult fans of LEGO from across the USA (and Canada, and a few other countries) to show off their projects, great and small, and to share their passion for LEGO – the most awesome toy – ever.

LEGO fan festivals like BrickFair are great fun for the whole family! Join in a game or two – maybe win a LEGO set.

Vendors will be offering all things LEGO, including shirts, hats, minifigures, custom-molded weapons, unique models, keychains and… really… everything you never imagined.

Note: BrickFair is primarily a look-don’t-touch event. Please enjoy the displays with your eyes, not your fingers. The few interactive displays are clearly marked. To satisfy your creative urges, visit the Stay & Play area.

General Info:
$8 at the door.
11:00 am – 4:00 pm.
Please allow 90 minutes or more to enjoy the show.
Doors close at 4:00 pm; expo is vacated at 4:30pm.

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Monday January 21st:

Meet Clifford – McWane Science Center
Meet Clifford the Big Red Dog at McWane Science Center January 20 & 21! Be sure to bring your camera for pictures with the Clifford himself. Enjoy fun early learning activities and explore the Adventures with Clifford the Big Red Dog exhibit!
10:00pm, 12:00pm and 2:00pm
Cost included in the price of admission

Waterfowl Bird Walk – McWane Science Center
Join us this winter for a Family Bird Walk led by members of Birmingham Audubon Society, local bird watching organization and a chapter of the National Audubon Society. On this full day trip we will travel to Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, a waterfowl hot spot, to locate and identify some of the waterfowl that have migrated here or congregate in this diverse habitat giving us a grand view of many species of birds.
Cost: This event is FREE. Ages 5 and up are welcome
Reservations: Reservations are required. Space is limited, so reserve today by calling (205) 714-8228.

1/2 Price Admission – Birmingham Zoo
The Zoo invites you to give back to those in need and take advantage of half-price admission on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Simply bring a canned good or non-perishable food item to donate to the United Way and receive half-off of admission. One item per person is needed for the discount.

Visit the animals and take part in the Zoo’s many activities on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Experience all the Zoo has to offer, such as exploring the Kiwanis Giraffe Encounter and feeding the giraffes, watching a sea lion training demonstration, enjoying a Children’s Zoo keeper chat, participating in a pelican feeding and much more.

Come make a difference in your community and enjoy a fun-filled day at the Zoo!

Toddler Tales – North Shelby Library
A story program for children and a caregiver. Stories, songs, finger plays and crafts make up a lively program designed especially for short attention spans. Best suited for ages 19 months to 3 years. Must Register
9:30am and 10:30am

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Tuesday January 22nd:

Storytime – Homewood Public Library
Join us for the best part of your week with stories that make you laugh and songs that make you dance! Join us for the fun of it! All ages welcome. For large groups, a call to 332-6619 is nice.
10:30am

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Wednesday January 23rd:

Storytime – Books a Million, Brookwood Mall
National Pie Day Storytime and Craft
“I know an Old Lady who Swallowed a Pie”
11am

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Join us for Storytime as we read This Moose Belongs to Me. What happens when a little boy finds a moose? We will have a fun activity and have a treat from the Cafe.
11am

Family Story Time with Mr Mac – North Shelby Library
Storyteller Extraordinaire – Come join Mr Mac and his musical storytime complete with puppets! All Ages, no registration required.
10:45am

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Thursday January 24th:

Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus
Elephants, tigers, acrobats and aerialists join together from across the globe, each a spectacular piece of the puzzle, forming one exquisite design of magnificence and precision. From the blueprints to the band, from the crates to the clowns, from the hammer to the high wire comes one breathtaking performance of non-stop thrills so astonishing you have to see it to believe it.

Be a part of the brand-new spectacles from around the world immersed in the circus tradition you have come to know and love. Experience it live and feel the amazement! Children Of All Ages will be inspired for years to come at Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents Built To Amaze!

Thursday, January 24 at 7 p.m.

PJ Storytime – Hoover Public Library
Wear your pajamas to this all ages storytime with Ms. Laura. Includes stories, songs and a bedtime snack. No registration required.
6:30pm

SNAP, Zumba – Emmet O’ Neal Library
Zumba mania! 3:30 – 4:30 pm. Grades 3-6. No registration required.

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Friday January 25th:

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Saturday January 26th:

Animal Grossology Opens at the McWane Science Center
Experience a new exhibit that is oozing with science as you meet some of the slimiest and yuckiest creatures on Earth! You’ll never look at the animal kingdom the same way after you see “ANIMAL GROSSOLOGY!”

Game and Puzzle Day – Books A Million, Brookwood Mall
11am

Saturday, January 26 at 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Bart’s Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art
This drop-in art program for kids and families features a different gallery and activity each month. Stop by to make art with Bart! This month, slither into the Museum to make a snake for Chinese New Year!
11am

Family Storytime – Emmet O’Neal Library
Bring the entire family and join Mr. Mac for stories and music each Saturday morning.
10:30 a.m.

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Join us for Storytime as we read Calvin Can’t Fly. Find out what happens when Calvin the bird would rather read books than learn to fly. We will make something fun and have a treat from the Cafe.
11am

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Sunday January 27th:

Sunday, January 27 at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.

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Local Attractions Open Daily!

McWane Science Center:

IMAX
McWane Science Center’s IMAX® Dome Theater puts you in the center of the action by projecting breathtaking quality images onto the 5-story-tall dome screen and delivering intense surround sound through almost 3 tons of speakers and subwoofers.
Now Showing: The Last Reef, Santa and the Snowman, Rocky Mountain Express

The Tornadoes of April 27th – Looking Back — Moving Forward, a new exhibit at McWane Science Center, reflects on the experiences of the April 27th, 2011 storms. The exhibit shares personal stories from those who experienced the devastation of the storms firsthand, while emphasizing the importance of tornado preparedness and explaining the science behind tornadoes.

Photos and stories from The Birmingham News help tell the story of the storms and the affect they had on survivors, volunteers, and the community as a whole. Students from Daniel Payne Middle School also help tell the story of their school and community through photos and artifacts from the storm for the exhibit. UAB students worked with the children from Daniel Payne Middle School to create short documentaries that can be seen in the exhibit as well.

In addition to sharing the personal stories from that day, the goal of this exhibit is to inform the community about how to prepare for extreme weather conditions, explaining the science of tornadoes and stressing awareness.

With vivid displays, the exhibit allows visitors the opportunity to learn about the scientific side of tornadoes. Graphics within the exhibit illustrate tornado formation and anatomy, educating visitors on how such extreme weather conditions develop. Additionally, the exhibit displays statistics and disputes common myths concerning the destructive storms.

Guests can watch live video from the storms that rolled across our state on April 27th, 2011, including the
weather forecasts from that day and actual images of the tornado as it made its way through our area provided by FOX6 WBRC. The exhibit is located in the City Gallery on Level 2 of the museum this summer.

Be Ready Alabama Exhibit Presented by:
The Governor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
www.readyalabama.org

Adventures with Clifford the Big Red Dog
Join Clifford, Emily Elizabeth, and all their friends in the Adventures with Clifford The Big Red Dog™ exhibit! Featuring the people and places of the beloved children’s book and PBS Kids television series, this new interactive exhibit brings Clifford’s home on Birdwell Island to life with playful activities and enchanting environments for early learners to explore.

Birmingham Zoo:

Lorikeet Aviary – Our Lorikeet Aviary has more birds than ever! Zoo guests can feed these exotic birds every day. You and your family will see these birds’ behavior as they eat nectar out of your hand.
Weekends 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

PELICAN FEEDING – A great way to see our pelicans in action is to witness them eating their favorite treats near the pelican boardwalk.

RHINO ENCOUNTER – Embark on an African adventure and experience one of the world’s most extraordinary animals, the Southern White Rhino. Watch from only feet away as our zookeepers engage in hands-on interaction with the animals inside their African-themed exhibit. Don’t miss this exciting encounter with one of the largest mammals on the planet!
Weekdays: 3pm – 3:30pm
Weekends: 11:30am – Noon & 3pm – 3:30 pm

GIRAFFE FEEDING – This up close and personal animal encounter is a memory you and your family will have for a lifetime.
Weekday: 11am – Noon
Weekends: 10am – 11am & 2pm – 3pm

Vulcan Park and Museum:

Vulcan is the world’s largest cast iron statue; made of 100,000 pounds of iron and 56 feet tall, he stands at the top of Red Mountain overlooking the city of Birmingham. But, Vulcan is more than a statue. Vulcan Park and Museum features spectacular views of Birmingham, an interactive history museum that examines Vulcan and Birmingham’s story, and a beautiful public park for visitors and locals to enjoy. With an official information center that is operated by the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau, Vulcan Park and Museum serves as the first stop for visitors to the Birmingham area!

Railroad Park:

Railroad Park is a 19 acre green space in downtown Birmingham that celebrates the industrial and artistic heritage of our great city. Situated along 1st Avenue South, between 14th and 18th Streets, the park is a joint effort between the City of Birmingham and the Railroad Park Foundation. Hailed as “Birmingham’s Living Room,” Railroad Park provides a historically rich venue for local recreation, family activities, concerts, and cultural events, while connecting Birmingham’s downtown area with Southside and UAB’s campus.

Southern Museum of Flight:

Earn Your Wings – Bring your little pilot and soar above the clouds in our little pilots room. Kids enjoy building aircrafts, flying kites, and more.
Museum Open Tuesday – Thursday
9:30am – 4:30pm

Do you have or know of an event you would like to have added to our weekly calendar? Please email us at contact@birminghammommy.com, subject line “Events Calendar” – We would love to hear from you!

** All information listed on our calendar is subject to change without notice to us or you… We do our best to keep the information accurate and will always update as soon as we learn that something has changed. It’s always best to double check with the event via their website or a quick call, especially when weather can impact the event.