So much to do this week in Birmingham, it’s going to be hard to fit it all in, but we’re sure you’re going to give it your best effort! Lots of Festivals and Pumpkin painting to get you in the mood for Fall and Halloween. Make sure to check out our list of Fall Festivals and Pumpkin Patches for even more fun!
It’s Not Our Fault if Your Kids are Bored!
Sunday October 11th:
Boo at the Zoo – Birmingham Zoo
Watch as the Zoo transforms into a destination of spooky attractions for 17 nights of Boo at the Zoo presented by Wells Fargo.
Be sure to come dressed in your favorite family-friendly costume to ride the Spider Slide*, jump on the Eerie Express train*, see a Schaeffer Eye Center Wildlife Show, ride the new ghost rollers*, experience a Haunted Hayride*, take a spin on the Scarousel*, visit Cajun Sadie’s Fortune Telling Adventure*, travel down trick-or-treat lane and SO much more! Boo at the Zoo presented by Wells Fargo is one spook-tacular event you won’t want to miss! *Attraction fees apply.
All attractions can be purchased individually for $3.50 each plus tax. This includes the train, carousel, slide, ice skating*, Cajun Sadie, roller racers and hay ride. *Ice skates are available for rent for $1.50 plus tax, or visitors may bring their own ice skates.
5pm – 9pm
Whispers From the Past – Aldridge Gardens
Take a trip back in time to rediscover the culture and contributions of Native Alabamians at Whispers From the Past – A Native American Experience.
Native American life will take shape through demonstrations of flintknapping, pine needle basket weaving, and hunting weapons, along with activities like leaf pounding, bead weaving on looms, corn grinding, gourd painting, and pottery. Children can try their hands at games and activities. Hear the sounds of drums and flutes, and the highlight of the day – three dance performances by Native American Pow Wow dancers. The Pow Wow demonstrations will last approximately 45 minutes and will take place at 11:30 a.m., 2:00 p.m., and 4:00 p.m. Authentic Native American food will be available for purchase as well as handmade flutes, woven cane baskets, bows and arrows, plus commemorative coins and artifacts.
$10 for visitors 18 and older
$5 children 2 and older, and all crafts are included
Children younger than 2 are free
10am – 6pm
Southern Women’s Show – BJCC Exhibition Hall
The Southern Women’s Show returns to Birmingham with four days of celebrity guests, exciting new features, exclusive offers and shopping designed specifically for Birmingham gals.
Admission is $10 at the door, $8 in advance online, $7 in advance at participating Walgreen’s, $5 for children 6–12 years old and free for children under 6 years of age (with paying adult). Special $3 after 3:00 pm on Thursday and $5 after 5:00 p.m. pricing Friday and Saturday.
11am – 5pm
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Monday October 12th:
Tot Time with Ms. Eve, Creepy Crawly Spiders – Avondale Regional Library
Whether it’s the Bitsy Spider or Little Miss Muffet, these stories and songs will weave a web of delight. Tot Time is geared for 2 to 4 year olds with an individual caregiver, no groups please. 24-hour advance registration required.
9:30am and 11am
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Tuesday October 13th:
Annual Pumpkin Painting Event – Hoover Library
Bring a pumpkin to decorate with your own design. Then enter into our contest. Entries accepted until Oct. 30.
6:30pm
Pete the Cate Bedtime Blues – Barnes and Noble Summit
Join us for Storytime and activities featuring Pete the Cat and the Bedtime Blues.
11am
Family Tours, Fall into Fall– Birmingham Museum of Art
FREE // Meet in the Main Lobby
Join the Museum educators to explore the galleries in a fun, interactive experience! Discover Bart the Art Bat’s favorite artworks during these FREE, drop-in tours. After your tour, visit Bart’s ArtVenture to make an art project inspired by what you saw. What will you discover?
Fall into Fall: The leaves are changing and the harvest is starting! Celebrate autumn and learn about seasonal traditions around the world.
10:30am
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Wednesday October 14th:
Earth Science Day – McWane Science Center
Get engaged in discovering earth’s vital processes with special science programming in our Adventure Halls.
During Museum Hours
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 October 15th:
Pixar Party – Homewood Public Library
Welcome to the universe that brought us Woody, Nemo, Sully, Mater and many, many more! We will have a fun night of crafts, games and snacks. Don’t forget to dress up as your favorite Pixar character!
6:30pm
Egyptian Adventure with Geronimo Stilton – Irondale Public Library
Geronimo Stilton is looking for special correspondents to join him on an Egyptian adventure at the Irondale Public Library! Meet Geronimo, explore Egypt, and have a fabumouse adventure!
6pm
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Friday October 16th:
Leaps and Bounds – Homewood Public Library
Join us for a fun and energetic movement class designed specifically for children ages 2 1/2 to 4 years. Registration is required and begins on the Monday prior to the class that week.
10:30am
Pumpkin Painting Workshop – North Shelby Library
BYOP (Bring Your Own Pumpkin) – we’ll provide the paint. All ages are welcome. Registration required. Check our website for more information.
4pm
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Saturday October 17th:
Boo at the Zoo – Birmingham Zoo
Watch as the Zoo transforms into a destination of spooky attractions for 17 nights of Boo at the Zoo presented by Wells Fargo.
Be sure to come dressed in your favorite family-friendly costume to ride the Spider Slide*, jump on the Eerie Express train*, see a Schaeffer Eye Center Wildlife Show, ride the new ghost rollers*, experience a Haunted Hayride*, take a spin on the Scarousel*, visit Cajun Sadie’s Fortune Telling Adventure*, travel down trick-or-treat lane and SO much more! Boo at the Zoo presented by Wells Fargo is one spook-tacular event you won’t want to miss! *Attraction fees apply.
All attractions can be purchased individually for $3.50 each plus tax. This includes the train, carousel, slide, ice skating*, Cajun Sadie, roller racers and hay ride. *Ice skates are available for rent for $1.50 plus tax, or visitors may bring their own ice skates.
5pm – 9pm
Mt Laurel Fall Festival
Celebrate crisp autumn days and the season’s bounty.
During the annual festival, Mt Laurel’s town center bursts to life with an abundance of fall activities. Go for a hayride, purchase a pumpkin for your Halloween décor, and take pictures with our festive hay bale people and scarecrows—decorated as part of a yearly competition between Mt Laurel residents, businesses, and schools.
The Mt Laurel Fall Festival offers plenty of family-friendly fun with inflatable bounce houses and a petting zoo. Savor the best of Birmingham food with a rich menu of items from Jim ‘N Nick’s BBQ and area food trucks. Plus, enjoy live music while you shop for fresh produce, seasonal flowers, jewelry, art, and handcrafted goods from more than 150 local vendors and farmers.
Also, don’t miss Lucky Dog Grooming & Boutique’s 2nd Annual Canine Costume Contest, benefitting the Shelby County Humane Society. Dress up your pets, and enter for a chance to win a $100 VISA gift card. For more contest information, visitluckydoggroomingandboutique.com.
10a.m. to 3pm
Tannehill Trade Days – Tannehill State Park
Shoppers and swappers come from far and near to Tannehill Trade Days in search of tools, clothing, jewelry, knives, furniture and other treasures.
8pm – 4pm
Imaginary Fred – Barnes and Noble Summit
Did you know that sometimes, with a little electricity, or luck, or even magic, an imaginary friend might appear when you need one? An imaginary friend like Fred. Join us in reading this quirky, funny and irresistible story of friendship.
11am
LEGO Architecture Event – Barnes and Noble
This event is for adults and teenagers (ages 14 and up) to build with LEGO Architecture Studio blocks, discuss the inspiration for their build and explore how they can use basic architecture shapes and principles to influence it.
Space is limited. Advance sign up is required. See a bookseller for details. Please email crm2858@bn.com with LEGO Architecture in subject line, call 298.0665, or visit customer service desk to register! Please leave your name, phone number, and email.
City of Pleasant Grove Founders Day – Pleasant Grove Athletic Complex
Come celebrate the City of Pleasant Grove with the first annual Founder’s Day. The event will boast vendors, characters, food, entertainment, a children’s play area and more! Come visit Pleasant Grove, home of the Spartans!
10am – 5pm
Bart’s Art Cart– Birmingham Museum of Art
This drop-in art program for kids and families features a different theme from our galleries and art activity each month. Stop by to make art with Bart!
Drumming Up Fun!: Welcome the return of autumn with music and dancing! Make your own drum and stick to ring in the harvest season.
11am
Bart’s Books – Birmingham Museum of Art
This month, Bart has selected James Mayhew’s Katie Meets the Impressionists.
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.
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Sunday October 18th:
Play at the Park presented by Birmingham Children’s Theatre – Homewood Central Park
This FREE admission event will include food, games, face painting, live skit, and costume contest! The winner of the costume contest will receive season tickets to BCT! Tickets for theater performances will be on sale as well.
For more information visit their Facebook Page.
1:00pm – 3:30pm
Boo at the Zoo – Birmingham Zoo
Watch as the Zoo transforms into a destination of spooky attractions for 17 nights of Boo at the Zoo presented by Wells Fargo.
Be sure to come dressed in your favorite family-friendly costume to ride the Spider Slide*, jump on the Eerie Express train*, see a Schaeffer Eye Center Wildlife Show, ride the new ghost rollers*, experience a Haunted Hayride*, take a spin on the Scarousel*, visit Cajun Sadie’s Fortune Telling Adventure*, travel down trick-or-treat lane and SO much more! Boo at the Zoo presented by Wells Fargo is one spook-tacular event you won’t want to miss! *Attraction fees apply.
All attractions can be purchased individually for $3.50 each plus tax. This includes the train, carousel, slide, ice skating*, Cajun Sadie, roller racers and hay ride. *Ice skates are available for rent for $1.50 plus tax, or visitors may bring their own ice skates.
5pm – 9pm
Our World, Our Library – Homewood Public Library
Stories, activities and crafts about multiculturalismand diversity, designed for kindergarten-3rd grade. We look forward to finding out about our world with you!
3:30pm
Tannehill Trade Days – Tannehill State Park
Shoppers and swappers come from far and near to Tannehill Trade Days in search of tools, clothing, jewelry, knives, furniture and other treasures.
8pm – 4pm
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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: Ocean Oasis, Horses, Journey to Space
Birmingham Zoo:
The Birmingham Zoo offers a variety of daily activities from Giraffe and Pelican Feedings to Bird Tours and Lion Training. For a daily schedule of whats happening at the Zoo, visit their site.
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.
