Only a few more days until Halloween! Lots of fun to be had this week and lots of opportunities to score some free candy!
Take advantage of this beautiful weather and hit some of the festivals we have listed here or on our big Fall Happenings list, here. Make sure to check with your local Library, many will be offering Trick or Treating all day on Halloween. It’s always a great safe option for the little bitty’s.
Dia de los Muertos and Moss Sock Festival will be happening this weekend and should have plenty to keep your whole family busy!
Have a great week!
It’s Not Our Fault if Your Kids are Bored!
Sunday October 27th
Vulcan AfterTunes – Vulcan Park
Birmingham’s unique musical event returns to Red Mountain this fall for its 9th season! Enjoy cool tunes, fresh brews, and sweet views on Sunday afternoons with Birmingham’s hip iron man, Vulcan. Chill out in Birmingham’s backyard and end your week with friends and family (of all ages) while listening to some of the area’s best music.
Gates open at 1 p.m. Tickets and seating are first-come, first-served and general admission. Lawn chairs and blankets strongly encouraged. Food, beer, wine and soft drinks will be available for purchase. No pets or outside alcohol allowed. All shows rain or shine. For additional concert details and up-to-date artist information, log onto www.visitvulcan.com.
Bring the kids to enjoy fun games and activities.
Music by: Leon Redbone (with Supporting Dead Fingers)
General Admission – $15 (Includes concert, admission to Vulcan Center Museum and Observation Tower and tax)
Children 12 & under are FREE!
Vulcan Members – $7.50
VIP Ticket Packages are available for $75
Barking at the Moon Festival and Parade – Fultondale Bark Park
The Barking at the Moon Festival and Parade is a family-oriented event held in conjunction with the Fultondale Arts Council. The event includes vendors, a dog parade, dog pageant, Guess your Dog’s Weight, dog games, Photos with your Dog, and other family activities. The Flying Houndz Frizbee Trick Dog Show will be our featured entertainment.
12pm – 5pm
Pumpkin Carving Party – Ruffner Mountain Nature Center
Let your creativity run wild as you create your very own Jack-O-Lantern. Ruffner will provide the carving tools. You may bring your own pumpkin, or buy one from Ruffner. Take your pumpkin home, or leave it to be displayed at Faces in the Forest. The Pumpkin Carving Party will take place on the Back Porch.
Oktoberfest – Our Savior Lutheran Church
Our Savior Lutheran Church is hosting an Oktoberfest celebration. This event will be fun for the whole family. Offering entertainment such as a Corn Hole tournament, inflatables, and music. Please join us and enjoy Bratwursts, hot dogs, German dishes, and homemade desserts.
Noon – 4pm
Trussville Fall Carnival – Magnolia Park
Featuring rides, activities and food.
$14 for wristbands and $1 for individual tickets. Coupons will be available at the Chamber of Commerce and online.
1 pm to 5 pm
Boo at the Zoo
Watch as the Zoo transforms into a destination of spooky attractions for 15 nights of Wells Fargo Boo at the Zoo. This year, you can seeyour favorite ©Marvel characters like Spider-Man, Iron Man, Thor and Captain America*! Don’t miss your chance to experience special meet and greets with the heroes, get their autographs and take your very own pictures!
Be sure to come dressed in your favorite family-friendly costume to search for Bigfoot on the Sasquatch Safari*, jump on the Eerie Express train*, take a spin on the Scarousel*, participate in animal-themed games at the Creepy Carnival tent, trick-or-treat your way through safe candy villages and much more! Boo at the Zoo is one spook-tacular event you won’t want to miss!
*©Marvel character appearance dates: October 4-5 (Captain America), 11-12 (Thor), 18-19 (Iron Man) & 25-26 (Spider-Man)
*The Zoo will close at 4pm on each day of Boo at the Zoo.
*Animals will not be on exhibit for Boo at the Zoo.
* Daily attraction fees still apply
* Wristband includes unlimited access to: Eerie Express Train, Sasquatch Safari, Scarousel, Creepy Carnival, Gruesome Golf, Ghost Rollers and Cajun Sadie’s Fortune Telling Adventure
$8 Non-members*
$6 Members*–NEW MEMBER DISCOUNT!
$11.50 wristbands*
$3.50 attractions*
5pm – 9pm
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Monday October 28th:
Tot Time with Ms Eve – Avondale Library
Storytime for 2-4-year-olds with a caregiver. Includes stories, songs, and craft. 24-hour advance registration required.
10:30am
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Tuesday October 29th:
Booktacular Family Fun Night – Avondale Library
Join us for a family fun night filled with stories, songs, and games guaranteed to tickle your funny bone. No scary costumes please.
Free but registration and 24-hour advanced notice of attendance required.
6:30pm
Pumpkin Painting – Emmet O’ Neal Library
Bring the family and paint a pumpkin. All ages. No registration required.
6:00-6:45pm
Family Tours – Birmingham Museum of Art
FREE // Meet in the Main Lobby
Join us for an in-gallery family experience! Children aged 3 – 8 and their adult companions are invited to join Museum educators to explore our collection, discover activities that make looking at art fun and exciting, and create new family memories about art.
No reservations required. Family Tours are also available by appointment for groups of 10 or more children aged 3 – 8. For more information or to schedule a tour, call 205.254.2964.
10:30am
Storytime for All Ages – Homewood Public Library
Halloween Story Time and Treats
10:30am
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Wednesday October 30th:
Halloween Storytime – Homewood Public Library
Halloween Story Time and Treats. All Ages
10:30am
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
Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Come dressed up in your Halloween costume as we celebrate Halloween.
11am
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Thursday October 31st:
Happy Halloween!
Mystics of Mountain Brook Halloween Parade– Emmet O’ Neal Library
A Halloween parade with the feel of Mardi Gras. Parade participants throw Mystics of Mountain Brook t-shirts, beads, stuffed animals and footballs to the huge crowd that lines the streets of Crestline Village. The parade has over 23 floats, the high school cheerleaders, a roller derby, and Mayor Terry Oden driving his antique fire truck. The parade route starts by the Emmet O’Neal Library, goes to the Tot Lot, turns left on Church Street and then left on Euclid and ends back at the Library.
4pm
Monster Walk – Downtown Columbiana
Kids are welcome to come and Trick or Treat at Columbiana Merchants from 4:00 pm-5:30 pm.
Mummy and Me Storytime – Homewood Public Library
Story Time for our younger patrons (birth to 30 mo.) and their lap partner.
10:30
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Friday November 1st:
Holiday Book Drive – Barnes and Noble Summit
Help us give the gift of literacy this season by participating in our Holiday Book Drive. Our goal is to get as many books as possible into the hands of children nationwide. Our store’s book drive will benefit Birmingham Reads/Better Basics.
Noon
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Saturday November 2nd:
Dia de los Muertos – 2115 First Ave South
It is sure to be an energetic All Soul’s Day, Dia de los Muertos, and Alabama’s Day of the Dead Festival (Dia de los Muertos numero once). This year is our eleventh celebration! It will take place in our same great spot on 1st Avenue South in Birmingham, AL.
We look forward to seeing you at the festival. Please do NOT bring your pets or cooler or picnic baskets. Please do bring yourselves and friends and a small altar or memento of remembrance. Dress in bones, as a sugar skull or for a fiesta! Join in the procession!
$10 (13yrs & up), $3 (12 to 7yrs), free (under 7yrs)
4pm – 11pm
Moss Rock Festival – The Preserve
grab friends and family and get outside to the Moss Rock Festival at The Preserve in Hoover. Explore Nature, Eco Ideas, Art + Design at Alabama’s premier eco-creative festival now in its 8th year. Innovation, imagination, and fun await 15,000 visitors under a blanket of fall colors at this idyllic neighborhood setting adjacent to Hoover’s own 350 acre Moss Rock Preserve. MRF features something for everyone.
Admission is free! Hours are 10am-5pm Saturday and 10am-4pm Sunday. Parking, shuttle, and collections for electronics recycling will take place at the Hoover Met. For all the details, please visit MossRockFestival.com or call 205-595-6306. And follow us on Facebook & Twitter all year long for important announcements, special offers, eco posts, and updates! Join the eco-creative conversation!
For more information on the festival, activities and parking visit their site.
Home Depot Kids Workshop
Come build The Home Depot’s spectacular Tabletop Ship! All kids get to keep their craft, receive a FREE certificate of achievement, a Workshop Apron, and a commemorative pin.
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Click here to register online
Cereal and Cartoons – Homewood Public Library
Dry cereal only, available until 10:45 am.
10am – Noon
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! Portrait Project // Look at the people around you. Who do you see?
11am – 1pm
Family Tours – Birmingham Museum of Art
FREE // Meet in the Main Lobby
Join us for an in-gallery family experience! Children aged 3 – 8 and their adult companions are invited to join Museum educators to explore our collection, discover activities that make looking at art fun and exciting, and create new family memories about art.
No reservations required. Family Tours are also available by appointment for groups of 10 or more children aged 3 – 8. For more information or to schedule a tour, call 205.254.2964.
10:30am
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 and activities as we join Pete the Cat on his newest adventure, Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses.
11am
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Sunday November 3rd:
Moss Rock Festival – The Preserve
grab friends and family and get outside to the Moss Rock Festival at The Preserve in Hoover. Explore Nature, Eco Ideas, Art + Design at Alabama’s premier eco-creative festival now in its 8th year. Innovation, imagination, and fun await 15,000 visitors under a blanket of fall colors at this idyllic neighborhood setting adjacent to Hoover’s own 350 acre Moss Rock Preserve. MRF features something for everyone.
Admission is free! Hours are 10am-5pm Saturday and 10am-4pm Sunday. Parking, shuttle, and collections for electronics recycling will take place at the Hoover Met. For all the details, please visit MossRockFestival.com or call 205-595-6306. And follow us on Facebook & Twitter all year long for important announcements, special offers, eco posts, and updates! Join the eco-creative conversation!
For more information on the festival, activities and parking visit their site.
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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: Flight of the Butterflies, Titans of the Ice Age
Unearthing Alabama’s Ice Age – through December 31st, 2013
McWane Science Center is home to Alabama’s second largest natural history collection. Made up of over 500,000 specimens and objects pertaining to the natural history of the state, this important collection focuses on the preservation, education, and research of Alabama’s rich biodiversity and paleobiodiversity. One of the more significant subsets of the collection is Alabama’s largest collection of Late Pleistocene faunal remains – or Ice Age fossils.
Made up of nearly 10,000 cataloged specimens, the McWSC Pleistocene collection contains a unique diversity of fauna that not only includes those native to North America, but migrants to the state from both South America and the Old World. This collection includes mammals, both extant and extinct, reptiles, amphibians, birds, fishes, and botanical remains collected from both cave and stream localities in the state. Extinct mammals represented in the McWSC collection include mammoths, mastodons, giant beavers, saber-toothed cats, giant armadillos, tapirs, peccaries, and giant ground sloths.
This spring, visitors will have an opportunity to view some of the fossils in the collection with a new exhibit titled — “Unearthing Alabama’s Ice Age.” This exhibit will not only highlight many of the Ice Age animals from the McWane Science Center Collection, but will highlight and dispel many of the common misconceptions surrounding the Ice Age in the state. The goal is for visitors to have a better understanding and appreciation for this time in Alabama. For example, guests might learn that Alabama was on average only five degrees colder than today, glaciers did not reach farther south than southern Illinois or that all the Ice Age animals did not go extinct at the end of the Ice Age. While the largest animals, such as mastodons, giant ground sloths, and saber-tooth cats died out, nearly all the animals that are living in Alabama today were also around in the Ice Age.
The Unearthing Alabama’s Ice Age Alabama display is located in the City Gallery on Level 2 of the museum. It is included in the cost of admission to the museum and free to members.
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.
