Fall is here and that means a calendar that is full of activities to choose from! Storytimes are in full swing and the weekend is packed with festivals. Boo At the Zoo kicks off this week with discounted admission. If you’re looking for more festivals and fall fun check out our full list here.
Have a great week!
It’s Not Our Fault if Your Kids are Bored!
Sunday September 27th:
Our World Our Library – Homewood Public Library
Stories, activities, and crafts about multiculturalism and diversity, designed for Kindergarten-3rd grade. We look forward to finding out about our world with you!
2:30pm
Hispanic Heritage Celebration Day – Birmingham Zoo
Celebrate, welcome and highlight the natural culture of Birmingham’s growing Hispanic and Latino community. Animals of Central and South America will be featured through keeper chats, animal encounters and other activities throughout the Zoo. This is a celebration of nature in Central and South America, but also a welcoming event for all parts of the Birmingham community. Enjoy a special visit by the Junior League of Birmingham Yummy Truck! This rain or shine event is FREE to Zoo Members and included in admission for Zoo guests!
Storytime with Books A Million – Birmingham Zoo
The Birmingham Zoo invites you and your family to enjoy story time hosted by Books-A-Million! This event is free with admission. Guests will enjoy hearing an animal-themed story and creating a themed craft. Story time at the Zoo is a fun, educational experience you won’t want to miss!
2:30pm
Homestead Hollow Arts and Crafts Festival –
A one of a kind – hand made, hand decorated arts and crafts. Talk to our pioneer demonstrators the old time days- see wood carving, blacksmithing, soap making, wood stove cooking, quilting, and whiskey making at our original working still, tour our original cabins as they were built by the early settlers. Visit the apiarist and learn about bee keeping. Relax by one of our many streams and listen to live local entertainment all day. Enjoy great food from our food court, bbq, funnel cakes, fried pies, ice cream, beans, greens, footlong corn dogs and so much more! Children’s activities: wagon rides, bunjy jump, moonwalk, face painting Homestead Hollow’s General store is open for you to visit and shop for those home-made fried pies and other great items all day during show dates. Homestead Hollow is located in Springville, Alabama, just 2 miles off I-59, exit 154. 27 acres of parking and our golf cart shuttles make it easy to park, get to the entrance and start having fun immediately.
Adults – $7 ~ Children (ages 3 to 12) – $3
Children (ages 2 and under) – Free.
Free Parking. NO PETS ALLOWED.
9am – 5pm
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Monday September 28th:
Monday Makerspace Minecraft Mania- Homewood Public Library
It’s time for some pixilated, crafty Creeper fun! Join us after school at 3:30 p.m. for Monday afternoon family fun. We provide the materials, and you provide the imagination!
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Tuesday September 29th:
Story Day with Nay Nay – Homewood Public Library
Fun-filled storytime. Children ages three and under and a parent or caregiver are invited to shake their beanbags and listen to this amazing storyteller!
9:30am or 10:30am
Max the Brave – Barnes and Noble Summit
Join us for Storytime and activities featuring Max the Brave, a fearless kitten with a problem – he needs to know what a mouse looks like!
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 September 30th:
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 1st:
Greek Festival – The Holy Trinity – Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Cathedral Church
This is one of Birmingham’s oldest cultural food festivals and most highly anticipated events. The festival is an act of love of Birmingham’s Greek community going back to 4 generations. Besides delicious Greek cuisine, you’ll enjoy live Greek music, Greek dancing performances, and a warm, spirited atmosphere that embraces everyone as family. As thousands of returning patrons can attest, you will leave a devoted fan.
Free parking is available in the old Liberty National building on 3rd Avenue and 20th Street South. Drive-Thru and Take-Out are also available all three days and for orders of 10 or more call 205-716-3086.
The event is free admission, offers indoor and outdoor dining, and food plates are individually priced. Be sure to visit The Greek Market Place which has imported food, icons, fine jewelry, art, and much more.
10:30am – 10pm
Brookwood Live! – Colonial Brookwood Village
Free rockin’ concert on Village Lane! Band: Rock Candy
5pm – 9pm
Scooby Doo Monster Mash – North Shelby Library
Join us at 6:30 pm for a spooky (and family friendly) evening of Halloween fun! Sign up to help us solve the mystery of the stolen Scooby Snacks, make a scary monster mask, and stick around for our Monster Mash dance party! Costumes encouraged but not required. Scooby Snacks will be served…if they’re found! All ages welcome. Registration is required.
Story Day with Nay Nay – Homewood Public Library
Join Ms. Nay Nay every Thursday at 9:30 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. for this fun-filled storytime. Children ages three and under and a parent or caregiver are invited to shake their beanbags and listen to this amazing storyteller.
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Friday October 2nd:
Greek Festival – The Holy Trinity – Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Cathedral Church
This is one of Birmingham’s oldest cultural food festivals and most highly anticipated events. The festival is an act of love of Birmingham’s Greek community going back to 4 generations. Besides delicious Greek cuisine, you’ll enjoy live Greek music, Greek dancing performances, and a warm, spirited atmosphere that embraces everyone as family. As thousands of returning patrons can attest, you will leave a devoted fan.
Free parking is available in the old Liberty National building on 3rd Avenue and 20th Street South. Drive-Thru and Take-Out are also available all three days and for orders of 10 or more call 205-716-3086.
The event is free admission, offers indoor and outdoor dining, and food plates are individually priced. Be sure to visit The Greek Market Place which has imported food, icons, fine jewelry, art, and much more.
10:30am – 10pm
Alabama Butterbean Festival – City of Pinson
This year is the 10th Annual Alabama Butterbean Festival, the state’s 2nd largest festival. It features live local entertainment, food and non-food vendors (arts and crafts, local organizations), carnival rides, petting zoo, pony rides, and plenty of fun for people of all ages. There is a huge firework show on Friday night at approximately 9:30
6pm – 10am
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Saturday October 3rd:
Boo at the Zoo – Birmingham Zoo
Make plans to head to the Birmingham Zoo to kick-off the first weekend of Boo at the Zoo presented by Wells Fargo. Members and guests can enjoy discounted $5 (plus tax) admission for the first weekend of Boo at the 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
Greek Festival – The Holy Trinity – Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Cathedral Church
This is one of Birmingham’s oldest cultural food festivals and most highly anticipated events. The festival is an act of love of Birmingham’s Greek community going back to 4 generations. Besides delicious Greek cuisine, you’ll enjoy live Greek music, Greek dancing performances, and a warm, spirited atmosphere that embraces everyone as family. As thousands of returning patrons can attest, you will leave a devoted fan.
Free parking is available in the old Liberty National building on 3rd Avenue and 20th Street South. Drive-Thru and Take-Out are also available all three days and for orders of 10 or more call 205-716-3086.
The event is free admission, offers indoor and outdoor dining, and food plates are individually priced. Be sure to visit The Greek Market Place which has imported food, icons, fine jewelry, art, and much more.
10:30am – 10pm
Alabama Butterbean Festival – City of Pinson
This year is the 10th Annual Alabama Butterbean Festival, the state’s 2nd largest festival. It features live local entertainment, food and non-food vendors (arts and crafts, local organizations), carnival rides, petting zoo, pony rides, and plenty of fun for people of all ages.
9am – 4pm
Bluff Park Art Show – Bluff Park Community Center
Artists will display their work from 9 a.m to 5 p.m. in the front of the Bluff Park Community Center, located at 517 Cloudland Drive, Hoover, AL 35226. In addition to art, we have several food vendors scattered throughout the park. Children ages 3-8 can be entertained with the hands-on art activities. Music will be provided by high school jazz bands.
Admission to the show is FREE! There is NO PARKING at the site. Free parking and shuttle buses are available at the Bluff Park United Methodist Church, Shades Mountain Independent Church, Shades Mountain Plaza, Bluff Park Village Shopping Center, and Shades Crest Baptist Church. Follow the signs from I-65 at Alford Ave and Tyler Road. If you make a purchase, art carts will be provided to get your piece to your car.
Fiesta – Linn Park
FIESTA presented by McDonald’s kicks off its 13th year with a Celebration of Every Taste. Alabama’s premiere Hispanic culture festival will bring an exciting line up of Hispanic and Lation entertainment, cultural awareness and family fun to this year’s event. The festival is adding a new village, Cocina Latina, a separately ticketed tent where patrons can sample various Latin foods from approximately 12 local restaurants. Presenting sponsor, McDonald’s is bringing back their FiestaTour, which has been completely revamped for 2015. The tour is only making 18 stops this year, with Birmingham, AL being one of them. This year’s tour will have a larger footprint, bringing in a trivia game with Arch card prizes, photo booth, gaming area and Latino artist memorabilia. For more information, visit www.fiestabirmingham.com.
FIESTA’s goal is “to educate the mainstream public about the many different Hispanic countries and cultures through the best of art, music, dance and food.” FIESTA passionately tells the stories and shares the rich cultures and traditions of Alabama’s diverse Hispanic community, while raising scholarships for Hispanic students through the state. For more information, visit www.fiestabirmingham.com.
Admission to Fiesta is $8 per person in advance and $10 at the gate. Children 12 and under are admitted for free. Donations to the scholarship fund at Fiesta are encouraged at the event.
Noon – 8pm
12th Annual Oktoberfest – Moody City Park
Lots of family fun at Moody City Park including Football Games on the Big Screen TV at Aarons Tailgate Party, Arts & Crafts, Vendors, Pony Rides, Bungee Jumping, Great Food, Live Entertainment, Fantastic Car Show, Mascot Challenge, Face Painting, Clowns, Prizes and much, much more.
Bring your family and invite all of your friends, Showcase your Business, Vendor Booth Space Available, Festival Sponsorships Available, and Festival Team Volunteer Positions Available.
This is a FREE event with FREE parking and is hosted by the Moody Area Chamber of Commerce which has record crowds each year.
10am – 4pm
Bark in the Park – Veteran’s Park Alabaster
Hosted by Alabaster Parks & Recreation, this is a free, family and dog-friendly event you don’t want to miss. Bark in the Park will celebrate the bond between people and their pets with a great day full of music, arts and crafts, food and children’s activities. If you are looking to add a four-legged member to your family, Shelby Humane Society and other rescue groups will have adoptables available. Vendors will be onsite for the latest and coolest products for you and your pets. Activities and demonstrations will keep everyone entertained along with the Mutt Strutt dog parade/walk!
9am – 2pm
Build a Firetruck – Home Depot, Gadsden Hwy
- Get hands-on for Fire Safety Month by building a free fire truck
- Start the conversation with your kids about fire safety
- FREE hands-on workshops; designed for children ages 5 – 12
- All kid get to keep their craft, receive a FREE certificate of achievement, a Workshop Apron, and a commemorative pin while supplies last.
- Children must be present at the store to participate in the workshop and receive the kit, apron and pin.
- Kids Workshop activities are scheduled on a first come/first served basis. Please do not arrive before 9:00 a.m.
- Thank you for registering online to help us better plan our craft kit quantities needed
9am – 12pm
LEGO Club – North Shelby Library
The library provides the Legos, the kids provide the imagination and creativity! Families are welcome to drop in anytime between 10:00 and 11:00 to build spectacular creations. Creations will then go on display in the Children’s Department. All ages welcome. No registration required.
10am
We’re in the Wrong Book – Barnes and Noble Summit
Join us for Storytime and activities featuring Barnes & Noble’s Picture Book of the Month, We’re in the wrong book!
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
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
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 4th:
Boo at the Zoo – Birmingham Zoo
Make plans to head to the Birmingham Zoo to kick-off the first weekend of Boo at the Zoo presented by Wells Fargo. Members and guests can enjoy discounted $5 (plus tax) admission for the first weekend of Boo at the 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
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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.
What you’ll Need:
