Memorial Day Weekend Events in Birmingham! 
Memorial Day Weekend is here and that means it’s officially Summer Event Season! Get ready for all kinds of fun! Here are some great events for those who aren’t heading to the beach this week. This weekend also brings us (the now official!) Sun Ra Day, which is full of activities. There are also three FREE performances of the symphony in Railroad Park this weekend! 
We also want to take this opportunity to honor and remember the men and women who gave their lives serving our country and defending the freedoms so many of us too often take for granted. May we honor those we lost not only with gratitude, but by continuing the work of building a stronger, more compassionate America for future generations. 
#RUhappenin 

Monet to Matisse: French Moderns
Now-May 24
Cost: $19.50
At: Bham Museum of Art (map)
This is your LAST CHANCE to see Monet to Matisse: French Moderns, 1850–1950, presented by PNC Bank, is an exhibition of over one hundred masterworks with more than half from the Brooklyn Museum’s esteemed European collection. The exhibition highlights France’s role as the epicenter of modernism during a time of profound social, intellectual, and political change. Featuring a range of paintings, sculptures, and works on paper, visitors will encounter the iconic art of Paul Cézanne, Mary Cassatt, Edgar Degas, Henri Matisse, Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and many others. Drawing from its own distinguished collection, the Birmingham Museum of Art has nearly doubled the size of the exhibition, offering a broader and more comprehensive exploration of this transformative period in art history.
Click here for more info.

& JULIET
May 19th-24th
Cost: $50+
At: BJCC Concert Hall (map)
What if Juliet woke up to see Romeo dead and thought, “Meh, I’ve only known him for four days. I’m going to move on.”  This musical comedy explores that “What if?” We saw this show Tuesday and LOVED it!  There are flashy costumes, lots of humor, love triangles/squares, and some fun surprises! The music for this one is made up of late 90’s early 2000’s pop hits like “Since You’ve Been Gone,” “Blow,” “I Want It That Way,” “ROAR!,” and so many more! You’ll be dancing in your seats! 
Click here for more info. 

“The Cry of Jazz” Film Screening
Thursday, 6pm
Cost: FREE
At: Bham Museum of Art (map)
Enjoy an evening exploring the sound, vision, and legacy of Sun Ra through film, conversation, and works from the Museum’s collection. Presented in partnership with Earth Libraries and Film Birmingham as part of the Year of Birmingham Jazz initiative, the program begins with a screening of “The Cry of Jazz (1959),” Edward Bland’s groundbreaking film examining jazz, race, and cultural expression. The film features performance footage of Sun Ra and members of his Arkestra. Following the screening, members of the Sun Ra Arkestra will participate in a panel discussion led by local jazz historian Burgin Mathews of the Southern Music Research Center and Jessica Chriesman of Sidewalk Film Festival.
Click here for more info. 

Summer Reading Kick Off
Friday, 1pm
Cost: FREE
At: Hoover Library (map)
Celebrate the start of summer with crafts, activities and treats for the whole family! Head out to this FREE event at the Hoover Library to get a head start on summer reading and have some fun! You can also check out the full lineup of summer events and activities at the Library! 
Click here for more info.

Cook Out Series
Friday, 1pm-12am
Cost: Free to attend
At: Monday Night Brewing (map)
Sip, slide & sizzle into summer with our Cookout Series #1 this Friday! Let Monday Night Brewing help kickstart your three day weekend in Birmingham! They’ll be firing up the grill, spinning beats with a DJ, pouring your favorite beverages, and keeping the vibes hot by the fire pit when the sun goes down! Bring your crew, your appetite, and your suit for the Slip-N-Slide!
Click here for more info. 

Symphony in the Summer
Friday-Sunday, 7:30pm
Cost: FREE
At: Railroad Park (map)
One of Birmingham’s most beloved free things to do in Birmingham Memorial Day weekend returns for Memorial Day Weekend 2026! Since 2011, the Alabama Symphony Orchestra has brought live orchestral music outdoors to Railroad Park, welcoming over 130,000 people to this celebrated annual tradition. Spread out a blanket, bring the family, and enjoy three unforgettable evenings of world-class classical music under the open sky, no ticket required. 
Friday, May 22 — Classics at Sunset
Saturday, May 23 — A Night of Masterworks
Sunday, May 24 — A Patriotic Spectacular/Movie Themes! 
Click here for more info. 

Collective Rage: A Play in Five Betties
Friday-Sunday
Cost: Varies 
At: Theatre Downtown (map)
This play is absolutely hilarious! Watch as five women named Betty navigate life and interpersonal relationships while managing some internal rage. We saw this last week and absolutely loved it! This makes for a great night out with friends. Funny, strange, sexy, and just a little unhinged. In other words, exactly the kind of party you want to be invited to!  (The show does deal with adult themes, so parental discretion is advised.) 
Click here for more info.

 

Screen Scene Movie Series: Zootopia 2
Friday, 7pm
Cost: FREE
At: Beacon Park (map)
Get ready for a summer of movies under the stars! Join in for Irondale’s Screen Scene Movie Series, a fun-filled lineup of outdoor movie nights at Beacon Park. Bring your blankets, lawn chairs, and your crew for an evening of games, food, and family-friendly entertainment. Fun & Games at 7:00 p.m. Movies Begin at Dusk. This week’s film is Zootopia 2! 
Click here for more info.

Sun Ra Arkestra
Friday, 8pm
Cost: $40/$45
At: Saturn (map)
Earth Libraries and Saturn are beyond excited to welcome back the one and only Sun Ra Arkestra for a very special evening of music on Friday, May 22nd, as part of this year’s Sun Ra Day Festival honoring Sonny Blount’s 112th “arrival day” here in the Magic City.  The final event of a three day celebration happening at venues around the city from May 20-22, the concert at Saturn will see the band return to our stage for the first time since 2016, marking ten years since they last lifted off with us here in Birmingham in what proved to be an unforgettable night of cosmic tone therapy broadcast by Subcarrier for Alabama Public Television. 
Click here for more info.

Disco House with Snhack (21+)
Friday, 10:30pm-2am
Cost: $5
At: Pink Lantern (map)
Come dance at Pink Lantern! This Disco House dance party will take place immediately following the cabaret show. Beats by Snhack. 
Click here for more info.

Forged in Steel: A Festival of Elements
Saturday, 10am-4pm
Cost: FREE
At: Sloss Furnaces (map)
On May 23, 2026, the grounds of Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark will come alive for Forged in Steel: A Festival of Elements; a free, one-day celebration of the art, science, and culture of metal. This is the official opening day of the Symphony of Elements exhibit. Expect live music in the midst of century-old furnace walls, the smell of food from local vendors, the spectacle of live metal casting, and the thrill of seeing high-definition metallurgy photography at full scale for the very first time.
Click here for more info. 

CahabaFest
Saturday, 11am-10pm
Cost: FREE
At: Cahaba Brewing (map)
CahabaFest is on! Come celebrate all things local with the Cahaba Crew this Saturday! Live local musicians, cold beer, and a full day at Cahaba Brewing Co. The lineup is fantastic! • 1PM Slag Heap Duo (Patio)
• 1PM Taylor Hollingsworth (Taproom)
• 3:30PM Moral Support (Taproom)
• 3:30PM Rust (Patio)
• 6PM Symone French (Taproom)
Local music, local beer, community Come hang! 
Click here for more info.

Craft’N Coffee
Saturday, 11am-3pm
Cost: FREE
At: House Eleven (map)
This Saturday, grab a yummy drink and enjoy a live set from Dro! The Chasm Co will have their charm bar and bead bar set up and available for you to create your own custom necklace, bracelet, bag charm, or pair of earrings! Don’t miss this fun crafty event! 
Click here for more info. 

Brotha Josh Birthday Show
Saturday, 7pm
Cost: $10
At: House Eleven (map)
Don’t miss this evening of great music from multiple artists at House Eleven! Brotha Josh will be joined by Mel Crozby, Super Highway, and Cinnamon Jones. Come soak up the great vibes while you sip on some delicious coffee, a cocktail, or mocktail! 
Click here for more info.

80’s Night at Monday Night Brewing
Saturday, 7pm-11pm
Cost: FREE
At: Monday Night Brewing (map)
Break out the neon, crank the synths, and step into a full-blown 1980s throwback on Saturday at the Social Club. Join in as Social Club transforms into a retro party packed with vintage vibes, a dancefloor, and just the right amount of chaos. From glow-in-the-dark decor and classic 80s movies on screen to a DJ spinning throwback hits, this is your chance to live your best 1985 life.
DJ set (6–10PM) featuring all your favorite 80s dance bangers
Dancefloor + late-night karaoke
DIY Charm Bar with Chasm Co. (4–8PM)
Retro gaming corner (NES classics)
Themed photo setup with instant film keepsakes.Expect candy-inspired cocktails, throwback menu specials, and plenty of neon-lit atmosphere, plus glow sticks, movie posters, and deep-cut 80s references throughout the space.
Click here for more info. 

 

Dead for Love
Saturday, 8pm
Cost: $10
At: Elysian Gardens (map)
Come enjoy some of your favorite Grateful Dead Hits from Dead for Love at Elysian Gardens! This venue has some incredible vibes, a full bar, food on site, and so much more! Cover is just $10. You can relax and enjoy some great tunes. 
Click here for more info.

Emo Night 
Saturday, 9pm
Cost: $27
At: Saturn (map)
Welcome to Emo Night Brooklyn, a late night DJ based dance party blasting the best emo and pop punk jams. They may even invite some of your favorite artists and bands to surprise you and join the party. Get ready to scream your lungs out, mosh, and dance to all your favorite songs with all of your favorite people and experience the awesomeness that is Emo Night Brooklyn.
Click here for more info.

 

Disco House with Marz (21+)
Saturday, 10:30pm
Cost: $5
At: Pink Lantern (map)
Come dance at Pink Lantern! This Disco House dance party will take place immediately following the cabaret show. Beats by Marz. 21+
Click here for more info.

Ghost Lights: Deep House DJ
Sunday, 12pm-3pm
Cost: FREE
At: Cha House (map)
Head to Cha House this Sunday afternoon for some chill, Deep House, DJ beats by Ghost Lights! This is a FREE event to attend, but tips are appreciated! You can also check out the newly renovated patio space and enjoy some custom tea blends (from cute teacups!) while there! 
Click here for more info.