Weekend Roundup: April 6-9

Here's to the Busiest Birmingham Weekend so far in 2017!

The April Showers are over for now and we dodged some crazy weather! Now it's time to enjoy the sunshine and a TON of great events the weekend! Heads up: Saturday will be COLD for the early birds, but will get up to the 70's by late afternoon. We recommend either layering up or taking a change of clothes along! #AlabamaSpring #RUhappenin

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Alabama Auto Show
Thurs-Sun, April 6-9, Times Vary
Cost: $8 (Children 14 & Under FREE!)
At: BJCC (map)

It will be a dazzling spectacular featuring the 2017 and 2018 model year domestic and import cars, light trucks, SUVs, hybrid vehicles of all sizes, and vans! Vehicles from manufacturers all over the world covering two levels of the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex. Click here for more info.

Birmingham Art Crawl
Thurs, April 6, 5pm
Cost: FREE!
At: The Pizitz (map)
Don't miss the April 6 ARTstravaganza edition with local artists, artisans, and performers exhibiting and selling works in some of downtown's finest establishments! From 5-9pm, rain or shine, stroll the streets of the 'Ham and discover the amazing talent of local artists with a few fun surprises along the way! Click here for more info.

Inaugural Vulcan Drink & Drop!
Thurs, April 6, 5:30pm
Cost: $20 General Admission
At: Vulcan Park & Museum (map)
In conjunction with the 28th Annual Brent Newman Memorial Egg Drop, Vulcan® Park and Museum will host its inaugural "Drink and Drop" adult egg drop competition and cocktail reception. Science minded teams and individuals can try your hand at the classic elementary student competition by keeping an egg protected after dropping it from the top of Vulcan’s 124-foot pedestal. Entertainment for the evening will be provided by the The Bumper Humpin' Peacocks and food and beverage items provided by Miss Dots, Coca Cola Bottling Co, and Ghost Train Brewing Co. will be available. Click here for more info.

Girls Rock Birmingham Art Auction
Thurs, April 6, 5:30pm
Cost: FREE!
At: Seasick Records (map)
Bring your friends and family to this FREE event benefiting Girls Rock Birmingham. They are holding a silent art auction with pieces by some of the best artists in the city. They have teamed up with Seasick Records and Crestwood Coffee Company/Cafe for the location this year. They'll have raffle tickets for sale with lots of great prizes. DJs will be spinning records, Katie Gaiser will be our VJ for the evening, and they'll have live painting by Claire Godbee Art with more surprises to come! Click here for more info!

It is Written 1 | #ItIsWritten1
Thurs, April 6, 8pm
Cost: $15
At: Birmingham Museum of Art (map)
Our friends Al Elliott and the BMA play host to this event to kick of the Magic City Diamond Classic! Come to the Birmingham Museum of Art to see 12 local writers create 16 bars on the fly to recite to the crowd! While the writers are writing, there will be a DJ playing music and an artist showcase. All of this will be recorded live and distributed as the "It Was Written Mix Tape" and accompanying Webisode. Click here for more info.

Birmingham Botanical Gardens Spring Plant Sale!
Fri-Sun, April 7-9, Times Vary
Cost: FREE!
At: Brookwood Village by Macy's (map)
Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens Spring Plant Sale features over 100,000 plants, most of which have been nurtured by volunteers at The Gardens. This sale allows a unique opportunity, providing expert knowledge on the plants and by offering unique plants difficult to find in ordinary garden centers. And your purchase helps The Gardens reach its educational goals. Click here for more info.

Magic City Diamond Classic and Street Festival!
Fri, April 7, 2pm-8pm
Cost: Festival is FREE!
At: In front of Good People Brewing (map)
What better way to kick off the Diamond Classic than with a Street Festival?! Come enjoy music, fun, food trucks, and family activities before the first pitch at 5:30pm when A&M and Alabama State go head to head at Regions Field! There will even be a College Career Fair at 9am that morning! Click here for more info!

Art After 5: Flower Power!
Fri, April 7, 5pm
Cost: $10 (FREE for BMA & Young Pioneers Members)
At: Birmingham Museum of Art (map)
Unwind from the week at Art After 5! Join BMA as they welcome spring with an exclusive floral-design demonstration with Sybil Brooke Sylvester, owner of Wildflower Designs, followed by a book signing debuting her new book, "Fresh." As always, there will be live music, cocktail tastings, museum tours (focused on flowers), crafts and more! This month is FREE for members of [Birmingham Young Pioneers!](birmngham young pioneers) Click here for more info.

Bards & Brews Open Mic!
Fri, April 7, 6:30pm
Cost: FREE (Donations Appreciated)
At: Avondale Library (map)
This will be an Open Mic event at the Avondale Branch Library and will be featuring the uproarious Etc Bham improv comedy troupe as the opening act! As always, Master of Ceremonies Brian “Voice Porter” Hawkins will deftly guide both novice and veteran poets through an evening of verse! Remember to "SOAP!" Support our Artists, Please! Click here for more info.

McWane After Dark: The Science of FUN! (21+)
Fri, April 7, 7pm
Cost: $25
At: McWane Science Center (map)
If you are one of the 1,000 people who went to "Speak Easy Science" you know how much fun this is! This month prepare for three floors of fun including a Glow Floor, a Prehistoric Floor, and a Carnival Floor!!! There will be drinks and plenty of fun activities. Don't miss out! Click here for more info!

Arc Stories: ROOTS: Stories about the Nature of the South
Fri, April 7, 7pm
Cost: $10
At: Birmingham Botanical Gardens (map)
Arc Stories has partnered with the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, just like last year, to bring great stories on the Formal Garden. So bring your blanket, kick off your shoes, dig your toes into the grass, and enjoy some great stories! There will be drinks and refreshments available. There will be just a few chairs available, some of which will be reserved for our season ticket holders. Click here for more info.

Pepper Place Spring Market
Sat, April 8, 7am
Cost: FREE!
At: Pepper Place (map)
It's the first market of the Spring Season for Pepper Place! Come and support new and returning vendors as you enjoy local crafts, produce, and treats! It's going to be cold in the morning so bring a jacket and your favorite local coffee! At 11am there will be a Kick-Off Party at Hop City that you won't want to miss! Click here for more info.

Dixie Vintage Antique and Classic Car Show
Sat, April 8, 8am-2pm
Cost: FREE!
At: Oak Mountain State Park (map)
It's going to be a beautiful day to head to Oak Mountain and check out some classic cars! There will be prizes awarded for various categories. It's sure to be a lot of fun for the whole family!
Click here for more info.

Market by the Tracks in Avondale
Sat-Sun, April 8-9, 9am-3pm
Cost: FREE!
At: Market by the Tracks (map)
Come enjoy 40+ vendors and sellers, food trucks, and live music! There's always a funky assortment of art, crafts, and randomness at this 2-day market. Be sure to check it out for yourself this weekend! Click here for more info.

4th Annual Turkish Food Festival
Sat-Sun, April 8-9, 10am-6pm
Cost: FREE!
At:Istanbul Cultural Center (map)
Enjoy Turkish food, culture, and crafts at the 4th Annual Food Festival! There will be plenty of food on hand to try with the purchase of food tickets. Be sure to stop in and sample some great Turkish dishes! Click here for more info.

Mt. Laurel Spring Festival
Sat, April 8, 10am-3pm
Cost: FREE!
At: Mt. Laurel (map)
The Mt Laurel Spring Festival returns offering you the opportunity to shop their largest-ever arts and crafts street fair, savor dishes from the best local food trucks, and enjoy a day strolling the idyllic streets of one of Birmingham’s best neighborhoods! The Festival has something for everyone, including shopping the many artisans, crafts vendors and farmers in the Town Center, and live music on the Bryson Square Stage! Click here for more info.

Mind, Body, Spirit, and Art!
Sat, April 8, 10:30am-5pm
Cost: FREE!
At: Birmingham Museum of Art (map)
This event coincides with International Slow Art Day, celebrated at museums and galleries on all seven continents each year. So far, 158 slow art events will take place around the world on April 8, but the BMA is taking it one step further with an entire weekend of programming devoted to the art of relaxation, including yoga and meditation on Saturday. Put your busy week behind you and unwind with us during Slow Art Weekend 2017! There will also be a presentation of the completed Mandala at 5pm by Lama Deshek! Click here for more info.

7th Annual Girls Inc. Cajun Cook-Off
Sat, April 8, 11am-2pm
Cost: $25
At: Railroad Park (map)
Make plans to attend this casual, family-friendly event featuring a Cajun cooking competition as well as live music in Birmingham’s beautiful Railroad Park. Enjoy taste-testing all your Cajun favorites including gumbo, etouffee, jambalaya, red beans and rice and more! Your vote will help determine the winner of the cook-off competition. Click here for more info.

4th Annual CahabaQue BBQ Cook-Off
Sat, April 8, 12pm-5pm
Cost: $20 (21+) $15 (<21) $5 (12 & Under)
At: Cahaba Brewing Co. (map)
Enjoy delicous beer, amazing food, live music, and good company. Come help decide who gets bragging rights while supporting a great cause. Purchase tickets at cahabaque.com! Online ticket sales will end at 8 pm Friday, April 8th. Tickets will be available at the gate the day of the event. Click here for more info.

Coffee & Espresso 101: Tasting & Discussion
Sat, April 8, 2pm
Cost:$10
At: East 59 Vintage & Cafe (map)
This will be a relaxed coffee tasting & discussion. You will sample 3 different classic brew coffees, one pourover coffee, & one espresso. They will briefly discuss coffee's history, growing process, & brewing techniques. Snacks are provided. Questions are encouraged! Click here for more info.

Haunted Birmingham Trolley Tour
Sat, April 8, 5pm (8pm is SOLD OUT!)
Cost: $25
At: Starts at Cahaba Brewing Co. (map)
This tour is a trolley ride around some historical, and possibly haunted, locations in downtown Birmingham. The historical stories and the ghost stories are intertwined as the Tour Guide spins the tales. The tour begins and ends at Cahaba Brewery in Birmingham, AL. Each stop on the tour has historical relevance in the Birmingham area. Tour stops include Thomas Jefferson/Leer Tower, Arlington Manor (historical tour), Alabama Theater, Lyric Theater, The Tutwiler Hotel, The Redmont Hotel, the old courthouse (YMCA), and the Botanical Gardens. You will learn a lot about what goes bump in the night and experience downtown Birmingham in a whole new way! Click here for more info.

<img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/happenins-in-the-ham/2017/04/park-and-crest-logo-1.jpg" alt="Park and Crest Logo"style="width:200px;height:200px;float:left;padding:0.5em">Park & Crest Collective
Sun, April 9, 11am-3pm
Cost: FREE!
At: Park & Crest (map)
Bluff Park's original market returns Sunday April 9th to On A Shoestring! Fifteen artisans + Taqueria Juarez food truck is bringing authentic Mexican for all to enjoy! You are sure to have a great time and make some great finds! Click here for more info.

B'ham Food Truck Spring Rally
Sun, April 9, 1pm-5pm
Cost: $10
At: Avondale Brewing Co. (map)
More than 20 of Birmingham’s finest mobile eating and business establishments will gather at the 2nd annual Spring Food Truck Rally! It is the coalition’s goal to spread awareness of the fast-paced growth of this movement while helping to enhance and progress the economy of our great city! Click here for more info.

IndiaFest Family Fun Day!
Sunday, April 9, 1:30pm-9pm
Cost: FREE!
At: Alys Stephens Center (map)
Bring the kids and enjoy an afternoon of fun for the entire family! Activities will take place between AEIVA and UAB's Alys Stephens Center and will include visual arts projects for children, Indian mandala coloring for all ages, Indian rangoli making in the Art Plaza, Uma Srivastava’s “Hindu Culture Mythbusters” game, a film screening of Sita Sings the Blues, a violin and tabla demo by Ajay Patel, and an Indian dance demo, food trucks, and MORE! Click here for more info.

**Darter Festival 2017 Sun, April 9, 2pm-6pm Cost: FREE! At: MAKEbhm ([map](https://www.google.com/maps/place/MakeBHM/@33.523342,-86.7775311,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x88891a51126d11b5:0xdd5d10bdd66192e2!8m2!3d33.523342!4d-86.7753424))** The Darter Festival has become a much-anticipated annual event in Birmingham, Alabama. It is a family friendly, festive way to support Turkey Creek Nature Preserve, so come out Sunday to join in on some BIG FUN! Good People is providing Darter Ale and there will be live music by Future Primitives and Dead Fingers! **[Click here for more info.](https://www.facebook.com/events/635716929954488/)**

Jazz in the Park Homewood
Sun, April 9, 3pm-6pm
Cost: FREE!
At: Central Park, Homewood (map)
Jazz in the Park is a free and open concert series to the public that is held in numerous culturally underserved community parks and venues. Bring you family, friends, and pets out to enjoy this free concert in Homewood's Central Park! Click here for more info.