By Shirley Jackson
Alabama State Veterans Memorial Cemetery
The Alabama State Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Spanish Fort will honor the nation’s veterans by hosting a Memorial Day program Monday, May 30. The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. Retired U.S. Air Force Maj. Cathleen E. De La Graza will deliver the keynote address. With the highest degree of dignity and respect, the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs will honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. The state veterans cemetery will conduct a wreath-laying ceremony and folding of an American flag, then have a moment of silence followed by a rifle volley and the playing of taps.
Smith Lake Park Memorial Day Festival
Attend Memorial Day weekend at Smith Lake Park Saturday, May 28 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The festival offers arts and crafts, food vendors and live music. Also, it is opening day for the swimming pool. The pool will have kayaks, canoes and paddle boards available for rent. There will be an additional cost for the pool, camping and rentals. For questions, more information and camping reservations, call 256-739-2916 or follow on Facebook.
Alabama Symphony Orchestra
In honor of Memorial Day, the Alabama Symphony Orchestra (ASO) will present a special three-day celebration May 27-29 at Railroad Park in Birmingham:
- May 27 – Symphonic Spectacular at 8 p.m. ASO will play a Dvorak symphony, as well as works by American composers, including Birmingham native Brian Raphael Nabors.
- May 28 – A Midsummer Night’s Dream & More at 8 p.m. Performances include music by Mendelssohn and works by Sibelius and Beethoven.
- May 29 – Family Fun Day at 6 p.m. The weekend concludes with a variety of work, including patriotic music. ASO concertmaster Daniel Szasz will make a solo appearance.
For more information, visit alabamasymphony.org.
American Village
Remember America’s fallen at an 11 a.m. service in the Colonial Chapel, followed by a wreath-laying at the National Veterans Shrine in Montevallo. Explore the 188-acre American Village campus, including replicas of George Washington’s Mount Vernon, the Oval Office, Concord Bridge and the West Wing of Independence Hall. Family-friendly activities are offered Monday, May 30 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. To learn more, visit americanvillage.org.
Birmingham Stallions
The Birmingham Stallions will face the Pittsburgh Maulers at 1 p.m. and the Philadelphia Stars will face the Houston Gamblers at 5 p.m. Saturday, May 29 at Protective Stadium. Click here for the complete schedule. Buy tickets here. Follow the Birmingham Stallions on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Red Mountain Entertainment
Weekend concerts include:
- May 27 – Phish, The Wharf Amphitheater in Orange Beach.
- May 27 – Widespread Panic, The Orion Amphitheater in Huntsville.
- May 28 – Flashback Funkfest with Cameo, S.O.S. Band, Midnight Star, Lakeside and Dazz Band, Tuscaloosa Amphitheater.
- May 28 – Phish, The Wharf Amphitheater in Orange Beach.
- May 28 – Widespread Panic, The Orion Amphitheater in Huntsville.
- May 29 – Phish, The Wharf Amphitheater in Orange Beach.
- May 29 – Widespread Panic, The Orion Amphitheater in Huntsville.
For more shows, visit redmountainentertainment.
HBCU SpringComing Festival
After seven years of celebrating the legacy and experiences of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU), the New York-based HBCU SpringComing Festival is coming to Birmingham for the first time. The annual, weeklong festival celebrates the HBCU experience through events, scholarships, panels and service activities May 27-29. Festivities include an innovation lab, wine and jazz mixer, comedy show and a tour of the historic civil rights district. The festival will take place in concert with the SWAC Baseball Tournament at Regions Field through Sunday, May 29. Events will span the city, taking place at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, Railroad Park and the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama (Parkside District), Boutwell Auditorium, Birmingham Museum of Art and George Ward Park. In addition, 25 book scholarships of $1,000 each will be given away to Birmingham Promise students attending HBCUs in the fall.
Pepsi Beach Ball Drop
Take part in the Pepsi Beach Ball Drop Friday, May 27 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at The Wharf in Orange Beach. More than 4,000 beach balls will fall from the sky at 4:30 p.m. Entertainment includes a surf simulator, bouncy house, bubble zone, rock wall, face painting and camel rides. During the drop, there will be a designated area for children ages 5 and younger to safely grab beach balls. Be sure to check the balls for a letter and stop by The Wharf tent for a chance to win prizes from Pepsi. Stick around to see the Spectra Laser Light Experience at 7 p.m. Admission is free. The event will be live streamed at WKRG News 5. Get the full details here.
The Marvelous Wonderettes
Meet and learn about the lives and loves of Betty Jean, Cindy Lou, Missy and Suzy, four girls with hopes and dreams as big as their crinoline skirts, in the smash off-Broadway hit “The Marvelous Wonderettes” at Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery. When the Wonderettes reunite to perform at their 10-year reunion, we learn about the highs and lows the girls have experienced in the past decade and are charmed to find that no matter what life throws their way, they will conquer it together. The production will feature more than 30 classic ’50s and ’60s hits, including “Lollipop,” “Dream Lover” and “Lipstick on Your Collar.” Performances are underway through Sunday, June 26. Read the COVID-19 Policy for Patrons before purchasing a ticket.
Magic City Fashion Week
Enjoy the Magic City Fashion Week (MCFW) pre-show Thursday, May 26 at Saks Fifth Avenue at The Summit in Birmingham. Sustainability and luxury collide as high-end designs are paired with looks from community partner Bib & Tucker Sew Op, upcycle designs from Tryna B Studios by Leslie Gomez with styling by Funmi Ford. Cocktails will be available at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7:15 p.m. Admission is free, but registration is required. The pre-show precedes Magic City Fashion Week Season SZN IV: The World Is Watching June 9-10 at the Birmingham Museum of Art. For details about the pre-show, go here. For upcoming shows, follow this link.
The Park at OWA in Foley will honor Memorial Day weekend May 27-29 with live music, fireworks, patriotic activities and kids crafts. Festivities begin Friday at 2 p.m. with custom handprint flag T-shirts, cornhole and a patriotic scavenger hunt throughout downtown OWA. Stick around when the sun goes down for the return of Island Movie Nights featuring “The Iron Giant” at 7 p.m. on OWA Island. Activities continue throughout the weekend on Saturday with live music on OWA Island. Music begins at 3 p.m. with Kyle Dorriety, followed by High Time Band at 5 p.m. and Tobacco Rd Band at 7 p.m. The weekend culminates on Sunday with a special Baldwin Pops symphony concert performance at the downtown OWA Splash Pad at 5 p.m. in remembrance of fallen soldiers. Closing out the weekend-long celebration will be a performance from The Molly Ringwalds on OWA Island at 7 p.m. Hours and dates for all activities are subject to change.
