Springtime in Birmingham

Zyp bike at Rotary Trail

The Zyp bike at one end of the Rotary Trail downtown

Birmingham is a fun place to visit all year. But springtime is special.

We emerge from our hibernation to enjoy beautiful days, a generous supply of fresh pollen and a season of festivals and outdoor events. Join us.

Pepper Place Market

Pepper Place Market

Farmer’s markets: Meet the families who grow the best food in Alabama. The biggest one, Pepper Place in Lakeview, begins Saturday. More markets open in May, including Crestline, East Lake, Gardendale, Homewood, Irondale, Linn Park downtown, Pinson, Ross Bridge in Hoover, the Summit on U.S. 280 and Trussville. For more info, see the full list.

Get moving: If you want to exercise while seeing the sights, rent a Zyp bike for an hour or a day. (Tip: If you need a little help, 100 of the 400 bikes have motors at no extra charge.) Stations are located throughout the city (with new ones being added regularly).

If you prefer to hoof it, hit the trails at the new Red Mountain Park or the really new Rotary Trail, which opens Wednesday next to Railroad Park downtown.

And if you haven’t been to Birmingham in awhile, sit down. … In a car. … That’s an Uber! Our city joined the ranks of ride sharing late in 2015. Download the app to catch a quick ride from the new Negro Southern League Museum to Highlands Bar and Grill, a finalist in two categories in this year’s James Beard Foundation Awards.

(Can Zipcar be far behind, now that Huntsville has the car sharing service?)

Magic City Art Connection

Magic City Art Connection

Festival fever: We promised festivals, we have festivals. The Magic City Art Connection will be April 22-24 in Linn Park ($5). Other festivals (all free) include the Mt. Laurel Spring Festival on Saturday; Barons Bash on April 16 in Railroad Park; the Gardendale Magnolia Festival on April 22-23 at the Gardendale Civic Center; Trussville City Fest on May 7 on the Mall; and Do Dah Day on May 14 in Caldwell and Rhodes Parks on Southside.

St. Elias Lebanese Food and Cultural Festival

St. Elias Lebanese Food and Cultural Festival

Food festivals, too: We didn’t forget the many food festivals coming soon. The St. Elias Lebanese Food and Cultural Festival is Friday and Saturday on Southside (free); the Alabama Asian Cultures and Food Festival is Saturday at the Zamora Shrine Temple in Irondale ($8); the Cajun Cookoff is also Saturday in Railroad Park ($20); the Bhamburger Battle is April 15 at Cahaba Brewing ($25); the Turkish Food Festival is April 16-17 at the Istanbul Cultural Center in Hoover (free); the Gumbo Gala is April 23 at Regions Field downtown ($12); Jubilee Joe’s Crawfish Boil is April 23 at Warehouse 31 in Pelham ($22); Corks and Chefs (part of Magic City Art Connection) is April 23 and 24 at Linn Park ($35-$45); and the Feast of Saint Mark Italian Festival is April 30 at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church off U.S. 280 ($25).

More festivals are listed on Birmingham365. And more food festivals are on Happenin’s in the ‘Ham.

Lyric Theatre

The Lyric Theatre

Meet me at the Lyric: The historic Lyric Theatre reopened downtown after a 85-year hiatus. Concerts in April and May include Dr. John, Drive-By Truckers, choirs from Sixth Avenue Baptist Church and Dawson Memorial Baptist Church, Aaron Neville, Taylor Hicks, Taj Mahal, Robert Randolph, John Medeski, North Mississippi Allstars, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors, Citizen Cope and Mavis Staples. See more on the Lyric’s events page.

Play ball: The Birmingham Barons‘ home opener is April 12 at Regions Field against the Tennessee Smokies ($7-$14).

We hope you’ll visit our fair city to experience the warmth and the fun of spring.

Need more ideas for hanging out in Birmingham?
See our travel posts.

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About Wade Kwon

Wade Kwon, chief haiku writer

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