Melanie Cade, a homeschooling mother from the Birmingham area, says Juneteenth is important for all. Her children are seen at the Black Lives Matter memorial in Birmingham. (Provided)
By Cherith Glover Fluker | For the Birmingham Times
Juneteenth, short for June Nineteenth, marks the day in 1865 when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to enforce the freedom of enslaved people. This came two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation had already declared them free.
The delay itself tells a story of suppressed information, deliberate resistance, and the long, complicated distance between a promise and its fulfillment.
That story is why Juneteenth is considered the longest-running African American holiday in the United States. Texas recognized it first, making it an official state holiday in 1979. The rest of the country caught up in 2021, when Juneteenth became a federal holiday.
For many Black Americans, that milestone felt long overdue.
For Talladega native Leslie Rowls, July 4th was never really her holiday. “It was a day of ‘Independence’ that was not meant for people who look like me,” she said. Juneteenth is a different story.
She and her family celebrate Juneteenth with cookouts, T-shirts, and a poolside celebration. “I celebrate Juneteenth because it truly is a celebration of freedom for Black Americans.”
LaDarrius “LHUT” Hutcherson. (Provided)
Local lifestyle creator and community voice LaDarrius Hutcherson — known across platforms as “LHUT” — has witnessed the growth of Juneteenth firsthand. His connection to the holiday deepened around 2020, when the COVID shutdown and a national reckoning with racial injustice pushed him to learn more.
“Juneteenth became much more than a holiday to me,” he said. “It became a reminder of strength, endurance and how far Black Americans have come despite so many obstacles.”
He’s brought that energy into the city by attending and participating in festivals, community gatherings, and cultural events. Last year, he was a special guest in Birmingham’s inaugural Juneteenth parade downtown.
“You could genuinely feel the pride, unity, and energy throughout the city,” he said. He also hosted a karaoke event and ran a Juneteenth giveaway, using his platform to draw people into the celebration.
Hutcherson’s advice for anyone in Birmingham who wants to honor the day but doesn’t know where to start: show up. “Attend a festival, support a Black-owned business, hear local speakers, learn more about the history or spend time in spaces that are uplifting the culture and the community,” he said. “Days like this grow through participation.”
Fred “Bud” Taylor, Jr., was born to formerly enslaved people in Greensboro, Alabama. (Provided)
For Melanie Cade, a homeschooling mother from the Birmingham area, that recognition is deeply personal — and deeply rooted in family. Her great-grandfather, Fred “Bud” Taylor, Jr., was born to formerly enslaved people in Greensboro, Alabama, about 45 minutes outside the city. He lived until 1992. “Slavery was so close to my generation that I could literally touch it, in a sense,” she said.
Cade didn’t learn about Juneteenth growing up. Her teachers never taught it in her central Alabama public schools. That changed when she became an adult. “Once I learned about the holiday, Juneteenth became an integral part of our family’s celebrations and traditions,” she said, “and additionally became a personal acknowledgment of my own family’s lineage and history.”
Her family’s celebration is intentional. They set the day aside to revisit their own history, attend Juneteenth events, and support Black-owned businesses. The day also includes soul food, with a particular emphasis on red foods and drinks that honor the resilience and bloodshed of enslaved ancestors.
“There is no wrong way to celebrate Juneteenth,” she said, “but we make it meaningful.”
She points to the words her late grandfather, James A. Taylor, Sr., used to repeat: “You can’t know where you’re going if you don’t know where you’ve been.” For Cade, Juneteenth is what connects the delayed freedom of 1865 to the ongoing struggle for civil rights today.
“Studying history reveals that emancipation immediately gave way to Reconstruction, followed by the systemic oppression of the Jim Crow Era,” she said, “making the ongoing fight for civil and human rights just as relevant in 2026 as it was in 1865.”
For those in Birmingham ready to begin their own Juneteenth traditions, Cade suggests starting close to home, particularly in the Civil Rights District. The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, the A.G. Gaston Motel, Kelly Ingram Park: these spaces hold the history in a way that puts Juneteenth in full context.
“I feel as though everyone should know about June 19th of 1865, just as much as we know about 1776 and the 4th of July,” she said. “It is all American history.”
Across all of these voices, a common thread emerges: Juneteenth is a bridge between the promise of American liberty and the lived reality of Black Americans, between history and the present, between remembrance and joy.
Melanie and Richard Cade are seen outside the famed Dooky Chase’s Restaurant in New Orleans, Louisiana. The couple took a trip to New Orleans to mark Juneteenth. (Provided)
Attorney and educator Gigi Hayes and longtime political organizer LaTonya Millhouse advanced to the runoff in the May primary. (File)
By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times
Voters in Alabama House District 52 will return to the polls on June 16 to decide who will represent the district in Montgomery after two challengers emerged from a crowded Democratic primary and unseated incumbent Rep. Kelvin Datcher in one of the election cycle’s biggest surprises.
Attorney and educator Gigi Hayes and longtime political organizer LaTonya Millhouse advanced to the runoff after both outperformed Datcher in the May primary, setting up a contest between two candidates who say they are best equipped to address the needs of a district that includes portions of Birmingham, Fairfield, Homewood and Mountain Brook.
While both candidates have emphasized community engagement and economic opportunity, they have offered different visions for how to move District 52 forward.
Hayes, an attorney, educator and community advocate, has built her campaign around improving public safety, strengthening educational opportunities and expanding economic growth throughout the district. In a March interview with Urbanham.com, Hayes described her commitment to creating safer neighborhoods and increasing opportunities for families while drawing on her experience in law, education and business leadership.
Hayes has also highlighted her work in the community and her desire to bring practical solutions to issues affecting residents throughout District 52.
Millhouse, meanwhile, points to more than three decades of community involvement and political activism as evidence of her commitment to the district.
“I have a couple things that I wanted to highlight, and that is my communication, my community service and my dedication to the community,” Millhouse told The Birmingham Times. “I’ve been involved over 30 years in the community.”
A lifelong resident of the area, Millhouse said her roots in District 52 give her a unique understanding of both its history and its challenges.
“I’ve lived in the district all of my life,” she said. “I know a lot of the history about the district, a lot of the things that transpired in the past. And a lot of the reasons why we’re here in the situation we’re in, and so I feel like that history and that experience will put me in a better position to serve the district.”
Economic development and workforce preparation remain central to Millhouse’s platform. She said she wants to focus on creating opportunities that help residents build sustainable careers and strengthen local communities.
“My plan is I would like to focus on pathways instead of pipelines,” she said. “District 52 is rich in history. We need investment in small business. Pathways instead of pipelines. I am going to support working families.”
Millhouse also said she wants to prioritize affordable housing, access to healthcare and resources for returning citizens through what she calls a “Ready Day One” initiative. The program would help formerly incarcerated individuals secure identification documents and other necessities before reentering the workforce.
As voters prepare to cast their ballots, Millhouse said she hopes residents remember that her campaign is rooted in long-term community service rather than political ambition.
“District 52 is my home. It’s not a campaign stepping stone or a political opportunity,” she said.
The runoff comes at a pivotal moment for District 52, where residents have expressed concerns about economic development, neighborhood investment, education and public services. Both candidates say they are prepared to advocate for the district’s needs in Montgomery, but each argues that her experience makes her uniquely qualified for the role.
For Hayes, that argument centers on her professional background as an attorney and educator and her focus on policy solutions aimed at improving quality of life for families across the district.
For Millhouse, the distinction lies in her decades of community involvement and firsthand knowledge of the district’s history and residents.
“If they stand for me, I am definitely going to stand for them for the next four years,” Millhouse said.
The winner of the June 16 runoff will become the Democratic nominee for House District 52 and will move one step closer to representing the district in the Alabama Legislature.
Polls will be open Tuesday, June 16, and voters who participated in the Democratic primary will be eligible to vote in the Democratic runoff.
XplusWear brand Ambassador Angel Mechelle walks the runway at last year’s Birmingham Full Figured Fashion Week (BFFFW). (Provided)
By Ameera Steward | The Birmingham Times
Runway walks, beauty panels, and style lessons — all draped in the idea that fashion is for every body. The Magic City can look forward to all this and much more during this year’s Birmingham Full Figured Fashion Week (BFFFW), set for the week of June 14.
“This week-long event celebrates diversity and inclusivity, showcasing the beauty and talent of full-figured individuals,” said La’Toya Nicole Fletcher, founder of BFFFW.
From Sunday, June 14 to Saturday, June 20, Birmingham fashion lovers will have the chance to view garments by designers such as Tanya Nawlinschild Augustine, Kyoka Akers, Mojave Mufasa, Sharon Clayton Wright, Pamela Saltmarch, Derrick Anderson, Vontareica Danae, Lisa Blue and more.
Modeling, Makeup and More
La’Toya Nicole Fletcher
Fletcher, 49, was raised in Muscoda — a community located in Bessemer — where she developed a love for shopping by watching her mom work in retail. In addition, she and her mom, Autrey Lee Williams Fletcher, regularly watched the prime-time soap opera Dynasty.
“We really loved the fashion of Dynasty…the wigs…the makeup…the clothes,” Fletcher said. “We loved anything that Dominique Deveraux [the character played by Diahann Carroll] and Alexis Carrington Colby [the character played by Joan Collins] wore.”
She added, “Diahann Carroll was our fashion icon…just seeing a beautiful, stunning Black woman on a prime-time network with the number one show…at that time…carry her own and…steal the scenes…was just flawless.
Fletcher also enjoyed playing in makeup, so much so that she became a professional makeup artist in 1999.
“I started modeling professionally…and my makeup artist at the time was…the manager at the Fashion Fair counter in the Galleria [Mall] and I couldn’t always get [in touch with] her and vice versa, so I asked her to teach me the basics,” Fletcher said. Eventually, a photographer friend or hers began to call on Fletcher to serve as the makeup artist for his jobs.
Despite her busy career as both a model and a makeup artist, Fletcher graduated with a degree in biology from Miles College and the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2004.
“It’s a Ministry”
Although Fletcher has taken different directions within her career path, it was modeling that led her to where and who she is today.
In 2017, in the midst of her modeling career, she began to notice how plus-sized models were treated in the fashion industry.
“Sometimes I would…be the biggest model in the room or…the only,” she said. “I participated in fashion weeks that were catered toward curvy or plus-sized models, and I saw the treatment – it was different…Behind the scenes, I would have some harsh things said to me,” as if her size were a problem when being dressed or measured.
Her experiences led her to long for a fashion week where people could enjoy fashion while feeling included and safe.
“I was like, Birmingham really needs this,” Fletcher said. “So I had been writing down the vision, making it plain,” and through seven years of preparation, she was able to host her first Birmingham Full Figured Fashion Week in 2024.
“Everybody doesn’t look alike…we need to educate people on that…One thing about Birmingham Full Figured Fashion Week…we want to spread positivity and self-love,” Fletcher expressed.
In addition to providing a space full of positivity and self-love, Fletcher also provides scholarships to high school and college students through BFFFW. This year, she and her team will be awarding four scholarships.
The 2026 BFFFW scholarship recipients are: Madisyn Briann McIntosh of Minor High School, Aylivia Peyton Robinson of Minor High School, Trinity Lewis of Brewbaker Technology Magnet High School, and Sa’Maaya Lawrence of Alabama State University.
They also take donations to provide the scholarship recipients with dorm room essentials. “We want to bless them and surprise them with that this year,” she said.
“It’s a ministry,” Fletcher continued. “It’s more than just a fashion week. We have outreach…where we go out and teach people about having a growth mindset, and…we educate people on body positivity…anti-bullying, love, and paying that forward.”
To learn more, visit birminghamfullfiguredfashionweek.com.
Kickoff Celebration, located at Miles College Pearson Hall Auditorium
The kickoff celebration and conference will feature conversations on body positivity, growth, mental and physical health, education, and ways to support the community. There will also be small fashion shows and light entertainment, as well as an award presentation for survivors of gun violence.
Monday | June 14 | 12:45 pm
BFFFW on WBRC Fox 6 News
Tuesday | June 16 | 4 pm to 7 pm
‘Plus Size Gives Back,’ located at Ashley Stewart, 1632 Montclair Rd. #100
In partnership with Ashley Stewart, BFFFW will host a fashion show as well as a moment for Ashley Stewart customers to be styled in their Summer 2026 line.
Wednesday | June 17 | 12 pm and 7 pm to 9 pm
BFFFW on CBS 42 News
‘Pose: A Night of Networking & Getting the Facts About the Entertainment Industry’ located at Image Hive, 212 41st Street South
Presented by BFFFW and Red Models & Talent Agency, this event will feature a testimonial by one of Red Models & Talent’s signed actors/actresses, a beauty panel, and a lesson on style from a professional stylist.
Thursday | June 18 | 8 pm to 10 pm
‘Street Fashion: How Urban Influences Are Shaping High Fashion,’ located at Faces Lounge, 7070 Aaron Aronov Drive
A fashion show focused on the latest trends in street fashion, from casual wear to club wear.
Saturday | June 20 | 4 pm to 8 pm (red carpet at 3:15 pm)
The Third Annual BFFFW – “The Homecoming Edition” Fashion Show, located at the Southern Museum of Flight, 4343 73rd Street N
A showcase of the latest fashion and trends from notable fashion designers, online boutiques, and national clothing store chains. There will also be a concert featuring talented local artists and the presentation of a $250 academic scholarship award.
A.H. Parker High School, in Alabama Power’s Birmingham Division, won first place and $5,000 in the Grid Games Energy Hackathon. (Provided)
By Shirley Jackson | Alabama NewsCenter
The future of energy was on full display as 10th-grade high school students from across Alabama recently took part in the inaugural Grid Games, an Alabama high school energy hackathon powered by Alabama Power.
Alabama Power’s Strategic Implementation department led the hackathon, partnering with Community Relations and the Alabama Power Foundation. Alabama Power Service Organization volunteers served as pitch coaches and mentors, working alongside the students to refine their ideas and prepare strong presentations.
Built as a collaborative innovation challenge, this day-long, STEM-focused competition drove the development of inspired creative solutions for real-world problems impacting communities and utility providers.
The hackathon supported Alabama Power’s core commitments in these areas:
STEM Education & Workforce Development: Engages students in energy and technology challenges, building teamwork and innovation skills.
Innovation & Sustainability: Promotes solutions that reduce energy waste and support clean energy.
Community Engagement: Strengthens relationships with schools and families.
Technology & Digital Transformation: Exposes students to tech-driven thinking aligned with Alabama Power’s modernization efforts.
Inclusion: Expands access to STEM opportunities for diverse students statewide.
Students were tasked with developing an energy-efficient, 400- to 600-square-foot tiny home for a rural Alabama family, balancing climate, comfort and budget constraints.
“We are proud to promote STEM education and provide information about careers in energy,” said Jessica White, project coordinator for Alabama Power. “These impressionable high school 10th-grade students are not just getting to high school, but they’re right there in the middle where they’re starting to think about what they want to do in their future careers. This is a great opportunity to serve as a mentor and to help guide them in the right direction.”
Alabama Power’s six divisions included first round regional competitions from Birmingham, Eastern, Mobile, Southeast, Southern and Western areas of the state between March 31 and April 9.
Division winners received awards and advanced to the April 30 state competition at Alabama Power’s Corporate Headquarters.
The remaining high schools (Citronelle from Mobile Division, Sylacauga from Eastern Division and G.W. Carver from Southern Division) received $500 awards for each of their schools.
“We are beyond excited to have had this opportunity to participate in this new venture with such a great leadership team and amazing volunteers,” said White. “We are looking forward to more hackathon challenges in the future. Until then, we will be using this experience to enhance our ideas and build even stronger concepts.”
Awards were presented to division Grid Games winners at the state competition:
1st Place: A.H. Parker High School from Birmingham Division received $5,000.
2nd Place: Jasper High School from Western Division received $2,500.
3rd Place: Eufaula High School from Southeast Division received $1,500.
G.W. Carver High School in Alabama Power’s Southern Division, received $500 in the Grid Games Energy Hackathon. (Provided)
Dakarai Larriett and Everett Wess will face off on June 16 after a close primary on May 19. (Provided)
By Mia Watkins | The Birmingham Times
A former judge and a businessman are asking Alabamians for their vote in the Democratic Party primary runoff for U.S. Senate next week.
Dakarai Larriett and Everett Wess will face off on June 16 after a close primary on May 19, where Wess received 39% of the votes, while Larriett followed closely behind with 29%.
Larriett said his decision to run hinged on his being wrongfully arrested while driving through Michigan. The case, in which he said he was tortured by state police and body cam footage showed police officers trying to plant drugs in his car, spurred him to focus on the main pillars of his campaign: education, healthcare and economic opportunity.
“As I started traveling in Alabama and talking to people, I realized, not only do we have a broken criminal justice system here in Alabama, Michigan and all over the country, it’s all those systems that feed into it,” Larriett said. “If we could fix those things on the front end, the criminal justice issues really go away.”
Education as the Great Equalizer
Better education options break the poverty cycle, according to Larriett. Investing in education early ensures that every child in the state gets opportunities to further their education. He said his start at the Alabama School of Fine Arts, followed by a full ride to the University of Alabama propelled his career into supply chain management at major brands such as L’Oreal and Louis Vuitton.
If elected, he wants to reestablish a fully funded Department of Education and make higher education more affordable.
“I want everyone to be able to get an education with opportunity, not debt,” he said. “So you’re graduating and starting your life, not just saddled with debt.”
Larriett’s opponent, attorney and former judge Everett Wess, also lists education as a priority in his campaign.
Wess studied at Selma University and Alabama A&M University. He received his law degree from the Birmingham School of Law. He also wants to strengthen the Department of Education so that other students can continue to get funding to further their education.
“I think it’s important and vital to have a Department of Education so that grants can be provided, so that student loans can be provided,” he said. “Education gives people the chance to be successful in life and do positive things in society. Once they get that proper education, that takes us into jobs.”
Wess, who initially began his career as a software engineer at places like NASA, said that the stability of government jobs is also important. He cites the cuts to federal jobs by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) at the beginning of the current administration as a destabilizing factor.
“That’s not good for our economy,” he said. “That does not create a safe environment. People have mortgages and rent and have to pay their bills.”
Wess said that he hadn’t planned on running for Senate but decided to after observing the current political climate.
“The lack of civility that’s going on, it just seemed like Congress wasn’t exercising their duties in the way that the Constitution contemplated,” he said. “I just wanted to offer myself to represent the people of Alabama and try to get us back to civility.”
Closing the Healthcare Gap
In addition to education and the restoration of civility, he also wants to focus on healthcare, especially in rural communities.
“We have some places where it may take rural citizens an hour or two to get to a doctor or hospital,” Wess said. “I want to work on providing federal funding so that we can have more healthcare availability in rural areas. We can combine that with making sure that healthcare is available to veterans and incentives for medical providers to be in these areas, as well.”
Larriett said in addition to his career, he’s been at the forefront of healthcare issues, such as fighting the opioid crisis and the HIV epidemic as a senior leader of the Bronx Community Pride Center. He protested President Donald Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill, which caused major changes in eligibility for Medicaid and Medicare recipients. He wants to repeal it if elected.
“Healthcare is just so critical,” he said. “Right now, the ACA (Affordable Care Act) subsidies have expired. Many people that I meet as I travel the state are going without healthcare. Who has an extra $3,000? If you do that for a couple of months, you’re fine. Six months, maybe. But we’re going to start to see epidemics. People are not getting their regular check-ups. That’s very scary for the population.”
The Experience Question
Wess said that his experience as a municipal court judge and prosecutor in Midfield, as well as his time as an Irondale public defender, sets him apart from his opponent.
“I’ve been here as a judge, impartial and making decisions based on information that’s provided,” he said. “I think as a Senator you have to sit, listen to all sides and bring information in and make important decisions that are right for the people of Alabama.”
While Larriett doesn’t have prior government experience, he said his lived experience and career have prepared him to make things happen in D.C.
“No, I don’t have a background in politics, but that’s not what the voters are looking for,” he said. “They’re looking for people who get things done, and that’s what I know how to do. You can see it in my campaign. We’re looking to find a deal for Alabama. I’m looking to make a deal for you, not to be partisan or contentious.”
Birmingham will commemorate Juneteenth throughout June with a range of events across the city. (File)
By Cherith Glover Fluker | For the Birmingham Times
Birmingham will commemorate Juneteenth throughout June with a range of events across the city.
This year, celebrations stretch from America’s oldest ballpark to Kelly Ingram Park, where the Civil Rights Movement made its stand.
What binds these events together is not only a shared date on the calendar. It is a shared refusal to let history settle quietly.
Juneteenth in Birmingham carries a weight that few other American cities can match. This is a city where the struggle for civil rights was publicly, violently and visibly contested. It is where children marched, where churches were bombed, where fire hoses were turned on people whose only offense was demanding to be treated as human beings. It is also where those people won.
The legal framework that defines American freedom today, notably the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act, owes part of its shape to what happened on these streets.
Alabama took a meaningful step last year when Gov. Ivey signed Juneteenth into law as the state’s 16th official paid holiday. The celebrations this year are, in part, a recognition of that progress and a reminder of how much advocacy it took to get here.
Years of organizing by legislators, community leaders and advocates who understood that recognition, even when it comes late, matters.
Freedom declared is not always freedom delivered. Birmingham knows that better than most. And so, year after year, the city shows up to remember what it cost, and to celebrate, without apology, what it looks like now.
Here is a look at what the city has planned:
For the third consecutive year, Major League Baseball has chosen Birmingham and Juneteenth as the setting for its East-West Classic. (File)
East-West Classic at Rickwood Field
Friday, June 19. Home Run Derby at noon; game at 1 p.m. CT. at Rickwood Field. General admission: $12 at mlb.com/rickwood. Free parking at Legion Field with shuttle service provided.
For the third consecutive year, Major League Baseball has chosen Birmingham and Juneteenth as the setting for its East-West Classic — a tribute to the Negro Leagues All-Star Games held from 1933 to 1962. The event returns to Rickwood Field, the oldest professional ballpark in America.
Hall of Famer CC Sabathia will captain the West and former All-Star Chris Young will be at the helm of the East, with managers Jerry Hairston Sr. and Jesse Barfield also on the field. The combined roster spans 276 Major League seasons, with eight World Series titles, 49 All-Star appearances, 24 Silver Slugger Awards, a Cy Young Award and 10 Gold Gloves among its participants.
The festivities begin with a Home Run Derby at noon, followed by the first pitch at 1 p.m.
Built in 1910, Rickwood Field was home to the Birmingham Black Barons from 1924 through 1960 and where a teenage Willie Mays began his professional career.
“We truly appreciate the opportunity to go back to Birmingham on Juneteenth,” Young said. “There’s no better place to honor the legends who helped build the foundation of our game.”
MLB will also host a Juneteenth PLAY BALL event at the newly refurbished Willie Mays Park in Fairfield.
“East-West Classic: All Access” will air on the MLB Network on Saturday, June 27 at 1 p.m. ET.
On June 19, Kelly Ingram Park will host the Official National Juneteenth of Alabama Commemoration, organized by Brenda Paige Ward, the Official National Juneteenth State Director of Alabama. (File)
Official National Juneteenth of Alabama Commemoration
Friday, June 19. Parade lineup at 8 a.m.; commemoration from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Kelly Ingram Park, 500 17th St. N.
There may be no more fitting backdrop for Juneteenth than Kelly Ingram Park. In the spring of 1963, the park was the stage for some of the Civil Rights Movement’s most pivotal and painful scenes. Police turned fire hoses and dogs on marchers, and photographers captured images that would shift a nation’s conscience and ultimately help break the back of legal segregation.
On June 19, that same ground will host the Official National Juneteenth of Alabama Commemoration, organized by Brenda Paige Ward, the Official National Juneteenth State Director of Alabama.
The day opens with a parade at 9 a.m., with the lineup beginning at 8 a.m. The full commemoration follows from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and will include vendors, food trucks, dancers, antique and classic cars, bikers, horses and stop-the-violence banners.
This year’s commemoration marks a milestone. In June 2025, Gov. Kay Ivey signed the Alabama Juneteenth Bill into law, making Juneteenth the state’s 16th official paid state holiday. June 19, 2026, is the first time Alabamians will observe the holiday with full legal recognition.
Organizers expect this year’s commemoration to be among the most expansive yet.
The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. (File)
Juneteenth Jubilee: A District-Wide Celebration
Friday, June 19. Block party from 1 to 8 p.m. Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, 520 16th St. N; 16th Street Baptist Church, 1530 Sixth Ave. N; A.G. Gaston Motel, 1510 Fifth Ave. N. Free admission at all historic sites.
This year, Birmingham’s Civil Rights District is doing something new for Juneteenth. Rather than a collection of separate events happening near one another, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, 16th Street Baptist Church, the National Park Service and the A.G. Gaston Motel have joined forces to create a unified, district-wide experience called Juneteenth Jubilee. This gives visitors the chance to move freely through some of the most historically significant blocks in the South, all in a single day.
For Deborah Bowie, the new president and CEO of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, this particular Juneteenth carries personal weight.
“This celebration means a great deal to me personally because, in many ways, returning to the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute feels like coming home,” Bowie said. “The community has welcomed me with open arms, and in a relatively short period of time, we’ve already seen what is possible when people come together around a shared vision.”
The programming spans the full district. The BCRI’s galleries will be open and free to the public from noon to 4 p.m., with gallery entry ending at 3:15 p.m.
The 16th Street Baptist Church Museum will open its galleries free of charge from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The National Park Service will offer two free guided tours of the Civil Rights National Monument at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Space is limited to 25 people per tour, and registration is required.
At the A.G. Gaston Motel, the gallery will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., with Alicia’s Coffee serving from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and The Gift Shop on 5th will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
From 1 to 8 p.m., portions of 16th Street North and Fifth Avenue will be closed for a block party featuring food trucks, vendors, live music, dancing, and community organizations gathered in what organizers are calling a Community Village — a space where residents can connect with nonprofits, civic groups and others doing work across Birmingham.
Families will find a dedicated kids’ zone with face painting, hands-on activities centered on growing and cultivating from the earth, and sports mascots. Kulture City will bring its sensory van on-site. Ebony Arrington, owner of Ebony Arrington Dance & Performance, will lead line dancing from 5 to 7 p.m.
The centerpiece of this year’s event, however, is something Bowie is clearly proud of: an activation called Joy in Bloom, born from a discovery her team made while researching the history of Juneteenth itself.
“As our team was researching the history of Juneteenth celebrations, we came across photographs and accounts from early 20th-century Texas communities celebrating what was often called Jubilee Day,” Bowie said. “People dressed in their finest clothes gathered for parades and rode in horse-drawn carriages beautifully adorned with flowers. There was something incredibly moving about those images. They reminded us that joy has always been part of the story.”
Joy in Bloom will feature a floral-adorned carriage inspired by those early Jubilee Day celebrations, with a professional photographer on site to capture portraits that attendees can receive digitally, with optional prints available on-site. Interpretive panels will share the history behind the installation, so the photo opportunity becomes a learning moment as much as a keepsake.
“What I love most is that it’s more than just a photo opportunity to share on Instagram or Facebook. It’s a learning moment about the significance of Juneteenth and its historical relevance to today,” Bowie said. “It feels like a beautiful way to connect past and present and to celebrate freedom in the same spirit of joy, pride and community that generations before us embraced.”
Bowie is also clear-eyed about why celebrating Juneteenth in this particular district carries meaning that cannot be replicated elsewhere.
“When you stand in the Civil Rights District, you’re standing in a place where ordinary people made extraordinary sacrifices in the pursuit of freedom and justice,” she said.
“A Vibe Called Black” is a black-tie soirée hosted by the Past Present Future Organization, founded by sisters Olivia Anthony and Jennifer Anthony Williams. (Provided)
A Vibe Called Black
Saturday, June 20. Guest arrival at 7:30 p.m. Awards Ceremony at 8:00 p.m. Birmingham Museum of Art, 2000 Rev. Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd. Tickets at Eventbrite. Attire: All-black, cocktail preferred.
Now in its third year, “A Vibe Called Black” is a black-tie soirée hosted by the Past Present Future Organization, founded by sisters Olivia Anthony and Jennifer Anthony Williams to bridge generational divides within Birmingham’s Black community.
The event was born from a vision rooted in family and purpose, and its origins are as personal as its mission.
“This event was inspired by our mother, Felicia Anthony, who had a vision to celebrate Black entrepreneurs doing incredible work in our city, yet often going unrecognized for their impact,” said Anthony. “She brought the two of us, along with her best friend Donna Thomas, together for a simple lunch that turned into something much bigger. Her intention was clear: to merge generations in one room.”
The evening begins the moment guests arrive. There’s champagne and mingling in the museum’s galleries before guests are escorted into the main hall for a program honoring four outstanding Black entrepreneurs. Then comes the celebration: dancing, connection and, in the words of Anthony, “bridging the gap for yourself, your business, and your legacy.”
This year’s honorees represent a cross-section of Birmingham’s community builders. Royal Boles uses her podcast, “Under Construxtion,” to amplify those making a difference across the city. Quincy Moore has built his legacy through his barbershop and now an expanding media presence. Rev. Dr. Kurt Clark Sr. is a pastor and visionary leader creating change within his church and community. And Jacobie Williams continues to invest in Birmingham’s youth, helping them reach their potential.
Each honoree will receive a proceeds award as part of the evening.
“Last year, our honorees had no idea they would be receiving a proceeds award,” said Williams. “Seeing their genuine reactions, the overwhelming emotion in the room — it was unforgettable. We cried too.”
“A Vibe Called Black” is a black-tie soirée. (Provided)
Last year, more than 300 guests turned the Birmingham Museum of Art into a room where multiple generations of Birmingham’s Black community dressed up, showed up and celebrated together. The sisters believe that kind of turnout tells a story about what the city is hungry for.
“We truly believe Birmingham is craving moments to get dressed up and step fully into who they are,” Williams said. “People want to be in rooms with other like-minded, goal-oriented individuals. While we’re celebrating Black culture, this is also about unity. We welcome everyone into the room, because it takes collective support to elevate Black entrepreneurs to their highest level.”
Juneteenth Family Fun Celebration
Friday, June 19, 3:00 p.m. to 7 p.m. Warehouse 1701. 1701 Ave. E, Ensley, Birmingham 35218. Free and open to the public. Bring your lawn chairs.
Birmingham’s Juneteenth calendar has a new addition this year. The first Juneteenth Family Fun Celebration is exactly what it sounds like: a family-friendly afternoon in Ensley with music, food vendors, raffles, bounce houses and a kids’ corner. Event Organizer Sanchelle Rankin says guests can expect a laid-back and welcoming vibe. The event is open to everyone.
“Kids’ corner will be a great place for children to play while their parents shop and sit down and relax and enjoy the nice vibes,” Rankin said. “I hope everyone will have a great fun and cultural experience.”
For Rankin, this event is personal. Growing up, she remembers traveling to Philadelphia every Fourth of July to visit her grandparents, where her grandfather threw a block party for the neighborhood. That memory stuck with her and eventually became the inspiration for this new event in Birmingham.
“Juneteenth to me is a time for celebration for family, friends and the community to come together and celebrate our freedom as our ancestors did,” Rankin said. “I always think about that memory as a little girl, so I said why not bring my grandfather’s vision together for Juneteenth.”
Kiwanis Club of Vulcan — Sips & Scholarships Juneteenth Brunch
Sunday, June 14, 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Alcove Birmingham. 1713 4th Ave N. Birmingham 35203. Tickets at Eventbrite.
The Kiwanis Club of Vulcan is back for its 4th annual Sips & Scholarships Juneteenth Brunch, a fundraiser event. What began as a vision to serve has grown into a tradition of impact. The event brings together neighbors, leaders, and families year after year in the spirit of celebration and giving.
It’s an event where raising a glass also means raising money for the next generation of students, and where every seat at the table represents a belief that education is one of the most powerful investments a community can make in its own future.
Tickets are available through Eventbrite.
Magic City Freedom Fest Juneteenth Celebration
Friday, June 19, 2 to 8 p.m. Bodega on 5th, 3401 Fifth Ave. S, Birmingham. Tickets for the indoor event available at Eventbrite. The outdoor street market is free and open to all.
Magic City Freedom Fest Juneteenth Celebration, hosted by the Magic City Freedom Fest Collective and co-hosted by the Black Alumni Network at UAB, brings a marketplace and festival format to Juneteenth with a dual setup designed to welcome a broad audience. The indoor event at Bodega on 5th is 21 and older, while the outdoor vendor and food truck street market — on a blocked-off street outside the venue — is open to families and all ages.
Nathaniel Redus, event organizer, says the event is rooted in a desire to give the holiday the recognition it deserves.
“Juneteenth needs more recognition and opportunities for those who are looking to take pride in its celebration,” Redus said. “Our goal is to bring awareness to the holiday for a day of family and culture.”
Attendees can expect live entertainment alongside vendors, food trucks and artists showcasing their products and skills. Redus says the hope is that the evening creates lasting connections.
“We hope that everyone enjoys a fun and safe experience while being able to engage with strangers to become friends,” he said. “We also look forward to all the local talent and art getting the exposure they deserve.”
The Royalty Experience Juneteenth Day Party & Pop-Up Shop
Saturday, June 20, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastlake Professional Building, 8436 First Ave. N, Birmingham 35206. Free admission. All are welcome.
Presented by Gregory Snodgress of Tru Royalty, the Royalty Experience brings Juneteenth weekend to the Eastlake community with a full day celebrating freedom, unity and empowerment. According to a recent news segment, the event is free and open to everyone, with vendors, live performers, guest speakers, food, games, cultural exhibits, giveaways and a kids’ zone all on the program.
Headlining the event is Alabama’s Kountry O, joined by live performances from Soso the Model and Willie Reed & Guests, with Models by John Reon also on the lineup. Special guest speaker Shon Robinson — motivator, entrepreneur and community leader — takes the stage at 2 p.m.
3rd Annual WHAT MAKES YOU FREE: Art Day at The Ballard House
Wednesday and Thursday, June 17-18, 2026, 10 a.m. -2 p.m. The Ballard House, 1420 7th Avenue, North, Birmingham, AL 35203. Free and open to families with elementary-aged children.
The Ballard House Project, Inc. is excited to host its 3rd Annual WHAT MAKES YOU FREE: Art Day @ The Ballard House. This interactive program, designed for children and families,commemorates Juneteenth and Emancipation for thousands of people of African descent in 1865 America and highlights their continued positive impact on Birmingham and America decades later. Through visual and performing arts activities, along with creating community and gardening projects, children engage in hands-on experiences while learning history that is centered in culture.
“Our history and literacy-based programming highlights the hopes and dreams of African Americans at the crossroads of our country’s history in 1865. This creative event embodies their “Hopeful Vision” for our community and country. We are all members of this descendant community. Through engaging and fun activities, we honor their decisions to create better lives for their families, while taking a stand for their rights of American citizenship,” said Majella Chube Hamilton, Ph.D., Executive Director and Historian.
In this two-day event, several local, multi-generational, visual and performing artists, community leaders and partner organizations will lead interactive art and culture stations on our grounds.
The event is free and open to families with elementary-aged children. More information is available on The Ballard House Project, Inc. website at www.ballardhouseproject.org.
Juneteenth Community Run, Bike or Walk
Friday, June 19, at 6 a.m., under the “Magic City” Rotary Trail sign, at the intersection of 20th Street South and 1st Avenue South, downtown Birmingham
Black People Run, Bike and Swim will host a community event for walkers, runners, bike riders, and cardio seekers that’s dedicated to commemorating and celebrating Juneteenth. Taking place on Friday, June 19, starting at 6 a.m. under the iconic “Magic City” Rotary Trail sign, the event aims to bring the community together to honor African American history, celebrate freedom, and promote health and wellness.
“This is more than just a physical challenge; it is a celebration of resilience and unity,” said Jerri Haslem, founder of Black People Run Bike Swim and a health advocate. “By tying movement to this historic milestone, we are reclaiming space, promoting health, and educating the community on the significance of Freedom Day.”
Haslem said the event’s welcome begins at 6 a.m., with activities beginning at 6:19 a.m., which commemorates August 1619, when a ship arrived in Hampton, Virginia, carrying the first recorded enslaved Africans to English colonies.
Bikers, runners, and walkers can choose from different mileages that equate to important dates such as Congress passing the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850; when the Emancipation Proclamation was declared in 1863; when African Americans gathered in Galveston and finally received word of their freedom in 1865, to when Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021. Participants can choose, for example, to run from 6.19 miles to 7 miles, while cyclers can bike 18 to 50 miles. Walkers can walk 1.7 miles to 6.5 miles. There is also an opportunity for 63 minutes of cardio activity.
For more information, contact Jerri Haslem at 205-542-5391.
For more information on Juneteenth events in Birmingham, contact event organizers directly. The Birmingham Times will update listings as additional details are confirmed.
PAULINE FORD, FOUNDER OF CENTRAL ALABAMA CARIBBEAN AMERICAN ORGANIZATION (CACAO), ABOUT THE ANNUAL MARVEL CITY CARIBBEAN FOOD AND MUSIC FESTIVAL IN DOWNTOWN BESSEMER ON JUNE 6, BIRMINGHAMTIMES, JUNE 8.
On Tuesday, the Birmingham City Council voted on a data center ordinance developed by the Planning, Engineering & Permitting Department. (Adobe Stock)
By Josh Vasa | Birmingham City Council
I’ve received emails, phone calls, text messages, and comments regarding the City Council’s vote on the Data Center Ordinance. Some residents supported the vote. Others strongly opposed it. My goal in writing this is not to convince everyone to agree with me; it is to explain what the vote actually did — and why I voted the way I did.
Birmingham City Councilor Josh Vasa
On Tuesday, the Birmingham City Council voted on a data center ordinance developed by the Planning, Engineering & Permitting Department. I voted yes, along with five of my colleagues. My vote was not a vote for a specific data center project. It was a vote to establish regulations on data centers where none currently exist.
Here’s what this vote was not. One of the biggest misconceptions I’ve heard is that this vote approved the proposed Oxmoor Valley data center project. It did not. That project submitted applications before the Council enacted its moratorium. The ordinance before us created a citywide regulatory framework. It did not approve or deny any specific project.
Why did I vote yes? Much of the public discussion focused on the consequences of passing the ordinance. That is an important conversation. But Council also had to consider the alternative:
What happens if we passed nothing? Based on information presented to the Council — and this is the important part — existing data centers with valid permits may be able to expand under current regulations. Without additional rules in place, those expansions could occur with less oversight than many residents would prefer.
Several residents asked why the Council did not simply amend the ordinance to add additional protections. Under the required legal process, substantive amendments would have required the ordinance to be re-advertised and a new public hearing held, delaying consideration by approximately four weeks.
My concern was that during that delay, existing permitted data centers could request expansions under the current regulatory framework without the additional oversight and standards set forth in the ordinance before us.
In my view, having a regulatory framework in place — even one that can be improved — was better than leaving those gaps unaddressed. Simply put, some regulation was better than no regulation.
Is the ordinance perfect? No. In fact, one of the most consistent messages we heard from residents was that the ordinance should go further. I agree there is more work to do. The ordinance is a starting point, not an ending point.
Among the issues residents have raised:
Stronger noise standards and enforcement, especially with low/inaudible frequencies
Greater setbacks from neighborhoods
Public hearing opportunities
Ongoing environmental monitoring and compliance reviews
These are important concerns and should continue to be part of future discussions.
What comes next? The public hearing demonstrated something important: Birmingham residents care deeply about how our city grows. The emails, phone calls, public comments, and community conversations should continue to shape future revisions.
This vote was not a declaration that the work is finished. It was a recognition that the absence of regulation was not the better option.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to engage in this process. Even when we disagree, thoughtful civic engagement makes Birmingham stronger.
Councilor Josh Vasa represents District 3 on the Birmingham City Council. He was sworn into office last fall and now serves as Co-Chair of the Council’s Planning and Zoning Committee. Councilor Vasa has worked with numerous nonprofits and played a foundational role in Birmingham’s civic and cultural landscape.
Among the headliners for the OG Orchestra Tour was No Limit legend Mia X. (Marika N. Johnson, For The Birmingham Times)
Story and Photos by Marika N. Johnson | For The Birmingham Times
Old school hip-hop fans packed Birmingham’s Boutwell Auditorium on Friday for a night of celebrating Southern rap history as the OG Orchestra Tour brought the sounds of No Limit Records to the stage in a unique live music experience.
Headlining the evening were No Limit legends Mia X, Fiend, Silkk the Shocker, Mac and renowned music producer KLC, a key architect who shaped the label’s signature sound as a member of the legendary production team, Beats by the Pound. Together, they delivered a catalog of fan favorites that transported the audience back to one of hip-hop’s most influential eras when Southern rap dominated the airwaves.
What made the concert especially memorable was the addition of a 15-piece orchestra. (Marika N. Johnson, For The Birmingham Times)
What made the concert especially memorable was the addition of a 15-piece orchestra, which reimagined classic No Limit hits against a rich live musical backdrop. The ensemble featured violinists, percussionists, a dynamic horn section and back-up vocalists who blended seamlessly throughout the performance.
The fusion of traditional orchestral arrangements and Southern hip-hop created a memorable concert experience, elevating familiar tracks such as Silkk the Shocker’s “It Aint My Fault” and “Wobble Wobble” along with Mia X’s “I’ll Take Ya Man ’97” and “Don’t Start No…” while preserving the raw energy and intensity that made the songs so iconic. Fans rapped and sang along to every word, turning the Boutwell Auditorium into a celebratory night in honor of No Limit’s lasting influence on music and culture.
The performance also served as a reminder that these artists remain compelling performers in their own right despite the noteworthy absence of No Limit Records’ founder, Master P, who announced his retirement in 2025 following his final performance at Essence Fest in New Orleans.
Presented by Lee Adams of Spokes and Vogues, the Birmingham stop of the OG Orchestra Tour highlighted the lasting impact of No Limit Records on Southern hip-hop. By pairing the live orchestra with some of the label’s most recognizable songs, the production showcased how the music continues to resonate with audiences decades after its original release. The enthusiastic response from the Birmingham crowd throughout the evening demonstrated the enduring appeal of artists who helped shape a defining chapter in hip-hop history.
Headlining the OG Orchestra Tour were No Limit legends Mia X, Fiend, Silkk the Shocker, Mac and renowned music producer KLC. (Marika N. Johnson, For The Birmingham Times)
Trumpeter Bo Berry, legendary Alabama Jazz Hall of Famer, is one of the many musicians talking about Birmingham’s jazz music history in TUXEDO JUNCTION: The Almost Lost Story, on Alabama Public TV (APT) PBS, airing Sunday, 1:30 p.m. (Tuxedo Junction)
By Gwen DeRu | The Birmingham Times
“KEEP CELEBRATING CARIBBEAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH!”
VOTE!! VOTE!!! VOTE!! – June 16 Run Offs Tuesday!!
THURSDAY, JUNE 11
**READ THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES. Catch up on the news!!!
**SUMMER MEMBERSHIP SOCIAL, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. at the Pinnacle Financial Partners. This is an evening of networking, drinks and light bites while connecting with fellow Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce members. You must register. FREE for chamber members.
**AAFter HOURS MEETUP + BOARD RECRUITMENT, 5:30 p.m. for a social at The Grocery, 2823 Central Avenue in Homewood for drinks, food, darts, networking and socializing. Join us if you are interested in growing our thriving creative advertising community. Meet the New President WINK WINKLER and get involved.
**ENTREPRENEURS & INNOVATORS CONFERENCE by the Alabama State Black Chamber of Commerce, TODAY AND TOMORROW at the Marriott Birmingham, 2590 Grandview Parkway. This conference is for businesses and owners looking forward to growing, learning, networking and getting more information to survive in the world today. Knowledge is power when you want your business to grow. For more information, email: info@ALBlackCC.org.
**BINGO, 11 a.m. at the West End Library.
**COMEDIAN MARCUS MONROE J at the StarDome Comedy Club.
**2026 ALABAMA’S FUNNIEST- Preliminary Round at the StarDome Comedy Club.
**JAZZ HAPPY HOUR with JOSE CARR AND HIS BAND, 5 p.m. at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame.
**KARAOKE KICKBACK EVERY THURSDAY, 6 – 9 p.m. at Jazzi’s on 3rd.
**BLUES JAM EVERY 3rd THURSDAY, 7- 10 p.m. at True Story Brewing.
**THAT’S MY JAM THURSDAYS KARAOKE & MINGLE at Platinum with music by DEVYBE BAND and hosted by Jirus Horton. Line Dance with DESI KEITH & D2 at 6 p.m.
**STEEL CITY MEN’S CHORUS at Saturn.
**BRIAN WOLF & THE HOWLERS with MILLENIAL JONES at The Nick.
**RnB POETICALLY LIT, 5-7 p.m. at Lit on 8th, 518 Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd. with HUNCHO ZAVY, KD MCQWEEN, CAROL HOOD, DKMODE, BRIANNE SHARDAW and hosted by HEMP THE ARTIST. Every Thursday.
**3rd THURSDAY at the Nick with RAMBLIN’ RICKY TATE at The Nick.
**FILMMAKER NETWORKING NIGHTS, 5 p.m. at 1821 2nd Avenue North
**THAT’S MY JAM THURSDAYS, 7 p.m. at Platinum of Birmingham with DJ Slugga.
**ALABAMA BLAZIN BINGO, 6 p.m. at Overtime Grill and Bar.
**KARAOKE, 7 p.m. at True Story Brewing.
FRIDAY, JUNE 12
IT IS FRIDAY…the weekend starts…
**AIR LAYERING PROPAGATION PRACTICE at the Birmingham Botanical Garden, 9 – 11 a.m.
**FOOD TRUCK FRIDAYS, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Linn Park.
**FISH FRY FRIDAY at Lil Mama’s, 1200 Hall Avenue EVERY FRIDAY, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. and music with Chef Dwayne “BIG DADDY” Thompson.
**CHRIS CAIN, the blues guitar virtuoso, vocalist and songwriter performs ‘Living Blues’ at Woodlawn Theatre, 5503 First Avenue North, 7 p.m.
**COMEDIAN AKAASH SINGH at the StarDome Comedy Club.
**2026 ALABAMA’S FUNNIEST- Preliminary Round at the StarDome Comedy Club.
**ANDY HALL with Brother Bird at Saturn.
**DUSKY WATERS & TEENA MAY at The Nick.
**JOMBI, SAM AND THE BIG BOYS, BAND SILHOUETTE, LUNAR PARQUE at The Nick.
**TAYLORVILLE – TAYLOR SWIFT TRIBUTE at Avondale Brewing Co.
**FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, 5 p.m. at Howard’s Unlimited Lounge & Cocktail Bar at 4010 Avenue I with food by 1918 Catering Food Truck. Happy Hour at 5 p.m. Call 205-213-9097 for more.
**GOOD MUSIC WITH GOOD PEOPLE BREWING at Dave’s, 6 p.m. at Dave’s Pub.
SATURDAY, JUNE 13
**EVERY SATURDAY through AUGUST 1 – FARMERS & MAKERS MARKET, Every Saturday, 8 – 11 a.m., at the Irondale City Hall, 101 20th Street South. Seeking Vendors NOW. Any Questions: Contact etolbert@cityofirondaleal.gov or madelynjayne02@gmail.com.
**SATURDAY – JAZZ GIRLS DAY, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Carver Theatre. This groundbreaking event will celebrate young women in jazz through workshops, mentorship, and music-making.
**AFRICAN HERITAGE FESTIVAL at the Birmingham Museum of Art. FREE. There will be art making, performances, face painting and a focus on the BMA’s African art collection.
**FACE PAINTING with YOGI DADA at the Birmingham Museum of Art, 1-5 p.m.
**COMEDIAN AKAASH SINGH at the StarDome Comedy Club.
**2026 ALABAMA’S FUNNIEST- Preliminary Round at the StarDome Comedy Club.
**SATURN SUMMER PRIDE MARKET at Saturn.
**THE OFFICIAL PRIDE AFTER PARTY at Saturn.
**ANITA & JJ’S 60TH + KELVIN PRUITT’S BIRTHDAY PARTY at The Nick.
SUNDAY, JUNE 14
**HOWARD’S UNLIMITED LOUNGE & COCKTAIL BAR, 4010 Avenue I, in Belview Heights with our own favorite son radio personality D.J. CHRIS COLEMAN. Check it out for Sunday Brunch with food by 1918 Catering, music and more!! For more, call 205-213-9097. 1918 Catering is the best food for lunch, dinner or your special event. (Take my word.)
**JOSE CARR performing at JAZZ IN THE GARDEN SUNDAYS, Every 1st and 3rd Sunday, 5-8 p.m. at Denim on 7th, 2808 7th Avenue Suite105.
**EASE BACK 4th SUNDAYS, 5 p.m. at True Story Brewing.
**2ND SUNDAY FREE SHOW with ZACH AUSTIN at The Nick.
**4th SUNDAY FREE SHOW with our favorite TAYLOR HOLLINGSWORTH at The Nick.
**MOTION SUNDAYS at Platinum, 8 p.m. – 1 a.m. with DJ CUZZO X DJ A1 Controlling the Vibes.
**2026 ALABAMA’S FUNNIEST- Preliminary Round at the StarDome Comedy Club.
**WYATT FLORES – DRIVE ALL NIGHT TOUR w/SHELBY STONE at Avondale Brewing Co.
MONDAY, JUNE 15
**WEEKDAYS – IRONDALE SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER has activities starting at 8 a.m. with a Hot Lunch served for Seniors, Monday – Friday, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Call 205-951-1418 for details about the FREE program.
**MONDAYS – THURSDAYS – CFJS CARES RESPITE PROGRAM, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Call 205-278-7113 for more info.
**MONDAYS – GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP, 10-11:30 a.m. at CJFS Conference Room. Open to survivors who have experienced loss within the past 2 years. Call 205-278-7101 to sign up.
**MONDAYS – ENVISION RADIO, 1 p.m. ‘Where Praise Meets Talk’ with a Special Guest each Monday. For more: www.envision-radio.com.
**MONDAYS – DEMENTIA CAREGIVER VIRTUAL SUPPORT GROUP, 3 p.m. and/or
Tuesday, at 7 p.m. on Zoom. Call 205-278-7113 for more info.
**BIRMINGHAM BANDSTAND at the Nick.
**2026 ALABAMA’S FUNNIEST- Preliminary Round at the StarDome Comedy Club.
TUESDAY, JUNE 16
**TACO TUESDAY R & B NIGHT, EVERY TUESDAY at Hemings on 2ND Avenue.
**PODCASTING 101 at CREED63, EVERY TUESDAY at 5:45 p.m. Learn how to launch and create your own podcast at 1601 5th Avenue North, Birmingham 35203.
**JOSE CARR EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT at True Story Brewing.
**SONGWRITER’S NIGHT EVERY 2ND TUESDAY at The Nick.
**REAL FUNNY COMEDY WEDNESDAYS at True Story Brewing. Sign up at 7:30 p.m.
**FREE – FEATS OF STRENGTH: WRESTLING TRIVIA NIGHT at Saturn.
**2026 ALABAMA’S FUNNIEST- Preliminary Round at the StarDome Comedy Club.
WEDNESDAY, June 17
**MAKE JUNETEENTH BRACELETS, 1 p.m. at the West End Library using a variety of beads.
**REAL FUNNY COMEDY WEDNESDAYS at True Story Brewing. Sign up at 7:30 p.m.
**2026 ALABAMA’S FUNNIEST- Preliminary Round at the StarDome Comedy Club.
**NAUM, 86HOPE with WAX FUR, LUNAR PARQUE at Saturn.
**OPEN DECK at the Nick
NEXT THURSDAY, JUNE 18
**READ THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES. Catch up on the news!!!
**COMEDIAN MARK PAUL at the StarDome Comedy Club.
**2026 ALABAMA’S FUNNIEST- Preliminary Round at the StarDome Comedy Club.
**JAZZ HAPPY HOUR with JOSE CARR AND HIS BAND, 5 p.m. at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame.
**KARAOKE KICKBACK EVERY THURSDAY, 6 – 9 p.m. at Jazzi’s on 3rd.
**BLUES JAM EVERY 3rd THURSDAY, 7- 10 p.m. at True Story Brewing.
**THAT’S MY JAM THURSDAYS KARAOKE & MINGLE at Platinum with music by DEVYBE BAND and hosted by Jirus Horton. Line Dance with DESI KEITH & D2 at 6 p.m.
**BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME” BLUE NOWHERE US TOUR 26 with IMPERIAL TRUMPHANT, FALLUJAH at Saturn.
**POUR MINDS – STILL SIPPIN’ TOUR at Iron City.
**THE STRING CHEESE INCIDENT: KEEP SPINNING TOUR at Avondale Brewing Co.
**THE FIRESIDE COLLECTIVE – STRING CHEESE AFTER PARTY at the Upstairs at Avondale.
NEXT FRIDAY, JUNE 19
**FISH FRY FRIDAY at Lil Mama’s, 1200 Hall Avenue EVERY FRIDAY, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. and music with Chef Dwayne “BIG DADDY” Thompson.
**FOOD TRUCK FRIDAYS, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Linn Park.
**FRIDAY NIGHT SCREEN SCENE MOVIE SERIES showing ‘PRINCESS AND THE FROG,’ at Friday Nights at Beacon Park, 5309 Beacon Drive in Irondale. There will be popcorn, hotdogs, train rides, snow cones, lemonade and more.
**COMEDIAN NATE JACKSON at the StarDome Comedy Club.
**2026 ALABAMA’S FUNNIEST- Preliminary Round at the StarDome Comedy Club.
COMEDIAN CALEB ELLIOTT at the StarDome Comedy Club.
**DRIVIN’ N’ CRYIN’ with LAID BACK COUNTRY PICKER at Saturn.
POUR MINDS – STILL SIPPIN’ TOUR at Iron City.
FOR FILM LOVERS
**TUXEDO JUNCTION – The documentary Tuxedo Junction: The (Almost) Lost Story will air again on Sunday, June 14, at 1:30 p.m. The film shines a spotlight on one of Birmingham’s most important cultural landmarks and explores the powerful history behind Tuxedo Junction—the legendary community, music, and legacy that helped shape American jazz and swing. Katie Rogers, the director, has shown a deep love for Birmingham’s history, the documentary preserves stories that deserve to be remembered, honored, and passed forward. Viewers are encouraged to tune in and celebrate a piece of Birmingham history that still moves with rhythm, pride, and purpose.
FOR BOOK LOVERS
**A WOMAN, A DRUM, A JOURNEY DJEMBE CHRONICLES – Humans, Animals and Angels –Author YOGI DADA is hosting a Book Signing, FRIDAY, 6-7:30 p.m. at The Greenhouse located at 602, 19th Street Ensley. The book includes twenty-two short stories of life changing encounters playing the African djembe throughout parks in Birmingham, AL. Each story is accompanied with photography and artwork.
FOR ENTERTAINMENT LOVERS
**JAMES BALDWIN – An Experience Through Dance and Spoken Word for all audiences, on Saturday, 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. hosted by the DJD Southern Dance Works at Dorothy Jemison Day Theater, 800 19th Street North. International choreographer GERMAUL BARNES, Artistic Director at Southern Dance Works is shifting Birmingham with dance, poetry, music and more. This is a phenomenal ensemble of dancers, designers, and special guest, Mr. Charles Reese, international purveyor of James Baldwin.
FOR OUTDOOR LOVERS
**SATURDAY RIVER FLOAT, PICNIC AND SWIM, at 9:45 a.m. with Southeastern Outings on the Locust Fork River from Taylor’s Ford through Cornelius Falls in Blount County near Royal, AL – DETAILS:Easy river float on the Locust Fork River from Taylor’s Ford through Cornelius Falls and below. Float downstream to the widest waterfall on the Locust Fork River. Enjoy your picnic lunch sitting on the rocks overlooking the waterfall. This is one of the prettiest lunch spots in Alabama with sheer cliffs that rise high above the river. Enjoy a flowing river, high rock bluffs and a gorgeous waterfall—all along a nearly uninhabited stretch of this river. Bring a picnic lunch, drink, sunscreen and something to float on such as a fabric-covered, inflatable vinyl float. Wear swimsuit and sturdy footwear you don’t mind getting wet and dirty. Old sneakers work well. Bare feet, flip-flops, slip-ons and thin-soled “beach shoes” are not acceptable! You must be able to swim to participate in this outing!Have fun swimming in the pools in the river and just sitting in Cornelius Falls. Well-behaved, properly supervised children age 8 and up able to swim are welcome, but parents are responsible for all risks to their children. Meet at the Cleveland Chevron, 9:45 a.m. Depart at 10 a.m. Info. and trip leader: Dan Frederick, call 205/631-4680 or southeasternoutings@gmail.com. NOTE: Substantial, fabric-covered, inflatable, vinyl, rectangular floats like you use to ride the waves at the Gulf work best. Trip leader Dan Frederick has floats for sale and will provide float pumps to assist at the start point. First come, first served.
Well, that’s it. Tell you more ‘next’ time. People, Places and Things by Gwen DeRu is a weekly column. Send your questions, contact info with your events, your things of interest and more to: gwenderu@yahoo.com AND thelewisgroup@birminghamtimes.com.
