April is one happening month. Jazz music, festivals, TED talks, sales, a color run, a musical and more—find all the details on what is happening when and where.
1. Shades Creek Fest
Saturday, April 7 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Jemison Park
How do fly fishing demonstrations, a tree giveaway and live music sound? All the better if you bring them to Jemison Park. Join the mayor, Board of Landscape Design, Friends of Jemison Park and other officials from both Mountain Brook and Homewood for the inaugural event.
2. Hope, Harmony, and History Opening Reception
Sunday, April 8 | 3:30-5 p.m.
Levite Jewish Community Center
Photographer/painter Karim Shamsi-Basha will showcase his exhibit of photographs of Israel and paintings of Violins of Hope, celebrating Yom Ha’Atzamut (Israel’s Independence Day). The exhibit runs April 8-21 but kicks off with this opening event.
3. Spring Plant Sale
April 13-15
Friday 9-7 p.m., Saturday 9-5 p.m., Sunday 11-3 p.m.
Brookwood Village Macy’s Upper Parking Lot
Get your green thumb on and choose from more than 100,000 plants, most of which have been nurtured by volunteers at Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Plant experts will be on-site and proceeds benefit The Gardens’ educational goals.
4. TEDxYouth@MBJH
Saturday, April 14 | 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Mountain Brook Junior High School
Like TED talks? Well, the only TEDx event in the state that allows for participants and attendees under the age of 18 happens at Mountain Brook Junior High, so you and your family should consider attending this event that was created to highlight the TEDx talks created by the MBJH TED-Ed Club. The program also features musical performances, featured artists and talks from other speakers from our community. Tickets allow for participants to be a part of the live studio audience and include lunch. Get yours at tedxyouthmbjh.com.
5. Jazz with Civitas
Thursday, April 19 | 5-8 p.m.
English Village
Take in some jazz music in and around English Village’s favorite statue while you shop and dine. Fun fact: Civitas was inspired by Carolyn Cortner Smith, a self-taught architect who designed homes around English Village in the 1910s and 1920s.
6. English Village Tent Sales
April 19-21
English Village
Stop by village shops all weekend for and trunk shows. The event coincides with Jazz with Civitas on Thursday and Spring-A-Ling-A-Ding-Dong on Sunday.
7. Spring-A-Ling-A-Ding-Dong
Sunday, April 21 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
English Village
Join the merchants of English Village to say au revoir to winter and oui oui oui to spring! The village street carnival will include a walking parade, giant puppets, a marching band, maypole dance, kids activities, rites of spring, games and free cake. (The fun is pictured in the photo at the top of this article.)
8. Jewish Food & Culture Fest
Sunday, April 22 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Levite Jewish Community Center Levite Field
The Jewish Food Festival and When Pigs Fly Kosher BBQ Cook-Off are now one event, and this year will mark the 70th anniversary of Israel’s independence. The day will be filled with friendly competition, musical entertainment and of course food. Entrance is free, and food will be available for purchase.
9. Rendezvous at the Zoo
Sunday, April 22 | 5-8 p.m.
Birmingham Zoo
Come out to the zoo for music, animal extras, and cash bar to benefit PreSchool Partners’ programs to prepare 2, 3, and 4 year old children from Woodlawn and North Birmingham and their parents for kindergarten and success in school. Tickets ($20 for adults, $12 for kids) include food, drink, and admission to the Children’s Zoo. Children 4 and under get in free. Get your tickets here.
10. Mountain Brook Schools Student Showcase
Monday, April 23 | 5-7 p.m.
Mountain Brook City Hall
Back for the third year, Mountain Brook Schools will present around 75 booths in which students, kindergarten through 12th grade, will talk to visitors about specific things they are learning.
11. Hairspray
April 26-29
Mountain Brook High School
Journey back to 1960s Baltimore with this show produced by students from MBHS and Carver High School—both on stage and in the orchestra. You can catch the show at Carver on April 12-14 as well.
12. Chamber Luncheon Featuring a Restaurant Panel
Thursday, April 26 | 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Birmingham Botanical Gardens
In celebration of the 2018 Restaurant Trail, come hear from Carole Griffin of Chez Lulu & Continental Bakery, Will Haver of Taco Mama & Otey’s Tavern, Tom Sheffer of Avo, Dram, Jackson’s, & Icehouse, and Jennifer Yarbrough of Crestline Bagel & Crestline Catering. This event will be moderated by Paul DeMarco and sponsored by OutKlick and features lunch, networking and community conversation.
13. Citizen Appreciation Day
Saturday, April 28 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Mountain Brook City Hall
Never heard of this event? That’s because it’s its first year. Employees of Mountain Brook will be teaching about the departments that run the city and all the services they have to offer. A free lunch will be provided, and there will be a Kid’s Zone with face painting, a slide, touch-a-truck and more.
14. Pink up the Pace
Saturday, April 28 | 4 p.m.
Crestline Elementary
Get ready to get pink while running to support breast cancer research at this first annual color run brought to you by the Junior Board of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama, Plus there will be food, drinks, activities and live music after the race. Advance registration is $20. Sign up at BCRFA.org or by calling 205-996-5463.
15. Decorators’ ShowHouse 2018
April 28-May 13
Shuttle from Mountain Brook Presbyterian Church
Rooms in this Cherokee Road home will be decked out by local interior designers, so be sure to come by for a tour of its five bedrooms, six bathrooms and pool. ShowHouse hours are Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday 2-5 p.m. There’s no parking at the house, so be sure to catch the shuttle from Mountain Brook Presbyterian Church at 3405 Brookwood Road. Find more info at svcalabama.com.
Save the Date
Arts in the Village
May 13
Crestline Village
Everyone’s favorite spring arts show has a new home, at least as far as its date is concerned. The annual Mountain Brook Art Association show at Crestline Sports Field is now planned for the first day of Mother’s Day instead of an April date. Here’s to hoping that decreases the chances of rain! This year it’s set for Saturday, May 13 and will as always feature work by your favorite local artists.
St. Jude Field of Dreams
May 12
Grand Bohemian Hotel
Sophia Schefano and Slade Anderson know St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis well from their treatments, and now their families and others in Alabama are wanting to give back to the hospital. Join them for the fourth annual St. Jude Field of Dreams on May 12 at the Grand Bohemian Mountain Brook for a sit-down dinner, a live and silent auction, and musical entertainment by The Undergrounders. To learn more or get tickets, visit stjude.org/fieldofdreams.
Did we miss any events? Do you have an event coming up in a future month? Email mm@mountainbrookmagazine.com to submit yours.