– South Your Mouth –
at Birmingham’s Food & Culture Fest
Created by Industry Experts at the Accent Travel Network Conference
Accent East 2024Dive into a delicious and unforgettable weekend in the heart of Birmingham, Alabama, where culinary delights and cultural treasures collide.
Begin your journey with serene strolls through Aldridge Gardens and a champagne toast under the towering Vulcan statue before indulging in a night of bites, brews, and live music at the Food+Frank Stitt Awards. Discover unique treasures at Unclaimed Baggage, enjoy Southern farm-to-table flavors at Food+Heritage, and explore Birmingham’s local gems.
Saturday turns up the heat with the Southern Living Food+Fire tailgate, complete with barbecue, football, and a pitmaster showdown at the historic Sloss Furnace. End your adventure with the ultimate foodie experience: Food+Funk’s “Grits and Grooves,” a vibrant tasting market paired with soulful music.
From award-winning chefs to historic sites and Southern hospitality, this tour offers the perfect recipe for a weekend of indulgence, exploration, and unforgettable memories.
Duration
4 Days /3 Nights
Group size
Min 35
Customization
Available!
Day 1: Thursday (September – dates TBD)
- Start your time in the Birmingham region at Aldrige Garden, a beautiful 30-acre public garden located in Hoover, a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama. The gardens are known for their serene atmosphere, lush landscapes, and a rich variety of plants. Aldridge Gardens is renowned for its stunning collection of hydrangeas, including the signature Snowflake Hydrangea, developed by the garden’s founder, Eddie Aldridge.
- Get your tastebuds ready for a delicious weekend with a tasting of local produce from the Garden – honey and heirloom tomatoes.
- Stop by the Vulcan statue in Birmingham, a notable landmark and one of the largest cast-iron statues in the world. Erected in 1904, it stands atop Red Mountain, overlooking the city. The statue represents Vulcan, the Roman god of fire and metalworking, reflecting Birmingham’s historical significance in the iron and steel industry.
- Enjoy a champagne toast to kick off your weekend!
- Check into your local hotel and freshen up before heading to your first Food+Culture Festival event!
- Kick off your delectable weekend at Food+Frank Stitt Award at the Museum of Art – Enjoy local craft wine and beer, local bites from Birmingham chefs while taking in the live music and presentation of the nights’ awards.
- After enjoying breakfast at your hotel, venture to Unclaimed Baggage in Scottsboro, Alabama, a unique retail store that specializes in selling lost luggage and items that have gone unclaimed in airports across the U.S. The store is known for its vast selection of items, including clothing, electronics, jewelry, and other personal belongings. Customers can find a wide variety of goods ranging from new and gently used items at discounted prices. The merchandise is collected from airlines after certain periods of abandonment, typically 90 days, and is then sorted, cleaned, and put up for sale.
- In addition to shopping, Unclaimed Baggage also features a museum area that showcases some of the most unusual and interesting items that have been found in lost luggage, offering visitors a glimpse into the stories behind these belongings. The store emphasizes its commitment to sustainability by giving these unclaimed items a second chance at use and helping reduce waste.
- Enjoy a catered lunch on site.
- Return to your hotel with your new treasures. Rest and refresh.
- Tonight, enjoy Food+ Heritage at Pepper Place, a vibrant and culturally rich area located in the Lakeview district of Birmingham, Alabama. It is well-known for its historic ties to the Pepper family, who were influential in the region’s early development. The area has transformed into a hub for arts, entertainment, and local commerce. Enjoy family style, farm to table dinner prepared from local produce. Prior to dinner, enjoy a cocktail reception and live cooking demonstrations.
- Enjoy a leisurely morning in Birmingham - stop by Reed’s bookstore and other local merchants. Or take part in a volunteer project with Jimmie Hale Mission, a nonprofit organization based in Birmingham, Alabama, dedicated to serving the homeless and those in need within the community.
- This afternoon, take part in Southern Living’s Food+Fire at Sloss Furnace, a historic site and former pig iron-producing blast furnace. Established in 1882 by James Sloss, it played a significant role in the development of Birmingham as a major industrial center in the South during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
- Take in televised football games while enjoying a Southern Living tailgate with barbecue, beer, and beats. Enjoy the musical entertainment, the pitmaster competition, and football galore.
- Check out this morning (and consider skipping breakfast) so you can fill up at Food+Funk! Today’s theme - Grits and Grooves – won’t disappoint as you return to Sloss Furnace, this time at the Historica water tower (look out for Bad Jeffrey, the resident ghost!), for an open market tasting including bites and mixologist crafted cocktails.
- Head home with a fully belly, full suitcase, and wonderful memories.
Photos
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