Events in Birmingham

Birmingham
Birmingham is by far the largest and most cosmopolitan city in the U.S. state of Alabama and is the county seat of Jefferson County. The population of the city is 229,424 according to the US Census 2006.

Birmingham lies within a humid subtropical climate zone and thus is characterized by mild and chilly winters, hot summers, and plenty rainfall. The city also experiences periodical hurricanes and tropical storms in late summer and fall months.

Birmingham was emerged as an industrial enterprise just after the U.S. Civil War 1871. The region is named after the major industrial city of England-Birmingham. With the discovery of coal, iron ore and limestone in the late 19th century, the city was once a small farming town that grew into the Souths major industrial center.

Through the turn of the 19th century, the high pace of Birminghams production earned it the nickname The Pittsburgh of the South. Following Pittsburgh in the north, Birminghams foremost industries had steel and iron production.

Although the manufacturing industry keeps a strong presence in Birmingham however, during a course of 20th century, the economy of the city has diversified into various other industries such as insurance, banking, medicine, biotechnology and publishing.

Birmingham is the entertainment and cultural capital of Alabama with its notable set of art galleries in the area. It is the home to Birmingham Museum of Art which is the largest art museum in the state. Birmingham is also characterized for the states major opera, ballet, and symphony orchestra companies such the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, Alabama Ballet, Birmingham Ballet, Birmingham Concert Chorale, opera Birmingham, and Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival.

The region-known Alabama Theatre hosts numerous film screenings, performances and concerts. The Alys Stephens Center for the Performing Arts houses Opera Birmingham and Alabama Symphony Orchestra as well as an array of lectures and concerts.

The Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex- BJCC is the home to Alabama Ballet, concert hall, theater, exhibition halls, and a sports arena. The BJCC also anchors major sporting events in addition to concert tours.

In Birmingham, the area of primary attraction is downtown, griming with eclectic venues, exquisite cafes & restaurants, live music etc. The Verizon Wireless Music Center provides a large outdoor venue with two stages and is a center of attraction for both residents as well as visitors. Fair Park Arena is another well-liked entertainment venue in the area, hosting local concerts, community programs and sporting events periodically.

WorkPlay is a multi-purpose facility center with audio and film production houses, offices, a lounge, and a concert and theater stage for film screenings and visiting artists. The city also has a very rich local music scene turning it into a breeding ground for some of the nations best musicians and artists.

Birmingham is known to have several top-class museums showcasing its rich history. The largest is the Birmingham Museum of Art. Other history museums encompass Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, Southern Museum of Flight, Bessemer Hall of History, Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark, Alabama Museum of Health Sciences, and the Arlington Home.

The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute displays an emotions-stimulating narrative exhibit in detail, where Birminghams history has been narrated in the context of the U. S. Civil Rights Movement.

The McWane Science Center is a local science museum with eclectic science exhibits including a wide collection of fossil specimens for researchers use particularly. In addition, it also puts temporary exhibitions on show from time to time.

Several other museums are the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, the Iron & Steel Museum of Alabama, the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, and the Talladega Superspeedway International Motorsports Hall of Fame museum. The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum is characterized distinctly for its largest collection of motorcycles in the world.

People dwelling in Birmingham enjoy numerous cultural festivals throughout the year. These festivals feature indigenous heritage, music and films. The much awaited music festival is the City Stages which is held in Birminghams Linn Park. It lasts for three days and amuses people with strong live music.

Other attractions include; Do Dah Day, the Schaeffer eye Center Crawfish Boil, Alabama Bound and list goes on. Do Dah Day is an annual pet parade held annually and the Schaeffer Eye Center Crawfish Boil is music festival event organized benefit local charities. However, Alabama Bound is an annual book and author fair, celebrated acknowledging the services of Alabama authors and publishers.