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From art galleries to sports stadiums and banks to bottling companies, Dirk Walker’s signature style of abstract realism can easily be identified by his untraditional, brilliant, thick and thin brushstrokes. Without question, his technique also puts a fresh spin on a very traditional genre: sporting and wildlife art.

Grits, smoked sausage, and sweet potatoes set the table for a unique lineup of October public gatherings this fall in central and south Alabama that celebrate food and drink. The Alabama Mushroom Society’s first-ever festival will feed budding interests in the fruiting fungi that’s not only essential to nature’s cycle, but mighty tasty as well. Sample beers and ciders in Tuscaloosa and wine in Opelika. Classic Alabama foods—grits, Conecuh sausage, and sweet potatoes—all get their moments in the sun. (October, after all, historically brings the least amount of rain to Alabama).  Here’s what to look for in October across central and south Alabama. 

There’s a little something for all tastes at October food and drink festivals in Alabama’s coastal counties. Many of the gatherings also symbolize how the port at Mobile was the entry point for immigrants who would find the American Dream here. Festivals set for October celebrate cultural and culinary contributions from Alabamians with roots in Germany, Greece, Mexico, and countries across both Central and South America. 

Florence, Alabama doesn’t lack for exciting breakfast dining options year-round, but during ShoalsFest music festival happening October 1st and 2nd, it’s not unusual to find yourself sharing the morning meal across from rock stars. Hazy ShoalsFest mornings bring local love and Nashville star power together at welcoming breakfast tables dotted around the sleepy college town.

Hidden in the shadows of downtown Birmingham is a tiny theater appropriately dubbed The Underground. Home to Birmingham-Southern College’s small but mighty theatre department, The Underground buzzes with action, creativity, and life every September through May, as students direct, produce, rehearse, and perform in up to six productions per year. 

A fun array of festivals built around food and drink are on the menu this fall across northern Alabama. Bacchus, barbecue, and butterbeans are the themes at September and October fêtes in Huntsville, Attalla, Jasper, Madison, and Cullman. Hit ’em all and you’ll be as busy as bees—especially at the fourth Alabama Honeybee Festival outside Huntsville the first Saturday in October. Here are six events where food shares a plate with musical acts, arts and crafts vendors, and runners. 

Celebrating 20 Alabama women in business from Red Land Cotton Founder, Anna Brakefield to Space & Rocket Center CEO, Dr. Kimberly Robinson

Mariachi music swells, salsa dancers twirl in brightly colored skirts, and the smell of freshly griddled corn tortillas wafts through the air. These are the sights, sounds, and smells of Fiesta, Birmingham’s long-running festival celebrating Hispanic culture and heritage. Each year, Linn Park comes alive for the giant party with thousands of locals gathering for the celebration that includes music, arts, dance, food, activities, and education for the entire family. And this year, the festivities will be even grander because Fiesta is celebrating its 20th birthday. 

Birmingham’s demographics go way beyond Black and White, including the Lebanese, Greek, Italian and other European and Middle Eastern immigrants who settled during the city’s early years as a steel boom town, to more recent arrivals with Asian and Latin-American roots. This colorful tapestry is reflected in several food and beverage festivals scheduled this fall in the greater Birmingham area.

When it comes to creating bucolic art scenes of flora, fauna and field sporting traditions, Sue Key enjoys taking time to celebrate: animals, the outdoors, traditions, values and, of course, community. Surrounding herself with a community of people who make or appreciate art means a great deal to the Southern artist. “Those family values are so important, creating memories and bonds and lifestyles that can be shared with friends, draw families together, last for generations, and be passed down to grandchildren,” she explains.

Although it might still be a few weeks until the Deep South will feel a true nip in the air, the calendar says that fall has officially begun. Football is back, school is in session, and pumpkin spice season is upon us. Small-town festivals and county fairs are popping up across the region, and North Alabama is here for it. This month is full of down-home entertainment everywhere you turn. Is there a better way to enjoy the impending crisp autumn air during this season change? We don’t think so. Use the list below to fill your fall weekends with a different fair or festival throughout the month of September. 

Revitalization of historic Montgomery is well underway through the addition of fine-dining restaurants, nationally recognized museum and memorials, modern housing developments, and so much more. As the capital city, Montgomery is truly the heart of “the soul of the south.” Here are three reasons why people are making the move to Montgomery and why you should consider making Montgomery home too.

When Elysian Gardens opens in Avondale this fall, it will be the culmination of a 10-year dream for Birmingham’s William Colburn. The idea to open a garden center or sculpture park had been swirling in the professional metal sculptor’s mind for several years when he connected with Lucy and Jimmy Buffet in Fairhope, where he formerly lived.

There is a special sound being produced in Birmingham, Alabama. The Mountain Grass Unit consists of three very talented young pickers who are making a name for themselves: Drury Anderson (mandolin/vocals), Luke Black (acoustic Guitar) and Sam Wilson (upright bass). The group has played music festivals, private functions, and multiple music venues, playing bluegrass tunes and adding a bluegrass touch to country, jazz, funk, rock, and even metal. They have opened for bands such as The Sam Bush Band and Kingfish.

You asked, he answered! Our Instagram followers submitted questions to SoulGrown’s “Man About Town” columnist.

Have you ever wondered what the President of a University does on a daily basis? Well, we have the inside scoop of typical day-in-the-life of University of Alabama President Dr. Stuart R. Bell. You may be wondering; does he wake up to a full pot of coffee like the rest of us? How many crimson ties does he have to choose from each morning? If it’s raining, does he still walk to his office from the President’s mansion or catch a ride?

Rosilyn Holladay isn’t afraid of a little color. The Dothan-based artist is known for her colorful pop art paintings and tropical-themed abstract pieces, but her day job wasn’t always so creatively vibrant. 

Many Birminghamians associate the end of August with more than just the return of the school-year routine. The last couple of weeks of August bring with them the reemergence of Sidewalk Film Festival, an annual film festival that has graced the Magic City for 23 years and running. Each year, more than 15,000 film lovers rendezvous in downtown Birmingham, filling theaters across town to celebrate the art of movie making. Each year, around 250 filmmakers from across the country—and around the world—have their films selected to show during the weeklong festival. 

23 counties across the mid-section of Alabama are better known to locals as the Black Belt. This area between the Appalachian foothills and the Coastal Plain has become popular to tourists for many reasons, but there are a few standouts. Here’s what we’ve found when exploring Alabama’s beautiful Black Belt.

Meet the creator of SoulGrown, Ellis Terry! While still studying at The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ellis began the SoulGrown Instagram pages to showcase Alabama the Beautiful after traveling the world and growing a great appreciation for his home state.