With summer just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to get out and enjoy everything happening across Alabama this week. From live music and festivals to theater performances, outdoor events, and glowing garden displays, there’s no shortage of ways to make the most of the season ahead. 

Cigar Box Guitar Festival-Huntsville

May 29th-31st

The world’s longest-running Cigar Box Guitar Festival is returning to Huntsville for a weekend packed with live music, workshops and family-friendly fun celebrating handmade instruments and southern roots music. Taking place May 29-31 across venues including Lowe Mill A&E and The Orion Amphitheater, the festival brings together musicians, builders and music lovers from across the region while raising funds for the Microwave Dave Music Education Foundation. Guests can enjoy free daytime activities like jam sessions, seminars, vendors and live performances, along with ticketed evening events including swing dancing and finale concerts. Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy the weekend!

2026 Gulf Coast Chinese Lantern Festival-Theodore

April 16th-June 21st

As the sun goes down at Bellingrath Gardens and Home in Theodore, more than 40 towering lantern displays will light up the grounds during the 2026 Gulf Coast Chinese Lantern Festival. Running Thursday through Sunday through June 21, the nighttime experience features handcrafted illuminated sculptures inspired by Chinese lantern artistry, along with interactive displays, glowing animals, plants and whimsical creatures scattered throughout the gardens. The festival takes place from 5-10 p.m., with guests encouraged to purchase tickets online in advance since limited on-site tickets will be available. Parking is complimentary, and food, drinks and evening meals from the Magnolia Café will also be available throughout the event.

Cabins & Cottages: A Whimsical Exhibit-Mobile

Recurring through July 31st 

Step into a world pulled straight from a storybook  at Mobile Botanical Gardens’ “Cabins and Cottages” exhibit, running now through July 31. The outdoor experience features five oversized, artfully designed playhouse-style dwellings inspired by nature, fantasy and the magic of childhood wonder, all tucked throughout the gardens’ lush landscape. Guests can explore the exhibit Wednesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., making it an easy daytime outing for families, garden lovers or anyone looking for a whimsical escape. Admission is $10 for adults, $6 for children ages 5-17 and free for children 4 and under.

Punch Brothers-Birmingham

May 27th

Punch Brothers are headed to Avondale Brewing Company in Birmingham on May 27 for a night of bluegrass-inspired, modern music. Led by mandolinist Chris Thile, the Grammy-winning group is known for blending folk, acoustic and indie sounds into energetic live performances filled with beautiful musicianship and improvisation. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. with doors opening at 6:30 p.m., giving concertgoers plenty of time to grab a drink and settle in before the music starts. Tickets can be purchased online in advance through Avondale Brewing’s website.

Nate Bargatze-Birmingham

May 29th

Comedian Nate Bargatze is bringing his “Big Dumb Eyes World Tour” to Birmingham’s Legacy Arena at the BJCC on May 29 for a night of easygoing, crowd-favorite comedy. The Tennessee native has become one of the biggest names in stand-up thanks to his dry delivery, clever storytelling and wildly popular Netflix specials that have earned him a loyal following across the country. The show begins at 7 p.m. at Legacy Arena in downtown Birmingham.

Six The Musical-Auburn

May 30th-31st

The queens are taking the stage in Auburn as “SIX: The Musical” comes to the Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center May 30-31. The hit Broadway production reimagines the six wives of Henry VIII as pop stars, turning centuries-old royal drama into a high-energy concert-style performance packed with catchy songs, bold costumes and plenty of humor. Performances will take place at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. inside the Woltosz Theatre, giving theater lovers multiple chances to catch the Tony Award-winning musical during its stop on the Plains. 

Pizitz Concert in the Courtyard-Birmingham 

May 30th-31st

Spend your weekend enjoying live music in downtown Birmingham at the Pizitz Food Hall’s “Concerts in the Courtyard” series. Saturday’s performance will feature Cheyloe & Kyle Duo, followed by T.U.B. on Sunday, bringing live music to the courtyard alongside food and drinks from the Pizitz’s lineup of local vendors. The free concerts begin at 2 p.m. each evening, offering an easy way to spend a summer afternoon in the city.

Whether you are spending the week laughing along with Nate Bargatze, catching live music in Birmingham, wandering through glowing lantern displays on the Gulf Coast or making a trip to Auburn for a Broadway hit, there are plenty of ways to kick off summer across Alabama. Grab some friends, get outside and make the most of these first warm weeks of the season.

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