Birmingham’s inaugural FOOD + Culture Festival — a four-day feast celebrating the Magic City’s culinary and cultural diversity — kicks off this Thursday and continues through Sunday at venues and restaurants all around the city.

And almost everybody who’s anybody on the food scene will be there — from James Beard Award-winning chefs Frank Stitt, Chris Hastings, Adam Evans and Rodney Scott to industry innovators like Kristen Hall, Rob McDaniel, Zebbie Carney and José Medina Camacho.

Events include an evening honoring Stitt and his contributions to the Birmingham food scene, a community dinner commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham, and a football-themed tailgate party with barbecue from some of the South’s top pitmasters.

The schedule is below. For ticket information and more details, go here.

FOOD + Flair: Changing the Menu

The Haven, 2515 Sixth Ave. South.

11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Thursday

This seated, multi-course luncheon features dishes from an all-female lineup of chefs, mixologists and sommeliers who have influenced the food and beverage world in Birmingham and around the South.

Participating chefs include LaMara Davidson of Cornbread and Kimchi in Atlanta, Fanoula Gulas of The Greek Kouzina, Kristen Hall of The Essential and Bandit Patisserie, Ashley McMakin of Ashley Mac’s Kitchen, Becky Satterfield of Satterfield’s Restaurant and El ZunZun Mexican Restaurant, Mary Grace Viado of the Village Tavern and Sophina Uong of Mister Mao in New Orleans, along with mixologists Jessica Bennett of Lou’s Pub and Steva Casey of Lou’s Pub and Continental Drift and sommeliers Alexis Douglas of Lexlovesvino Consulting and Kelly Mitchell of Skurnik Wines & Spirits in New York City.

Toni Tipton-Martin of Cook’s Country by America’s Test Kitchen in Houston will host the event.

Tickets: $85, available here.

FOOD + Frank: A Lifetime At Table

Birmingham Museum of Art, 2000 Rev. Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd.

5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday

Raise a toast to the life and career of James Beard Award-winning chef Frank Stitt, whose farm-to-table philosophy has elevated the Birmingham restaurant scene and made the Magic City a must-visit destination for food lovers around the country.

Stitt will receive the inaugural Frank Stitt Award for Industry Excellence, which, in future years, will be presented to other chefs, farmers, servers and mixologists who have made a positive impact on their community and on the culinary industry.

RELATED: How well do you know Birmingham chef Frank Stitt? Take our quiz

Also, several of Stitt’s protégés – including Brian Somershield of El Barrio, Mauricio Papapietro of Brick & Tin, Jesús Méndez of Unos Tacos and The Louis Bar and James Briscione of Angelena’s Ristorante Italiano in Penscaola — will serve small bites from their various restaurants. John T. Edge of the Southern Foodways Alliance and the SEC Network’s “True South” will share some of his favorite Stitt stories, and Scott Jones of Jones Is Thirsty will curate the wines.

Tickets: Sold out.

FOOD + Heritage

Pepper Place, 2829 Second Ave. South

6:00 to 10:00 p.m. Friday.

In recognition of the 60th anniversary of the historic events of the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham, this multi-course, family-style, al fresco dinner will feature dishes from some of the Black chefs who have played a leading role in shaping the South’s culinary scene.

Participants include Zebbie Carney of Eugene’s Hot Chicken, Thyme Randle of Juniper, Jasmine Smith of Food & Wine magazine, Justin Robinson of The Chef JRob Experience in Atlanta and Adoja Courtney of Cooking With Joya in Huntersville, N.C., as well as mixologist Eric Bennett of Continental Drift and master sommelier Thomas Price of 1856 – Culinary Residence in Auburn.

Tickets: $150, available here.

FOOD + Farmers

Pepper Place, 2829 Secon Ave. South

7:00 a.m. to noon, Saturday

In addition to the typical Saturday lineup of farmers, purveyors and food producers, The Market at Pepper Place will cookbook sales and signings, storytellers and guest chefs demos from Justin Robinson of The Chef JRob Experience in Atlanta, John Litzinger of The Son of a Butcher, Chadwick Boyd of Chadwick Boyd Lifestyle in Atlanta, and Trenton Tisdale of The Anvil Pub & Grill.

Free admission.

FOOD + Fire: The Great Southern Tailgate presented by Southern Living

Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark, 20 32nd St. North

11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Saturday

A celebration of Southern barbecue, this walk-around tasting event features signature bites and tailgate classics from some of Alabama’s – and the South’s – top chefs and pitmasters, as well as unlimited, tasting-size pours from local and regional breweries and vineyards.

The tailgate party will also include a Southern Living demo stage, a music stage and, of course, big screens for watching SEC football.

The all-star lineup features a veritable who’s who of Southern barbecue and live-fire cooking — including Brandon Cain of SAW’s BBQ, Lavaris Tinker of Dreamland Bar-B-Que, Rodney Scott of Rodney Scott Whole Hog BBQ, Rob McDaniel of Helen, Jacobi Williams of Automatic Seafood and Oysters, Phillip Powell of Aww Shucks, Van Sykes of Bob Sykes Bar-B-Q in Bessemer, Rusty Tucker of Rusty’s Bar-B-Q in Leeds, Sedesh Boodram Wilkerson of The Anvil Pub and Grill in Hoover, Brian Mooney of Tre Luna Bar & Kitchen in Hoover, Woodrow Washington III of Archibald’s BBQ in Northport and Archibald & Woodrow’s BBQ in Tuscaloosa, Andrew Lilly of Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q in Decatur, David Bancroft of Acre and Bow & Arrow in Auburn, Robbie Nicolaisen of The Hound in Auburn, Jiyeon Lee and Cody Taylor of Heirloom market bbq in Atlanta, Pat Martin of Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint in Nashville, Shuai Wang of King BBQ in Charleston, and Nick Barr of Buxton Hall Barbecue in Asheville, N.C. — as well as many others.

Tickets: $75, available here.

FOOD + Funk Brunch: Biscuits, Brass & Bloodies

Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark

11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Sunday

A Sunday brunch at Sloss Furnaces wraps up the final day of the festival, with biscuits, bloody marys and the funky sounds of New Orleans’ Rebirth Brass Band.

Among the participating bakers, pastry chefs, coffee roasters and cocktail slingers are Kristen Hall of Bandit Patisserie,José Medina Camacho of Adiõs Bar, Brian Morris of Hattie B’s Hot Chicken, Joe Phelps of Pilcrow Cocktail Cellar, Allie Phifer of The Collins Bar, Blake Posey of Juniper, Nicky Vann Tisdale of Tucana Tiki Bar, recipe developer Ann Taylor Pittman, Rebecca Masson of Fluff Bake Bar in Houston, Chadwick Boyd of Chadwick Boyd Lifestyle in Atlanta, Lisa Marie White of Biscuit Love in Nashville, and April Robinson of Hamilton Cornerstone by Chef April Robinson in Charlotte.

Tickets: $75, available here.

FOOD + Friends: Dinner Series

Various restaurants throughout Birmingham

Wednesday through Saturday

In addition to the festival’s signature events, restaurants all around Birmingham will host collaborative dinners pairing local chefs with guest chefs who, in many cases, previously worked for them.

Reservations are required at some restaurants, but walk-ins are welcome at others. Contact the restaurants for times and more information.

The FOOD + Friends Dinner Series lineup includes:

Bottega: Host chef Frank Stitt and guest chef James Briscione of Angelena’s Ristorante Italiano in Pensacola. Wednesday.

Golden Age Wine: Hosts Brandon Loper and Trent Stewart and guest chefs Bryan Stanfield of Trattoria Zaza and Knox Fanelli of Larder Foods. Wednesday.

Automatic Seafood and Oysters: Host chef Adam Evans and guest chef Christine Lau of The CLAU Group in New York City. Wednesday.

The Essential: Host chefs Victor King and Kristen Hall and guest chef Rob Newton of New York City. Thursday.

Hot and Hot Fish Club: Host chef Chris Hastings and guest chef Austin Sumrall of White Pillars Restaurant & Lounge in Biloxi, Miss. Thursday.

Pizza Grace: Host chef Ryan Westover and guest chef Pat Pascarella of The Porchetta Group in Decatur, Ga. Thursday.

Shu Shop: Host chef Jason Templin and guest chef Roscoe Hall. Thursday.

Bar La Fete: Host chefs Victor King and Kristen Hall and guest chef Rob Newton of New York City. Saturday.

For more information about the FOOD + Culture Festival, go here.

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