Garden & Gun recommends 2 Alabama festivals that âpaint the Southâ in spring

Spring festival season is on its way in Alabama, and the state has plenty of events that draw delighted crowds. If you need some help choosing a festival, however, Garden & Gun is ready to point you to two standouts.

Birmingham’s Magic City Art Connection and the Orange Beach Festival of Art were included this week in the magazine’s list of “Eight Art-Filled Festivals to Attend This Spring.” The idea, Garden & Gun said, was to “celebrate a season of artistic inspiration” in the coming months, as “dramatic installations, handmade treasures, live performances, and sidewalk chalk paint the South.”

The magazine didn’t rank the festivals, but Alabama did grab two spots in a list of just eight festivals. Also, the Alabama events are in very good company, recommended alongside the Spoleto Festival USA in South Carolina. It’s a sister festival to the famed Spoleto festival in Italy. (See the full list from Garden & Gun here.)

Corks & Chefs is a favorite with visitors to the Magic City Art Connection. It offers delectable food from local chefs, along with wine tastings.(AL.com file photo/Emma Tannenbaum)

Here’s what Garden & Gun said about the Magic City Art Connection, set for April 26-28:

“Contemporary and culinary art intersect at the Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark. Guests can admire works by 175 fine artists, including this year’s featured artist, painter and University of Alabama professor Bryce Speed; catch dance performances; take classes; and sample local fare and specialty drinks during Corks and Chefs: A Taste of Birmingham.”

The Orange Beach Festival of Art, scheduled March 9-10, was touted this way by the magazine:

“Now celebrating fifty years, the Orange Beach Festival of Art pairs views of the glistening Gulf of Mexico with vibrant displays of fine art. Visitors can stroll through Waterfront Park admiring collections in a variety of mediums while enjoying food-truck fare, live performances (including a ballet and symphony), and access to the Coastal Arts Center.”

Of course, Alabama has a year-round roster of festivals that are worthy of your time and attention, including the beloved Kentuck Festival of the Arts in Tuscaloosa, the new FOOD+ Culture festival in Birmingham, the Panoply Arts Festival in Huntsville and more.

READ: One of Alabama’s largest art festivals announces new location, dates for 2024