Happy 250th, America! This month marks 250 years since the Declaration of Independence was signed. And, in this issue, we’ll show you plenty of ways to celebrate big right here in Hoover, starting with our annual fireworks show at The Hoover Met.
This year, Mayor Derzis and the City of Hoover have partnered with Coca-Cola in an attempt to set a new Guinness World Record for the most soda cans opened simultaneously before the fireworks begin. If you’ve ever dreamed of being a world record holder, now’s your chance!
Keep the momentum going with a new, patriotic children’s book from local author Cameron Marasco. Grab a bite from local restaurants during Hoover Restaurant Week, try your luck at winning a year’s supply of ice cream, and shop all summer long at markets featuring local vendors and small businesses - the backbone of the American economy.
We hope your summer, and especially your 4th of July, is one for books. However you choose to mark the season, we’re certain you’ll find plenty of way to enjoy Hoover!
Best,
Kim Cripps Editor
ABOUT THE COVER Summer is in full swing in Hoover, Alabama - and we’re celebrating America’s 250th with fireworks, a special children’s book from a local author, and of course, the best ice cream in town.
Cover photo by Allison Carpenter
Enjoy Hoover is your guide to dining, entertainment, and shopping in Hoover, Alabama’s sixth largest city. From major events like the SEC Baseball Tournament, the World Games, and the Regions Tradition, to local live music, to hidden gems in local shopping, to the world-class lineup of restaurants, Hoover has tons to offer to residents, guests, and visitors alike.
Enjoy Hoover is published six times a year, a joint venture between David Cohen of the Hoover Restaurant Alliance, Matthew Allen of JBMC Media, and Mitzi Eaker of Mitzi Jane Media. These three longtime Hoover residents blend a passion for their community with years of experience in communication, publishing, marketing, and hospitality.
Copies of this magazine are available at more than 100 locations throughout Hoover. Connect with us through our social media channels: Instagram (@EnjoyHoover) and Facebook (@EnjoyHoover). Visit us online at EnjoyHoover.com.
We hope you Enjoy Hoover!
KIM CRIPPS, editor kimcripps@gmail.com
DAVID COHEN, co-publisher (205) 213-3617/enjoyhoover@gmail.com
MATTHEW ALLEN, co-publisher (205) 883-1877/matthew@jbmcmedia.com
Living with a chronic health condition doesn’t mean childhood has to stop. At Children’s of Alabama, we make sure kids can keep doing what they do best—laughing, playing, and simply being kids. With expert care, advanced treatments, and a team that never stops believing in brighter days, we help families navigate their healthcare journey with confidence, strength, and hope.
Learn more at ChildrensAL.org
We are here in your neighborhood at Greenvale Pediatrics. To make an appointment at either the Hoover or Brook Highland locations, visit www.childrensal.org/greenvale-pediatrics
Southern Hospitality, Hoover Style
BY CARMEN SHEA BROWN
Whether you’re new to Hoover, visiting the area, or you’ve lived here your entire life, Hoover Restaurant Week, July 17-25, is a wonderful opportunity to experience the best dining Hoover has to offer. It’s a showcase of classic favorites and new additions.
Enjoy Hoover: When you first envisioned the Hoover Restaurant Alliance and helped launch Restaurant Week, what gap were you trying to fill in the local culinary scene?
David Cohen: We started Hoover Restaurant Week simply to help our restaurant community survive COVID. Over the years, it has become more of a goal to see our community grow and gain the local and regional recognition that it deserves.
EH: Hoover has been rapidly transitioning to offer “big city” dining experiences while trying to maintain its small-town hospitality. How does Restaurant Week showcase that specific balance?
DC: While we need the corporate restaurants, there is something special about going into a local restaurant, bar or ice cream shop that you see ownership, management, people who really care about making your experience more than you expected. The “big city” dining experience for us is in the quality of food, the menu variety, and the service. However, our goal is for
people to see that all that in a way that shows that we want you here. This year’s SEC is a prime example. We want them to come back to Hoover not just for great baseball, but a feeling that we appreciate you being here.
EH: What are you most excited about for this year’s restaurant lineup? Are there any new participating spots or culinary trends you’re thrilled to see represented?
DC: While our lineup of restaurants is still coming together, we are excited about the new and “newer” restaurants like Toujours, Desi Twist, Cookie Fix, Biscuit Belly, Las Garzas and Hoover Steaks & Wines that are successfully making our “Southern Hospitality, Hoover Style” come alive. Along with the Tre Luna, Farelly’s, Moe’s BBQ, Saw’s, and a host of other restaurants, we are excited about showing how great our city is.
EH: The Hoover Bartender Challenge, happening July 14 at Brock’s Gap Brewing Company, has become a major highlight leading into the main event. Why was it important to elevate the beverage and bartending community alongside the food?
DC: We want to be a great, well-rounded food and beverage experience for everyone. Great bars and great places for live music add a special energy to our city. Brock’s Gap Brewery and all the participating bars showcase that wonderful part of our city.
EH: The official kick-off at Aldridge Gardens with Jeh Jeh Pruitt is always full of energy. Why is Aldridge Gardens the perfect setting to ground this community event?
CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
PHOTO COURTESY OF CAJUN STEAMER
Authentic bites from the bayou make their way to the Yellowhammer State at Cajun Steamer.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9
DC: WBRC and Jeh Jeh Pruitt have always been big supporters of our city. Being on Good Day Alabama shows off to a bigger, more varied audience than any of our restaurants could manage on our own. Aldridge Gardens, like all our 35 different city parks and venues, offers a great view of our city. Aldridge Gardens, being off Lorna Road, is perfectly fitting. Lorna Road has a culinary experience as diverse as our city is. There is truly something for everyone.
EH: How can people stay informed about this year’s Hoover Restaurant Week?
DC: Follow us on Facebook and our Hoover Restaurant Week website, hooverrestaurantweek.com, for an up-to-the-minute list of participating restaurants. With almost 10 days of HRW, there is an opportunity to visit lots of our favorites and try a few new ones. It is truly a chance to enjoy “Southern Hospitality, Hoover Style.”
Celebrating two years in Hoover, Grimaldi’s is a hot spot for New York-style pizza in a warm, inviting atmosphere.
FEATURED EVENTS
HOOVER BARTENDER CHALLENGE
June 14 & 16
The city’s best bartenders show off their creativity to become Hoover’s Best Bartender.
HOOVER IRON CHEF
June 25
Four of Hoover’s own top chefs will team up with student sous-chefs from RC3 and Jefferson State to offer a unique mentoring opportunity and compete in a tasty competition.
If your restaurant would like to participate in Hoover Restaurant Week or its featured events, contact David Cohen at Davidg. cohen@hotmail.com or call (205) 213-3617.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF GRIMALDI’S
A Season of Change
BY TALLY DETTLING
SOME BIG CHANGES are in play for this year’s football season. With the state’s AHSAA reclassification and a new athletic director for Hoover High School, we sat down to chat with Spain Park’s head football coach, Tim Vakakes, and the new HHS athletic director, Chris Blight.
SPAIN PARK: Tim Vakakes, Head Football Coach
Enjoy Hoover: What challenges do you anticipate for your team as they play schools in the newly defined Class 6A, Region 3 this season?
Tim Vakakes: We do what we do on a daily, weekly, monthly, yearly basis...the classification level doesn’t affect us at all. Our kids have a standard in how hard we
work, so that is what drives us. You have to bring it every single week, and our kids are pumped to be on that stage again.
EH: What have you seen from your players during offseason workouts and summer preparation that gives you confidence heading into the season?
TV: These kids compete and work extremely hard. It’s very hard to play football here; we demand a ton from them. They are excited to get to the fall and represent this community against other great communities.
EH: While every season has its own defining goals, what would you like to see this team accomplish by the end of the year, beyond the obvious wins and losses?
TV: Just to keep pushing our culture. It wasn’t always supportive here, or where kids played FOR each other. Early on, we played WITH each other. There is a difference, and we need to keep being intentional with how our culture is positive and we truly pull for each other.
EH: As Spain Park begins this new chapter, what message would you like to share with Jaguar fans, and what do you want spectators and critics to say about this 2026 football season and team?
TV: We hope to put a good product on the field that they’ll be proud of...we just need them to show up and be loud every Friday night. I hope they say, “They played the game the right way and had a ton of fun on the field with each other!”
HOOVER HIGH SCHOOL: Chris Blight, Head Athletic Director
Enjoy Hoover: You built a successful athletic program at Oak Mountain. What attracted you to make the switch to Hoover High School?
Chris Blight: I’m excited about the challenge of leading a program with such high expectations. I think that as a coach or even just as a person, you’re always looking for opportunities to grow and impact as many people as you can and really challenge yourself professionally. Hoover presented that opportunity to me, and I felt like it was the right step in my career at this time.
EH: Hoover has long been known as one of the top athletic programs in Alabama. How do you balance honoring that tradition while also bringing your own leadership style and ideas to the position?
CB: As a leader, you’re always going to have a different perspective, a different approach. My goal is not to come in and change things just to change things. I’ve got to listen. I want to build on the foundation that’s already there, but with my values and with my experiences. Continue the relationships… and just create the best possible environment and culture for our student-athletes. Build on accountability, build on excellence, build on service. I think that the best programs in the state are those that are
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY SPAIN PARK HIGH SCHOOL
ABOVE: LB, #85 James Jones (Class of 2028) digs deep for a fumble recovery, while former LB, #7 EJ Kerley (Class of 2026 and now playing ball at Samford) moves in to assist. RIGHT: Spain Park Seniors, Landrik Hallman (TE) and Jaylen Mosley (DB) take a moment to pray before a game.
ABOVE: #50 Christian Harris (DT, DE) is another Senior to watch this year. RIGHT: 2026 Senior, DJ Waluyn (#1, FS) jumps for an impressive catch as the Hoover Bucs took on Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa Patriots in the September 5, 2025, game.
always evolving. One of my favorite quotes is “the person you’ve got to beat every day is the yesterday you,” and I want that to be reflected in our program.
EH: Football will always be in the spotlight, as well as baseball and basketball. Are there any other sports that you would like to get a little bit more publicity?
CB: I think that football often serves as a front porch for an athletic department. It’s one of the biggest programs you have, and when it’s thriving, it creates excitement and school pride, and all programs benefit from that. But one of my core beliefs is that every sport matters—a successful athletic department isn’t defined by just one program. I want to make sure that whatever sport a student athlete is playing, they’re getting the best possible experience in an environment where they can succeed. My role is to support all those programs and make sure that they’re getting the same visibility.
EH: Obviously, it’s too early for an opinion to be formed, but at the end of your first few years, what do you hope the coaches, student athletes, parents, and fans will say about the impact that you made on the athletic department when they look back?
CB: I think in a role like this, you’re going to get judged very quickly on wins and losses. It’s much more than that, though, and I hope that people realize I’m here to honor their traditions, but also move the athletic department forward in a meaningful way. I hope that they say our athletic department and every program [within it] is built on strong relationships, high character, and just a commitment to serve our student athletes. We want to prepare them for life because, through athletics, you get so many different life lessons. If we’re able to do that, I think we’ve accomplished something very meaningful.
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY HOOVER HIGH SCHOOL.
Find these special issue magazines in Hoover this summer
Now Open: Oak and Ale Pub
A
new, locally owned neighborhood pub in
Hoover brings happy hours, live music, and a casual place to hang out with friends.
BY CANDICE N. HALE
HOOVER HAS A NEW NEIGHBORHOOD PUB, and the man behind it says it’s going to fit right in.
Oak & Ale, conveniently located on Highway 150, opened in late April. The pub brings live music, crafted cocktails, local brews, and a welcoming atmosphere to a corridor that owner Scott Price says was long overdue for such offerings.
“It just felt like home for the kind of pub we wanted to create,” Price
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY OAK & ALE
Oak & Ale brings crafted cocktails, local brews, and a welcoming atmosphere to its convenient location on Highway 150 in Hoover.
said. “We could immediately picture live music, great conversations, cold drinks, and a place where people would want to spend time.”
Price brings nearly three decades of hospitality experience to Oak & Ale. His career began in 1997 at Taco Mama and includes stints at Shelby’s, Blues Bourbon and Brews, and, most recently, Oversoul Brewing, which had a seven- year run in Helena from 2019-2025.
For Oak & Ale, Price partnered with Jeremy Cain, Colby Mele, Chase Sims, and Cole Sims to bring the new concept to life.
The tagline says it all: “Local people, local pours.”
“We are all from around here,” Price said. “We all hope for a fun, chill vibe.”
Oak & Ale, a 21-and-up establishment, carries local and regional craft beers, along with a full cocktail menu ranging from Old-Fashioneds to specialty Moscow Mules. Wine, liquor, and high-end bourbons round out the offerings. Shareable plates and sandwiches keep things casual without sacrificing quality.
“We have an upscale twist without the high prices,” Price said.
Guests can catch live music Thursday through Saturday. Happy hour and evening specials make it an easy stop for after-work crowds, date nights and football-season regulars.
Price says Oak & Ale is designed as an alternative to typical chain restaurants— “easy for friends and neighbors to gather,” offering something a bit different.
The community response since opening has been welcoming. “We’ve had good foot traffic and are looking for more for sure,” Price said. “I’m thankful to everyone who came out.”
For Price, the vision is simple and personal. “We have created a beautiful spot here filled with a lot of heart,” he said. “Give us a try. You won’t be disappointed.”
Guests can enjoy live music at Oak & Ale on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
Sisters Christine Sato (left) and Mary Woolbright attribute the success of Fancy Fur, their pet spa and boutique business, to their different strengths.
THE DOG DAYS of Summer
Fancy Fur turns your burnedout buddy into a pamerper pet
BY JUNE MATHEWS
IS YOUR PET TIRED, cranky and overwhelmed with the constant grind of eating, napping, and making the rounds of the neighbors’ mailbox posts? If so, a spa day at Fancy Fur Pet Grooming & Boutique could be just the cure for your best friend’s blues.
Founded by sisters Christine Sato and Mary Woolbright in 2008, Fancy Fur provides a place for pets to be pampered, doted on, and lovingly cared for as if they were at home.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF FANCY FUR
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18
In addition to hiring a fantastic staff – all quality people who love animals – the sibling co-owners attribute much of their success to their different strengths.
“Mary loves animals and has a gift for handling all kinds of breeds with different personalities,” said Sato. “I’m more familiar with the business side of things. I’m not a groomer, but I wear many other hats, and here we are, 18 years later.”
Two years ago, Fancy Fur moved from a small space on Valleydale Road to spacious new quarters at Inverness Corners, and its boutique side was expanded to include specialty pet foods, wellness products, and a curated selection of pet-related boutique items.
“In the previous store, we had maybe 300 square feet for knick-knacks, a bit of food and treats, and some wellness things,” Sato said. “But I wanted –and Mary agreed – to be more of a one-stop shop in this area. So, we now have 1,500 square feet for the store and about the same amount of space for the rest of our services.”
For the convenience of owners and the comfort of dogs, Fancy Fur also installed a do-it-yourself dog washing station.
“It has a push-button tub, and everything is included from shampoo to a hair dryer,” said Sato. “All you need to bring is your pet. We provide towels and smocks so that you don’t take a bath, too, and we clean up the mess.”
Not only does Fancy Fur attract plenty of local business, but customers also come from other cities, as near as Cullman, and as far away as Mobile to have their pets groomed. One canine client even comes from Atlanta.
“The owners often come to Birmingham, so they schedule grooming at the same time,” said Sato. “They don’t have to leave the dog at home, so it works out great.”
In addition to full grooms by appointment, Fancy Fur offers walk-in services for nail trimming, face trimming, ear cleaning and anal gland expressing. For more information, call (205) 408-1693 or visit www.fancyfurpets.com.
Fancy Fur’s do-it-yourself dog washing station includes a push-button tub, shampoo, hair dryer, towels and smocks, and they clean up the mess!
Head of the Class
Shop one-of-a-kind finds at the back-to-school market
BY KIM CRIPPS
Shop unique finds from dozens of local vendors at Hometown Vendor Market’s upcoming Back-to-School Market, planned for August 9-10 at the Riverchase Galleria.
HOMETOWN VENDOR MARKET returns to the Riverchase Galleria with a Back-toSchool Craft & Vendor Market – just in time for the new school year!
The market, scheduled for August 9 – 10, promises a diverse mix of local entrepreneurs offering handmade goods, boutique apparel, jewelry, home décor, art, specialty foods, wellness products, gifts and much more.
And supporting and encouraging that diversity has shaped the way co-owners Hannah and Amy have built Hometown
Vendor Market, now a nationwide company, from the very beginning.
As female and minority business owners, Hannah says she and Amy understand the challenges many entrepreneurs face when trying to grow their businesses; it’s why the co-owners aim to create welcoming, inclusive spaces where businesses of all backgrounds have the opportunity to succeed.
“We’re proud to work with vendors from every walk of life and believe that diversity makes our markets stronger,” shared Hannah. “Seeing small businesses gain
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY HOMETOWN VENDOR MARKET
The Back-to-School Market promises local, handmade goods, boutique apparel, jewelry, home décor, art, specialty foods, wellness products, gifts and more.
confidence, connect with customers, and reach new milestones is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do.”
While markets like this one allow artisans, makers, and entrepreneurs to connect directly with the people they serve, it’s also a place where shoppers can discover unique, locally made goods and services they may not find anywhere else – all while keeping hardearned dollars right here in the community.
“Our mission has always been to create spaces where local businesses can thrive,” said Hannah. “Every purchase made at a vendor market supports someone’s dream, family, and future, and that’s something we’re incredibly proud to be part of.”
At the Back-to-School market, shoppers can expect a thoughtfully curated showcase of quality vendors featuring back-toschool gifts, apparel, accessories and other essentials, plus finds like handcrafted products and home décor, specialty foods, wellness items, artwork and unique services.
It’s an opportunity for families to support local businesses while discovering products that aren’t available in big-box stores.
FEATURED VENDORS
Come shop with local vendors for one-of-akind finds at Hometown Vendor Market!
What: Birmingham Back to School Craft & Vendor Market
When: August 9–10, 2026
Where: Riverchase Galleria, Hoover, Alabama
Admission: Free for the public
At the time of press, vendors for the Back to School Craft & Vendor Market are:
Champion Windows, Angel Haven Romances, Amazing Grace Mission Nerdy Girl, TrendBlend Creations, Mane Nutrients, Cantey Foundation Specialists C*Oassis Cafe, Pushing Plastic 3-D Printing Sweet Peru US, From Scratch Bakery Love&Suga, Dkworg3d, C² creations, K’itzel Cosmetics and Candles, Angelz Healthy Hair, LLC, 1LP, Body Visions Beauty Bar, Southern Rain Co, G Copperware and Crystals, ClikWorx, Ardella’s Sweets & Treats, LLC, Kennedi Simone Designs, JDA HATZ, Linxed by Laurie, Chester Honey Farms, LLC, Perfectly Pristine Aroma, Rivercity Fudge, Hillside Brand, …with more vendors added daily!
Ice Cream Crawl
Where to go for the best ice cream in town
BY KIM CRIPPS
WHEN THE HEAT IS ON, you need ways to cool down – fast. In our house, ice cream is always the answer. We’ll set up ice cream and topping bars to celebrate special occasions, toast with cones and sprinkles when good report cards come in, and at least once a summer, churn up our own homemade vanilla with Mawmaw’s family recipe.
When a hot summer day calls for enjoying a cold treat, we’ll go out in search of a scoop – or two – and do our best to finish it all before the melts! Here’s my personal take on three ice cream shops in Hoover. Each one offers a different experience to choose from, including classic flavors, healthy mix-ins and Italian treats. And they are all kid- and momapproved!
NEAR ME
Located in Knox Square Open in Hoover since February, Near Me specializes in New Zealand-style ice cream. I wasn’t familiar with its concept and was hesitant to give it a try. But after this trip, we’ll definitely be back. First, select from a wide variety of toppings including fruits, cookies and cookie dough, sprinkles and nuts. Then, add a powdered mix-in. I chose peaches, strawberries and blackberries, plus Ghirardelli white chocolate powder.
Finally, choose from vanilla or chocolate ice cream base. I went with vanilla. All the toppings and powders are mixed together with your ice cream base to create your own smooth, custom-blended flavor.
We also purchased a tub of Peach Pops from their stocked freezer - the popular ice cream that’s shaped and flavored like small peaches.
TIP: Go to the right side of the shop for custom-blended ice cream, and to the left for a freezer stocked with fun, specialty treats, like the viral Korean fruit-shaped ice cream.
VECCHIA GELATO AND CAFÉ
Located in The Preserve Gelato has always felt a bit like ice cream’s sophisticated, well-traveled cousin. Same ingredients, completely different outcome. The best gelato I’ve ever had was served from a walk-up window in Italy. Since then, we’ve tried to find a copycat, but keep coming up short.
Near Me
PHOTOS BY KIM CRIPPS
ICE CREAM EATING CONTEST
National Ice Cream Day is Sunday, July 19, at The Whole Scoop, located at Brock’s Gap, a tradition of celebrating an ice cream-eating challenge with a $25 entry fee benefiting Hoover Helps.
So, I was eager to visit Vecchia Gelato and Cafe, another new shop that opened last fall, which promises “a little taste of Italy in every visit.” I’m happy to report that they did not disappoint. I took their advice and ordered a scoop of Italian butter pecan gelato. It was creamy, sweet, not too heavy, and had pieces of fresh, crunchy pecans mixed in. By the looks of it, the chocolate cookie crunch would have been another excellent choice - its deep metal tub was almost empty! Blood orange and lemon sorbets also caught my eye in vibrant pink and yellow shades, a perfect accessory for aesthetic summer pics.
TIP: Be prepared to be sidetracked. In addition to gelato, Vecchia Gelato and Café offers coffee, pastries, Italian sodas, flatbreads, salads, spritizes, wine, beer and specialty drinks.
THE WHOLE SCOOP
Located in The Village at Brock’s Gap We’ve been coming to The Whole Scoop since they opened in Hoover 15 years ago. Somehow, I’ve committed to two menu items: mint chocolate chip for dairy-free cookies in cream, in a waffle cone or in a cup with toppings, depending on the day. This time, I tried something different: a classic banana split. You can choose any three flavors of ice cream, but I opted for
Competitors ages 15 and up go scoopto-scoop to see who can finish a Six-Scoop Sundae the fastest! Then, Hoover’s police and fire department compete in their own Red, White, and Blue Competition. Register inside The Whole Scoop the entire week leading up to the event. Winners get FREE ice cream for a year and a trophy!
For up-to-date information, follow The Whole Scoop Ice Cream Shop on Facebook
the tried and true vanilla, chocolate and strawberry.
A fresh banana was split in two, placed in a special dish, topped with ice cream, strawberries, and pecans (a staff favorite), completely covered with whipped cream, and garnished with a single cherry.
TIP: Bring a friend to enjoy this share-worthy dish. My kids opted for single scoops with toppings, so I was left to dine solo.
Vecchia Gelato and Cafe
The Whole Scoop
Cameron Marasco
A Hoover Author’s New Book Celebrates America’s 250th Anniversary
SUBMITTED BY KIM CRIPPS
CAMERON MARASCO is a Hoover author and mom on a mission to make American history engaging and memorable for young learners. As a mother of my own school-aged children, I’ve heard that “history is boring,” and “why do we have to learn all these names and dates?!”
And, yet, my kids ask to read Cameron’s books as bedtime stories.
As the United States prepares to commemorate its 250th anniversary, Cameron is using her talents to help children and families explore the people, events and ideals that shaped the nation in her newest book, Freedom Friends: America 250.
Freedom Friends: America 250 is the first officially licensed children’s book of the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission (America250). With engaging storytelling, colorful illustrations, and age-appropriate historical content, the book takes readers on a journey through pivotal moments in American history— from the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution to the Moon landing and other milestones that helped shape the American experience.
of our country,” Said Marasco. “When children understand where we came from, they gain a greater appreciation for the freedoms, opportunities, and responsibilities that come with being American.”
This latest work is part of Cameron’s Freedom Friends series, including books about America’s promise of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and the preamble to the Constitution.
Freedom Friends: America 250 is available through select retailers, educational partners, and historic destinations, including Alabama Goods, American Village, and the National Archives Museum Gift Shop in Washington, D.C.
“America’s 250th anniversary is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help children connect with the story
PHOTOS COURTESTY OF CAMERON MARASCO
Cameron Marasco
J. Dory Curtis, MD | Erika Issis-Vasha, PA-C | Patrick Rowan, MD | Scott Seibert, MD | Jay Fitts, MD
Around Hoover
PHOTOS BY LANCE SHORES
JULY
July 1: Fourth on the First Fireworks Celebration, 6:00-10:00 pm, Hoover Met Complex. This family-friendly event features great food, patriotic entertainment, a special appearance by the world-famous ZOOperstars, plus a spectacular fireworks display set against the evening sky over the Hoover Met. For more information and updates, go to hooveralabama.gov.
July 3-4: Sweet Home 250, 11:30 am - 10:30 pm, American Village Montevallo. A two-day music, arts and food festival honoring Alabama’s rich musical heritage by featuring artists from across the state, while celebrating our history, visual arts and culinary traditions. General admission is $20.
July 10, 14 and 24: Ross Bridge Farmers Market, 4:00-8:00 pm. Enjoy a summer evening with friends and neighbors. Shop peakseason produce and a variety of handcrafted
goods from local vendors. The market also includes live music, kids activities and food trucks.
July 11-12: Birmingham Summer Sizzle & Craft Vendor Market, Saturday 11:00 am - 8:00 pm; Sunday 12:00 to 6:00 pm, Riverchase Galleria. A vibrant weekend of creative shopping and summer-themed fun, showcasing local vendors offering handmade goods, sweet treats, seasonal décor, gifts, fashion, self-care products, candles, accessories and other unique warm-weather finds.
July 14: Hoover Restaurant Week Bartender Challenge, 4:00 - 7:00 pm, Brock’s Gap Brewing Company. Cheer on talented local bartenders as they shake, stir and compete for the top title during an evening of drinks, food and entertainment. Enjoy a lively, communityfocused atmosphere while supporting local talent in a fun and exciting competition.
The Georgia Bulldogs win their first SEC Tournament title in school history!
The free FanFest, held in the Finley Center, is open to the public throughout the tournament.
July 17-15: Hoover Restaurant Week. For all events and participating restaurants, visit hooverrestaurantweek.com
July 24-25: Twice As Nice Sale Half Off Day, Friday 4:30 - 8:30 pm; Saturday 8:00 am - 12:00 pm, Metropolitan Church of God. Shop a wide variety of items for babies, children and families in one convenient location. The sale features clothing and shoes ranging from preemie sizes to juniors and women’s. Browse toys, games, DVDs, books, housewares, home goods and an extensive selection of baby gear. Families with twins or multiples can shop
for matching and coordinating outfits, while all attendees can explore a large selection of affordable family essentials.
July 31: Back 2 School Bash, 4:00 - 8:00 pm, Ross Bridge Farmers Market Spend the evening shopping, dining and enjoying community fellowship under the lights while browsing local vendors featuring back-to-school items and handmade goods. Guests can also enjoy live music throughout the evening, purchase dinner from local food trucks and let children play and celebrate the close of summer break in a fun, family-friendly atmosphere.
AUGUST
August 1-2: Birmingham Back to School Craft & Vendor Market, Saturday 11:00 am - 8:00 pm; Sunday 12:00 - 6:00 pm, Riverchase Galleria. Families can enjoy a fun-filled weekend of shopping and preparation for the upcoming school year. The event will feature local vendors offering handmade goods, school essentials, treats, unique finds and a variety of back-toschool favorites. Shoppers can explore practical items, thoughtful gifts, and fun surprises for students, teachers and parents alike while supporting local businesses in a family-friendly atmosphere.
August 8-9: Southern Trade Days Hoover, Saturday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm ; Sunday 11:00 am - 5:00 pm, Finley Center. This year, Southern Trade Days is partnering with The Flip Trade Show, bringing the two shows together under one roof for an expanded shopping experience with nearly 100,000 square feet of vendor space. The indoor, family-friendly event will include vendors offering new and vintage items, collectibles, antiques, handmade goods, outdoor and sporting products, food, and more, along with live music, kids entertainment, face painting, free arcade play, balloon twisting and additional family activities. General admission is $10, and children 13 and under are admitted free.
August 21: Hoover High School Football, 7:00 pm, Hoover Metropolitan Complex. The Hoover Buccaneer football team will play their first game of the season at home versus Muscle Shoals High School.
August 12: Hoover City Schools First Day of School. hoovercityschools.net
August 21: Spain Park High School Football, 7:00 pm, 2616 Jeff Rd NW, Harvest, AL 35749. The Spain Park High School Jaguars football team will play their first game of the season away versus Sparkman High School. The Jaguars’ first home game is August 28 against Bessemer City.
August 29: Lifeline’s Run for One 5k, 7:00 am, Veterans Park. A family-friendly annual event supporting Lifeline Children’s Services and its global orphan care ministry. The event brings together families, advocates, and community partners to raise awareness and support for vulnerable children around the world. Participants can either run at Veterans Park in Birmingham or take part virtually via the “Run Where You Are” option. Visit lifelinechild.org for more information.
