REUNION PLANNERS GUIDE C R E AT I N G L A S T I N G M E M O R I E S IN THE MAGIC CITY
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2 • Reunion Planners Reunion Guide Planners Guide
Table of Contents WELCOME 5
REUNION SERVICES 6
TEN REASONS REUNIONS LOVE BIRMINGHAM 7
HOTELS 8
BANQUET FACILITIES 15
ATTRACTIONS 21
BIRMINGHAM WELCOMES ALL TYPES OF REUNIONS 33
REUNION PLANNING* 34
PARKS AND RECREATION 35
CHECKLIST 41 Reunion Planners Guide • 3
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Welcome to Birmingham A City that Feels Like Coming Home
Southerners hold their personal histories and connections in high regard, and that’s why reunions were practically invented in the South. We have a sense of knowing who we are and where we came from. Reunions allow us to reaffirm the significance of whom we’ve known and what we’ve done while celebrating with joy our coming together again. While you are in Greater Birmingham, you’ll experience an unmistakable blend of Southern hospitality and cosmopolitan charm. We’re a city brimming with history, entertainment, outdoor recreation, nightlife, shopping, and world-class cuisine, and enjoying a period of growth and renewed momentum as a travel destination. Birmingham’s national spotlight continues to shine as a MICHELIN Guide award-winning city, a top AFAR Place to Visit in 2026, and Eater’s “Best Dining Destinations in 2026.” Planning a reunion takes time and coordination, and the Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau is here to make the process easier. Inside this guide, you’ll find helpful resources and recommendations for lodging, social events, attractions, dining, and group activities to help you create a memorable experience for your attendees. Birmingham loves welcoming reunions of all types to our Magic City, and we look forward to helping you bring your event to life.
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The Success of Your Reunion Depends on its Early Groundwork Whether it is a military reunion, family reunion, school reunion, or a gathering with friends, our complimentary pre-planning services include assistance with contacting hotels, caterers, local attractions, area parks, and banquet facilities—saving you countless steps and phone calls.
Brochures
Name Tags
Bags
The Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau will provide, at no cost to you, our travel guide and attractions maps for your reunion. These brochures are provided per family based on availability.
Remember the face, but not the name? A great way to reacquaint with family and friends is to have everyone wear a name badge. The inserts come with 4” x 3” plastic holders. They are available on perforated 8 1/2” x 11” card stock with six per sheet at a minimal cost.
A popular item for packaging reunion material is our drawstring bags (15” x 18”), which are imprinted with the Birmingham logo and a photo collage of Greater Birmingham attractions. They are available for a minimal cost.
More Information If you would like more information on our complimentary reunion services, please contact the GBCVB Tourism Department at, 205.458.8000 or 800.458.8085, or visit us at inbirmingham.com.
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Reasons to Love Birmingham 1. E asy Access
6. W orld Class Golf
Birmingham sits in the heart of the
With Birmingham’s moderate weather, it’s
Southeast. Travel is easy via Amtrak,
tee time practically year-round. Public golf
major interstates and the Birmingham-
includes courses along the state’s Robert
Shuttlesworth International Airport.
Trent Jones Golf Trail.
2. A fforable Rates The group can save some money with Birmingham’s great rates in a vast selection of lodging.
3. G ood Eats
7. E ducational Entertainment Learn about Birmingham’s beginnings in the iron and steel industry on the Historic Red Ore Express Tour. Visit significant places from America’s Civil Rights Movement.
8. W e Love the Nightlife
People in Birmingham love to cook and
Live music is Birmingham’s signature
love to eat. The city is widely known as
entertainment. Find it every night of the week
“Dinner Table of the South.”
at clubs and music venues.
4. P laces to Play
9. F un and Games It’s fun to be a kid in Birmingham. From The
Public parks are abundant in Birmingham
Birmingham Zoo and Birmingham Barons
and Jefferson County.
Baseball to Alabama Adventure & Splash Adventure, it’s all good fun.
5. S erious Shopping
10. O utdoor Adventures From rugged ridgelines to peaceful forests
High-end boutiques and outlet malls invite
and cascading creeks, the Magic City
visitors to get their shopping spree on.
offers outdoor escapes that make it7easy to reconnect with nature.
HOTEL LIST W H E R E TO S L E E P
Bessemer Best Western Plus Bessemer Hotel & Suites 5041 Academy Lane 35022-5250
Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton-Bessemer 5526 Academy Drive 35022
Budget Motel Bessemer 3010 9th Avenue North 35020-3546
Hiway Host Motel 4301 Bessemer Super Highway 35020-2494
Comfort Inn Bessemer 5051 Academy Lane 35022-5250 Banquet/Meeting Space Economy Inn 1113 9th Avenue Southwest 35022-4529 Fairfield Inn & Suites Birmingham/Bessemer 4980 Academy Court 35022-5471 Banquet/Meeting Space Hamilton Inn Bessemer 4910 Civic Lane 35022-7820 Banquet/Meeting Space
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Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Bessemer 5001 Academy Drive 35022-5250 Banquet/Meeting Space Holiday Inn & Suites Birmingham West 4703 Bell Hill Road 35022 Banquet/Meeting Space Home2Suites Bessemer 2144 Eastern Valley Road 35022
IHG Dual Brand Holiday Inn Express Suites/ Candelwood Suites 5430 Academy Way 35022 Banquet/Meeting Space Motel 6 Bessemer 1000 Shiloh Lane 35022-4596 Red Roof PLUS & Suites Birmingham-Bessemer 4985 Academy Court 35022 Sleep Inn Bessemer 1259 Greenmor Drive 35022-6437 Woodspring Suites 5535 Academy Drive 35022-8501
Birmingham America’s Best Inn Birmingham East 9225 Roebuck Parkway East 35206-1510
Birmingham Garden Inn & Suites 7901 Crestwood Boulevard 35210-2611 Banquet/Meeting Space
America’s Best Inn Birmingham Airport Hotel 5101 Messer Airport Highway 35212-3030 Banquet/Meeting Space
Birmingham Marriott 3590 Grandview Parkway 35243-1946 Banquet/Meeting Space
American Interstate Motel 5921 1st Avenue North 35212-1607 America’s Best Value Inn-East/Irondale 1813 Crestwood Boulevard 35210-2031 Anchor Motel 4121 3rd Avenue South 35222-1918 Anchor Motel Eastlake 8420 First Avenue North 35206-2704 Apex Motel 1900 33rd Avenue North 35207-3338 Bama Motel 6712 First Avenue North 35206-5016 Baymont Inn & Suites Birmingham/Vestavia 1466 Montgomery Highway 35216-3607 Banquet/Meeting Space Birmingham Best Western Carlton Suites Hotel 140 State Farm Parkway 35209-7186 Banquet/Meeting Space
Birmingham Motor Court 1625 Third Avenue West 35208-4205 Budget Motel 1548 Bankhead Highway West 35214-4847 Comfort Inn Airport 4965 Montevallo Road 35210-2418 Banquet/Meeting Space Comfort Inn & Suites at CrossPlex Village 2341 CrossPlex Boulevard 35208 Country Inn & Suites By Carlson 4400 Colonnade Parkway 35243-3365 Courtyard by Marriott Birmingham Downtown/ UAB 1820 5th Avenue South 35233-1809 Banquet/Meeting Space Courtyard by Marriott Birmingham Grandview 3580 Grandview Pkwy 35243 Banquet/Meeting Space Days Inn Birmingham/ Summit Mall 4627 US Highway 280 South 35242-5039 Banquet/Meeting Space
Days Inn Birmingham/ West 905 11th Court West 35204-1806 Double Tree Perimeter Park Birmingham/ Lakeshore 8 Perimeter Park S 35243 Banquet/Meeting Space Drury Inn & Suites Birmingham Southeast 3510 Grandview Pkwy 35243-1929 Banquet/Meeting Space Drury Inn & Suites Birmingham Southwest 160 State Farm Parkway 35209-7186 Banquet/Meeting Space Elyton Hotel Autograph Collection by Marriott 1928 1st Avenue North 35203-4008 Banquet/Meeting Space Embassy Suites Birmingham 2300 Woodcrest Place 35209-1304 Banquet/Meeting Space Extended Stay America Perimeter Park South 12 Perimeter Park South 35243-2326 Quality Inn and Suites Birmingham Inverness 707 Key Drive 35242-4880 Hampton Inn Colonnade 3400 Colonnade Parkway 35243-2355 Banquet/Meeting Space
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Hassinger Daniels Mansion Bed and Breakfast 2028 Highland Avenue 35205-3802 Hilton Birmingham Perimeter Park 8 Perimeter Park South 35243-2326 Banquet/Meeting Space Hilton Birmingham - UAB 808 20th Street South 35205-2795 Banquet/Meeting Space Hilton Garden Inn Downtown 250 18th Street South 35233 Banquet/Meeting Space Holiday Inn Airport 5000 Richard Arrington Jr Boulevard North 35212-1497 Banquet/Meeting Space Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Inverness 156 Resource Center Parkway 35242-8095 Banquet/Meeting Space Home2 Suites Birmingham Colonnade 3920 Colonnade Pkwy 35243 Home2 Suites Downtown 250 18th Street South 35233 Banquet/Meeting Space Homewood Lodge 103 Greensprings Highway 35209-4903 Homewood Suites 1016 20th Street South 35205-2606
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Hospitality Inn 2127 7th Avenue South 35233-3105 Hotel Indigo at Five Points South 1023 20th Street South 35205-2622 Howard Johnson Inn Birmingham 275 Oxmoor Road 35209-4705 Banquet/Meeting Space InTown Suites Birmingham Central 90 Oxmoor Road 35209-6410 InTown Suites Birmingham North 1100 Huffman Road 35215-7502 Kings Inn Civic Center/ UAB 1313 Third Avenue North 35203-1730 La Quinta Inn Birmingham Cahaba Park South 513 Cahaba Park Circle 35242-5011 Motel 6 Birmingham 151 Vulcan Road 35209-4701 Motel 8 Inn 5009 First Avenue North 35212-3101 Ramada Birmingham Airport 5216 Messer Airport Highway 35212-3033 Banquet/Meeting Space Relax Inn 6101 First Avenue North 35212-1611
Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa 4000 Grand Avenue 35226-6201 Banquet/Meeting Space Residence Inn Birmingham Downtown at UAB 821 20th Street South 35205-2713 Banquet/Meeting Space Residence Inn by Marriott Birmingham Grandview 3580 Grandview Pkwy 35243 Banquet/Meeting Space Sheraton Birmingham Hotel 2101 Richard Arrington Jr Boulevard North 35203-1101 Banquet/Meeting Space Siesta Motel 2510 Crestwood Boulevard 35210-2094 Sky Inn 6000 First Avenue North 35212-1610 Sleep Inn & Suites Colonnade 4400 Colonnade Parkway Southern Comfort Motel 725 Third Avenue West 35204-4018 SpringHill Suites Birmingham Colonnade 3950 Colonnade Parkway 35243-2382 Banquet/Meeting Space SpringHill Suites Birmingham Downtown 2024 4th Avenue South 35233-2046 Banquet/Meeting Space
StudioPLUS Deluxe Studios Birmingham Inverness 101 Cahaba Park Circle 35242-5001 Sun Inn 1573 Bessemer Road 35208-4094 The Kelly Birmingham 2027 1st Avenue North 35203
The Redmont Hotel 2101 5th Avenue North 35203 Banquet/Meeting Space The Westin Birmingham 2221 Richard Arrington Jr Boulevard North 35203 Banquet/Meeting Space
Fairfield
Fultondale
America’s Best Inn Hotel Fairfield 6400 Kelco Place 35064-1828 Banquet/Meeting Space
Comfort Suites Fultondale 1325 Old Walker Chapel Road 35068-1659 Banquet/Meeting Space
Forestdale Travelers Rest Motel 1066 Forestdale Boulevard 35214-3856
Days Inn Fultondale 616 Decatur Highway 35068-0476 Fairfield Inn & Suites Birmingham Fultondale/I-65 1795 Morris Avenue 35068-1675 Banquet/Meeting Space Home2Suites by Hilton Birmingham 3289 Lowery Parkway 35068
Tourway Inn 1101 Sixth Avenue North 35203-1503 Tutwiler Hotel, A Doubletree by Hilton Inn & Suites 2021 Park Place 35203-2717 Banquet/Meeting Space USA Economy Lodge Homewood 400 Beacon Parkway West 35209-3106
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Birmingham NorthFultondale, An IHG Hotel 1701 Main Street 35068 Holiday Inn Express & Suites BirminghamFultondale 1733 Fulton Road 35068-1669 La Quinta Inn & Suites Fultondale 1207 Boots Boulevard 35068-1697
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Gardendale Best Western Plus Gardendale 842 Thompson Street 35071-4602 Banquet/Meeting Space
Microtel Inn & Suites Gardendale 850 Odum Road 35071-4618 Banquet/Meeting Space
Springhill Suites by Marriott Gardendale 260 City Street 35071
Econo Lodge Oxmoor 195 Oxmoor Road 35209-5956
Sonesta ES Suites 50 State Farm Parkway 35209-7179 Banquet/Meeting Space
Homewood Aloft Birmingham Soho Square 1903 29th Avenue South 35209-2617 Banquet/Meeting Space America’s Best Inn Birmingham/Homewood 251 Summit Parkway 35209-4731 Candlewood Suites Birmingham/Homewood 400 Commons Drive 35209-6963 Comfort Inn Homewood 226 Summit Parkway 35209-4732 Banquet/Meeting Space Country Inn & Suites Homewood 485 Wildwood Circle North 35209-7107 Banquet/Meeting Space Courtyard by MarriottHomewood 500 Shades Creek Parkway 35209-4418 Banquet/Meeting Space 12 • Reunion Planners Guide
Extended Stay America Wildwood 40 State Farm Parkway 35209-7179
Sun Suites of Birmingham 424 Commons Drive 35209-6963
Four Points by Sheraton 492 Wildwood Circle North 35209-0132 Banquet/Meeting Space
Super 8 Homewood Birmingham Area 140 Vulcan Road 35209-4702
Hampton Inn-I65/ Lakeshore Drive 30 State Farm Parkway 35209-7179 Banquet/Meeting Space
TownePlace Suites by Marriott – Homewood 500 Wildwood Circle North 35209-7199
La Quinta Inn & Suites Birmingham/Homewood 60 State Farm Parkway 35209-7179 Banquet/Meeting Space Quality Inn Homewood 155 Vulcan Road 35209-4701 Banquet/Meeting Space
Valley Hotel Homewood Birmingham 2727 18th Street, South Banquet/Meeting Space
Hoover Courtyard by Marriott Hoover 1824 Montgomery Highway South 35244-1208 Banquet/Meeting Space Days Inn Galleria 1800 Riverchase Drive 35244-1008
Hilton Garden Inn Hoover Birmingham 540 Emery Dr. West 35244 Banquet/Meeting Space Holiday Inn Hoover 2901 John Hawkins Parkway 35244-1095
Hyatt Regency Birmingham, The Wynfrey Hotel 1000 Riverchase Galleria 35244-2399 Banquet/Meeting Space Microtel Inn & Suites Hoover 500 Jackson Drive 35244-1031 Banquet/Meeting Space
Econo Lodge 1535 Montgomery Highway 35216-4595
Home2 Suites by Hilton Hoover Birmingham 3210 Galleria Cir 35244
Embassy Suites Birmingham/Hoover 2960 John Hawkins Parkway 35244-1087 Banquet/Meeting Space
Homewood Suites Hoover Birmingham 540 Emery Drive West, 35244 Banquet/Meeting Space
Hampton Inn & Suites Hoover-Galleria 4520 Galleria Boulevard 35244-5304 Banquet/Meeting Space
Hyatt Place Birmingham/ Hoover 2980 John Hawkins Parkway 35244-1087 Banquet/Meeting Space
Irondale
Leeds
Mountain Brook
Hampton Inn & Suites Airport Area Birmingham-East I-20 3910 Grants Mill Road 35210-1204 Banquet/Meeting Space
America’s Best Value Inn-Leeds 1093 Higrove Parkway 35094-1700
Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook 2655 Lane Park Road 35223 Banquet/Meeting Space
Holiday Inn Express Irondale 811 Old Grants Mill Road 35210-1233 Banquet/Meeting Space Quality Inn Irondale 3910 Kilgore Memorial Drive 35210-1204 USA Economy Lodge Irondale 7941 Crestwood Boulevard 35210-2697
Hampton Inn Leeds 310 Rex Lake Road 35094-3421 Banquet/Meeting Space
Residence Inn Hoover 2725 John Hawkins Parkway 35244-4004 Banquet/Meeting Space
Hampton Inn Mountain Brook 2731 Hwy 280 South 35223-2405 Banquet/Meeting Space Residence Inn by Marriott Homewood 2790 US Hwy 280 35223 Banquet/Meeting Space
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Trussville
Vestavia
Comfort Inn & Suites Trussville 4740 Norrell Drive 35173-2634 Banquet/Meeting Space
Hilton Garden Inn Birmingham/Trussville 3230 Edwards Lake Parkway 35235-3198 Banquet/Meeting Space
Courtyard by Marriott Trussville 3665 Roosevelt Boulevard 35235-3193 Banquet/Meeting Space
Holiday Inn Express Trussville 5911 Valley Road 35173-1071 Banquet/Meeting Space
Hampton Inn Trussville 1940 Edwards Lake Road 35235-3716 Banquet/Meeting Space
Quality Inn Trussville 4730 Norrel Drive 35173-2634 Banquet/Meeting Space
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Days Inn Birmingham/ Vestavia Hills 1485 Montgomery Highway 35216-3633 Hilton Garden Inn Liberty Park 2090 Urban Center Parkway 35242-2537 Banquet/Meeting Space Red Roof Inn 1466 Montgomery Highway 35216-3633
W H E R E TO P L AT E
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Alcove Birmingham 205.471.7730 1713 4th Avenue North Birmingham, AL 35233 alcovebhm.com
B&A Warehouse 205.326.4220 1531 1st Avenue South Birmingham, AL 35233 bawarehouse.com
Alabama Center for Architecture 205.322.4386 109 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd S Birmingham, AL 35233 alcfa.org
Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum 205.699.7275 6030 Barber Motorsports Parkway Leeds, AL 35094 barbermuseum.org
Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame 205.327.9424 1631 4th Avenue North Birmingham, AL 35203 jazzhall.com
Bessemer Civic Center 205.424.7469 1130 9th Ave SW Bessemer, AL 35022 bessemeral.org/civic-center
Alabama Sports Hall of Fame 205.323.6665 2150 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd S Birmingham, AL 35203 ashof.org
Bessemer Recreational Center (The City of Bessemer) 205.425.0655 100 14th Street South Hwy 150 Bessemer, AL 35020 bessemeral.org/recreation-center
Alabama Theatre 205.252.2262 1817 3rd Avenue North Birmingham, AL 35203 alabamatheatre.com Aldridge Botanical Gardens 205.682.8019 3530 Lorna Road Hoover, AL 35216 aldridgegardens.com Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center 205.975.2335 1200 10th Avenue South Birmingham, AL 35294 alysstephens.org
Frank House (The City of Bessemer) 205.424.9540 801 Golf Course Rd Bessemer, AL 35022 bessemeral.org/frank-house Birmingham Botanical Gardens 205.414.3900 2612 Lane Park Road Birmingham, AL 35223 bbgardens.org Birmingham Civil Rights Institute 205.328.9696 520 16th Street North Birmingham, AL 35203 bcri.org
Arlington Historic House & Gardens 205.780.5656 331 Cotton Avenue Southwest Birmingham, AL 35211 arlingtonantebellumhomeandgardens.com
Birmingham Crossplex 205.279.8900 2331 Bessemer Rd Birmingham, AL 35208 birminghamcrossplex.com
Avon Theater 205.529.3939 2829 7th Avenue South Birmingham, AL 35233 redmountainchurch.org/avontheater
Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex 205.458.8400 2100 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N Birmingham, AL 35203 bjcc.org
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Birmingham Museum of Art 205.254.2565 2000 Rev. Abraham Woods Jr Blvd N Birmingham, AL 35203 artsbma.org
City Walk 205.458.8200 2001 9th Avenue South Birmingham, AL 35203 citywalkbham.com
Birmingham Parks and Recreation 205.254.2391 400 Graymont Avenue West Birmingham, AL 35204
Club M Event Center 205.552.8795 521 3rd Avenue West Birmingham, AL 35204
Birmingham Race Course 205.838.7500 1000 John Rogers Drive Birmingham, AL 35210 birminghamracecourse.com
Clubhouse on Highland 205.324.9633 2908 Highland Avenue Birmingham, AL 35205 clubhouseonhighland.com
Bistro 19 205.800.7319 109 19th Street North Bessemer, AL 35020
Comedy Club Stardome 205.444.0008 1818 Data Drive Hoover, AL 35244 stardome.com
Boutwell Auditorium 205.254.2820 1930 Rev. Abraham Woods Jr Blvd N Birmingham, AL 35203 Bridgestreet Gallery and Loft 205.919.5859 213 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd S Birmingham, AL 35233 goproeventsolutions.com/venues Canvas Event Center 205.322.6182 301 Green Springs Avenue South Birmingham, AL 35205 canvaseventcenter.com Carriagans 1911 3rd Avenue North, Suite 501 Birmingham, AL 35203 carrigans.com
Concordia Banquet Hall 205.252.3570 3400 1st Avenue North Birmingham, AL 35222 concordiaclub.org Daniel Payne Community Plaza 205.326.4499 1500 Daniel Payne Drive Birmingham, AL 35214 Dolomite-Westfield Community Center 205.254.2556 1056 Tin Mill Road Dolomite, AL 35061 Dorothy Jemison Day Theatre 205.458.0360 800 19th Street North Birmingham, AL 35203 djdtheater.org
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East Pinson Valley Recreation Center 205.297.8102 3000 Jefferson State Parkway Birmingham, AL 35215 EDU Warehouse Space 205.428.6900 1927 4th Avenue North Bessemer, AL 35020 www.eduwarehousespace.com Ensley Loft Live 205.590.5900 1816 Avenue E Birmingham, AL 35218 ensleyliveloft.com Events at Haven 205.536.7233 2515 6th Avenue South Birmingham, AL 35233 eventsathaven.com Gabrella Manor 205.833.9754 8912 4th Avenue South Birmingham, AL 35206 gabrellamanor.com Galley and Garden Restaurant 205.939.5551 2220 Highland Avenue South Birmingham, AL 35205 galleyandgarden.com Gardendale Civic Center 205.631.5679 970 Main Street Gardendale, AL 35071 cityofgardendale.com Goldstein & Cohen Building Ensley 205.590.5900 402 19th Street Ensley Birmingham, AL 35218 Harbert Center 205.226.8800 2019 4th Avenue North Birmingham, AL 35203 theharbertcenter.com
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Highland Park Golf Course 205.322.1902 3300 Highland Avenue Birmingham, AL 35205 highlandparkgolf.com Hill Arts Center 205.252.2262 1817 3rd Avenue North Birmingham, AL 35203 hilleventcenter.com Historic Cahaba Pumping Station Museum 205.969.1069 4012 Sicard Hollow Road Birmingham, AL 35242 bwwb.org/conferencecenter Hoover Metropolitan Complex, Hoover Metropolitan Stadium and Finley Center 205.739.7367 100 Ben Chapman Drive Hoover, AL 35244 hoovermetcomplex.com Iron City Birmingham 205.202.5483 513 22nd Street South Birmingham, AL 35233 ironcitybham.com Mathews Manor 205.467.3935 3279 US-11 Springville, AL 35146 mathewsmanor.com McWane Science Center 205.714.8300 200 19th Street North Birmingham, AL 35203 mcwane.org Negro Southern League Museum 205.581.3040 120 16th Street South Birmingham, AL 35233 birminghamnslm.org Oxmoor Valley Community Center 205.254.2301 1992 Wenonah Oxmoor Rd Birmingham, AL 35211
Park Crest Event Facility 205.822.7275 2030 Little Valley Road Hoover, AL 35216 parkcrestevents.com
Soiree Event Gallery 205.783.5228 2132 Lornaridge Lane Birmingham, AL 35216 eventsatsoiree.com
P.E.P.S. 205-386-0070 1612 3rd Avenue, North Birmingham, AL 35203 pepspromos.com
Southern Museum of Flight 205.833.8226 4343 73rd Street North Birmingham, AL 35206 southernmuseumofflight.org
Red Mountain Theatre Company 205.324.2424 1600 3rd Avenue, South Birmingham, AL 35203 redmountaintheatre.org
The Barn at Shady lane 205.790.7238 290 Sunbelt Parkway Bessemer, AL 35022 thebarnatshadylane.com
Regions Field 205.988.3200 1401 1st Avenue South Birmingham, AL 35233
The Birmingham Entertainment Center 205.240.9290 2700 16th Street North Birmingham, AL 35207
Rosewood Hall at Soho Square 205.322.6119 2850 19th Street South Homewood, AL 35209 rosewoodhall.com
The Cathedral of St. Paul Life Center 205.251.1279 2120 3rd Avenue North Birmingham, AL 35203 stpaulsbhm.org
Shields Conference Center at W.C. Patton Park 205.297.8291 3969 14th Avenue North Birmingham, AL 35234
The Fennec 659.208.2480 1630 2nd Avenue South Birmingham, AL 35233 thefennecbham.com
Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark 205.324.1911 20 32nd Street North Birmingham, AL 35222 slossfurnaces.com
The Florentine 205.503.4470 2101 2nd Avenue North Birmingham, AL 35203 florentinebuilding.com Reunion Planners Guide • 19
The Hope Building 205.585.0201 1901 Avenue E Ensley Ensley, AL 35218 hopebusiness.org
Venue 3131 205.277.9118 3131 Allison-Bonnett Memorial Drive Hueytown, AL 35023 venue3131.com
The Nest 205.538.1350 130 41st Street South Suite 101 Birmingham, AL 35222 thenestbham.com
Samford Theatre 205.726.2921 1116 26th Street South Birmingham, AL 35205 virginiasamfordtheatre.org
The Parthenon 205.202.6162 2210 1st Avenue North Birmingham, AL 35203 birminghamalphas.org/the-parthenon-cc
Vulcan Park & Museum 205.933.1409 1701 Valley View Drive Birmingham, AL 35209 vulcanpark.org
The Purpose Center at Dannon 205.441.3598 2324 5th Avenue North Birmingham, AL 35203 eventatdannon.com
VFW Kelly Ingram Post 205.252.2696 1801 11th Avenue North Birmingham, AL 35234 vfw668.org
The Sonnet House 205.699.7490 1487 Montevallo Road SW Leeds, AL 35094 thesonnethouse.com
Watermark Place 205.425.4529 4500 Katie’s Way Bessemer, AL 35022 watermarkplaceal.com
The Star Light in Homewood 205.422.4105 2901 Linden Avenue Homewood, AL 35209 thestarlighthouse.yolasite.com
Woodrow Hall 205.599.2160 5504 1st Avenue North Birmingham, AL 35212 woodrowhall.com
Trussville Civic Center 205.655.9486 5381 Trussville-Clay Road Trussville, AL 35173 trussvilleparks.org/civic-center
Workplay 205.879.4773 500 23rd Street South Birmingham, AL 35233 workplay.com
Unity Event Center 205.919.3490 397 4th Avenue SW Bessemer, AL 35022
Zoo Lodge at Birmingham Zoo 205.879.0409 2630 Cahaba Road Birmingham, AL 35223 birminghamzoo.com
More Information If you would like more information on our complimentary reunion services, please contact the Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau, Tourism Department at, 205.458.8000 or 800.458.8085, or visit us at inbirmingham.com. 20 • Reunion Planners Guide
W H AT TO S E E . W H E R E TO G O.
Reunion Planners Guide • 21
of Sun Ra and His Intergalactic Space Arkestra, along with Duke Ellington, Lionel Hampton, and Erskine Hawkins. 1631 4th Avenue North 205.327.9424 jazzhall.com
Alabama Adventure & Splash Adventure
A.G. Gaston Hotel In 1963, the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. regularly stayed in Room 30 at the motel, meeting there with other civil rights activists to plan the scope of the Birmingham campaign. Also that year, a bomb was detonated below Room 30 causing extensive damage. The property was vacant until 2017, when it was declared a key feature of Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument. Visitors are welcome to sight-see around the exterior of the motel. 1510 5th Avenue, North birminghamal.gov/gaston
Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame Outside on the sidewalk, visitors can feel the rhythm. From the boogiewoogie beginnings of Clarence “Pinetop” Smith to the velvet crooning of Nat King Cole, legendary jazz greats are immortalized in the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, within the historic Carver Theatre. Interactive exhibits also recall the contributions
22 • Reunion Planners Guide
Alabama’s greatest water adventure! Create water fun your way, whether it’s relaxing by the wave pool and enjoying the lazy river or amping up the excitement with monster slides, waterbased obstacle course, water maze, zipline and more! Experience special events throughout the season, such as dive-in movies! Great for the family or a larger group outing. 4599 Alabama Adventure Parkway Located off Exit 110 at I-459 & I-20 205.481.4750 alabamasplash.com
Alabama Sports Hall of Fame Displays include memorabilia from the late University of Alabama Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant, a tribute to Olympic great Jesse Owens, and other displays showcasing the careers of Alabama connected sports figures such as Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, and Joe Louis. 2150 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N 205.323.666 5 ashof.org
Alabama Theatre
Alabama Veterans Memorial Park
Built in 1927, the Alabama Theatre is one of the nation’s last operating movie palaces, featuring first-run and revival films, concerts and other special events. The “Mighty Wurlitzer” organ still rises from the orchestra pit and is often played to accompany silent films. Tours by appointment. Visit the website for special events schedule.
Amid peaceful Alabama woodlands, you can peruse the names of Alabamians lost to war. A timeline in the Memorial Walkway outlines historic events of the 20th and 21st centuries; visitors will find descriptions of Alabama’s 23 Medal of Honor recipients of the 20th century; and in the courtyard, Medal of Honor stories appear on columns with artwork and letters.
1817 3rd Avenue North 205.252.2262 alabamatheatre.com
100 Overton Road 205.985.9488 alabamaveterans.org
Aldridge Gardens Aldridge Gardens, a 30-acre natural garden with a five-acre lake and beautiful hydrangeas, now features the largest Frank Fleming Collection in the area, an art gallery on site and sculptures throughout the property. 3530 Lorna Road, Hoover 205.682.8019 aldridgegardens.com
Arlington Historic House & Gardens The city’s only antebellum home, the mansion is fully restored and contains a fine collection of antiques and decorative arts including 19th century furniture, textiles, silver and paintings. During the Civil War, Arlington Antebellum home was spared from destruction when Union troops used the home as headquarters. 331 Cotton Avenue Southwest 205.780.5656 arlingtonantebellumhomeandgardens.com
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Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum
Birmingham Botanical Gardens
Noted in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s largest motorcycle museum, Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum is home to more than 1,600 vintage and modern motorcycles and racecars and the largest collection of Lotus cars as well as other significant makes. Approximately 600 of the 1,600 motorcycles in the collection are on display at any given time. These bikes range from 1902 to current-year production. Common street bikes are represented, as well as rare Grand Prix race machinery. The museum is adjacent to Barber Motorsports Park, a world-class 2.3 mile road course and home to the Honda Grand Prix of Alabama.
The glory of nature in the heart of the city—that’s the promise of the 67-acre Birmingham Botanical Gardens. The gardens are Alabama’s largest living museum with more than 10,000 different plants in 25 themed areas.
6030 Barber Motorsports Parkway 205.699.7275 barbermuseum.org
Bethel Baptist Church Included in the National Monument district is Birmingham’s Bethel Baptist Church, credited with shaping the Civil Rights Movement here. Civil rights legend, the Reverend Fred L. Shuttlesworth, was pastor of Bethel Baptist Church from 1953 through 1961. The church often served as a gathering place for discussions of civil rights among Blacks, gatherings that angered white supremacists. In 1958, Bethel Baptist was bombed, though the church was empty at the time. The bombing cemented Shuttlesworth’s fiery determination to bring Birmingham to the center of the Civil Rights Movement. 3200 28th Avenue North 205.322.5360 civilrightstrail.com/attraction/bethelbaptist-church-birmingham 24 • Reunion Planners Guide
The gardens also have more than 30 works of original outdoor sculpture and miles of walking paths. The Birmingham Botanical Gardens also have the largest public horticulture library in the U.S., conservatories, a wildflower garden, two rose gardens and Japanese Garden with a traditionally crafted teahouse. 2612 Lane Park Road 205.414.3900 bbgardens.org
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute Designated part of the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument, the Civil Rights Institute reveals slices of black and white life in Alabama from the late 1800s to the present. A series of galleries tells the stories of daily life for African-Americans in the state and the nation and how dramatically different it was from the lives white people of that era took for granted. The powerful Movement Gallery presents the Civil Rights Movement from 1955 to 1963. Here a picture emerges of the bad old days of “Bombingham,” a reference to the relentless violence that rocked the city in the late 1950s and early ‘60s. In the final exhibits, the Processional Gallery uses life-size figures representing all ages and races to portray the Walk to Freedom. 520 16th Street North 205.328.9696 bcri.org
Birmingham Civil Rights Heritage Trail The Birmingham Civil Rights Heritage Trail winds through downtown, marking significant locations along civil rights march routes. Designed as a self-guided tour, the route includes signs marking actual civil rights events that occurred on the very streets that are a part of this trail. Beginning at Kelly Ingram Park, corner of 6th Avenue North and 16th Street Follow maps on signs. Reunion Planners Guide • 25
Birmingham Holocaust Education Center The Birmingham Holocaust Education Center (BHEC) seeks to educate the people about the history of the Holocaust so that new generations will apply the lessons of the Holocaust to the construction of a more just, humane, and tolerant future. By preserving and sharing the stories of local Holocaust survivors and commemorating the events of the Holocaust and the lives of those who perished, the BHEC seeks to promote a moral and ethical response to prejudice, hatred, and indifference for the benefit of all humanity. bhecinfo.org
Birmingham Museum of Art The Birmingham Museum of Art has one of the finest collections in the Southeast. More than 27,000 objects represent a rich panorama of cultures, including Asian, European, American, African, Pre-Columbian and Native American. Highlights include the museum’s collection of Asian art, considered the finest and most comprehensive in the Southeast, and its collection of Vietnamese ceramics, one of the finest in the world; a remarkable Kress collection of Renaissance and Baroque paintings, sculpture, and decorative arts from the late 13th century to the 1750s; and the museum’s world-renowned collection of Wedgwood, the largest outside of England. 2000 Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Blvd. 205.254.2565 artsbma.org 26 • Reunion Planners Guide
Birmingham Public Library The main library is made up of two stunning buildings, the East Building with its dramatic atrium and the 1927 Linn-Henley Research Library with its beautiful wall murals. Hundreds of visitors come to the main library each year to access their extensive genealogical resources. 2100 Park Place 205.226.3600 bplonline.org
Birmingham Race Course Casino A spacious pari-mutuel racing facility, the Birmingham Race Course is open year-round. Patrons enjoy simulcast greyhound racing from the country’s top racetracks. Must be 19 or older to play. 1000 John Rogers Drive 205.838.7500 birminghamracecourse.com
Birmingham Zoo One of the state’s most popular attractions, the Birmingham Zoo is an ever-evolving adventure. Visitors come from around the Southeast to see shows such as the Rhino Encounter, the Giraffe Feedings, the Lorikeet Aviary, the Predator Zone and the Sea Lion Splash Show. Trails of Africa is a mixed-species exhibit that includes a bull elephant herd, red river hogs, giraffes, wildebeest, zebras and more. Concessions and dining on site. 2630 Cahaba Road 205.879.0409 birminghamzoo.com
Eternal World Television Network
City Walk BHAM Located in Greater Birmingham’s Uptown Entertainment District, CityWalk BHAM is a state-of-the-art event space and recreational park that smartly utilizes ten blocks underneath the I-59/20 interstate bridges. With a playground, dog park, gaming court, beer garden, amphitheater, pickleball courts, roller rink, civil rights story zone, multi-use turf fields, regularly scheduled food trucks, multiple plazas for events, and a two-mile long walking trail, all just across the street from The BJCC. citywalkbham.com
Civil Rights Activist Committee/Footsoldiers The Civil Rights Activist Committee is a non-profit 501(3C) corporation who documents the countless stories of Foot Soldiers. The written record of the Foot Soldiers stories are documented for historical preservation. 1707 4th Avenue North 205.518.0321 cracfootsoldiers.wixsite.com/ footsoldiers
One of the best known religious sites in Birmingham is EWTN, the Eternal Word Television Network, founded by Mother Mary Angelica, broadcasting daily from the grounds of Our Lady of the Angels Monastery. Mother Angelica hosted “Mother Angelica Live!” on EWTN until she suffered a debilitating stroke in 2001. Today daily Mass, music, news and devotionals are broadcast round the clock to millions of homes in 140 countries. 5817 Old Leeds Road 205.271.2900 ewtn.com
High Point Climbing and Fitness Alabama’s largest rock climbing facility brings world class climbing to our state with 25,000 square feet of indoor climbing surface featuring walls up to 52+ feet tall. This facility offers a Kid Zone, Bouldering Room, weight and aerobic rooms, and yoga classes. High Point can accommodate a wide variety of groups including reunions. 4766 Highway 280 Birmingham, AL 35242 205.981.9190 highpointclimbing.com
Kelly Ingram Park Called a “Place of Revolution and Reconciliation,” Kelly Ingram Park in Birmingham’s Civil Rights District is adjacent to the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and historic Sixteenth Street
Reunion Planners Guide • 27
Baptist Church. The park served as a staging area for demonstrations in the early 1960s, including the ones in which police dogs and fire hoses were turned on marchers. Images of those attacks haunted Birmingham in the decades that followed, but they were the same images that were instrumental in overturning legal segregation. An audio tour, available via your cell phone, takes you on a journey through the most dramatic days of the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham. Bounded by 16th and 17th Streets and 5th and 6th Avenues North.
McWane Science Center Four floors of hands-on exhibits and an IMAX Dome Theatre are all part of the fun of learning at McWane Science Center. Celebrating science and discovery, the exhibits include everything from dinosaurs to space travel. Play tunes with your feet on the Giant Piano, and learn about gravity with a daring ride on the High Cycle. Pet the sharks and stingrays in the Shark & Ray Touch Tank, and check out the Zoetrope for visual illusions of motion from still pictures. 200 19th Street North 205.714.8300 mcwane.org
Negro Southern League Baseball Museum This interactive museum, which features an on-site research center, tells the story of the Birmingham Black Barons and other baseball greats who played at Birmingham’s Rickwood Field, the oldest ballpark in the country. Displays include the oldest Negro 28 • Reunion Planners Guide
League trophy, along with uniforms and artifacts. Located at Regions Field on the corner of 1st Ave. S. and 16th St. S. 120 16th Street South 205.581.3040 birminghamnslm.org
Oak Mountain State Park More outdoor adventure can be found at Alabama’s largest state park. The 10,000-acre park has a sandy beach area fronting the lake, rental boats and fishing equipment, an 18-hole golf course, and some of the best mountain biking trails in the Southeast. The Wildlife Center and Treetop Nature Trail give visitors up-close views of hawks and owls that cannot be released into the wild. Overnight accommodations also are available within the park. 200 Terrace Drive, Pelham 205.620.2520 alapark.com/oakmountain
Alabama Peanut Company That tantalizing aroma wafting down historic Morris Avenue comes from peanuts toasting in century-old roasters. This is a must-see stop for visitors, if only to admire the magnificent old machinery while the children feed pigeons along the cobblestone streets. They also specialize in many flavors of boiled peanuts, a Southern delicacy. 2016 Morris Avenue 205.837.4781
Pepper Place Saturday Market
Railroad Park
The Pepper Place Saturday Market is a much-anticipated weekly event, taking place Saturday mornings from end of January through mid-December. The region’s farming families converge on a lot in the Lakeview District to sell fresh to sell fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh-baked breads, cakes and pies, and even fresh honey. Local musicians and Birmingham’s chefs join the farming community and market patrons for entertainment and cooking demonstrations. A former Dr. Pepper bottling plant, Pepper Place is also known for its shops that have made it a premier design center.
A 21-acre park in downtown Birmingham gives the city a historically rich green space for recreation, concerts, and special events. Called Railroad Park, the area is designed to highlight Birmingham’s development at the crossing of two railroad lines. The park runs along a railroad corridor at First Avenue South from 14th to 18th Streets and includes a lake, a natural amphitheater and several playgrounds. 1600 1st Avenue South 205.521.9933 railroadpark.org
2829 2nd Avenue South 205.802.2100 pepperplacemarket.com
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Red Mountain Park With 1,200 acres, Red Mountain Park is one of the largest urban parks in America. The park has more than 10 miles of trails and a universal access zipline canopy tour. Remy’s Dog Park is designed with three designated fenced in areas, each with ample running space for large, small, and special needs dogs. 2011 Frankfurt Drive redmountainpark.org
Rickwood Field Built in 1910, Rickwood Field is America’s oldest baseball park. During its heyday, Rickwood hosted baseball greats such as Jackie Robinson, Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Lorenzo “Piper” Davis, Willie Mays and “Shoeless” Joe Jackson. Friends and fans eagerly await the annual Rickwood Classic, a game that pits the AA Birmingham Barons against a regular Southern League rival. The authenticity of Rickwood is being carefully preserved by the Friends of Rickwood Field, a 30 • Reunion Planners Guide
non-profit organization devoted to the restoration and upkeep of the historic ball field. 1137 2nd Avenue West 205.458.8161 rickwood.com
Sixteenth Street Baptist Church National Historic Landmark The Sixteenth Street Baptist Church is Birmingham’s most famous civil rights landmark. On a September Sunday morning in 1963, four African-American schoolgirls were in the basement of the church just prior to the worship service. A bomb set by Ku Klux Klansmen ripped through that side of the church, killing 14-year-olds Carole Robertson, Cynthia Wesley, Addie Mae Collins, and 11-yearold Denise McNair. The bombing was a turning point in the status of race relations locally and nationally. Now a National Historic Landmark, the church is a reminder of man’s inhumanity and his capacity for love and forgiveness. The sanctuary of the church contains a massive stained glass window of Christ, given in memoriam from the people of Wales following the bombing. Be sure to check out the new Sixteenth Street Baptist Church Education and Visitor Center located next to the church. The 16th Street Education and Visitor Center is a 13,000-square-foot, multilevel facility in Birmingham, Alabama, developed adjacent to the historic 16th Street Baptist Church in the heart of the Birmingham Civil Rights District. 1530 6th Avenue North 205.251.9402 16thstreetbaptist.org
Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark
helicopters. Ship models and full-size aircraft carriers are also in the collection.
Sloss is a 32-acre blast furnace plant where iron was made for nearly 100 years. Now a museum of history and industry, the site preserves a collection of machinery, buildings and industrial structures. These artifacts typify the first 100 years of Birmingham’s history and the technology that drove America’s rise to world industrial dominance. Sloss is the only 20th century blast furnace in the country being preserved and interpreted as a museum. Additional interest at Sloss is the speculation that the furnaces are haunted by a former foundry man. Donations welcome.
4343 73rd Street North 205.833.8226 southernmuseumofflight.org
20 32nd Street North 205.324.1911 slossfurnaces.com
Southern Museum of Flight The Southern Museum of Flight is dedicated to investigating, preserving and promoting the rich stories of Southern aviation. Among the top exhibits are Korean War jets, the Tuskegee Airmen diorama, the Lake Murray B-25, and the Vietnam War
Vulcan Park and Museum Vulcan is the largest cast iron statue in the world and Birmingham’s unofficial city symbol. Standing high atop Red Mountain, the 56-foot-high statue has an observation balcony on its pedestal for a panoramic view of the city. Vulcan is patterned after the mythical Roman god of the forge, a nod to the city’s powerful position in the iron and steel industry during the first part of the 20th century. The statue was created as Birmingham’s exhibit in the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis and won the exposition’s grand prize. The museum at Vulcan has a Visitors Information Center, along with interactive exhibits and displays that portray the region’s history and progress. 1701 Valley View Drive 205.933.1409 visitvulcan.com
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32 • Reunion Planners Reunion GuidePlanners Guide
Birmingham Welcomes All Types of Reunions Family & Friends
School
Military
When you hear the word “reunion,” family gatherings often come to mind. From grandparents and siblings to cousins, nieces, nephews and friends who feel like family, reunions are all about bringing people together. Gather your loved ones and make new memories in Greater Birmingham, where a warm welcome, great food and plenty to explore make every reunion one to remember.
Maintain those ties to people who were important to you in earlier times. Schoolmates have a special place in our lives; they share a history that no one else has with you. Valuable friendships shouldn’t fall by the wayside. Get busy gathering contact information and bring the whole gang back together. Even if it’s not where you went to school, Birmingham is an easily accessible central location for classmates from around the Southeast.
Shared history is a strong tie, and a history shared together in the military is a special bond. Birmingham has long honored the service of America’s veterans with the country’s oldest and largest Veterans Day observance. In 1947, Raymond Weeks, a Birmingham native and officer in the U.S. Navy, began the city’s Veterans Day celebration and parade. And that’s only one reason Birmingham is a popular host for military reunions.
No matter what type reunion you’re looking to plan, the Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau is an essential partner. Along with valuable suggestions for activity locations, the CVB can also assist with lodging, vendors, brochures and other helpful planning information. Reunion Planners Guide • 33
Reunion Planning 1. Assemble a Committee Select people that will work to ensure the reunion is a success. If the reunion is of a large scale, you may want to create sub-committees that will handle particular tasks. You might consider committees to handle the lodging, activities, transportation, meals, communications, and other assignments that need coordination. Share the work with your committee members. There are lots of details that must be worked out.
2. Set a Date Send a survey to members to determine interest in a reunion. You need an idea of how many people would attend, what dates would work best, budget, type of activities, and type of accommodations. If you have a relatively small number of people involved, this can be done by phone.
3. Select a Location Once you have established a date, an approximate number of attendees and budget, it’s easier to select a location. Depending on the size of your group, you may qualify for group discounts or special offers. Be sure to ask about their group policy before making reservations.
34 • Reunion Planners Reunion GuidePlanners Guide
Also, request a copy of the confirmation letter or contract from all entities. Be sure it includes the name of your group, dates, number of participants, per person cost or group price, cancellation terms, and any other pertinent details. Review this letter/contract thoroughly before signing and address any questions or concerns immediately.
4. Transportation Transporting your reunion members to various activities is an easy task. Many reunion committees charter buses when they host large group outings, such as those to banquet facilities or amusement parks. In Birmingham and Jefferson County, we offer several transportation options, including buses.
5. Invite the Participants Now that you have decided on the itinerary and all the logistics, it is time to send out invitations. Include the finalized dates and times, locations, maps, driving directions, schedule of events, additional costs, and contact person(s).
W H E R E TO P L AY
Reunion Planners Guide • 35
Legend
Picnic Shelter
baseball
Baseball Field
tennis-ball
grill
BBQ Grills
Football
Football Field
swimmer Swimming Pool
castle
Playground
basketball
Basketball Court
*
Indicates a recreation or community center at this location.
**
Indicates a Rental-Only Facility at this Location
4th Ave History Park 1700 4th Ave North, 35203 (.18 acres)
Tennis Court
Birmingham Botanical Gardens 2612 Lane Park Rd, 35223 (67.5 acres) **
Cooper Green Park 112 Dorothy Dr S.W., 35211 (96.53 acres) * grill castle baseball Football tennis-ball swimmer
Bradford Park 1 Bradford Park Dr, 35234 (165.75 acres) **
Crestline Park 1104-B Kingsbury Ave, 35213 (2.7 acres)
Alma P. Dennis Park 1801 Ave Z, Ensley, 35218 (.43 acres)
Brother Bryan Park 2100 Magnolia Ave, 35205 (2.2 acres)
Altamont Park 4100 Altamont Rd, 35210 (9.63 acres)
Caldwell Park 2500 Highland Ave, 35205 (2.69 acres) grill castle Football
Crestwood Park 5400 Crestwood Blvd S, 35212 (12.11 acres) grill castle Football tennis-ball swimmer
A.G. Gaston Park 916 Washington Ave S.W., 35211 (2.77 acres)
Arthur Shores Park 1221 19th St North, 35203 (2.67 acres) Avondale Park 4101 5th Ave South, 35222 (36.5 acres) ** castle basketball tennis-ball
Central Park 4700 Terrace Q, 35208 (8.67 acres) * City Park 426 Rosewood St, 35210 (22.13 acres)
Barker Park 2215 13th Ave North, 35203 (1.39 acres)
Clairmont Park (Triangle) 4341 Clairmont Ave, 35222 (.8 acres)
Bessie Estell Park 901 8th St South, 35205 (5.20 acres) grill castle Football
Community Center 9225 Airport Rd, 35207 (2.58 acres) *
36 • Reunion Planners Guide
Crowell-Young Memorial Park 500 Athens Circle, 35212 (1.79 acres) Dolomite-Westfield Park I 1069 Tin Mill Rd, 35061 (36.56 acres) ** grill castle Football basketball Dolomite-Westfield Park II & III 3537 Lewis St, 35061 (30.58 acres) Dorothy Spears Park 700 13th Ave West, 35204 (23.72 acres)
Downey Park 6800 Dublin Ave, 35212 (10.31 acres) grill castle baseball Football basketball swimmer East Brownville Park 3913 Felix Ave S.W., 35221 (4.58 acres) East Lake Park 8101 4th Ave North, 35206 (60.22 acres) grill castle baseball Football basketball swimmer East Pinson Valley 3000 Jefferson State Pkwy, 35215 Echo Highlands Park 1800 Indian Summer Dr, 35215 (12.86 acres) Eddie Kendricks Memorial Park 1727 4th Ave North, 35203 (.18 acres) Elder St Nature Park 311 Elder St, 35210 (37.12 acres) Eldorado Park 930 Eldorado Dr, 35235 (6.23 acres) Ellsberry Park (VP #37) 2320-B 13th Place North, 35207 (.43 acres) Elyton Park 101 Princeton Ave S.W., 35211 (1.78 acres) grill castle baseball Football basketball swimmer Ensley Park 2800 Ave K, Ensley, 35218 (30.8 acres) * Erskine Hawkins Park 1900 Ensley Ave, 35218 (1.19 acres)
Evergreen Park 1867 16th St North, 35204 (1.05 acres) **
Hanover Park 2776 Hanover Circle, 35205 (.35 acres)
Exchange Park 2315 20th Place, Ensley, 35208 (2.69 acres)
Harriman Park 4345 F.L. Shuttlesworth Dr, 35207 (.26 acres)*
Fairmont Park (VP #5) 3101 51st Ave North, 35207 (1.15 acres)
Harrison Park 1615 McMillan Ave S.W., 35211 (6.55 acres) * castle
Fairview Park 2501 28th St, Ensley, 35208 (1.93 acres) Fountain Heights Park 1101 15th Ave North, 35204 (14 acres) * Garden Highland Park 2431 Nabors Rd, 35211 (4.75 acres) George Ward Park 1901 Greensprings Ave, 35205 (83.73 acres) grill castle baseball tennis-ball Germania Park 3000 Pearson Ave S.W., 35211 (20 acres) Grasselli Heights Park 4300 Viola Ave S.W., 35211 (.33 acres) Grayson Park 1041 Five Mile Rd, 35215 (4.03 acres) Green Acres Park II 6919 Court N, Ensley, 35228 (9.14 acres) castle tennis-ball Greenwood Park 1632 Tallapoosa St, 35207 (36.14 acres) Hairston Baseball Complex 3724 6th St West, 35207 (6.11 acres)
Highland Park 3300 Highland Ave, 35205 (97.39 acres) ** grill Hillman Park 4549 Park Ave S.W., 35221 (.56 acres) Hooper City Park 3901 4th St West, 35207 (11.82 acres) * grill castle basketball swimmer Howze-Sanford Park 320 Ave D, Pratt City, 35214 (10.93 acres) * Hugo Black Park 2801 Niazuma Ave, 35205 (.87 acres) Inglenook Park 4016 37th Ave North, 35217 (5.91 acres) * grill castle swimmer Jenny Justo Park 300 Killough Circle, 35215 (.33 acres) Jimmie Hudson (Sandusky) Park 305 Pratt Highway, 35214 (1.45 acres) * Kelly Ingram Park 500 17th St North, 35203 (3.68 acres)
Reunion Planners Guide • 37
Key Circle Park 2800 Key Circle, 35213 (.14 acres) Learning Tree Park 4831 Court V, Ensley, 35208 (2.45 acres) Lewis Park 6600 Interlaken Ave, 35212 (3.25 acres) Linn Park 711 20th St North, 35203 (7.05 acres) Lowery Park 1600 Mims Ave S.W., 35211 (10.71 acres) Lynn Park 416 82nd St North, 35206 (7.3 acres) basketball tennis-ball Maclin Park 2701 F.L. Shuttlesworth Dr N, 35217 (7.18 acres) grill Marconi Park 630 25th St North, 35203 (3.71 acres) castle baseball basketball tennis-ball Martin Luther King Jr. Park 529 43rd St North, 35222 (5.35 acres) * McAlpine Park 701 11th St, Ensley, 35218 (8.34) * castle Football basketball swimmer McLendon Park 400 Graymont Ave West, 35204 (68.22 acres) McMahon Park 2720 Ave W, Ensley, 35208 (6.86 acres)
38 • Reunion Planners Guide
Memorial Park 524 6th Ave South, 35205 (7.18 acres) * castle baseball basketball swimmer
Pratt City Park 1331 3rd St, Pratt City, 35214 (15.82 acres)
Minnieville Park 5500 14th Ave, Wylam, 35224 (2.57 acres)
Railroad Park 1600 1st Ave S, 35233 (19 acres) castle
North Birmingham Park 3501 28th St North, 35207 (13.42 acres) * grill castle baseball Football basketball
Ramsay Park I-A 3600 Montclair Rd, 35213 (.84 acres) baseball basketball tennis-ball
Norwood Park 1420 28th St North, 35234 (6.55 acres) castle baseball basketball swimmer
Ramsay Park I-B 3601 Country Club Rd, 35213 (5.46 acres)
Norwood Boulevard Park Trail 1420 Norwood Blvd, 35234 (18.84 acres)
Ramsay Park II 3500 Country Club Rd, 35213 (3.38 acres) baseball basketball tennis-ball
Oak Mounatain State Park 200 Terrace Dr, 35124 (9,940 acres) grill castle basketball tennis-ball swimmer Overton Park 834 Oak St, 35210 (1.07 acres) Oxmoor Park (Sandridge) 2354 Wenonah-Oxmoor Rd, 35211 (9.41 acres) Oxmoor Valley Community Center 1992 Wenonah-Oxmoor Rd, 35211 (24.55 acres)* Patton Park 1200 Sipsey St, 35207 (21.1 acres) ** Phelan Park 1450 14th Ave South, 35205 (.38 acres) Pine Knoll Park 9914 Wood Ave, 35217 (.78 acres)
Red Mountain Park 2800 Highland Ave, 35205 (1,500 acres) Rhodes Park 2800 Highland Ave, 35205 (3.2 acres) grill Rickwood Mini-Park 201 11th St West, 35204 (1.97 acres) Roebuck Park/Hawkins 8920 Roebuck Blvd N, 35206 (113.29 acres) * Roosevelt City Park 5904 Higan Ave, 35228 (7.68 acres) * grill castle baseball swimmer Rotary Trail 1 20 St South, 35203 Rozelle Reynolds Park 6126 Ave O, Ensley, 35228 (1.89 acres)
Rushton Park 3000 Highland Ave, 35205 (4.37 acres) castle basketball Sherman Heights North Park (VP #6) 1434 Slayden Ave, 35224 (10.5 acres) Sherman Heights South Park (VP #18) 2701 Slayden Ave, 35224 (3.02 acres)
Thomas Park 538 5th St West, 35204 (.38acres)
West Brownville Park 5201 Jefferson Ave S.W., 35221 (1.84 acres)
Tuxedo Park 1301 Ave T, Ensley, 35218 (3.37 acres)
West End Walking Trail 633 Cotton Ave S.W., 35211 (.22 acres)
Tuxedo Heights Park (VP #41) 531 Alder Ave, 35214 (.26 acres)
West Goldwire Park 2749 Ishkooda Wenonah Rd, 35211 (2.53 acres)
Underwood Park 2621 10th Ave South, 35205 (2.71 acres)
Smithfield Estates Park 707-B Huntington Dr, 35214 (16.42 acres) Spring Haven Park 1-B 14th Ave S.W., 35211 (1.53 acres) Spring Water Park 1400 Midland Ave, 35224 (6.74 acres) Stockham Park 4221 8th Ave North, 35212 (6.52 acres) Tarpley City Park 3220 Wenonah Rd S.W., 35211 (1.12 acres)
Valley View Park 1816 16th Ave South, 35205 (1.18 acres)
Wiggins Park 3301 Jefferson Ave SW, 35221 (18.4 acres)* grill castle baseball basketball tennis-ball swimmer
Vulcan Park 1701 Valley View Dr, 35209 (9.72 acres) ***
Willow Wood Park 5312 Georgia Rd, 35212 (2.87 acres)* grill castle basketball tennis-ball
Vulcan Park Trail 1852 R. Arrington Jr. Blvd S, 35209 (8.56 acres)
Woodward Park 1215 McMillan Ave SW, 35211 (8.8 acres) grill castle baseball
Wahouma Park 216 71st St North, 35206 (16.13 acres) grill castle baseball Football
Wylam Park 1101 Detroit St, 35224 (13.43 acres) grill castle baseball tennis-ball
The Birmingham parks system offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors in ways that encourage conservation, healthy lifestyles and the observation of nature. In addition to athletic facilities for organized competition, our parks provide numerous areas for recreational play and family gatherings.
More Information For a more comprehensive list of parks and recreation centers and how to reserve them, contact Birmingham Park & Recreation at 205.254.2391 or scan the QR code. Reunion Planners Guide • 39
Golf Courses Ballantrae Golf Club
Limestone Springs Golf Course
1300 Ballantrae Club Dr.
3000 Colonial Dr.
Bent Brook Golf Course
The Meadows Golf Course
900 Dickey Springs Rd.
#1 Plantation Dr.
Don A. Hawkins/Roebuck Municipal Golf Course
Oak Mountain Golf Course
8920 Roebuck Blvd.
FarmLinks Golf Club
2200 FarmLinks Blvd.
Frank House Municipal Golf Course 801 Golf Course Rd.
Highland Park Golf Course 3300 Highland Ave.
Horse Creek Golf Course 1745 Hwy. 78
40 • Reunion Planners Reunion GuidePlanners Guide
Oak Mountain St. Park Rd.
Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa 4000 Grand Ave.
Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Oxmoor Valley 100 Sunbelt Pkwy.
Timberline Golf Club 300 Timberline Trail
Reunion Time Table 24-18 Months Before Your Reunion D etermine interest in attending reunion (survey potential attendees)
Brainstorm activities, entertainment and food based on the theme
Choose Location
Investigate any events permits or other requirements
Set a date Contact the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau
Develop budget and bookkeeping system (estimate costs, determine admission price)
Recruit a planning committee and schedule meetings Assign responsibilities (attendance, finance, communication, venue, food, activities, etc.)
One Year Before Gather contact information or update contact list
Open a reunion bank account (if you don’t have one)
Send first mailer; “save the date” (include tentative reunion schedule and plans and approximate cost)
Set up a reunion website and/or Facebook page
Collect starter money (if a first-time reunion) or evaluate balance from the last reunion
Set up an email template for your registration confirmation message
Reunion Planners Guide • 41
Months Before Reserve hotel block of rooms
Apply for permits
Send second mailer; include hotel information to make reservation, registration and souvenir order forms and cost
Prepare map/directions to event site
Begin souvenir directory/list of attendees, memory book
Order mementos and souvenirs
Book the reunion venue Book a caterer, photographer, printer, entertainment, speaker if using Reserve park
Design the invitation and tickets (if using)
Begin preparing personal histories, digital presentations, or other reunion handouts or displays Contact government officials for welcome letters, proclamations or acknowledgments
Reserve other services, such as tables and chairs or site clean-up
5 Month Before
2-4 Months Before
Confirm reservations, entertainment, photographer, caterer
S end reminder announcement (include enticing reunion details)
Choose menu
eet with hotel staff, visit facility M with reunion committee
Announce event to local news media, elected officials
Select decorations, theme, signs, banners and order printed items
Note milestones to acknowledge at the reunion, such as anniversaries, graduations, etc.
R eserve rental equipment
Look for sales of non-perishable supplies, such as decorations, plates, cups and napkins Airline reservations
42 • Reunion Planners Guide
ubmit personalized souvenir S order (t-shirts, mugs, caps, etc.) G et event insurance as required
4-6 Weeks Before Send reminder announcement
Prepare photo collage
Complete directory/memory book; deliver to the printer
Prepare signage (marking the venue, registration area, drinks, bathrooms, etc.)
Update attendees list Write checklist for reunion tasks Designate assignments for reunion volunteers Determine venue layout Make name tags Make table centerpieces and other decorations
Finalize schedule Recruit helpers for set-up and cleanup Inventory items needed on-site and who is responsible for bringing each one Prepare a reunion survey
2-4 Weeks Before Finalize attendees (make nametags as needed)
Finalize announcements and deliver to emcee
Reconfirm meeting, sleeping and eating accommodations
Verify delivery of donated door prizes
Send reminders or tickets if using them
Finalize and print any handouts and labels Confirm who’s bringing what
Prepare list of paid guests (if applicable)
Shop for nonperishable supplies
Confirm event details with all vendors and suppliers
Purchase last minute decorations and incidental supplies
Reunion Planners Guide • 43
One Week Before Update attendance list with last minute guests Prepare additional name tags or registration packets Set contingency plans for weather or other unexpected events Finalize list of paid attendees
Shop for perishables Prepare final payment to venue and vendors Confirm room setup and equipment arrangements with venue (if applicable) Prepare checklist for the day of the reunion
Give meal count to caterer (if using one)
The Day Before
Reunion Day(s)
Solve last-minute problems
S et up registration tables, rental equipment, displays
Pick up beverages, ice and food (cake, cookie trays, sandwich trays, etc.) Prepare food and drinks as needed Deliver supplies to venue if possible Review final details with reunion committee
J uggle details; volunteers, food, photographer, games, entertainment B ring reunion day supplies (including checkbook) and checklist for the day S et up food and drinks S et up decorations and activities H ave fun and enjoy the day! C lean up and pack items R etrieve supplies
44 • Reunion Planners Guide
Afterwards Reflect and evaluate — note what worked, what didn’t
Store reunion supplies in convenient location
Send survey (if not distributed at event)
Evaluate survey responses
Finalize photo book and or video with photographer/videographer
Meet with committee to discuss successes and pitfalls
Send memory albums and other handouts to those who paid but didn’t attend
Send regular updates via dedicated website, social media, email and or mailings
Send thank you notes and follow up letters (to volunteers, hotel staff, caterers)
Update contact list Recruit planning committee volunteers for the next reunion
Complete bookkeeping; settle accounts Close bank account once all checks have cleared, or keep open with a minimal balance for the next reunion
Planning any type reunion can be time consuming. The Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau is a non-commission based, non-profit organization. We are your liaison and are here to assist in coordinating efforts on your behalf throughout the planning process. We are a valuable resource.
Reunion Planners Guide • 45
Transportation Charter & Ground Transportation Acton Limousine Coach 205.591.7555 clinetours.com
Wheelchair Accessible Transportation CJFS Transportation 205.879.3438
Ambassador Limousine 205.987.5466
Clastran 205.325.8787
Camelot Limousine Bus Charters & Tours 205.525.172 camelotcharters.com
J&B Passenger Service 205.781.5702
Cline Tours 866.654.5264 clinetours.com Eshuttle/Silver Leaf Luxury Limousine 205.702.4566 eshuttle.net Larry’s Limos 205.629.6642 larryslimos.com Rare Transportation 205.980.7273 raretransportation.com R&B Transportation 205.980.7273 rbtransports.com Thrasher Brothers 205.591.8811 thrashertrailways.com
MAX Paratransit 205.521.0180 Medical Transport of Alabama 205.744.7475
Rental Car Agencies Alamo Rent a Car 833.886.0850 Avis Car Rental 205.592.8901 Budget Rent a Car: 205.322.3596 Dollar Rent a Car 800.800.4000 dollar.com Enterprise Rent a car: 205.591.1927 enterprise.com Hertz Rent a Car: 205.591.6090 National Car Rental 833.886.0849
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Visitor Information Visitor Centers
Helpful Information
Downtown Visitor Center 2200 Ninth Avenue North 205.214.9200 or 800.458.8085
Area Codes 205 and 659
Airport Visitor Center (Lower Level) 205.595.1052 Vulcan Park & Museum Visitor Center 1701 Valley View Drive 205.203.4813
Airport Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport 205.595.0533 Located 7 miles/10 minutes from downtown
CAP (City Action Parterns) The CAP team is on the streets from Mon–Sat 7 a.m. to midnight, Sun 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 205.251.0111 (Downtown only)
Altitude 620 average feet; ranging between 538 and 1,200 Square Footage 3,358 square miles – Metropolitan Statistical Area – Jefferson, Blount, St. Clair, Shelby and Walker Counties Churches More than 1,300, all major denominations Television Stations 7 commercial, 3 independents and 1 public educational station, several cable stations. Newspapers The Birmingham News (al.com) twice weekly, The Birmingham Times, Latino News, weeklies and monthlies Convention & Visitors Bureau 205.458.8000 or 800.458.8085 Library Birmingham Public Library Central Branch: 205.226.3600 Parks 205.254.2391 (city) 800.252.7275 (state) Laws to Know Use safety belts. Turn on headlights during rain Drinking age 21. Liquor sales at package and grocery stores after noon Sundays. Emergencies: For emergencies call or text 911 Travelers and Society 205.322.5426
Reunion Planners Guide • 47
Annual Events January
March
Birmingham Boat Show Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC)
Exceptional Foundation Chili Cook-Off The Urban Center at Liberty Park
The Market at Pepper Place Downtown Birmingham Birmingham Broadway Series BJCC Concert Hall O’Reilly World of Wheels Custom Auto Show BJCC Exhibition Hall Alabama Symphony Season
February Kami-Con BJCC Exhibition Hall Alabama Ballet Alabama Ballet Center for Dance Railway Marathon Black Creek Park, Fultondale
48 • Reunion Planners Reunion GuidePlanners Guide
St. Patrick’s Day Parade Five Points South Native Plant Conference Birmingham Botanical Gardens Birmingham Legion FC Soccer Protective Stadium Holi Festival Birmingham Museum of Art Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix Barber Motorsports Park & Museum
April Magnolia Festival Gardendale Civic Center St. Elias Lebanese Food & Cultural Festival St. Elias Maronite Catholic Church
Magic City Art Connection Sloss Furnaces
SEC Baseball Tournament Hoover Metropolitan Stadium
Jack Link’s 500 Talladega Superspeedway
MotoAmerica Barber Motorsports Park & Museum
Gumbo Gala Cahaba Brewing Co.
June
Birmingham Barons Baseball Regions Field
Caribbean Festival DeBardeleben Park, Bessemer
Bob Sykes BBQ and Blues Festival DeBardeleben Park, Bessemer
Juneteenth Celebration Kelly Ingram Park
May
Sloss Tech Downtown Birmingham
MotoAmerica Superbikes Barber Motorsports Park & Museum
July
Magic City Mimosa Festival Sloss Furnaces
Thunder on the Mountain Vulcan Park & Museum
Magic City Wine Fest Hoover Metropolitan Complex
Birmingham Restaurant Week
Regions Tradition PGA Event Greystone Golf & Country Club BHAM Taco Fest Sloss Furnaces
August The Festival International des Sports Extrémes (FISE) CityWalk BHAM
Reunion Planners Guide • 49
Sidewalk Film Festival Birmingham Theatre District
YellaWood 500 Talladega Superspeedway
Taste of the 4th Ave Jazz Festival 4th Ave Business District
Taste of Hoover Aldridge Gardens
Trussville Dog Daze Historic East Trussville Mall
Magic City Classic Historic Legion Field
September
November
Southbound Food Festival Pepper Place and Sloss Furnaces
Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Sloss Furnaces
Fiesta BHAM Linn Park
Christmas Village Festival BJCC Exhibition Hall
Birmingham ArtWalk Downtown Birmingham
Veterans Day Parade Downtown Birmingham
October
Moss Rock Festival Hoover Metropolitan Complex
Greek Food Festival Holy Trinity-Holy Cross Cathedral
December
Alabama Butterbean Festival Downtown Pinson
Christmas at Arlington Arlington House
Barber Vintage Festival Barber Motorsports Park & Museum
Holiday Film Series Alabama Theatre
Furnace Fest Sloss Furnaces
Birmingham Bowl Protective Stadium
Bluff Park Art Show Bluff Park Community Park
50 • Reunion Planners Reunion GuidePlanners Guide
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Scan the QR Code for More Information
205.458.8000 • inbirmingham.com 950 22nd Street North, Suite 550, Birmingham, Alabama 35203 @inbirmingham •