Birmingham, late October to early December: Magic City Classic Oct. 31, Dia de los Muertos Nov. 2, the Veterans Day parade Nov. 11 and Glow Wild from Nov. 21.

Last checked Oct. 25, 2026. Rebuilt on the first of each month. Every listing comes from the organizer’s own page, linked below; confirm times there before you go. For this weekend’s full list, see things to do this weekend.

Updated Oct. 25: Oct. 17-23 events removed; added the Christmas Village Festival, Veterans Day, Market Noel, Glow Wild, the turkey trot and early December, and a link to the new arts and exhibitions page.

The rest of October in Birmingham builds to Saturday, Oct. 31, when the Magic City Classic brings its parade downtown and Alabama A&M and Alabama State to Legion Field. Halloween is the same day; trick-or-treat details are on our trick-or-treat hours page.

Good to know

Tuesday to Thursday, Oct. 27-29

AHSAA State Volleyball Championship, Bill Harris Arena at the Birmingham CrossPlex, 2340 CrossPlex Blvd. Teams from Class 1A to 7A play for seven state titles. Play runs 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, the CrossPlex lists (city listing).

Friday, Oct. 30

Bowl Night: Molten and Mysterious, Sloss Furnaces. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. for a cast iron bowl class in the Historic No. 2 Casting Shed and a guided night tour of about 1 to 1.5 hours. Costumes are encouraged. Park in the Visitor Center lot. Finished bowls are picked up the following Wednesday (city listing).

Saturday, Oct. 31: the Magic City Classic

The 85th Magic City Classic, between SWAC rivals Alabama A&M and Alabama State, is the biggest day of the fall in Birmingham. From the Classic’s game day schedule:

  • 8 a.m.: the parade starts at 18th Street North and 7th Avenue North and ends at 16th Street North and 4th Avenue North (route map, PDF). It airs live on WBRC 6.
  • 9 a.m.: the perimeter road around Legion Field closes.
  • 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: the pregame tailgate party.
  • 2:30 p.m.: kickoff at Legion Field, with the bands’ halftime show.

Parking and shuttles. The Classic runs paid round-trip shuttles from the Birmingham CrossPlex, 2340 CrossPlex Blvd., from 9 a.m., about a 20-minute ride, and from Park Place near the Boutwell Auditorium parking deck, 801 19th St. N., from noon; the deck opens at 10:30 a.m. Shuttles take cards only, and run until two hours after the game. Accessible parking is in Lot F off Graymont Avenue (parking and shuttles). Read the stadium’s clear bag policy before you go.

Early November

Dia de los Muertos Numero 24, Monday, Nov. 2, 3 to 8:30 p.m., Sloss Furnaces. Bare Hands Inc. presents memorial altars, a puppet-led procession, a New Orleans-style jazz funeral, music, traditional dance and an artist market. Advance tickets are $15, rising to $20 online and at the gate on Nov. 2; children 12 and under get in free. Submissions for the Memorial Roll Call close at the end of Oct. 30 (festival page).

Christmas Village Festival, Nov. 4-8, BJCC North Exhibition Hall. Wednesday, Nov. 4, is a VIP day, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ($31 online with fees). General hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 5-7, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8 (show information). More on our holiday shopping page.

Veterans Day, Nov. 10-14

  • National Veterans Award Dinner, Tuesday, Nov. 10, Boutwell Auditorium; reception 5 p.m., dinner 6 p.m. The ticket deadline was Oct. 15 (dinner page).
  • 79th National Veterans Day Parade, 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, downtown, rain or shine, from 18th Street and 9th Avenue North to 19th Street and 10th Avenue North (parade page). City offices, libraries, Sloss Furnaces and city schools are closed that day.
  • UAB Veterans Day 5K, 8 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, Railroad Park; $40, or $35 for military members and veterans, until Nov. 4 (registration).

Route, parking and closings are on our Veterans Day page.

Late November

  • Market Noel, Finley Center, Hoover, about 10 miles south: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21. The Junior League of Birmingham’s holiday market (Market Noel).
  • Glow Wild opens at the Birmingham Zoo Saturday, Nov. 21, and runs on select nights through Jan. 3, 5 to 9 p.m. Advance tickets are $25 for adults and $16 for children 2 to 12 (Glow Wild).
  • Turkey Trot at the (CrossPlex) Junction, 8 a.m. Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 26, Birmingham CrossPlex; $40, registration closes 8 p.m. Nov. 25 (registration). Closings and trash are on our Thanksgiving page.

Early December

  • Vulcan’s Holidays on the Mountain, 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, Vulcan Park and Museum: photos with Santa, a DJ and local vendors (Vulcan Park).
  • Christmas at Arlington, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, Arlington Historic House; free (city listing).

For galleries, theater and concerts, see arts and exhibitions this month.

Birmingham’s big annual events each have their own page, updated every year: the Magic City Classic, the Sidewalk Film Festival and Do Dah Day.

Related: fall festivals and pumpkin patches, Friday night football and parks and trails.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Magic City Classic in 2026?

Saturday, Oct. 31, at Legion Field. The parade starts at 8 a.m. downtown, the tailgate runs 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and kickoff between Alabama A&M and Alabama State is at 2:30 p.m.

Where is the Magic City Classic parade route?

The parade starts at 18th Street North and 7th Avenue North and ends at 16th Street North and 4th Avenue North, according to the Classic’s route map.

What is happening at Sloss Furnaces this fall?

A Halloween-season cast iron bowl class with a night tour on Friday, Oct. 30, and Bare Hands’ Dia de los Muertos on Monday, Nov. 2, 3 to 8:30 p.m. Sloss is closed Nov. 11 for Veterans Day.

When is the Veterans Day parade in Birmingham?

The 79th National Veterans Day Parade starts at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, downtown, rain or shine. It is free to watch.

Where can I park for the Magic City Classic?

The Classic runs paid shuttles from the Birmingham CrossPlex, 2340 CrossPlex Blvd., from 9 a.m., and from near the Boutwell Auditorium deck at 801 19th St. N. from noon.