By Emily Williams
The 34th annual Magic City Art Connection will fill Linn Park with artists, vendors and the annual Corks and Chef tasting event.
The juried art show, to be held April 28-30, will feature 200 local and national artists and benefit the Foundation for Art and Cultural Connections, which promotes arts and cultural outreach in Birmingham through programs, projects, exhibitions and festivals.
Festivities will include live music and dance performances, art workshops for kids, a large-scale art installation created by future artists and special exhibitions hosted at the Birmingham Museum of Art across the street.
A number of festival lounges will provide shaded space for visitors, and the Park Place Cafe will be open and free of admission for the public.
The 10th annual Corks and Chefs tasting will return, featuring food and beverages served up by local restaurants, seminars and cooking demonstrations from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. More than 15 local restaurants are scheduled to participate.
A new addition this year is an expanded focus on wine and craft beer. Through a partnership with Southern Wines and Spirits and International Wines and Craft Beers, the event will include a tasting of a series of craft cocktails created by Birmingham’s The Collins Bar.
The event also will add a separate demonstration space with a focus on cocktails and spirits. Seminars and demonstrations will feature Clair McLafferty, local bartender and author of “Classic and Craft Cocktails;” Steva Casey, bartender at The Louis at the Pizitz Food Hall and coordinator of Tiki by the Sea; and Gia Bivens, liquor and Back Bar specialist for International Wines and Craft Beers.
Tickets to Corks and Chefs are $35 in advance and $45 at the door, which includes admission to the festival.
Festival entrances will be on the Rev. Abraham Woods Jr. Boulevard side of the park and at Park Place and 20th Street North. Show hours will be April 28 and 29 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and April 30 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $5 at the gate and kids ages 15 and under enter for free. Advance three-day passes are available for $10.
On April 28, Birmingham Park and Recreation will sponsor a lunch hour ticket special at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. with $2 admission.
For more information, visit magiccityart.com and corksandchefs.com.
