Southbound Food Festival Announces 2025 Schedule

Southbound Food Festival, Birmingham’s biggest party, returns this fall with ten-day celebration of Birmingham’s magnetic food culture. From September 19-28, 2025, Southbound will spotlight over 100 chefs, musicians and beverage professionals through

signature tasting events, immersive dinners and collaborative culinary experiences that bring people together from across the region and beyond.

Since its founding in 2022, Southbound has grown into an award-winning festival that showcases the South’s diverse culinary landscape and creative spirit. This year’s lineup promises to be the most exciting yet, with signature events including:

Heritage Dinner: Coastal Traditions | Friday, September 19 | Streets of Pepper Place Honoring The Frank Stitt Award for Industry Excellence recipients

The Heritage Dinner kicks off the festival with an immersive, multi-course seated celebration honoring Alabama’s Gulf oysters, seafood, and the rich coastal traditions that have shaped our state’s foodways for generations. This year, the dinner recognizes Beth and Bill Walton as the 2025 recipients of the Frank Stitt Award for Industry Excellence, honoring their visionary leadership and deep contributions to preserving and advancing Southern food culture. The coastal theme pays tribute to their work and to the deep-rooted traditions of Alabama’s working waters, celebrated through dishes by local and regional chefs. Ticketed.

Rooted: Women in Food presented by Milo’s Tea Company | Saturday, September

20 | The Market at Pepper Place

A morning dedicated to the women who grow, cook, craft, and inspire. As part of The Market’s month-long tribute to Women in Food, presented by Les Dames d’Escoffier, this vibrant event cultivates conversation, harvests connection, and honors the powerful role women play in our food system—brought to life through the voices and recipes of When Southern Women Cook. Hosted by Toni Tipton-Martin and Morgan Bolling of “CBS Cooks Country”, Rooted will feature chef demos, engaging discussions, book signings and more. The market event is free, but there is a ticketed Rooted: Meet & Greet with a chance to connect with the hosts, featured chefs, authors, and makers over 2 brunch cocktails crafted by local female mixologists and bites from acclaimed Hot and Hot Fish Club. Free/Ticketed.

HOSTED: A collaborative series | All week long | Participating restaurants and venues

Throughout the week, local restaurants and bars will be hosting out of town guest chefs and friends for one-night-only collaborative menu offerings. These events will not be ticketed, allowing the entire community to get a taste of Southbound, and driving traffic into our local restaurants and businesses. During the week, the schedule will also include hosted panels, conversations, tastings and other pop-up moments around town. Reservations suggested.

Southern Living’s Food & Fire | Saturday, September 27 | Sloss Furnaces National

Historic Landmark

Sloss Furnaces will light up for the third annual, Food & Fire. The daytime walk-around tasting event will celebrate the barbecue community, live-fire cooking, and Southern tailgate culture. The event will feature top regional and national pitmasters and acclaimed chefs putting an open-fire spin on signature bites and tailgate classics. The cornerstone event of Southbound, it will also feature the Southern Living Tailgate Stage presented by Hellmann’s, The Coca Cola Music Stage featuring The Heavy Heavy and Southern Avenue, and the not-to-be missed Avadian Credit Union Tailgate Lounge featuring the Hop City Craft Beer & Wine Garden where one can enjoy tastings of local and regional brews and wines. Ticketed.

Funk Brunch: Gospel Bird presented by Kroger Delivery | Sunday, September 28 |

Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark

A soulful celebration where food, music, and culture collide, Funk Brunch: Gospel Bird honors the Southern tradition of Sunday communal feasts centered around fried chicken. A staple of churchgoing Sundays and soul-food cuisine, the “gospel bird” symbolizes celebration, gathering, and the resilience of Black culinary traditions. The heart of the term lying more in its cultural and communal significance than the fried preparation itself, chefs will serve up modern takes on this beloved dish—from crispy, golden-fried to slow-smothered and spice-rubbed, paired with craft cocktails and live gospel-infused music. Ticketed.

"Southbound is more than a festival—it’s a platform for Southern talent and a love letter to Birmingham," said Festival Production & Marketing Director Keri Lane. "We can’t wait to welcome guests back to Birmingham’s biggest party for ten days of food, fun, and the magic that happens when the South gathers at the table."

For more information, sponsorship opportunities, or full event details, visit www.southboundfoodfest.com or follow @Southboundfoodfest on social