With America’s Independence Day and National Picnic Month both on the calendar, opportunities abound for members of The Retreat at Mountain Brook community to enjoy food, fun, and fireworks this July in Birmingham—Alabama’s Magic City!
Celebrate The Fourth With Thunder On The Mountain
Plan to celebrate our great nation with your family and friends by taking in the state’s largest Fourth of July fireworks show, Thunder on the Mountain, presented by the Vulcan Park Foundation. At approximately 9 p.m., Thursday, July 4, 2024, Pyro Shows of Alabama will release the first of more than 2,500 shells and effects, lighting up Vulcan—the city’s iconic statue—and the sky above Red Mountain.
Note: Vulcan Park and Museum will close at 6 p.m. on July 4 to prepare for the show, so you can’t watch the pyrotechnics from there. But wherever your favorite viewing spot is for this annual tradition, you can listen to the accompanying soundtrack exclusively on iHeart media radio stations:
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- 102.5 The Bull
- 103.1 The Vulcan
- 103.7 The Q
- 104.1 The Beat
- B106.5
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- 105 Hallelujah FM
- Magic 96.5
- News Radio 960 WERC
- News Radio 105.5 WERC
- La Jefa 98.3.
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National Picnic Month
Sometimes summer sunshine just screams out for a picnic, which is probably why the American Bakers Association picked July as National Picnic Month way back in 1952.
The Retreat at Mountain Brook Idea Specialists™ did a little research and found that the word picnic comes from the French word piquenique, which eventually came to refer to mid-18th-century al fresco French dining.
In today’s world, a picnic can be something as simple as sandwiches and soft drinks on a sun deck by one of the three sparkling Retreat at Mountain Brook saltwater pools, or as over the top as an Insta-worthy luxury picnic delivered by companies specializing in creating memorable experiences. Locally, Birmingham Picnic Company offers curated packages for unforgettable gatherings.
Picnicking In Birmingham
There are plenty of places for you to plan your own picnic in Birmingham, including the Birmingham Botanical Gardens and Railroad Park, both conveniently located to The Retreat at Mountain Brook. Birmingham Now offers more ideas, and some suggestions of goodies for your picnic basket.
Grilling & Chilling
Of course the Idea Specialists™ are going to have some suggestions for you when it comes to picnic-appropriate food and drink!
First, though, check out this awesome Picnic Time combo BBQ Kit Cooler from Target they found. In addition to its large capacity for ice and drinks, it features an eight-piece stainless steel grill set that includes everything from tongs and a spatula to a cutting board and corkscrew. And because of its shoulder strap, it’s imminently portable—thus perfect for a picnic at the community poolside barbecue area. Sweet!
Before you head out to wherever you’re going to spread your picnic blanket, whip up a to-go pitcher of this luscious Summertime Rosé Tequila Sangria. And depending on what you’re in the mood for, maybe one—or four, or a lot more—of these Pioneer Woman picnic foods. Cowboy caviar, loaded potato salad, chef’s salad on a stick, and blueberry bars all will go with whatever you decide to grill—ribs, chicken, burgers, YUM.
Summer’s Bounty
The Retreat at Mountain Brook Idea Specialists™ will definitely be heading back to the Farmers Market at Pepper Place for some more homegrown tomatoes now that they’ve seen this Garden & Gun article for delicious recipes for everything from tomato pudding to cracker salad. They’ll be taking that salad, and some green tomato chowchow, on their picnic, for sure.
And Speaking Of Garden & Gun
If you’re not already familiar with this quintessentially Southern magazine, check out their Instagram feed to get a feel for what it’s all about. And maybe have a little fun with their “You Might Be a Southerner If…..” quiz.
Enjoy!