BPL's First-Ever Summer Art Market Happening This Saturday, June 8

Join the Birmingham Public Library (BPL) for our first-ever Summer Art Market this Saturday, June 8, at the Central Library from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m.! Support local artists and makers in the comfort of your local library—and sign up for Summer Reading 2024.

Even better, the Central Library offers free parking for patrons on our lot that is attached to the East Building! Which is where you will find our featured food trucks, too. 

• What: Summer Art Market
• When: Saturday, June 8, 2024 | 12:00–4:00 p.m.
• Where: Central Library | 2100 Park Pl, Birmingham, AL 35203
• Details: The Birmingham Public Library is hosting its first ever art market this Saturday, June 8, at the Central Library from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. The Summer Art Market features local artists, makers, and food trucks across a variety of mediums. El Sazon Caseros and Southern Snow Shaved Ice will sell food in the library's attached parking lot. This program is free to attend and open to the public. The Birmingham Public Library provides free parking for patrons in the library's parking lot. 

The BPL is proud to partner with local artists and makers for our first-ever art market. Through our debuting Art for Everyone series and annual Local Authors Expo, we help connect our patrons to local artists and authors across Alabama. We are happy to further our mission of providing our community with cultural enrichment through programming like the Summer Art Market.

Alongside our vendors, food trucks El Sazon Casero and Southern Snow Shaved Ice will be in the Central Library's parking lot. 

El Sazon Casero is a local food truck you can often find in Center Point and Fultondale selling street tacos and more. Customers rave about their esquites (Mexican street corn in a cup), practically all their tacos, and uncommon finds like the hibiscus tea. Try their pizza birria for a homemade take on the cult followed menu item, the Mexican pizza. 

Southern Snow Shaved Ice boasts over 20 flavors to choose from for your icy treat, including classics like blue raspberry and tiger blood. Personalize your snow cone to your tastes by adding cream or a shot of sour flavor. They also offer specialty creations for a unique flavor to beat the heat with (expected high of 90℉ on Saturday!).

Stop by to get your lunch or a snack at the library!

Some of our vendors have been spotlighted on our social media, but we have even more vendors coming to the library! You will find a variety of wares at the Central Library, like authors and zine makers, vintage clothing, and hand bound journals to name a few. 

View the list below to see all the Summer Art Market vendors:

Nancy Abney Kenyata Rodgers David Dada Yalldove Prints Chelsea Rodriguez Kim Gerlach BhamJoe Creates Alexa Lee Art Pearl of Wisdom Penguin Queen Crochet

Presonance Prints Deep Wods Bindery Hunter Bell Designs Knightenday Art Shackmakes Dorian Wolfe Plushysniper Authentically Gaines Dreamstar Designs

Follow the Birmingham Public Library on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn for more updates, check out our Calendar page to see what else we have going on, and stay tuned to our blog to see what the library is talking about!

If you are an artist looking for supplies or someone starting a new hobby, check out the Magic City Art Mart in the Create 205 Lab on the second floor of the East Building. The Friends Foundation of the Birmingham Public Library in partnership with artist Zena Barker offer free art supplies, workshops, and art project nights to the community through the Magic City Art Mart.

Their hours are Tuesdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. They will be open this Saturday during our Summer Art Market! Follow them on Instagram for more information about workshops and Community Art Nights and other updates. The Magic City Art Market is supported by the City of Birmingham Community Arts Grant Program. 

By Cheyenne Trujillo | Library Assistant Ⅲ, Public Relations Department