Moss Rock Festival
The Moss Rock Festival is an annual two-day outdoor art show and environmentally-themed design competition held during the first weekend of November. Previously held at The Preserve subdivision in Hoover, which adjoins the city's 250-acre Moss Rock Preserve nature park, the festival has been held at the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium since 2020.
The festival was founded in 2006 by Eileen Kunzman, director of Fine Art Services, which also puts on the Magic City Art Connection show in Linn Park. Moss Rock Festival is a project of FAB (Find Art Birmingham / Foundation for Arts and Cultural Connections, Inc.), a 501c3 non-profit.
2023
The 17th Moss Rock Festival was held on November 4-5, 2023.
2022
The 17th Moss Rock Festival was held on November 5-6, 2022.
2021
The 16th Moss Rock Festival was held on November 6-7, 2021. It was held at the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium due to The Preserve's neighborhood association and management ending their relationship as the event's venue and sponsor.
2020
The 15th Moss Rock Festival was held on November 7-8, 2020. It was held at the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium to accommodate COVID-19 challenges.
2019
The 14th Moss Rock Festival was held on November 2-3, 2019.
2018
The 13th Moss Rock Festival was held on November 3-4, 2018.
2017
The 12th Moss Rock Festival was held on November 4-5, 2017. The festival featured artists, artisans and specialty food vendors from all over the country as well as live music, adoptable pets, a beer garden, a kids craft area, outdoor activities and food trucks. Much of the art fell under the "Eco-Creative" theme and some was even made from recycled materials.
The festival was laid out in a different organization from previous years, splitting the art vendors and specialty food vendors to allow people easier access to what they were looking for.
2016
The 11th Moss Rock "Eco-Creative Festival" was held on November 5-6, 2016. For the first time, organizers charged an admission fee ($7/day or $5/day in advance for adults, $3 for students and seniors, kids under 15 free) to cover the festival's cost. The festival expanded opportunities for nature parks and greenways to exhibit and added workshop areas for instruction in sustainable lifestyles, gardening, rock climbing and other activities.
Live performers at the festival included the ASFA Jazz Ensemble, The Matchcoats, B. Snipes, Corey Nolan, JQ's One Man Big Band, Flusnoix, Leaves of Wrath, Helen of Coi, Amen Corner, Cheshire Possum and the Uptown Rounders.
2015
The 10th Moss Rock Festival was held on November 7-8, 2015. In addition to numerous artists and craft vendors, the festival hosted a number of booths for nature preserves, outfitters, recreational groups, outdoors retailers and environmental nonprofits.
Live musical performers at the festival included B. L. Reed, White Nights, The Matchcoats, Elliot Cleverdon, Cory Nolan, Amen Corner, Lecroy, Hope Ensemble, 2BLU, and Atticus Avenue. Interpretive hikes led by the Friends of Moss Rock Preserve and children's activities rounded out the festival program.
Food vendors included Big Spoon Creamery, Cantina on Wheels, Full Moon Bar-B-Que, Greek Tavern, Karen’s Candy Kitchen, Melt, Rae Rae’s Catering, Steel City Pops, Saw’s Street Kitchen, and Tea Town Alabama. A separate beer garden served a wide range of beers, including offerings from Birmingham's many local breweries. Another "Sweetery" area featured cakes and desserts from area bakeries.
The festival poster was designed by Platypi with artwork by Chiharu Roach.
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
The 4th annual festival was held November 7 - 8. Princeton Baptist Medical Center was the primary sponsor for the 2nd straight year. Carter Oosterhouse from Home & Garden Television made an appearance. Musical guests included Old Slouch Hat, Kendra Sutton, Oxy Morons, Abram & Sarah, Come On Go With Us, The White Oaks, Jesse Payne, John Black, and Matt Boyer with Sue Nuckols.
2008
The 2008 festival was held November 1 - 2. Princeton Baptist Medical Center was the primary sponsor. An estimated 3,000 attendees were on hand Saturday.
2007
The second annual festival was held on November 3 - 4, 2007.
2006
The inaugural festival was held on November 4 - 5.
References
- Wilstach, Nancy (November 5, 2006) "Art inspires big Moss Rock crowd". The Birmingham News
- Ellaby, Liz (November 2, 2008) "Moss Rock Festival rewards environmentally conscious designers." The Birmingham News
- Anderson, Jon (October 27, 2016) "Moss Rock Festival to charge an admission fee, add new features." Hoover Sun
- Anderson, Jon (October 29, 2020) "Moss Rock Festival adds some magic for 2020." Hoover Sun
External link
- Moss Rock Festival website