The World Games kicks off in Birmingham on July 7, 2022 for two weeks packed with sports, concerts, and events. But the fun isn’t limited to The World Games venues. Concert venues, museums, art venues, and restaurants around the Birmingham area are putting on shows and special menus in honor of the games. For the next three weeks, AL.com is keeping a running list of things to see, do, drink, and eat while The World Games is in session. Keep checking this list over the next few weeks– we’ll update it quite a few times.
CONCERTS & PERFORMANCES
The World Games Opening and Closing ceremonies
Bootsy Collins performs at The Voodoo Experience on October 26, 2012, in New Orleans. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)Amy Harris/Invision/AP
The opening and closing ceremonies of The World Games are slated to be the sporting competitions’ biggest nights of music. The opening ceremony, the official introduction to the World Games and Birmingham, kicks off on July 7 at 8:00 p.m. at Protective Stadium. The night will feature an all-star line up of performers including Nelly, Yolanda Adams, Alabama, and Reuben Studdard. The closing ceremony, which is on July 17, will feature Lionel Richie in his first Alabama performance in more than 20 years, as well as the Blind Boys of Alabama, Pastor Mike, Jr. and Yung Bleu. Parliament-Funkadelic veteran and space-age bassist Bootsy Collins, will lead the charge as the master of ceremonies for both the opening and closing ceremonies.
Tickets for both ceremonies are available on Ticketmaster.
[Read more about the lineup of artists coming to Protective Stadium for The World Games]
Performances on the The World Games Plaza
Bio Boi, Lupe Fiasco, Big Head Todd are on the lineup of performers set to grace the stage at The World Games Plaza (Getty Images)
Located on a pavilion at CitywalkBHM, The World Games Plaza will host 14 days of free concerts, entertainment, vendors, and food trucks during The World Games. Performances will start at 3 p.m. each day, featuring a lineup of hosts, DJs, and acts. Big Head Todd & The Monsters, Lupe Fiasco, and Big Boi are also set to take the Plaza stage.
The full schedule for The Plaza is available on The World Games website.
Sharrif Simmons at East Village Arts
Poet, musician, and spoken word artist Sharrif Simmons is set to deliver a poem during The World Games opening ceremonies on July 7. The following evening, on July 8, East Village Arts will host a concert and evening of poetry for Simmons. Doors will open at 6:30. For more information, visit the East Village Arts Facebook page.
Race to Freedom, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
For the duration of The World Games, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute will host Race to Freedom, an immersive exhibit about the triumphs and challenges of Black athletes (Courtesy, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute)
The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI), in partnership with The Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, NASCAR, Honda, Southern Custom Exhibits, Microsoft and The Southern Center for Broadening Participation in STEM, will host an exhibit in conjunction with The World Games.
“Race to Freedom: African Americans in Sports & The Marathon for Progress” will be an interactive display centering the challenges and triumphs of Black athletes. “Race to Freedom: African Americans in Sports & The Marathon for Progress” opens on July 7 and will be on display for the duration of The World Games.
FOOD & DINING
World Games themed cocktails at the Terrace Bar inside the the Valley Hotel
The Terrace bar’s Sumo Wrestler cocktail featuring raspberries, sparkling sake, and Redmont Distillery’s Vulcan gin (courtesy, The Terrace Bar/ The Valley Hotell)
Starting July 1, The Terrace Bar located within The Valley Hotel in Homewood will serve up unique cocktails in honor of The World Games. For the gin lovers, the bar has created the Sumo Wrestler featuring raspberries, sparkling sake, Vulcan gin and more. For vodka lovers, there’s The Archer, a refresher made with Redmont vodka, Muscadine cider, lemon juice, and orange bitters.
We’ll keep adding to this list over the next three weeks. Are you an arts venue hosting performance or concert in honor of The World Games? Are you restaurant or bar crafting a special menu? Let us know! Email Shauna Stuart at sstuart@al.com.
