Irondale Celebrates 139 Years with FREE Music Fest Featuring The Tony Tatum Experience

IRONDALE, AL — The City of Irondale is getting ready to celebrate its 139th birthday in a big way with an afternoon of live music, food and community at Irondale Music Fest 2026, presented by Mayor James D. Stewart Jr.

The FREE celebration takes place Saturday, September 26, at Beacon Park, 5309 Beacon Drive in Irondale. Gates open at 3 p.m., with the show beginning at 4 p.m. The event runs until 7 p.m. and admission is free.

The Tony Tatum Experience Headlines a Strong Lineup

Headlining this year’s celebration is The Tony Tatum Experience, and this won’t be a scaled-down performance. Tatum is bringing his full 12-piece band to Beacon Park for the celebration.

Those who attended I Love Irondale Day earlier this summer may remember Tatum bringing plenty of energy to the stage. For Music Fest, he’s returning with an even bigger show.

But the music doesn’t stop there.

The festival lineup also includes violinist Dominique Hammons, whose high-energy performances bring the violin into the worlds of R&B, jazz, soul and contemporary music.

Adding some HBCU flavor to the celebration will be the Alabama A&M University Choir, bringing the rich vocal tradition of one of Alabama’s historic HBCUs to the Irondale stage.

Birmingham-area flutist Sherry Reeves will also perform, adding another dimension to an afternoon designed to showcase a variety of musical styles and sounds.

And keeping the music moving throughout the celebration will be DJ Maverick (Willie Hudgins), another familiar face at Irondale community events.

It’s a lineup that gives you a little bit of everything—live band energy, strings, vocals, jazz influences and a DJ keeping the party going.

Bring Your Lawn Chairs — and Your Appetite

Irondale Music Fest is designed to be more than just a concert. It’s a community birthday party, so bring your lawn chairs, find a comfortable spot and plan to spend the afternoon.

There will also be plenty to eat. Food vendors announced for the festival include Eugene’s Hot Chicken, AJ’s Lemonade, Dream Flavors, GeGe’s Tasty Cakes, Good Ole DAWGS, My Planet Punches, Signature Grille and The DIRTY RED.

Parking will be available at “The Hill” at Grants Mill Station, with shuttle service provided to Beacon Park. Small coolers and clear bags are allowed; however, outside food is not permitted.

Urbanham Has Been Watching What’s Happening in Irondale

If you’ve been following Urbanham, you already know that we’ve been keeping an eye on Irondale.

Earlier this year, we published “We REALLY Like What’s Going On In Irondale” after spending some time in the city and getting a closer look at its community events and economic-development vision.

What caught our attention wasn’t simply one project or one event. It was the combination of community engagement, quality-of-life initiatives and major economic development happening at the same time.

And Irondale hasn’t slowed down.

Earlier this month, the city hosted Cruise-In Cinema, combining a car show with an outdoor showing of Furious 7. The September 11 event featured free admission, free popcorn, food and drink vendors and a Best in Show competition.

Events like Cruise-In Cinema and Music Fest are giving residents something to do while also giving people from throughout the Birmingham metro another reason to come into Irondale.

“One City. One Billion.”

All of this is happening alongside Mayor Stewart’s ambitious vision for Irondale’s future.

The city’s “One City. One Billion.” initiative is centered around attracting $1 billion in investment by 2033, with economic development, residential growth and quality-of-life improvements helping drive that strategy.

That’s a big number—but some equally big projects are beginning to make that vision feel much more tangible.

One of the most talked-about developments is the arrival of Costco, a project expected to significantly expand Irondale’s retail footprint while attracting shoppers from throughout the Birmingham metro and beyond.

And now there’s another major development to watch.

$30 Million Golf House Alabama Coming to Irondale

The Alabama Golf Foundation recently purchased approximately 80 acres next to Pine Tree Golf & Country Club for the development of Golf House Alabama, a statewide golf destination that will bring several of Alabama’s golf organizations together in one location and become home to the new Alabama Golf Hall of Fame.

The foundation is raising funds toward a $30 million goal for the first phase, with construction expected to begin in November 2026 and the facility targeted to open in 2028. Combined with the neighboring Pine Tree Golf & Country Club property, the investment encompasses approximately 363 acres.

And this isn’t simply office space.

Plans include a 30-bay hitting area with TrackMan technology, championship-caliber par-3 course, short-game practice area, outdoor event lawn, instructional areas and an Agronomy and Careers Center affiliated with Auburn University.

Mayor Stewart has connected the Golf House project directly to Irondale’s larger vision of becoming a destination city rather than simply a community people pass through.

That’s an important distinction.

Retail brings people into a city. Recreation brings people into a city. Entertainment brings people into a city. Community events bring people into a city.

Put them together, and you begin creating a destination.

Come for the Music — Keep Watching Irondale

That’s what makes Irondale Music Fest 2026 interesting beyond what happens on the stage.

Irondale is celebrating 139 years of history while simultaneously making some pretty ambitious plans for its future.

From community events like Cruise-In Cinema and Music Fest to major projects involving Costco and Golf House Alabama, Irondale is giving residents—and the rest of the Birmingham metro—more reasons to pay attention.

But on Saturday, September 26, economic development can take a back seat for a few hours.

Bring your lawn chair, grab something good to eat and enjoy The Tony Tatum Experience, Dominique Hammons, the Alabama A&M University Choir, Sherry Reeves and DJ Maverick as Irondale celebrates its 139th birthday.

IRONDALE MUSIC FEST 2026
Saturday, September 26, 2026
3 p.m.–7 p.m. | Gates Open at 3 p.m. | Show Starts at 4 p.m.
Beacon Park | 5309 Beacon Drive | Irondale, AL 35210
Admission: FREE

Urbanham.com will continue watching what’s happening in Irondale as the city works toward its vision for 2033. Follow Urbanham for more Birmingham-area news, events, entertainment, economic development and things to do around the Magic City.