Location and Times
City Stages is located in the heart of downtown Birmingham surrounding beautiful Linn Park and Birmingham city blocks from 5th Avenue to 8th Avenue North and 18th Street to 21st Street North.
There are three Gateway entrances for our patron’s convenience:
- Park Place and 21st Street next to the Tutwiler Hotel
- Park Place and 19th Street
- 4th Avenue North and 18th Street
Gate Opening Times:
Friday, June 19, 6:00pm
Saturday, June 20, 1:00pm
Sunday, June 21, 1:00pm
Site Map
Click here for the City Stages Site Map.
You can also explore the city and the City Stages site here on Google.
View City Stages 2009 in a larger map
ID Wristbands
This year City Stages is starting a new policy in regards to its alcoholic sales. Patrons who wish to purchase alcoholic beverages will be required to wear an ID wristband. To obtain a wristband, patrons will have to report to one of our ID stations and present a valid ID. These stations will be conveniently located at each festival gateway.
Allowed/Prohibited Items
| Allowed | Prohibited |
| Blankets | Roller blades or skates |
| Still Cameras | Weapons of any kind |
| Lawn Chairs | Pets (except assistance animals) |
| Video cameras or audio recorders | |
| Food or beverage items | |
| Scooters | |
| Backpacks, except laptop bags carrying a computer |
Getting to the Festival
Shuttles/Parking
Is Parking a Problem?
Free Shuttle from Lakeview.
Beat the heat and the traffic when you take the he City Stages shuttles provided by Rare Transportation Friday & Saturday. Catch a shuttle at THE RARE MARTINI in the Lakeview District near 7th Avenue South and 28th Street and arrive at the Festival’s sync vitaminwater gate on 4th Avenue North. Shuttles will run Friday & Saturday and will bring patrons both to and from the festival. If you aren’t ready to go home yet when you arrive back in Lakeview, join the fun at the Official City Stages After Party at THE RARE MARTINI. theraremartini.com
Parking Suggestions
City Stages encourages its patrons to take advantage of Birmingham’s very own DART Trolley System. Park in Southside or anywhere along the Trolley routes and jump on DART. For DART routes and more information visit the Birmingham Jefferson County Transit Authority.
The following Birmingham Parking Authority Decks with limited accessible parking will be available during City Stages:
- Deck #2 (801 19th Street North, height clearance 6′6)
- Deck #3 (401 20th Street North, clearance 7′5)
- Deck #4 (2128 2nd Avenue North, clearance 7′5)
- Deck #6 (2010 2nd Avenue North, clearance 7′2)
- Deck #7 (509 17th Street North, clearance 7′3)
Re-entry/Passout Policy
Unlike most other festivals, City Stages allows patrons to passout and re-enter the festival during certain hours. City Stages patrons are allowed to pass out and re-enter the festival site on Saturday and Sunday prior to 6:30pm. After 6:30pm on Saturday and Sunday, patrons will not be allowed to pass out and re-enter. No pass-out re-enter is allowed on Friday evening.
If there is any threat of severe weather on any given festival day, patrons will have their hands stamped upon entering the festival so that, in the event patrons are directed to the parking decks that act as severe weather shelters, they can readily re-enter the festival grounds.
Being Part of the Festival
Food and Craft Vending
City Stages hosts approximately 25 food vendors from all over the southeast who provide everyone’s favorite festival foods including funnel cakes, corn on the cob, fresh squeezed lemonade, greek entrees, corndogs and more. This year we will also cater to our vegetarian patrons by providing a few veggie options among the site. If you are interested in becoming a food vendor at City Stages 2009 please click here for an application. If you have any questions, contact food@citystages.org.
Patrons can also stroll along the streets and shop among the several merchandise vendors that participate in City Stages. If you are interested in a craft booth, please click here for an application. Questions regarding food vending can be sent to craft@citystages.org.
Sponsors
To learn more about our sponsors, please visit our Sponsor Page.
Volunteers
City Stages would not exist without its volunteers. For 21 years, City Stages has run on the energy and time of our volunteers. We cannot thank you enough.
If you are interested in volunteering, become a member for Access City Stages, our volunteer program, by filling out this form and mail it to us.
For more information on volunteering and Access City Stages, please contact volunteer@citystages.org.
Band Submissions
Are you a local band interested in playing at City Stages? City Stages supports local artists as part of our mission to promote the Birmingham community. If you would like to be part of the City Stages line up, submit an EPK to us through Sonicbids.com. Bands that are not existing Sonicbids members should select the “combo package”option. This will bundle your submission with a free one-month membership. Final selections will be made by May 11, 2009.
For other booking requests and questions, contact booking@citystages.org.
Media
For all press and media inquiries please visit our Media Page.
Donate to City Stages
City Stages is 501(c)3, Not for Profit that depends on the support of the community in order to provide a quality festival at a very low price. You can help City Stages continue for years to come by contributing to the Sustain City Stages fund. A donation to Sustain City Stages ensures that Birmingham will continue to host world renown musicians who may not otherwise visit our city.
A donation also helps this community festival continue to bring together the diversity that makes Birmingham unique to one location. All donations are tax deductible.
To find out more on the importance of City Stages to the Birmingham community and to donate please visit our Donate Page.
Greening Efforts
Let’s Make Music, Not Waste
City Stages is continuing its efforts to become an environmentally sustainable event. Our recycling program has expanded to include more recycling bins around the site. Keep a look out for our helpful volunteers to direct you to these areas. We are also working with our vendors to create a plan that encompasses environmentally friendly practices.
Please do your part to keep Birmingham and City Stages green and clean!
City Stages After Party
Let the Fun Continue at the City Stages Official After Party
Want to continue the City Stages experience after festival hours? To finish off the festivities on Friday and Saturday, the good people at THE RARE MARTINI are hosting the festival’s Official After Party, live from the Lakeview District at 2839 7th Avenue South. Join us for dancing, live music, DJ and great food, or just hang out with your friends at the sidebar. Bring this, your City Stages on-site guide, to get $2 off the price of admission. You must be 21 to enter.
The Music Oasis
The Music Oasis is the only indoor stage on the City Stages 
Music Festival site. It is housed in the Nave of the beautiful Cathedral Church of the Advent, located on corner of 20th Street and 6th Avenue North. This venue lends itself to showcasing artists and types of music that might be too delicate for the outdoor stages. The music genres featured at the Oasis include blues, folk, gospel, classical and contemporary vocal, jazz, keyboard, swing, strings, brass and woodwinds. Traditionally on friday evening, the 5 memorial city Stages music scholarships are presented to the 5 recipients prior to headlining performance. These winners perform on the Music oasis Stage at 1:00 pm on Saturday.
For the Music Oasis schedule click here.
Dance Depot
The Dance Depot features music tailor-made for dancing, all weekend long! Located on 19th Street between 4th and 5th Avenues North, the Dance Depot 
gives you a chance to bring the music to life with your own dancing energy. At the Dance Depot, music is not a spectator sport! There’s a tent-covered, 1800-square-foot wooden dance floor, huge box fans, plenty of dance instruction, bleachers, and ice water to keep you swirling and twirling to a great lineup of music and dance styles.
Dance instruction is available throughout the weekend to introduce you to the basics of the many different styles of dance featured at the Dance Depot, so there’s never an excuse for staying off the dance floor. All the dance instruction is geared towards beginners —no partners needed!
So bring yourself, your friends, your dancing shoes, and a refillable cup or water bottle to the Dance Depot, June 19 – 21!
For the Dance Depot Schedule click here.
Publix Children’s Festival
City Stages Children’s Festival is a festival within a festival for
children of all ages. The Children’s Festival offers an array of activities for kids of ages 3 –12 years old. Festival activities include: face painting, arts and crafts, slime making, pottery, balloons, bubble machine, beach area, painting, and much more.
Lowe’s has been a partner with City Stages over the past 3-4 years offering children to build something together and take it home. Children’s Festival stage includes acts that get the whole family involved.
Join us at the City Stages Children’s Festival to create memories that last a lifetime.
All kids under the age of 12 are admitted FREE into the park.