The eighth annual Magic City Mac + Cheese Festival, hosted by Community Grief Support, invited Birmingham for an evening of cheesy, comforting community Sept. 20.
The festival’s flagship competition includes talent from seven businesses across the Birmingham metro area: Waldo’s Chicken and Beer, The Local Bourbon House, Porky’s Pride Smoke House, The Southern Kitchen and Bar, Chief Grill Daddy & Hose Draggers and Eugene’s Hot Chicken.
Admission included samples of all competitors’ cheesy concoctions. Each competitor brings their most appetizing mac and cheese recipes before two adults and one kid judge. They taste them, vote for their favorite and the winner gets a $500 prize.
Amber Pope is the director of Community Grief Support, the organization that arranged this fundraiser. The support group is a non profit organization enabling free help to individuals processing the loss of a loved one.
“It’s meant to be a time of fun, joy, bringing everybody together just to eat the best comfort food in the world,” Pope said.
The pet and family-friendly festival includes something for everybody to enjoy: adults walk around listening to live music savoring crafted beverages and food, while children get their face painted and play in the bounce house.
“They can listen to the band play, or have the face painter for the kids, there’s also a bounce house,” Pope said. “They’re just here to hang out and eat mac and cheese.”
Pens and More is an eccentric vendor, contrasting from mac and cheese. Beth Smith sells 3D printed items, such as animals, pens and more for all ages.
“It’s a family event,” Smith said. “I mean there’s moms here with their kids and you know everybody’s able to come here and just relax and enjoy not having to worry about the craziness going on in the world right now.”
The atmosphere of the festival has warm energy, bringing the community together through mac and cheese.
“I enjoy coming out into the community, getting to know people and from staying at home being bored,” Smith said. “It’s laid back, relaxing.”
Community Grief Support has raised over $20,000 throughout their eight festivals.
“Our organization is holding this fundraiser to raise money so that we can continue to provide free grief counseling and grief support groups to the greater Birmingham community,” Pope said.
In addition to having fun, the purpose of the festival is in line with the Community Grief Support mission statement.
“Our mission statement is to enhance the lives of people who have lost their loved ones through counseling and support groups,” Pope said. “We would just like the public to know that we are here to help.”
