cahabariversociety.org
On Sunday, Oct. 1, from noon to 4 p.m. at Cahaba Brewing, teams of culinary competitors will vie to see whose catfish, sides, and desserts can win one of the coveted frying pan trophies at the 14th annual Cahaba River Fry-Down.
Festival-goers can indulge in all-you-can-eat catfish, sides, and desserts, as well as a bar of signature cocktails and craft beers, while enjoying a festive, family-friendly atmosphere with live music, dancing, and an abundance of activities included with admission, including an appearance by Birmingham hip hop artists Shaheed and DJ Supreme of K.R.U. (Knowledge, Rhythm, Understanding), whose song “Something to Ride To (feat. Lauren Strain)” from their recent album, The Art of Throwing Darts, is currently number three on the Billboard Top 100 Clean Playlist.
“The Cahaba River is not only one of the most biologically diverse rivers on the planet; it’s also a primary drinking water source for the Greater Birmingham area,” said Cahaba River Society Executive Director Beth Stewart. “We are thrilled to host this year’s festival at Cahaba Brewing, a local business that depends on the Cahaba’s water to make its product. In river ecology, you talk a lot about watersheds, the land around a river that is part of its system. In our work, we also consider the Cahaba ‘Peopleshed,’ which consists of the million plus people and businesses that depend on the Cahaba for their water. The Cahaba belongs to all of us, and everyone is welcome at Fry-Down and on the river.”
“We’ve always been passionate about supporting local. Not only are we named for the Cahaba River, but we couldn’t craft our excellent beer without it,” said Eric Meyer, Brewmaster and Co-Founder of Cahaba Brewing. “That’s why we support the Cahaba River Society every chance we get. From donating a portion of sales from our Cahaba Lily Lager to organizing clean-ups to hosting the Fry-Down, we’re happy to help in keeping the Cahaba River watershed thriving.”
After their appearance on the main stage, Shaheed and DJ Supreme will head to the Cahaba River Adventure Area where participants can join them for a K.R.U. workshop where they can express themselves while learning the four core elements of Hip Hop through peace, love and having fun.
Now in its 14th year, Fry-Down is the largest fundraiser for the Cahaba River Society, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and restoring the Cahaba River watershed and its rich diversity of life.
Guests can experience the “Cahaba River Adventure,” an interactive stroll through a series of exhibits and activities that evoke the feeling of traveling down the river, encountering its finned, furry, scaly, and feathered wildlife, and discovering places to enjoy the river and opportunities to protect it.
Visitors will enter the Cahaba River Adventure by way of an immersive, participatory native species art exhibition by local artist Celeste Pfau, where they’ll create their own Cahaba-themed art piece to take home. Kids and adults can let their literary sides flourish with poetry and prose fiction workshops led by UAB’s English Department.
On the main stage, this year’s live entertainment also include Margeaux and the Cat’s Meow with an eclectic medley of swing, funk, groove and jazz, as well as dance performances by Dala Tribal Bellydance and Magic City Disco. Kids of all ages will enjoy a climbing wall, face painting, hula hooping, martial arts, fly fishing, and more.
Tickets are $20, and children under 12 are free. Admission includes all-you-can-eat catfish, sides, and desserts as well as all activities. Tickets can be purchased at www.frydown.com.
WHAT: 14th annual Cahaba River Fry-Down Catfish Cookoff and Festival
WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 1, noon-4pm
WHERE: Cahaba Brewing Company, 4500 5th Ave South Building C, Birmingham, Alabama 35222
TICKETS: $20, kids 12 & under FREE
WEBSITE: www.frydown.com.
MORE: www.cahabariversociety.org
