A LOCAL’S GUIDE TO HOMEWOOD
Things to Do in Homewood
The places and experiences that make Homewood feel like home. From Saturday mornings and afternoons with the kids to local shopping, parks, and community traditions, these are some of my favorite ways to enjoy Homewood.
PARKS + OUTDOORS
Homewood Central Park - Large playground, green space, walking paths, pavilions, tennis courts and an amphitheater. It's one of the best examples of everyday family life in Homewood.
WHY I LOVE IT: Great place to let the kids play, walk around, or spend an easy afternoon outside.
Patriot Park - One of the anchors of West Homewood, with a playground, walking path, pavilions and seasonal pool.
WHY I LOVE IT: Easy family outing and a great neighborhood gathering spot.
Shades Creek Greenway - Great for walking, running, biking or just getting outside without leaving the middle of the city.
WHY I LOVE IT: An easy way to get outside and move without having to drive far.
Red Mountain Park - Great hiking trails
SHOP + STROLL
Downtown Homewood / 18th Street
Walk 18th Street, browse the local shops, grab coffee and make a morning or afternoon of it. The Chamber directory currently lists a substantial concentration of independent retail along 18th Street and nearby Linden Avenue.
WHY I LOVE IT:One of those places where you can park the car and spend a couple of hours just wandering.
Edgewood
Coffee, food and neighborhood shops surrounded by residential streets.
WHY I LOVE IT:It has that true neighborhood feel that makes Homewood special.
West Homewood
West Homewood has a laid-back neighborhood feel with its own mix of parks, coffee, restaurants, and gathering spots. Spend some time around Patriot Park, explore the Oxmoor Road area, and you'll see a side of Homewood that feels distinctly its own.
WHY I LOVE IT:A completely different side of Homewood with its own growing collection of local spots.
Shop Local Homewood
One of my favorite things about Homewood is how many locally owned shops and small businesses are woven throughout the community. From clothing and gifts to books, home goods, and specialty shops, it's easy to spend an afternoon browsing and supporting local.
WHY I LOVE IT:
Shopping here feels personal. You're supporting the people and businesses that help give Homewood its character
WITH THE KIDS
Homewood Central Park Playground
Right in the heart of Homewood, Central Park is an easy go-to when the kids need to get outside and burn some energy. With a large playground, plenty of green space, walking paths, and Downtown Homewood nearby, it’s easy to turn a quick park trip into a whole afternoon.
WHY I LOVE IT:
The perfect “we need to get out of the house” spot—and we can easily grab lunch or a treat afterward.
Homewood Public Library
So much more than a place to check out books. Homewood Public Library has children’s programming, story times, activities, and events throughout the year, making it one of those places you’ll find yourself coming back to again and again.
WHY I LOVE IT:
An easy indoor activity for rainy days, hot afternoons, or whenever we need something different to do.
Patriot Park + Pool
A West Homewood favorite with a playground, green space, walking paths, and a seasonal pool. It’s a great place to spend an afternoon outside, meet up with friends, or cool off with the kids during a Birmingham summer.
WHY I LOVE IT:
It has such a relaxed neighborhood feel and gives the kids plenty of room to play.
Central Pool
Located beside Homewood Central Park and the Community Center, Central Pool is an easy summer staple for Homewood families. Pair a morning at the pool with the playground or lunch nearby and you’ve basically got the day covered.
WHY I LOVE IT:
When Alabama summer hits, anything involving a pool is a win.
Homewood Community Center
The Community Center is one of those resources you really appreciate once you live here. Between recreation programs, youth activities, classes, camps, and community events, there’s usually something happening for kids and families throughout the year.
WHY I LOVE IT:
There’s always something new for the kids to try, and so much of it is right in the middle of Homewood.
Homewood Youth Sports
Youth sports are a big part of community life in Homewood, with opportunities ranging from soccer and baseball to basketball, football, tennis, and more throughout the year.
WHY I LOVE IT:
Sports have a way of bringing everyone together—and this is one of those places where you start seeing the same families and really feeling part of the community.
Shades Creek Greenway
Grab the stroller, bikes, or scooters and head to the Greenway for an easy way to get everyone outside. The paved trail along Shades Creek is great for walking, running, biking, or simply letting the kids move without needing a big plan.
WHY I LOVE IT:
Perfect for those days when everybody just needs some fresh air and room to MOVE.
There’s almost always something happening around Homewood. Event dates and details change from year to year, so be sure to check the local calendar before you go.
EVENTS + TRADITIONS
We Love Homewood Day
This is one of those days that really shows off Homewood’s community spirit. The annual celebration brings together a 5K and fun run, activities at Central Park, a parade, food, music, and a street dance in Edgewood. It’s basically an entire day dedicated to celebrating Homewood.
WHY I LOVE IT:
It feels like the whole city comes out for this one. It’s one of those traditions that really makes Homewood feel like a small town in the middle of Birmingham.
Taste of Homewood
Come hungry. Taste of Homewood brings together local restaurants and bakeries for an evening of sampling some of the food that makes this community so good. The Chamber describes it as one of its signature events and its most widely attended fundraiser.
WHY I LOVE IT:
So many Homewood favorites in one place—what’s not to love? It’s also such a fun way to discover a spot you haven’t tried yet.
Homewood for the Holidays
Homewood really knows how to do Christmas. Holiday Open House kicks off the season with shopping and festivities downtown, followed later by traditions like Breakfast with Santa, the Christmas Parade, Lighting of the Star, and the tree lighting at City Hall.
WHY I LOVE IT:
Homewood at Christmas just feels special. The lights, the shops, the parade, and seeing everyone out together make this one of my favorite times of year here.
Fall Festival
Every fall, Central Park turns into a family-friendly celebration with kids’ attractions, costumes, music, food, and a costume contest. It’s a simple community event, but exactly the kind of thing that makes living in Homewood fun for families.
WHY I LOVE IT:
Fall weather + Central Park + something fun for the kids is pretty hard to beat.
Easter Egg Hunt at Patriot Park
A spring tradition geared toward Homewood’s youngest residents, with separate egg hunts by age group plus games, prizes, and a visit from the Easter Bunny. It takes place at Patriot Park in West Homewood.
WHY I LOVE IT:
It’s one of those simple traditions the kids look forward to—and another reason I love how many community events here are centered around families.
Fourth of July in Homewood
Homewood Parks hosts an annual July 4th Festival with rides, food, and a view of Birmingham’s Thunder on the Mountain fireworks.
WHY I LOVE IT:
There’s something about spending the Fourth outside with neighbors and then ending the night with fireworks that never gets old.
FITNESS + RECREATION
Homewood Community Center
This is the big one: fitness center, two gymnasiums, indoor walking/jogging track and fitness studios. (homewoodparks.com)
Shades Creek Greenway
Walking, running and biking.
Homewood Parks + Tennis
Central Park has tennis courts, while Parks & Recreation operates a much broader athletics program. (homewoodparks.com)
Homewood Parks Athletics
Pickleball, volleyball, flag football, football/cheer, basketball and tennis are among the programs currently offered. (homewoodparks.com)
LOCAL EXPERIENCES
Spend a Saturday Morning in Downtown Homewood
Start with coffee, stroll 18th Street, pop into a few local shops, and stick around for lunch. Downtown Homewood is compact enough that you don’t need much of a plan—just park and explore.
WHY I LOVE IT:
This is Homewood at its best. Coffee, local shops, good food, and everything close enough to slow down and actually enjoy it.
Explore Edgewood
Spend a morning or afternoon wandering through Edgewood’s neighborhood center, grabbing something to eat or drink and exploring the surrounding tree-lined streets. It’s one of those parts of Homewood where the residential neighborhood and local businesses really blend together.
WHY I LOVE IT:
Edgewood has that neighborhood feel that’s hard to recreate. It feels tucked away while still being right in the middle of everything.
Spend an Afternoon in West Homewood
Start around Patriot Park, explore West Homewood, and grab something to eat nearby. The area has its own personality, and local resources highlight its park, seasonal pool, farmers market, and neighborhood events.
WHY I LOVE IT:
West Homewood feels relaxed and community-driven. It’s a great example of how different each little pocket of Homewood can feel.
Walk or Bike the Shades Creek Greenway
Grab your walking shoes, stroller, or bikes and spend some time on Shades Creek Greenway. The paved trail follows Shades Creek and has continued expanding as part of the area's larger trail network.
WHY I LOVE IT:
You can be minutes from everything and still find a quiet, tree-lined place to walk, run, or ride.
Make a Homewood Day of It
Start at Homewood Central Park, let the kids play, walk toward Downtown Homewood, grab lunch, browse the shops, and finish with something sweet. You don’t need a major attraction or itinerary to fill an afternoon here.
WHY I LOVE IT:
Some of the best Homewood days are the ones where we start with one little plan and just see where the day takes us.
Hang Out at The Edge
The Edge combines food and drink, outdoor green space, entertainment, retail, and fitness in one family-friendly gathering spot.
WHY I LOVE IT:
Everybody can get what they want, the kids have room to move around, and you can actually hang out instead of rushing through a meal.
Shop Local + Grab Lunch
Pick a part of Homewood—Downtown, Edgewood, or West Homewood—and build your afternoon around local businesses. Browse a few shops, stop for lunch, grab coffee, and make an afternoon out of supporting the people who give Homewood its personality.
WHY I LOVE IT:
You’re not just checking places off a list. You start recognizing the businesses and people that make the community feel like home.