Irondale & Birmingham, AL: Free Turkey Giveaway, Moss Rock Festival and a Craft Bazaar This November

November has a way of filling up the calendar fast, and the Birmingham area is no exception. Between a free diabetes education event tomorrow morning, the 21st Moss Rock Festival in Hoover, and Irondale's holiday giving lineup, there is a whole lot of good happening right here in Jefferson County.

Pour yourself a cup of coffee and grab a pen. We've pulled together what we could verify, with the dates, times and costs you need to plan, plus a few easy ways to pitch in. If you missed our earlier Birmingham-area story, you can catch our Magic City Classic week guide or browse every story in Around The Village.

What's Happening Around the Village

Tuesday, Nov. 3: State of Diabetes at Boutwell Auditorium, Birmingham

The American Diabetes Association is hosting its annual State of Diabetes community event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Boutwell Auditorium, 1930 Reverend Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd., in Birmingham. Check-in opens at 10:30 a.m. An expert panel will talk about diabetes and obesity guidelines, outcomes and practical ways to improve health and lower costs, and attendees can pick up ADA resources.

Registration happens on the ADA's event page. Bham Now lists the event as free, but the ADA page didn't show a price when we checked, so confirm when you sign up.

Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 7-8: Moss Rock Festival in Hoover

The 21st annual Moss Rock Festival returns to the Hoover Metropolitan Complex on Stadium Trace Parkway, with hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Per the Hoover Sun, admission is $13 in advance or $15 at the gate, one ticket covers both days, and kids and students 18 and younger get in free. Parking at the Hoover Met is free.

This year's featured artist is Penny Dobson, a retired art teacher from Tuscaloosa who paints birds, animals and flowers on repurposed vintage objects. New this year is Take Root: A Tree Legacy Project, a printmaking workshop and exhibition where visitors can enter to win a tree sapling and pick up pollinator seed packets. Kids can get hands-on at WonderKid Studios, and students from the Planet Project will show off large sculptures built from recycled materials.

A separate Beer Garden tasting runs 12:30 to 3 p.m. both days for guests 21 and older. Tickets are $40 in advance (orders due Nov. 6) or $45 at the gate, and they include festival entry.

Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 21-22: Irondale Arts & Crafts Bazaar

The City of Irondale's calendar lists the Arts & Crafts Bazaar at the Shades Valley High School gymnasium, 6100 Old Leeds Rd., from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and noon to 3 p.m. Sunday. Bham Now reports more than 100 local artists and craft vendors and free admission, which makes it a great place to knock out holiday gifts while keeping your dollars with neighbors.

Saturday, Nov. 21: Irondale Turkey Giveaway

According to Bham Now's rundown of Irondale's holiday events, the city will hold a drive-through Turkey Giveaway at Irondale City Hall, 101 20th St. S., from 8 to 9 a.m. It's one free turkey per family while supplies last. This one didn't appear on the city's online calendar when we checked, so please follow the City of Irondale on Facebook for confirmation and any changes before you head over.

Why It Matters

A free turkey takes real pressure off a holiday table. A free health program puts useful information within reach for families managing diabetes. And a gym full of local makers keeps holiday spending circulating among neighbors. None of it is flashy, and all of it is what makes a town feel like a village.

How This Impacts Our Community

Families in Irondale and across Jefferson County get a little breathing room before Thanksgiving. Neighbors living with diabetes, and the employers and caregivers who support them, get a chance to hear from experts in person. Artists and craft vendors get a stage, and kids get a reason to put down the screen and pick up a paintbrush. Even the school students building those recycled-material sculptures get to see their work celebrated.

How You Can Get Involved

• Register for State of Diabetes on the ADA event page if you or someone you love could use the information.

• Buy Moss Rock tickets ahead of time at mossrockfestival.com and bring the kids, since they get in free.

• Stop by the Take Root booth at Moss Rock to enter the tree sapling drawing and grab pollinator seeds for your yard.

• Shop the Irondale bazaar on Nov. 21-22 and buy straight from the makers.

• If your family could use a Thanksgiving turkey, mark Nov. 21 at 8 a.m. If you don't need one, tell a neighbor, church family or senior who might.

• Share this post with someone who loves a good community event.

Around the Village Calendar

• Tue., Nov. 3: State of Diabetes, Boutwell Auditorium, Birmingham, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

• Thu.-Sun., Nov. 5-8: Christmas Village Festival at the BJCC in Birmingham, with more than 750 vendors. Per Bham Now, adult tickets are $16 ($18 after Nov. 3) and kids 5 and under are free.

• Sat.-Sun., Nov. 7-8: Moss Rock Festival, Hoover Metropolitan Complex.

• Nov. 9-12 and Nov. 16-19: Irondale Fall Trash Amnesty Weeks for Districts 4 and 5, respectively, per the city calendar. No hazardous materials.

• Sat., Nov. 14: Adopt a Golden Meet + Greet, Hollywood Feed in Mountain Brook, 9:30-11:30 a.m., free (per Bham Now).

• Sat., Nov. 21: Irondale Turkey Giveaway, 8-9 a.m., City Hall.

• Sat.-Sun., Nov. 21-22: Irondale Arts & Crafts Bazaar, Shades Valley High School.

• Fri., Dec. 4: Irondale Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting, 6 p.m., City Hall.

• Sat., Dec. 19: Irondale Holiday Ham Giveaway, 8-9 a.m., City Hall (per Bham Now).

Sophie's Suggestions

• Plant a Tree Gift Kit | Eco-Friendly Tree Growing Gift: If the Take Root sapling drawing has you in a planting mood, this kit lets you grow a tree of your own at home, with additional trees planted through ForestNation based on the option you choose.

• From the Village - Entrepreneur Spotlight: If you're a maker selling at a bazaar like Irondale's, this package introduces your business to the Sophie's Mart community, with options starting at $10. You can see past features in Entrepreneur Stories.

Around the Village Takeaway

A full table, a healthier neighbor and a handmade gift all start the same way: somebody in the village decided to show up.