City: Birmingham, AL

Category: Annual Events & Festivals

Telephone: (205) 967-4745

Address: 100 Grandview Place, Suite 110

Description: Since 1924 the Magic City Classic has featured a gridiron battle for bragging rights between Alabama A&M University and Alabama State University, two of Alabama’s historically black universities. It has been played annually at Legion Field since 1946. It’s an intense but good-natured affair (Alabama A&M holds a slight advantage in the series) but one of the main attractions is the parade and Battle of the Bands fiercely waged between each school’s marching bands. The parade, which runs along 19th Street North to 4th Avenue North then loops back through the Civil Rights District, is an affair to behold: Numerous middle and high school band strut their stuff. Recent ambassadors and parade grand masters include Earvin “Magic” Johnson, LL Cool J, Sinbad, Evander Holyfield, and other celebrities and sports figures of note. Tickets to the Classic start at $20.