--- title: "7th Annual Celebrate the Family Expo Recap!" date: 2026-09-23 author: "Laurie Stroud" featured_image: "https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Expo-crowd-photo.jpg" categories: - name: "Entertainment" url: "/category/news/entertainment.md" tags: - name: "Featured" url: "/tag/featured.md" --- # 7th Annual Celebrate the Family Expo Recap! **Special Feature** *Birmingham Christian Family* (BCF) hosted the 7th Annual Celebrate the Family Expo, brought to you by White Lily, on September 12, 2026. Welcoming the largest crowd yet, this year’s Expo featured nearly 60 exhibitors, the Wonders Center & Science Museum Kids’ Zone, the Alfa Farmers Celebrity Chef Stage, live entertainment from Magic City Big Band, food trucks, and much more! We are already preparing for the 8th Annual Celebrate the Family Expo. Here are just a few of the highlights from the free day of family fun at the Hoover Metropolitan Complex’s Finley Center! [![Swag Bag attendee](https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Swag-Bag-attendee-225x300.jpg "Swag Bag attendee")](https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Swag-Bag-attendee.jpg)The first 200 families that arrived at the Expo received an Expo swag bag packed full of great giveaway items from Expo sponsors. --- [![Title Sponsor White Lily](https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Title-Sponsor-White-Lily-300x200.jpg "Title Sponsor White Lily")](https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Title-Sponsor-White-Lily.jpg)[White Lily](http://whitelily.com) was the Expo’s title sponsor, and their giveaways, including dough scrapers and coupons, were a huge hit with attendees! --- [![Chef Stage Brenda Gantt](https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Chef-Stage-Brenda-Gantt-300x225.jpg "Chef Stage Brenda Gantt")](https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Chef-Stage-Brenda-Gantt.jpg) [![Chef Stage Danna Standridge](https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Chef-Stage-Danna-Standridge-225x300.jpg "Chef Stage Danna Standridge")](https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Chef-Stage-Danna-Standridge.jpg)[Alfa Farmers](https://alfafarmers.org/) Celebrity Chef Stage was a crowd favorite of the day. The lineup of local chefs included Debbie Goldsmith, Lil Bougie Foodie; Karah Skinner, Rock House Farms; Stephen Ritchey, Christo’s Confections; BCF contributor Danna Standridge, author of *Happiness is Homemade, Y’all*; and Brenda Gantt, Cooking with Brenda Gantt. --- [![Babe Ruff holding dog](https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Babe-Ruff-holding-dog-225x300.jpg "Babe Ruff holding dog")](https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Babe-Ruff-holding-dog.jpg) The Chick-fil-A Herd of Cows and the Birmingham Barons Babe Ruff visited and danced with Expo attendees. Babe Ruff found a few furry friends to hang out with as well. --- [![Expo Bingo](https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Expo-Bingo-225x300.jpg "Expo Bingo")](https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Expo-Bingo.jpg)Each attendee received an Expo Bingo card when they arrived. Every booth had a special stamp and if attendees filled out their card by by visiting each booth, they were entered to receive great prizes like a Roku Ultra courtesy of WBRC 6 News, Ashley Mac’s gift cards, cases of Bud’s Best Cookies, and much more. --- [![Magic City Big Band 2](https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Magic-City-Big-Band-2-300x225.jpg "Magic City Big Band 2")](https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Magic-City-Big-Band-2.jpg)Live entertainment was provided by Magic City Big Band and Steel City Swing- a huge hit with attendees and mascots. --- [![Chick fil A Herd](https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Chick-fil-A-Herd-300x225.jpg "Chick fil A Herd")](https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Chick-fil-A-Herd.jpg) [![Kids Zone](https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Kids-Zone-300x225.jpg "Kids Zone")](https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Kids-Zone.jpg)Children enjoyed fossils from the [Wonders Center and Science Museum](http://wonderscenter.org), glitter tattoos from FabUbus, inflatables from Iron City Rental Co., coloring sheets from Linda Harper Music, and balloon twisting from Nunu’s Balloons. --- [![Hoover Belles at entrance](https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Hoover-Belles-at-entrance-300x200.jpg "Hoover Belles at entrance")](https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Hoover-Belles-at-entrance.jpg)The Hoover Belles joined us for the fun day and welcomed attendees to the Expo. --- [![WBRC green screen prize](https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/WBRC-green-screen-prize-300x225.jpg "WBRC green screen prize")](https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/WBRC-green-screen-prize.jpg) [![Janice Rogers on stage](https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Janice-Rogers-on-stage-300x225.jpg "Janice Rogers on stage")](https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Janice-Rogers-on-stage.jpg)Media sponsor, [WBRC 6 News](http://wbrcnews.com), brought their green screen and prize wheel! WBRC’s Janice Rogers emceed the Alfa Farmer’s Celebrity Chef Stage for the fourth year in a row. --- [![Saved Life Shirts](https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Saved-Life-Shirts-300x225.jpg "Saved Life Shirts")](https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Saved-Life-Shirts.jpg)Expo attendees also had the opportunity to purchase goods from local artisans and vendors, highlighting Birmingham and surrounding-area businesses. --- [![Lil Bougie food truck](https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Lil-Bougie-food-truck-300x200.jpg "Lil Bougie food truck")](https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Lil-Bougie-food-truck.jpg)A big thanks to Eugene’s Hot Chicken, The Lil Bougie Foodie, and Hoover Hotspot for providing Expo attendees with delicious food and treats. --- [![Two by Two Sojourn](https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Two-by-Two-Sojourn-300x200.jpg "Two by Two Sojourn")](https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Two-by-Two-Sojourn.jpg)Adorable, adoptable dogs and cats with Two by Two Animal Rescue enjoyed lots of attention at the Expo. Several furry friends even found their forever home at the Expo! --- [![Laurie and Mark Harvard on stage](https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Laurie-and-Mark-Harvard-on-stage-300x225.jpg "Laurie and Mark Harvard on stage")](https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Laurie-and-Mark-Harvard-on-stage.jpg)Thank you to our Expo Emcee Mark Harvard who stepped away from his day job as senior pastor at Morningstar Methodist in Chelsea to announce all the jam-packed Expo activities taking place from 10am-2pm. --- Thank you to our Major Sponsors: [Alabama Credit Union](http://www.alabamacu.com), [Baptist Health](http://www.baptisthealthal.com), [Birmingham Boys Choir](http://birminghamboyschoir.org), [Jimmie Hale Mission](http://jimmiehalemission.com), and [Leafguard of Alabama](https://www.leafguard.com/locations/birmingham); and Event Sponsors: [Children’s of Alabama](http://www.childrensal.org/), [Parrot Structural Services](https://parrotstructural.com/), [Vulcan Termite and Pest Control](http://www.vulcantermite.com/). [![Alabama Credit Union](https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Alabama-Credit-Union-300x200.jpg "Alabama Credit Union")](https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Alabama-Credit-Union.jpg) [![Baptist Health](https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Baptist-Health-300x200.jpg "Baptist Health")](https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Baptist-Health.jpg) [![Bham Boys Choir](https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Bham-Boys-Choir-300x200.jpg "Bham Boys Choir")](https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Bham-Boys-Choir.jpg) [![Jimmie Hale](https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Jimmie-Hale-300x200.jpg "Jimmie Hale")](https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Jimmie-Hale.jpg) [![Leafguard](https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Leafguard-300x200.jpg "Leafguard")](https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Leafguard.jpg) Want to see more photos from the day? [Click here to see](https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1777162887744781&type=3) the full album. Thank you to Jinny Snowden Photo and Elizabeth Grandy Photography for capturing the day.