CULLMAN, Ala. – Live blues, handmade art and Southern barbecue will return to the grounds of St. Bernard Abbey and Preparatory School when the 10th annual Bernard Blues & BBQ takes place Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 12-13. Festival hours will be 9 a.m.-4 p.m. each day.
The event brings together Alabama musicians, juried artisans, food vendors and visitors on the historic grounds of Alabama’s only Benedictine abbey. All proceeds from the festival benefit St. Bernard Preparatory School.
Five musical acts are scheduled to perform throughout the weekend:
- Saturday, 10 a.m.-noon: Nathan Tate
- Saturday, noon-2 p.m.: Elnora Spencer
- Saturday, 2-4 p.m.: Charlie Soul Band
- Sunday, noon-2 p.m.: Lindy Urban
- Sunday, 2-4 p.m.: Earl Williams
Tate, a Birmingham guitarist, singer and songwriter, is scheduled to open the festival.
Spencer is a Birmingham vocalist, songwriter and visual artist who has become a prominent figure in Alabama’s blues community. She was inducted into the Alabama Blues Hall of Fame as a Master of Blues Artist and became the first woman to receive the Birmingham Blues Hall of Fame’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Charlie Soul Band is a Birmingham-based group performing a mixture of blues, rhythm and blues and soul.
Urban is a singer-songwriter from northwest Alabama whose music combines soul, blues and rock. She won the 2023 Shoals Songwriter Search and released her debut single, “Ain’t Bound Now,” in 2024.
The weekend will close with returning festival performer Earl “Guitar” Williams. The Bessemer bluesman grew up around the music of Gip’s Place, the well-known backyard juke joint, and has earned a reputation for his guitar, harmonica and rhythm and blues performances.
Visitors will also find a juried marketplace featuring original work made by participating artists. Festival rules prohibit imports, commercial merchandise and kits.
Expected offerings include handmade jewelry, pottery, woodwork, textiles, paintings, photography, mixed media, home décor and seasonal items.
Barbecue and other Southern favorites will be available throughout the weekend. Previous festivals have featured smoked pork, chicken, ribs, Conecuh sausage dogs and hamburgers. Specialty offerings have included monk bread, sourdough bread, strawberry waffles, funnel cakes, pastries, cheesecakes and bread pudding.
The festival’s cash giveaway will return with prizes totaling more than $11,000.
Bernard Blues & BBQ began in 2017 and has grown into one of St. Bernard’s major annual fundraisers.
Along with the spring Bloomin’ Festival, it relies heavily on students, parents, faculty, staff, alumni and community volunteers.
Anabelle Howze, St. Bernard’s new marketing and events coordinator and festival director, said she is excited to help lead the milestone event.
“I am overjoyed to have become a part of the St. Bernard family,” Howze said. “I have some big shoes to fill, but I’ve joined an amazing team of people. We have all been working hard to make sure this festival comes together and have had so much fun while doing it.”
Admission to the 2026 festival is a requested donation of $10 per person. Children 12 and younger will be admitted free. Parking is free.
The outdoor festival will be held rain or shine. Pets are not permitted.
St. Bernard is located at 1600 St. Bernard Drive SE in Cullman. For more information, visit www.bernardbluesbbq.com or contact Howze at ahowze@stbernardprep.com.
