Logistics

The 2026 Alabama Thespian Festival will be hosted at Vestavia Hills High School and the Junior Festival will be held at the current Pizitz Middle School located at 2826 Columbiana Road 35216.

Here is some information to help plan for your visit.

Parking

Dropping off Students at both locations: Please Drop your students off at the front of the school. You can pull forward to allow for extra buses. 
Individual Parking at VHHS: Friday is a school day. Please park in the spots that do not have a T in the number or a red reflector in the parking spot. The other parking spots are for students and are open for visitor parking. 
Individual Parking at Pizitz Middle: The lot at the front of the school may be used for parking.​
Bus Parking at VHHS: Please park across the street on the hill for easy entrance or egress.
Bus Parking at Pizitz Middle:  Please park in the lot in front of the school to the right.

Food

Senior Festival Food will be available for purchase in the cafeteria during the festival. There will be a Lunch Schedule assigned to each school. You will sign up for your times during your registration. Those Troupes that sign up earlier will get priority times. If there is a schedule conflict, the troupe director will need to go to the front desk for a revised eating time. Sponsors and paid chaperones/busdriver will have a sticker on their badge that allows access to the hospitality room for meals.

Close Restaurants (within a 5 minute bus ride or 15 minute walk): Moe’s BBQ; Subway, Cajun Seafood House, Los Rancheros and Johnny Brusco’s Pizza

Highway 31 Restaurants: Panera Bread at the City Center, Jimmy John’s, Chipotle, Sol Azteca, Rolly Polly, First Watch, Moe’s mexican, Chik Fil A, Mcdonald’s. 

Hotels

Drury Inn & Suites Birmingham Southeast
3510 Grandview Pkwy, Birmingham, AL 35243
(205) 967-2450 – Website

Birmingham Marriott
3590 Grandview Pkwy, Birmingham, AL 35243
(205) 968-3775 – Website

Sonesta Select Birmingham Colonnade
4300 Colonnade Pkwy, Birmingham, AL 35243
(205) 967-4466 – Website

SpringHill Suites by Marriott Birmingham Colonnade/Grandview
3950 Colonnade Pkwy, Birmingham, AL 35243
(205) 969-8099 – Website

Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Birmingham Colonnade
3930 Colonnade Pkwy, Birmingham, AL 35243
(205) 969-7630 – Website

 

Driving Directions

From I-65

  1. Take Exit 252 to US-31 North.
  2. After 1.1 miles, Turn Right onto Pizitz Drive.
  3. After 0.2 miles, Turn Left onto Hays Circle.
  4. After 0.3 miles Turn Right onto Vestridge Drive.
  5. After 0.2 miles, Turn Left onto Gay Way.
  6. After 0.3 miles, Turn Left onto Panorama Drive.
  7. After 0.1 miles, Turn Right onto Lime Rock Road.
  8. After 0.2 miles, VHHS is on the right.

From US-280

  1. Turn onto Rocky Ridge Road.
  2. After 3.0 miles, Turn Right onto Morgan Drive.
  3. After 0.5 miles, Turn Left onto Lime Rock Road.
  4. After 0.1 miles, VHHS is on the left.

From I-459

  1. Take Exit 17 to Acton Road headed west.
  2. After 0.3 miles, Turn Right onto Old Rocky Ridge Road.
  3. After 0.6 miles, Turn Right onto Rocky Ridge Road.
  4. After 0.8 miles, Turn Left onto Morgan Drive.
  5. After 0.5 miles, Turn Left onto Lime Rock Road.
  6. After 0.1 miles, VHHS is on the left.