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5 fun things to try in Auburn-Opelika—Food Truck Fridays, wine nights + more
If you’re like me, you’re probably ready to get out of the winter funk and start doing things again. Great news—there’s already lots of cool events happening around Auburn-Opelika that will pull you out of those winter blues. Here are 5 fun events in Auburn and Opelika that you can make part of your weekly schedule!
1. Wine Nights
Grab your friends and head to one of these local spots for a fun evening of wine tastings (Elizabeth Hobbs / The Bama Buzz) (The Rane Center / Facebook)
Looking for a new tradition to wind down every once in a while? Auburn has a great rotation of wine tasting nights you need to add to your calendar.
- Wine Tastings at the Tony & Libba Rane Culinary Science Center—taste exquisite wines from around the world with Master Sommelier Thomas Price, learn about the wine and practice tasting techniques in a fun, casual class environment
- When: monthly on Wednesdays January 18, February 15, March 15, April 12 and May 17 | 6-7PM | Full Event Calendar
- Price: $40/person | purchase tickets online (most spring dates are already sold out, so keep your eye out for future dates!)
- Where: 205 S College Street, Auburn, AL 36830
- Website | Instagram | Facebook
- Wine Tastings at Well Red Coffee, Books and Wine—try five featured bottles of the night and pair your glass with a sweet treat from their rotating menu of baked goods
- When: bimonthly on Tuesdays and Thursdays | 5:30-8PM | Full Event Calendar
- Price: $13/person | pay at the door
- Where: 223 Opelika Road Auburn, AL 36830
- Page Pairings at Auburn Oil Co. Booksellers—book-inspired wine tasting featuring six wines and six books—tickets include a full tasting and discounted bottles + your choice of one of the featured books
- When: monthly February 6, March 15, April 6 and May 16 | 7:30-9PM | Full Event Calendar
- Price: $30/person | purchase tickets online
- Where: 149 E Magnolia Ave Suite A, Auburn, AL 36830
- Website | Instagram | Facebook
2. Food Truck Fridays
Make Food Truck Fridays part of your monthly routine. (Opelika Chamber / website)
Everyone loves food trucks and free entertainment, right? Opelika Chamber’s award-winning Food Truck Fridays are a must for anyone in the Opelika area. Gather with other visitors in downtown Opelika for an array of food trucks, live music, vendors and a lively community atmosphere.
- When: Fridays January 20th, February 3, February 17, March 3, March 17, April 21st and May 5 | 5-11:30PM | Full Event Calendar
- Where: Downtown Opelika, N Railroad Ave Opelika, AL 36801
- Website | Instagram | Facebook
3. Jailhouse Wednesdays + more at Rock ‘N Roll Pinball
You have to check out what the Opelika Auburn Film Arts Collective is doing in downtown Opelika. (Elizabeth Hobbs / The Bama Buzz)
If you’re looking for a more artsy, underground scene, I have just the thing for you! Opelika Auburn Film Arts Collective (OAFAC) is hosting free weekly events in The Jailhouse behind Rock ‘N Roll Pinball. OAFAC is a pop-up experimental space for artists, cinephiles, outsiders and anyone craving non-mainstream entertainment in Auburn-Opelika.
A lot of the momentum of this project comes from volunteers Bay Kelley and Jeffrey Bennett who are striving to replicate the indie scene from their hometowns that they found was missing when they moved to Opelika. Rock ‘N Roll Pinball is giving them the space in the Jailhouse to host unique, experimental events to cultivate a community of funky, art-appreciating people.
“The Opelika Auburn Film Arts Collective is not only a fun thing to do, but integral to the Auburn-Opelika creative community. It’s just overall a good space.”
Jackson Chambers, employee at Rock ‘N Roll Pinball, Auburn student and local artist “The Official Bard of Baldwin County”
Enjoy a short film or live music and make new connections over a cocktail or beer from The Jailhouse bar. Make sure to follow Rock ‘N Roll Pinball or stop by their storefront to check out all the other cool events happenings.
- Weekly Events include:
- Vinyl Night every Tuesday | 7:30PM | FREE
- Movie Night every Wednesday | 7:30PM | FREE
- Open Mic every Thursday | 7:30-10PM | FREE
- Live Music every Friday and Saturday | around 8PM | $5 music wristband cover or $20 Rock ‘N Roll Pinball all day pass
- Must be 19+ to enter the Jailhouse
- Where: 815 S Railroad Ave, Opelika, AL 36801
- Website | Instagram | Facebook
4. Theater and symphony events
Want to enjoy live events with the whole family in a more sophisticated environment? There are lots of neat performances happening right here in local Auburn theaters.
- Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center at Auburn University—engages audiences across the university, the state of Alabama and beyond with curated arts experiences that inspire, enlighten and unit
- View Full Event Calendar and Purchase Tickets for shows like the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, MOMIX: Alice (dance and movement series), Complexions Contemporary Ballet and plays like “Hairspray”
- Opelika Theater Company—community-led, community-oriented, non-profit theatre company with a desire to bring the wonderful world of theater to Opelika and the surrounding communities.
- View Full Event Calendar and Purchase Tickets for performances like “Young Sherlock” (January 20, 21 & 22)
- Where: 1103 Glenn St, Opelika, AL 36801 (locations vary)
- Website | Instagram | Facebook
5. Dinner at the Sound Wall Supper Club
It won’t be hard to convince your crew to make reservations for this exclusive Supper Club hosted by the Sound Wall in Opelika. (The Sound Wall / Facebook)
Now this is something different to do—attend a live music night or make a Supper Club reservation at the Sound Wall. The Sound Wall is a live music venue meets supper club meets audio/production studio meets Airbnb.
The Sound Wall’s Supper Club is a reservation-only dinner event serving 12-14 guests a next-level four-course dinner prepared by Chef Chris Wilton. The goal is to “come as strangers and leave as friends”—you’re seated around a large table in an open kitchen where you can observe and interact with the Chef while he works his magic in the kitchen. You can expect a menu highlighting seasonality and the chef’s culinary imagination.
The Sound Wall is owned by Rob and Jen Slocumb, aka the duo Martha’s Trouble, who revamped the historical building to be the dynamic art and dinner space it is today.
- When: View Full Event Calendar
- upcoming Supper Clubs: Friday, January 30 and Valentine’s Day Supper Club Tuesday, February 14
- Upcoming live music: Hiroya Tsukamoto on Saturday, February 4 and Szlachetka and Sarah Aili on Saturday, February 25
- Where: 605 Ave B Opelika, AL 36801
- Price: Supper Club (reservation only, BYOB): $65/person | Live music: $25/person
- Website | Instagram | Facebook
To stay up to date on events and news in Alabama, follow the Bama Buzz on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok + LinkedIn. What are your favorite events in the Auburn-Opelika area?
