The 73rd Annual Fourth of July Festival at Our Lady of Sorrows Church (OLS), Birmingham’s oldest Independence Day festival, provided patriotic enjoyment for the community, out of town visitors, and parishioners. The Knights of Columbus Council 4304 coordinated the event on July 4 on church grounds and OLS Pastor Msgr. Martin M. Muller was the grand marshal.

Embracing the spirit of Christian sharing, the Knights smoked 400 Boston butts, 160 turkey breasts, 400 slabs of ribs, 700 chicken halves, as well as hot dogs. Several dozen volunteers from the church, Our Lady of Sorrows School, and elsewhere worked together to provide not only meals but games, a bake sale, bingo, a raffle, and the Trash and Treasures rummage sale for bargain hunters. The proceeds of the fundraiser will be shared by OLS School and various charities of the Knights. OLS was established in Birmingham in 1889. The church has been in Homewood since 1950.