The Mobile Arts Council will mark its 70th anniversary with the return of its signature fundraising event, The Throwdown, on Thursday, Oct. 2, at the National Maritime Museum of the Gulf.

The competition, running from 6 to 9 p.m., will feature five local artists facing off in a 90-minute live challenge using only materials from a shared supply table and a surprise mystery box. Their completed works will be auctioned live at the end of the night, with one artist claiming the title of 13th Throwdown Champion.

The 2025 edition, dubbed “The Throwdown Retro-Bution,” will bring back former competitors for another shot at victory. The lineup includes 2024 champion Christy LeGros, 2019 competitor Mary Elizabeth Kimbrough, 2020 competitor Kathleen Kirk Stoves, 2022 competitor Christopher Murray and 2023 competitor Ty Tover.

Ahead of the main event, Braided River Brewing Co. will host a kickoff celebration on Friday, Sept. 19, at 5:30 p.m. The brewery will unveil “Retro-Brewtion,” a limited-edition craft beer created in honor of MAC’s anniversary. Guests can be the first to sample the release, meet this year’s artists and purchase Throwdown tickets. Attendees are invited to dress in 1970s-inspired attire to embrace the retro theme.

The Throwdown has grown into a premier showcase of creativity and community over the past 13 years, pairing live art with food, drinks and entertainment. Proceeds support the Mobile Arts Council’s mission to celebrate and advance the arts in the region.

This year’s event is made possible through the support of sponsors including Mobile County Commission, Hero’s Sports Bar & Grill, The Royal Scam, United Johnson Brothers, New Horizons Credit Union, Downtown Mobile Alliance, Cathead Distillery, Braided River Brewing Co., Local 119 Plumbers & Pipefitters, Airbus, Michael Smith & Karen Carr, Tracey Goens–Elite Real Estate and Ron Barrett LLC.

For more information or tickets, visit www.mobilearts.org/thethrowdown/.