Events in Tuscaloosa
The entertainment “menu” in Tuscaloosa County is filled with exciting entrees that draw crowds, large and small.
Annual Events:
Kentuck Festival of the Arts: One of the South’s most prestigious and recognized arts and crafts festival located in Northport is the Kentuck Festival of the Arts. Each year in October, hundreds of artists gather at Kentuck Park to showcase their work in front of thousands of visitors from the Kentuck “tent city”. Originally starting as a small event on the sidewalks of Main Avenue, this Festival has grown to 300+ artists from throughout the country. The festival celebrates folk and contemporary art as well as traditional crafts. Potters, quilters, and basketmakers offer educational craft demonstrations throughout the weekend, and musical entertainment and culinary offerings are also available. Visitors come from all over the south to see the work of nationally acclaimed visionary folk artists and demonstrations by expert traditional craftsmen. Visual arts are augmented with musical performances, storytelling, children’s arts activities and unique southern and ethnic specialty foods.
WHEN: 3rd Saturday and Sunday and October, 9 AM – 5 PM
WHERE: Kentuck Park – 3501 5th Street – Northport, AL 35476
ADMISSION: Charged
www.kentuck.org
Dickens Downtown: is another cultural event located in downtown Northport that is held the first Tuesday in December. This annual family-filled Christmas celebration provides an old-fashioned, traditional holiday treat that attracts thousands of participants to come and see the period setting of 19th-century England. Strolling artists and musicians, as well as food and entertainment make this a memorable event each year to kickoff the Christmas season. The shops sell unique Christmas gifts while the townspeople dress in the Victorian style. Dickens is a community supported gathering to celebrate the true spirit of Christmas involving Theatre Tuscaloosa performing scenes from “A Christmas Carol”, local choirs, the 5th Alabama Regimental Band, a real English Town Crier, father Christmas, and business and neighborhood open houses.
WHEN: 1st Tuesday in December, 5 PM – 8 PM
WHERE: Historic Downtown Northport
ADMISSION: Free
www.dickens-downtown.com
Christmas Afloat is held annually on the Black Warrior River in Tuscaloosa. Boats and other watercraft, adorned with sparkling holiday lights, float down the river, and there is a fireworks show. The event has become a Christmas tradition.
WHEN: First or Second Saturday in December, 5 PM
WHERE: Manderson Landing on Jack Warner Parkway – Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
ADMISSION: Free
Heritage week, held in early April each year, is one of the region’s most popular and long-standing pilgrimages and historical weeks. The weeklong event draws people from throughout the South to Tuscaloosa County’s beautiful antebellum and historic homes and sites along with many related activities. The public is invited to take guided tours of the homes in this unique link to Tuscaloosa’s past as Tuscaloosa’s Historic District holds open houses. Call the Tuscaloosa County Preservation Society at (205) 758-2238.
WHEN: One Week in the Spring Each Year
ADMISSION: Charged
Sakura Festival, the traditional Japanese celebration of Spring, has been held in Tuscaloosa for over 12 years and reflects the community’s commitment to international relations. The festival provides a diverse menu of Japanese arts, cultural experiences, exhibits and forums in celebration of the community’s partnership with Japan. Call (205) 348-5311 for more information.
WHEN: March
The International City Fest and Weindorf Festival is held in downtown Tuscaloosa each May, and has become one of the state’s premier music festivals, drawing top name entertainment and a marvelous menu of events for every age. Weindorf provides an authentic German village with entertainment and food. Tuscaloosa’s relationship with Shorndorf, Germany has a special spot in the festival.
WHEN: May
WHERE: Downtown Tuscaloosa
ADMISSION: Charged
The Moundville Native American Festival celebrates the history of one of the largest and most powerful prehistoric Native American societies of North America. Fifteen miles south of Tuscaloosa (1 Mound Parkway, Moundville), the park is part of the Alabama Museum of Natural History. It is internationally known as one of the most important prehistoric Native American settlements. The 320' acre park includes nature trails, villages and a museum. Call (205) 758-2861.
WHEN: First Week in October
WHERE: The University of Alabama’s Moundville Archaeological Park
ADMISSION: Charged
The West Alabama State Fair is hosted at Munny Sokol Park off Watermelon Road during a week in the fall offering carnival rides, entertainment, a petting zoo, pony rides and more! The fair is sure to provide a good time and family fun for everyone of all ages. Proceeds from the fair benefit United Cerebral Palsy of West Alabama.
WHEN: Fall
WHERE: Munny Sokol Park – 6198 Watermelon Rd – Tuscaloosa, AL 35406
ADMISSION: $3 per person
Other Events:
The mission of The Arts and Humanities Council is to promote and encourage the arts and humanities in Tuscaloosa County. Member organizations are local nonprofit arts and cultural groups that contribute to the local arts community through their programming and educational services. The council and member organizations provide a coordinated year-round calendar of events. Theatre, dance, opera, visual arts, music, crafts, festivals, films and educational programs… these and more provide Tuscaloosa County with exceptional cultural opportunities. The Arts Council's Bluegrass, Big Bands & More performing arts series brings the best of bluegrass, jazz, blues, and big band music to the Tuscaloosa community. The Cinema Noveau Movie Series provides the best in art, foreign and independent films.
www.tuscarts.org
Art Night: Another longstanding tradition of Northport is Art Night, which is held on the first Thursday of each month. Many of Northport's art galleries open their doors after hours for this event and frequently art or craft demonstrations are offered. The Tuscaloosa Trolley runs 28th avenue to Tuscaloosa to downtown northport with various stops along the way, providing patrons of both areas with transportation.
WHEN: First Thursday of Each Month, 5 PM – 9 PM
WHERE: Downtown Northport
ADMISSION: Free
First Friday: On the first Friday of each month, local galleries, businesses and restaurants are open as an event for the community to see what Downtown Tuscaloosa has to offer. This event offers gallery owners and merchants the chance to showcase their offerings after hours within the festive atmosphere created with the emerging presence of the downtown arts community.
WHEN: First Friday of Each Month, 5 PM – 9 PM
WHERE: Downtown Tuscaloosa
ADMISSION: Free
The Tuscaloosa Tourism and Sports Commission is actively supporting athleticism at all competitive levels. Tuscaloosa offers a broad sporting spectrum due to having three colleges located within 15 minutes of each other.
University of Alabama: www.rolltide.com/
-Baseball, Basketball (M and W), Football, Golf (M and W), Gymnastics, Rowing, Soccer, Softball, Swimming/Diving, Tennis (M and W), Track & Field/Cross Country, Volleyball
Stillman College: www.stillmanathletics.com/
-Basketball (M and W), Track & Field/Cross Country (M and W), Baseball, Softball, Football, Volleyball, Tennis (M and W)
Shelton State Community College: www.sheltonstate.edu/athletics.aspx
-Baseball, Softball, Basketball (M and W), Cheerleading
Alabama Crimson Tide football weekends especially bring a lot of excitement to the town! Fans travel far and long to make it to town early enough to tailgate prior to kickoff! Main roads around campus and the stadium are closed a few hours before kickoff allowing the campus to cater to walkers; therefore parking becomes an issue. The Quad is the main hot-spot for game-day tailgating. Several events and attractions take place on and near the Quad: there are autograph tents with all of the latest fan apparel and Gameday novelties; The Elephant Stomp, located on the steps of the Gorgas Library, is an exciting Gameday tradition where the band begins an hour before kickoff with a pep rally and march to the stadium; The Walk of Champions begins 2 hours and 15 minutes prior to kickoff where the team is dropped off on the north side of the stadium and proceeds through the Walk of Champions into the stadium; finally, a Fun Factory provides fun and exciting activities for kids of all ages. There is also a bonfire on Friday nights before home games on the Quad. Homecoming Week is filled with events and festivities during the week leading up to the Homecoming game, and A-Day weekend is held in the spring and allows fans to come out and get a sneak peek of the Crimson Tide’s upcoming season!
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