Are you looking for some pre-Valentines Day festivities to get your weekend rolling? Tuscaloosa has everything you need to make you say “Cheers to the Weekend!” As we can all agree, Fridays are the start of a little escapism! Here are a few tidbits of inspiration:
Alabama Basketball
The Tide is still rolling for another weekend! Catch the Crimson Tide challenge the Georgia Bulldogs this Saturday, Feb.13th, at the Coleman Coliseum. Want to watch the game in person? Tickets will be available in the lobby 1.5 hours before the start of the 2:30 CST game. For those who can’t attend or are taking health precautions, you can tune into the SEC Network from the comfort of your home to watch the Tide reign!
Outdoor Live Music
In need of a little relaxation after a long day’s work? The Lookout Rooftop Bar located in Hotel Indigo is the place for you to unwind while enjoying great local acts! Live Music Thursdays are back in business, kicking off with singer Megan McMillan on Feb. 11th. Get your live music fix while also enjoying the Lookout’s wide array of craft cocktails and beers! Just remember, the Lookout Rooftop is smoke-free and pet friendly, and practicing all social distancing protocols to offer you a fun night out!
POSTPONED UNTIL NEXT WEEK: Maybe you’re busy on Thursdays, not feeling the sports atmosphere, and you love music! You and your buddies can head to the Buddy Powell Pavilion this Saturday, Feb.13th, for a socially distant live music performance! The Second Saturday Outdoor Music Series is taking place from 1 pm to 4 pm. Catching local artists and bands in the open air is a great way to get out-and-about while being safe. Don’t forget your mask and chairs!
Mardi Gras at CHOM
There ain’t no party like a Mardi party- right? Even though the traditional Mardi Gras festivities have been postponed this year, that doesn’t mean our community isn’t finding ways to celebrate! Mardi Gras at the Children’s Hands-On Museum is taking place this Saturday, Feb.13th, from 9:30 am to 4 pm. All activities are included with general admission, but remember to wear your mask, or else you won’t get any beads!
Chronicles of the Arctic
Looking for an activity to keep your little ones happy this weekend? Head to the Mildred Westervelt Warner Transportation Museum for an Arctic winter surprise! The Chronicles of the Arctic Exhibit is being held for the remainder of February. Explore the wilds of the beautiful and dangerous North through the stories and accomplishments of the past as well as come face-to-face with a Reindeer and Caribou! Mask protocols and sanitation efforts are being enforced to ensure the safety of you and your family! For more exhibit information, click here.
Written by: Olivia Nonnengard
This weekend in Tuscaloosa is filled with a variety of events that are sure to appeal to visitors and residents of all ages. The Alabama Blues Project Art Exhibit’s last day is this Friday, May 31. The exhibit offers unique paintings, jewelry, and crafts from local artists. Get ready for a kid-friendly weekend with fun events at Children’s Hands-On Museum and a Family Fun Day at the YMCA. Make sure you don’t miss out.
Alabama
Blues Project Art Exhibit 🎶🎸
The Alabama Blues Project Exhibit will host its last day of the fund-raising
exhibit this Friday, May 31 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The exhibition features
paintings, jewelry, and crafts donated from local artists. The pieces are
selected from the Blues Project fundraiser, with art by Emily Pickert, Mojo Fabrics
& Quilts, Bruce Andrews, and Kim Deals. All sales will benefit the Blues
Project, a nonprofit organization that promotes and preserves the Blues as a
traditional art form with focus on Alabama’s musicians. For more information, click
here.
Playing
with Fire 🔥
Only a few days are left to enjoy local artist Daniel Livingston’s Raku
ceramics and his two-dimensional artwork at the University Gallery located in
the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center. The display is featured on Friday,
May 31 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, click here.
McClain’s
Summer Daze & Alpha Male Nights 🏈
Join former Tide and Baltimore Ravens standout Le’Ron McClain and guests for a
celebration of life, honoring the late Brandon Washington, and raising money
for the Benjamin Barnes YMCA. The event will take place the Tuscaloosa River
Market, Friday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. For more information, click
here.
Babypalooza
LIVE! Baby & Maternity Experience 👶
New and expectant parents will not want to miss out on this opportunity.
Babypalooza LIVE! is an event hosted by Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Alabama on
Saturday, June 1, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m,. at the Bryant Conference
Center. Babypalooza is free event filled with mini-parenting conferences, pre-
and postnatal health information, and opportunities to test advanced products
geared for babies. Exhibitors include health and fitness, preschools, financial
services, photographers, as well as baby and maternity boutiques. Admission is
free but parents should make sure to register for the event. For more
information and registration, click here.
Junior
Explorers at CHOM 🗺
Join Children’s Hands-On Museum (CHOM), Saturday, June 1, for a Junior Explorers
Day. Attendees can make their own binoculars, play the poisonous matching game,
and go on an exciting scavenger hunt throughout the museum. Bring your little
explorer for an adventurous summer day! All activities are included with
admission. For more information, click here.
Later this Summer
The
Mercedes-Benz Druid City Music Festival 🎶
You have likely seen by now the incredible lineup of Big Boi, Blackberry Smoke,
Turkuaz, Break Science and others for the Druid City Music Festival, but did
you know that you can purchase tickets NOW? To read more about this exciting
event and buy tickets, please visit the website here.
It’s summer in Tuscaloosa and locals and tourists alike are looking for ways to spend their free time. Luckily for us, The City of Tuscaloosa is hosting Live at the Plaza for the fourth consecutive summer. For those who are unfamiliar, Live at the Plaza is held every Friday night in June and July at the Government Plaza and features live music from local musicians. To prepare you for the excitement of this event, we’ve come up with 5 reasons why you should attend Live at The Plaza this summer.
It’s Free!
Live music, a great atmosphere, and a fun, new way to spend a Friday evening- for no cost! If you ask us, it doesn’t get much better than that. If you’re looking for a way to save money and still get the most out of your summer, this is a perfect opportunity for you. All you have to do is show up, bring a blanket or a lawn chair, sit back, and enjoy.
The music
There are two things in life that are pretty hard to beat: A well put on show and quality music. Live at the Plaza provides the opportunity for the community to gather together and enjoy the talent showcased not only from right here in Tuscaloosa but all over the South. The diversity of performances over the summer will satisfy music lovers few and far between. There will be a variety of music played from jazz, alternative, country, rock, and others. Some highlights from this year’s musical lineup include the Lamont Landers Band, The John Wilson Band and Orange Constant. For other bands check out our lineup list here.
The food trucks and vendors
Along with enjoying the performance, you will have the opportunity to shop and eat. Local vendors and food trucks can apply to have a space surrounding the lawn to sell their goods. Look out for local nonprofits and retailers that you’ve seen around town. And we can’t forget about the food! Although we don’t know exactly who will be there yet, we know it’s going to be good. Participants can count on some of the most popular businesses around our area renting out the space. Look out for some of your favorites, such as Local Roots or La Mexicana.
It’s fun for everyone
One of the greatest aspects about Live of the Plaza is that anyone can go and enjoy their time. It’s the perfect opportunity to get the family out of the house and spend quality time together. Kids and adults alike will love the lively atmosphere of the concert. And you can bring your pets! Additionally, it’s the perfect way to enjoy time with friends, or a date night. Although you can’t bring your own alcohol, you are allowed to purchase drinks from surrounding bars and restaurants and stroll around the Plaza while enjoying the music and atmosphere. They’ve got it all covered: the food, the drinks, the music. How much better does it get?
The location
The Government Plaza is right in the middle of all the Downtown action. There’s retail stores, coffee shops, restaurants and bars all within walking distance. And its outside! Even though it can get hot here in the summer, the concerts are at night which will cool things off. You can bring a picnic blanket or a lawn chair as you enjoy the show. The atmosphere of Live at the Plaza is hard to beat- and something you won’t want to miss.
Now that you know a little bit more about what to expect, it’s time to get excited. Tell your family and friends so they can look forward to it as well. Live at the Plaza is going to be a hit, just as it has been in the summers before. We hope this has helped you know what to look forward to, and we hope to see you there!
Written by Anna McAbee
Live at the Plaza Concert Lineup
The City of Tuscaloosa has scheduled the musical acts highlighting the diverse musical offerings of Tuscaloosa area for the fourth annual Live at the Plaza concert series in Government Plaza every Friday night in June and July.
Each week’s free concert will run from 6 to 9 p.m. and will feature a local band in the family-friendly atmosphere of Government Plaza, adjacent to the downtown Intermodal Facility parking deck behind City Hall.
The scheduled acts, which are subject to change, are:
June 1: John Wilson Band
June 8: Orange Constant
June 15: Jake Austell (of the J’s ) Trio and then 4G
June 22: Druid City Songwriters and then Mulligan Brothers
June 29: Lamont Landers Band
July 6: The Kemistry Project
July 13: Alabama Blues Project and then Earl “Guitar” Williams
July 20: Corey Nolan and then Plato Jones
July 27: Tim Few and then Sweet Home Symphony
New this year is the addition of exhibitor space on Government Plaza during each concert. Local non-profits, organizations and retailers are encouraged to rent exhibitor space for just $25 at each performance. Food trucks and catering vendors may also apply to serve at each performance. Food vendors and exhibitors may apply at tuscaloosa.com/latp.
This year’s shows will coincide with the downtown entertainment district. Under the new entertainment district, alcohol can be purchased from participating restaurants and bars within and on the district boundaries and taken to Government Plaza and other areas within the district, which includes several surrounding blocks.
To hear music from local Tuscaloosa artists like Lamont Landers, check out our Spotify playlist below.
It is officially springtime in the One and Only and we are celebrating with a weekend full of events. Alcove International Tavern is kicking off the weekend with live music from H.A.R.D. and Seismos. Get your running shoes on because the Tuscaloosa Half Marathon is in town this weekend. Band of Brothers Brewing Co. is hosting the Alabama Blues Project. Tuscaloosa’s roller derby squad the Druid City Dames begin a new season battling the Mississippi Brawl Stars. Wrap up the weekend with Brantley Gilbert at the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater. Downtown Tuscaloosa will be an entertainment district on Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. so grab a drink and walk over to the Government Plaza for live music and much more Friday night!
H.A.R.D. with Seismos at Alcove International Tavern
H.A.R.D. (Have a Rad Day) hails all the way from Nashville, TN. Fresh off their recent single release, “Bellyacher,” they’re traveling south to deliver their patented brand of sweet guitar harmonies, denim jackets, and leg kicks! Come spend your Thursday evening with these talented good old boys as they blow the roof off of Alcove International Tavern. Local Support will be provided by Tuscaloosa’s own, Seismos, and the cover is only $5. The music starts at 8:00 pm.
Tuscaloosa Half Marathon Expo and Race
• Come enjoy Tuscaloosa’s government plaza the night before the big race for an expo with food trucks, live music, kid zone featuring activities from the Children’s Hands-On Museum, and local beer! The expo is 4-8 p.m. on Friday night. Kick off the weekend with some fun for the whole family. You can pick up your race packet here, or if you aren’t running the “half” just come hang out and enjoy live music by Tarred and Feathered from 6-8 p.m.
• The Tuscaloosa Half Marathon is part of a three-part rivalry series. Experience running through these beautiful cities with rich football history and receive your one of a kind Half Marathon Rivalry Series bling when you run all three races. After you complete the Tuscaloosa Half Marathon you will receive your Half Marathon Rivalry Series medal at the finish line!
Alabama Blues Project: Evening of Art & Blues 2018 at Band of Brothers Brewing Co.
Come out on Saturday, March 24th at 7 pm at Band Of Brothers Brewing Co. and enjoy another cultural explosion at the 11th annual Alabama Blues Project fundraiser! Blues and art enthusiasts are encouraged to attend this special occasion to support the preservation of Alabama Blues. This event will feature a silent auction, performances by Caroline Shines (daughter of the Legendary Bluesman Johnny Shines), and ABP Advanced Band, former students and instructors. Tickets are $25 and children 10 years old and under are free. You can purchase a ticket for the event at Band of Brothers Brewing Co., Oz Music, and Manna Grocery. For more information contact info@alabamablues.org.
Druid City Dames Roller Derby vs. Mississippi Brawl Stars
Tuscaloosa’s roller derby squad the Druid City Dames are gearing up to do battle against the Mississippi Brawl Stars. This family-friendly event is Saturday night at the Super Skate on McFarland Boulevard. Doors open at 4:45 pm and the bout begins at 5:30 pm. There is limited seating, but you are welcome to bring a chair. Tickets are $10 online and $13 at the door. Visit druidcitydames.com for more information. Come out and support our hometown team!
Brantley Gilbert at the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater
Brantley Gilbert will be at the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater Saturday night. The music begins at 7:00 pm with Aaron Lewis and Josh Phillips opening the show. Brantley Gilbert is an American country singer, songwriter and record producer from Jefferson, Georgia. He was originally signed to Colt Ford’s label, Average Joes Entertainment, where he released “Modern Day Prodigal Son” and “Halfway to Heaven.” He is now signed to the Valory division of Big Machine Records where he has released three studio albums—a deluxe edition of Halfway to Heaven, Just as I Am, and The Devil Don’t Sleep. He also wrote Jason Aldean’s singles “My Kinda Party” and “Dirt Road Anthem.” Visit TuscaloosaAmphitheater.com to purchase tickets to this amazing concert!
Follow us on social media (@visittuscaloosa) to stay up-to-date on important events. Tag us in your photos for a chance to be featured on our social media accounts. We love seeing Tuscaloosa through your eyes!
This weekend is packed with fine arts in the One and Only Tuscaloosa! Tonight you can head across the river to Kentuck for their Art Night! This event will serve as the official opening reception for Chris CHUB Hubbard’s show “20 Years of Heaven and Hell: Current Works and a Look Back”! Not only that, but there will be pop-up shops for local artists, demonstrations, cob oven pizza, and live music! Art Night has been a staple for the first Thursday night of each month!
On Friday, it’s downtown Tuscaloosa’s turn with the First Friday Art Crawl! Galleries, studios, and businesses across downtown will be open and participating in the art crawl including Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center, Harrison Galleries, and Grace Aberdean Habitat Alchemy. First Friday is completely free to everyone and is filled with excitement! There will be live music at different venues and some incredible works of art!
On Saturday morning you can swing by the Tuscaloosa River Market for the Farmer’s Market! Vendors set up ripe red tomatoes and famous Chilton County peaches. Musicians sit propped up against the door, playing guitars as you walk in, and local Food Trucks, bakers, artists, and craftsmen gather here to sell their gourmet grub, fresh-baked yeast rolls, homemade jams and jellies and hand-carved cutting boards.
If you’re more of a music person, head over to Government Plaza for the concert series “Live at the Plaza” where the Matt Jones Trio will be playing! Matt Jones is a local artist who beautifully paints pictures with words through melody over the landscape of his southern roots. With an arsenal of original and cover music, he’s surely an act you won’t want to miss!
Finally, wrap up your night by heading to the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater for Soundgarden! Soundgarden achieved its biggest success with the 1994 album Superunknown, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard chart and yielded the Grammy Award-winning singles “Black Hole Sun” and “Spoonman”. As if you need another reason to attend, VH1 ranked Soundgarden at number 14 in their 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock!
We have tons more going on so check out our great upcoming events, and follow us on our social media pages (@visittuscaloosa) for more announcements and events. Tell your friends and we can’t wait to see you around the One and Only Tuscaloosa!
Written By: Barrett Elder – Digital Media Specialist
While wandering through downtown Tuscaloosa or UA’s Campus, you might have spotted the colorful posters for our Druid City Arts Festival on April 8th!
The posters are not promising too much – quite the opposite! That festival will be even more colorful and staggering and is an inevitable must-do for the upcoming weekend. Here are our top 5 reasons why you shouldn’t miss it:
1. Local Artists
The local art scene in Tuscaloosa has been growing year after year and it’s always exciting to give it one of its biggest stages every year DCAF! More than 80 artists from Tuscaloosa and abroad will exhibit their work this year, including contemporary as well as traditional and heritage craft, contemporary art and sculptures. Throughout DCAF’s history, undiscovered and ascending artists have shown their work at the festival who are now exhibiting in galleries or museums! The impressively creative and unique art, therefore, is the first good reason to visit the Druid City Arts Festival!
2. Food Vendors
What kind of festival would leave you without a great offer of food variety? Not this one at least! DCAF is starring some incredible food trucks & stations to satisfy your hunger and thirst on a lovely Spring day! A special highlight will be Local Roots, a Tuscaloosa food truck that is just garnering some local fame with its original dishes and local ingredients. Meat lovers won’t be disappointed by Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar B Que, Chick-Fil-A, and many others. Tea Town will add some great specialties to drink!
3. Live Music
Alongside treating your eyes and taste buds, DCAF will also gladden your ears! The music lineup for DCAF is filled with incredible artists! Alabama Blues Project will open the stage in the morning with some homemade authentic blues. The afternoon will be rocked by the local group Drum Nation with their sweeping performances! This group is headlined by singer Matt Jones. The local artist just came out with a new album “Redemption” and is a phenomenal country singer!
4. It’s Free
An additional plus of DCAF is that it is absolutely free! That means you enjoy all the great art, food, music and fun without any extra costs. At this point it is a clear case: You have to visit Druid City Arts Festival!
5. Family event
Wait, you already have an appointment with your family or friends on April 8th? Even better, just get everyone together and come over to DCAF! The festival is a perfect event for families and has a lot of fun planned for the little ones! For example, the T-Town Bounce castles will be inflated and a whole Home Depot Children’s Festival area in the middle of the plaza! There’s nearly no need to mention that there is at least as much fun for the adults as well if not more! hanging out outdoors with live music, art vendors, amazing food, and drinks – we don’t need to say anymore!
Written By: Katharina Horvath – Intern
There’s so much going on in the One and Only Tuscaloosa! Tonight, the University of Alabama Women’s Basketball Team continues SEC play with their game against Kentucky! This game is only $5 and the first 150 fans get a free rally towel upon entry!
On Friday the 13th, the Children’s Hands-On Museum has a really exciting “Search for Superstitions” event planned! Also on Friday, the Black Jacket Symphony will be debating real live and fantasy as they bring Queen’s “A Night at the Opera” to life at the Bama Theatre!
The music will keep rolling through Saturday as Band of Brothers Brewing Company will have live music in house both the 13th and 14th this weekend. Both bands start at 7 pm and with The B2B Band and The Bonaires Band on their respective nights!
In participation with Treestuff.com, the UA Arboretum will be demonstrating some methods for tree climbing. There will be a restricted area where tree climbing professionals, like arborists, will be trying out various professional tree climbing equipment as well as an area for children and adults to try it out themselves!
This weekend is also the last weekend strap on your ice skates at Holidays on the River, as it will be ending on the 16th!
We have tons more going on so check out our great upcoming events, and follow us on our social media pages (@visittuscaloosa) for more announcements and events. Tell your friends and we can’t wait to see you around the One and Only Tuscaloosa!
Food Trucks at the One and Only Live at the Plaza!
Food trucks we know have been a hit in big cities for years, but what about in small college towns like Tuscaloosa? I’ve had my share of meals on wheels in places like New York City and New Orleans, but recently I had my first experience with a food truck here in my hometown, and it was delightful. Leaving work at Tuscaloosa Tourism near the River Market one Tuesday, I saw people lined up in the parking lot for Local Roots, a food truck and a fairly recent addition to the city that specializes in a southern menu, featuring locally farmed ingredients. It was lunchtime, I was hungry, and I decided to give the truck a try.
The quaint menu impressed me. The options were few but all sounded delicious. I walked up to the truck window and ordered chicken tacos and fries with aioli. In less than five minutes I had my food, fresh and piping hot. I was pleasantly surprised with how tasty (and not at all greasy!) my meal was, eating the fries as I drove to my next obligation, thinking about how fast and flexible the food truck industry really is.
I had a fantastic first experience with Local Roots, and I plan on trying more Tuscaloosa food truck fare this Friday night at Live at the Plaza. The free concert series hosted each summer Friday night from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. features local bands and local food trucks for an inexpensive and fulfilling start to the weekend. This week JoJo’s Food Trunk, Tea Town and Archibald and Woodrow’s are the food trucks serving the event. Be sure to check out Tuscaloosa’s one and only line of mobile food this week at Live at the Plaza.
Follow their travels on social for a quick bite!
Written by: Karley Fernandez, TTS PR Intern
Live at the Plaza
Live at the Plaza is a simple idea. Open the door to Tuscaloosa’s music scene. With live concerts held for free in the Government Plaza on Friday evenings, locals and tourists alike gather under the infamous summer sunsets of the Tuscaloosa sky to enjoy live music. People can bring food, drinks, blankets, pets, or whatever they feel will make the experience more enjoyable as they soak up some summer sounds. Concertgoers are allowed to bring alcoholic beverages as long as they drink them during the concerts time. The concert runs from 6pm to 9pm starting on the first Friday in June, ending on the last Friday in July.
Black Warrior River Fiddle Fest
Built on the long history of Fiddle competition in West Alabama, The Black Warrior River Fiddle Fest at the Government Plaza hosts a 14 division competition of Alabama’s Fiddlers on June 10th from 5-7pm and June 11th from 10 am. Saturday at10am will have the Senior Fiddle, Small Frye Fiddle, Guitar, Junior Fiddle, Banjo, Bluegrass Bands, Adult Fiddle, Buck dancing. Finals in Junior,Adult and Senior Fiddle and Bluegrass Bands.
All ages can gather to prove their fiddling finesse against each other for monetary prizes. The music wont stop with just the fiddle, competitions between mandolin, Guitar, banjo, Harmonica, Dulcimer, bluegrass bands, and even Buck Dancing will be judged. Come out and watch talent tussle on stage, and enjoy the southern style of the fiddle.
Second Saturday Sidewalk party
The Avenue Pub is hosting a Summer block party under the Tuscaloosa Entertainment District on June 11th from 2-8pm. Free sliders, $3 bud pints, live music, and drinks to go in Temerson Square. This event will be held every second Saturday this summer with food, drinks, and music. Starting in May, lasting to August