We’re gearing up for another fun weekend in Tuscaloosa! All weekend long you can enjoy Steel Magnolias and the Native American Festival at Moundville Archaeological Park. On Saturday you can enjoy a live stream of the Alabama vs Texas A&M at Government Plaza. Finish off your weekend at Kentuck Arts Festival, rated one of the ten best events in Alabama!

Steel Magnolias

In celebration of the 30th anniversary of the movie premiere, Tuscaloosa Theatre brings this iconic story back to town. Truvy’s beauty salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana, is where all the ladies come to have their hair done. Truvy says, “Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion,” and there is plenty of both in this moving tale about the underlying strength that drives these Southern women. Theatre Tuscaloosa, one of the largest community theatres in the state, works in partnership with Shelton State Community College to provide quality theatrical experiences to the citizens of West Alabama through performances, workshops and classroom instruction. You can catch Steel Magnolias at Shelton State’s Martin Campus in the Bean-Brown Theatre. Buy tickets HERE!

Moundville Native American Festival

Now in its 31st year, the annual Moundville Native American Festival celebrates Native American culture through performers, vendors, demonstrators, living history teachers, and more.

Visit the tools and weapons range to learn how to throw an atlatl, or stop by the Native American stage to watch stomp dancers, social dancers, and the great hoop-dancer, Lyndon Alec. Don’t miss the fantastic music of GrayHawk Perkins and many others! Learn about traditional pottery firing, weaving, beadwork, and other crafts. Bring your children by the children’s area for face-painting and make-and-take crafts.

The festival kicked off yesterday and continues all the way through Saturday.

Live at the Plaza – Football Watch Party

The City of Tuscaloosa is hosting a Live at the Plaza Football Watch Party for the Alabama football game against Texas A&M on Saturday, Oct. 12. The game begins at 2:30 p.m. Viewing begins at 1 p.m. and lasts until the end of the game.

The event is free to the public, and Government Plaza will have a 16’ x 9’ LED screen for fans to view the competition. Food trucks will be on-site, and the entertainment district will be in effect.

Blankets, chairs, food and non-alcoholic drinks are allowed; however, tents, grills and personal alcoholic beverages are not allowed. Attendees may buy alcohol at participating downtown bars and restaurants and bring those items onto the Plaza.

Kentuck Arts Festival

Kentuck has a rich 48-year history as a nationally known crossroads of creativity and community. Every year, over 10,000 travel from across the United States to become immersed in a Southern experience of prolific creativity rarely found at other festivals. Having roots in folk art, the two-day festival features 270+ artists, live music, spoken word, activities for children, folk and contemporary craft demonstrations, food trucks, and local craft brews.

Featured in numerous publications, Kentuck Festival of the Arts was most recently recognized by Alabama Department of Tourism as one of the top-ten events to attend in Alabama in 2018 and by Alabama Magazine as one of the “Best of Bama 2018.” Kentuck has also been featured in Smithsonian Magazine, Southern Living, American Style Magazine, and National Geographic Traveler. In 2018, the Festival was named 5th in the nation (based on artists’ self-reported sales) in the category of Classic and Contemporary Craft Shows by Sunshine Artists Magazine.

We have a lot going on throughout the upcoming fall months and are excited to share more. Give us a follow on our social media pages (@visittuscaloosa) for more announcements and future events. We can’t wait to see you around Tuscaloosa!

Another great weekend is right around the corner! Start your weekend off with the Manhattan Short Film Festival. On Friday you can cruise down the river on the Bama Belle for their Low Country Boil. Alabama football is home again this week with a matchup against Ole Miss! Just two visits to Bryant Denny Stadium ago, the Black Bears shocked the world by defeating the #2 ranked Crimson Tide. The Children’s Hands-On Museum is the perfect place to take your child over the weekend. This Saturday is the Nickelodeon “Worldwide Day of Play.”

In continuation of the Bama Art House Film Series, the Bama Theatre will play host to the Manhattan Short Film Festival. Film lovers worldwide unite to view and judge the work of the next generation of filmmakers from around the world. This takes place in over 400 cities worldwide and Tuscaloosa will be a part of it this weekend! This is the only film festival of its kind. The Final Ten selections screen simultaneously across the world during a one-week period. Manhattan Short attendees vote for Best Film and Best Actor awards at each participating venue. By virtue of their selection by Manhattan Short, each short film is automatically Oscar-qualified. The Final Ten finalists hail from seven countries with films from France, Iran, Canada, Finland, and Germany alongside two films from the USA and a record three from the United Kingdom.

Your Friday night couldn’t start any better than heading down the black warrior on Tuscaloosa’s own Bama Belle. The Low Country Boil will have all the fixin’s and there will be plenty to go around. Alive Bargeron & Joe Terry will be playing music and providing the perfect backdrop for this relaxing evening! The trip should take about two hours and starts at 7 pm. You can find out their address and buy tickets on their website – bamabelle.org.

Alabama is back for the second week in a row in Bryant-Denny as they get ready to face the Ole Miss Black Bears. It’s not all that long ago that Ole Miss pushed Alabama as far as anyone has in the Nick Saban era. While it seems like an entirely different time, the Rebels beat the Tide in 2014, 2015 and came close in 2016. The Rebels then went on to lose the last two seasons by a combined score of 128-10. With Tua Tagovailoa hitting 78% of his throws with 17 touchdowns and no picks this year, it will take something very special for Ole Miss to repeat their 2015 shocker.

The Children’s Hands-On Museum is participating in Nickelodeon’s “World Wide Day of Play” and will be open from 9 am – 4:30 pm to celebrate. The day of play is an event designed to encourage children and parents to turn off their television and play together, especially outdoors. The event kicked off in 2004 and has been a huge hit every year since. Turn off the TV, get to CHOM, and enjoy a day of fun with your children!

Buckle up for another exciting weekend in Tuscaloosa! The entertainment kicks off with country artists Chris Lane and Adam Hambrick at the Druid City Music Hall. Right down the block, Lola Montez will be bringing her pissed-off punk riffs, brazen vocals, and raucous drums to Egan’s Bar. In case you were unaware or in need of something to do on Saturday, football is back in Tuscaloosa! The Alabama Crimson Tide is taking on the Southern Miss Golden Eagles, hoping to improve to 4-0 for the 2019 season. The Tuscaloosa Bicentennial also ramps back up as they put on their Community Book Experience in celebration of the bicentennial book, Tuscaloosa – 200 Years in the Making.

Want to start the weekend on a high note? Look no further than Druid City Music Hall on Friday night as Chris Lane brings his unique blend of contemporary country to Tuscaloosa! Part of a wave of singers who rode the R&B-friendly wake left by Sam Hunt in 2014, Chris Lane specialized in smooth yet lively love songs. His first major tour was supporting Florida Georgia Line in 2014 and played effervescent country-pop tunes, but by the time he released his full-length major-label debut Girl Problems in 2016, he lightly emphasized a softer touch, as evidenced by the singles “Let Me Love You” and “For Her.” Joining him is special guest Adam Hambrick who will start the tunes at 9:00 pm. Doors open at 7:30 pm and tickets can be purchased online as well as at the box office.

If country love songs aren’t your thing, head down the block to Egan’s and prepare to rock. Fresh off the recording of their debut release, Lola Montez is intent on hitting a raw nerve with music fans far and wide. Their jangly guitars and syncopated beats are woven through wide-open choruses. Lola asserts plenty of muscle but with its pop sensibilities firmly in tow. You get hooks alongside a brooding, drop-tuned guitar coated with an icy edge. For this band, the attitude is in the authenticity. One of the members said “We aren’t just three people who have come together by accident. It’s kismet. We listen. We react and become one. We are one.”

Alabama returns to action in Bryant-Denny as they go up against the Golden Eagles of Southern Miss. This matchup surprisingly will come down to special teams. On TideSports.com, Brett Hudson says “Jaylond Adams took the opening kickoff of Southern Miss’ season back for a touchdown and has not slowed down since, now leading the nation with two kickoff return touchdowns as the only player in the nation to have returned a kickoff and a punt for a touchdown this season. He now has No. 2 Alabama’s full attention.” And Coach Saban mentioned “This is one of the most explosive teams that we’ve played on special teams. This is not a time for us to be thinking that we don’t have to prepare well and work to focus on the things that we need to do to play well in our preparation for this game. We need to go to work on that.”

The Tuscaloosa Bicentennial wraps up our weekend this Sunday with the Community Book Experience. You can enjoy an afternoon of education featuring the author of “Tuscaloosa – 200 Years in the Making,” Guy Ward Hubbs. This event takes place at the Tuscaloosa Federal Building and United States Courthouse from 2 – 4 P.M. This comprehensive history of the city of Tuscaloosa is the first of it’s kind. The afternoon will also feature a book signing by the author!

UPDATE: The bicentennial event has been postponed.

Alabama vs. South Carolina Watch Party

If you’re not headed to Columbia to watch the Tide roll over the Gamecocks this weekend, you’ve got a fun new option for checking out the game in Tuscaloosa. The City of Tuscaloosa will host its first-ever “Live at the Plaza” viewing party for the Alabama vs. South Carolina game this Saturday, September 14th, beginning at 1 p.m. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. and the party will last the length of the game. Fans are invited to come out to Government Plaza to watch the game on a giant 16’x9′ LED screen. There will be food trucks on-site, and the city’s Entertainment District will be in effect. You can bring a blanket and chairs to Government Plaza, but grills, tents, and personal alcoholic beverages are not allowed.

Bleach Garden at Alcove

Bleach Garden is a heavy alternative rock trio that is traveling from Atlanta to Tuscaloosa to play original and cover material. They will play a special Friday the 13th show at Alcove this Friday from 10:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m. As always at Alcove, there will be no cover charge. Heavily influenced by hard hitters from the 90s, Bleach Garden will warp your mind and fill your ears with sounds of the past, present, and future. Come out and combine your favorite drinks with your favorite Atlanta Heavy Rock act!

Clay Page at Black Warrior Brewing

The live music continues on Saturday at Black Warrior Brewing. Clay Page is in Tuscaloosa for one night only giving an intimate performance. Clay Page’s music has been described as new old-school country music. After playing music for close to a decade, Clay has 3 studio albums/EPs: “Out in the Woods,” “Homemade,” and “Replay” with numerous singles out as well. From 2014-2016 Clay not only composed the lyrics and music but also engineered his songs from his bedroom. By age 20, Clay’s talent and work ethic mixture had landed some accomplishments most dream of, from numerous television and radio appearances to playing some of the South’s most iconic events and venues. In 2018, Clay released his first Nashville CD, produced by some of the industry’s best engineers and musicians. The new “Southbound” EP is already making waves across the country. At just age 24, Clay Page is guaranteed to continue making his mark on country music. Bring your friends out for this FREE event taking place on Saturday from 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

World First Aid Day at CHOM

We are celebrating World First Aid Day this Saturday at the Children’s Hands-On Museum. Kids will be able to make a first aid kit, talk to emergency professionals, and practice their first aid skills. All activities are included in the price of admission. The event runs from 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., so you have all day to have fun and learn about first aid.

Philip Henry Gosse: A Naturalist’s Sojourn in Alabama

The Alabama Museum of Natural History in conjunction with Birmingham Audubon invites you to join us for a free event celebrating the life and artwork of the naturalist Philip Henry Gosse this Saturday from 4:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at Smith Hall on the UA campus. Born in 1810 in Worcester, England, the young Philip Henry Gosse developed a passion for the natural world. Having learned the basics of miniature portraiture from his father, Gosse quickly took for his artistic subjects the flourishing marine life he discovered along the English coast. In May 1838, Gosse took a teaching job in Dallas County, Alabama. For the next eight months, he collected the insect specimens that he would preserve in the beautifully detailed watercolors of Entomologia Alabamensis. In addition, he composed a highly personalized chronology of his life in a frontier culture, published eventually as Letters from Alabama. Today, he is remembered as a popular writer of science for the general public and as a passionate artist whose work in Alabama and elsewhere captured and revealed the beauty and vitality of the natural world. For more information visit their website: https://almnh.museums.ua.edu/event/philip-henry-gosse-a-naturalists-sojourn-in-alabama/

Later this month

YLS Bicentennial Scavenger Hunt

Take a foot race around downtown Tuscaloosa following historical clues to uncover your next destination at the Young Leaders Society Bicentennial Scavenger Hunt. On Thursday, September 19, from 5:45 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. have a blast roaming around Tuscaloosa while learning about the city’s history. An after-party with light bites and prizes will await you at the mysterious final location. For more information and to get tickets, visit their Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/446761699257593/

Football has returned to Tuscaloosa, and with it a ton of great events to give you a fun-filled weekend in the city of champions. We have live music, art events, musicals, and more! Get ready to enjoy a special weekend in Tuscaloosa!

Art Night at Kentuck

Just over the river from downtown Tuscaloosa rests Kentuck Art Center, the centerpiece of the local art community. One the first Thursday of each month they host a quaint little shindig to help you relax and explore their unique scene. They have live music, light hors-d’oeuvres and a chance to interact with a local artist and even purchase some of their beautiful art. Art night lasts from 5-8 on Thursday, but it will be the best three hours of your month, guaranteed. Check out their Facebook event to share this information with your friends! https://www.facebook.com/events/366189450947666/

First Friday Art Walk

The first Friday of the month is a special evening in downtown Tuscaloosa. Local art galleries open their doors late and invite the public in for a night of fun and exploration. With downtown being an entertainment district on Friday evenings, you can now grab your favorite drink from a local bar or restaurant and dig the local art scene. Galleries on your tour include Harrison Galleries, the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center, and local artist Caleb O’Connor’s studio. For more information and hours visit http://firstfridaytuscaloosa.com/

Alabama Football vs. New Mexico State

The Crimson Tide how the New Mexico State Aggies in the Tide’s first home game of the 2019 season. Alabama dominated Duke last week to the tune of 42-3, and look to build on that success before heading on the road for its first conference game of the season against South Carolina next week. Kickoff is at 3:00 p.m., and it will be a great day for some early tailgating before watching the Tide roll. Tickets are still available at rolltide.com. For more game day information, visit https://uagameday.com/gameday-information-2018/.

Fly By Radio at Rhythm & Brews

Fly By Radio has spent years traveling the southeast playing fraternities, sororities, special events, festivals, corporate, and weddings. From Motown to current jams, and everything in between, FBR will have you singing along to all the hits at Rhythm and Brews this Friday, September 6 beginning at 10 p.m. If you like Guns n’ Roses, Metallica, and AC/DC, then this will be a great way to kick off your gameday weekend in Tuscaloosa. For more info visit https://www.rhythmnbrews.com/.

The Actor’s Charitable Theatre presents “Cats.”

“Jellicle Cats come out tonight, Jellicle Cats come one come all.” Join the Actor’s Charitable Theatre for their magical and moving production of Cats the Musical September 6-9 at The Bama Theatre. Based on T.S. Eliot’s whimsical collection of poems, Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s popular musical brings together a tribe of Jellicle Cats on a moonlit evening, who must make the “Jellicle choice” to decide which of them will ascend to the mysterious Heaviside Layer to be reborn. Featuring such celebrated standards as the haunting “Memory,” “Cats” was an international phenomenon and its original production is still the fourth-longest-running show on Broadway with a new revival that opened in summer 2016. You have plenty of opportunities to experience this musical over the weekend. This includes shows on Friday and Saturday, as well as two showings on Sunday. Visit http://theactonline.com/cats/ for showtimes and to purchase tickets.

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.