Reviewed by: Cindy Hatcher
Go behind the scenes of Tuscaloosa’s big events + when to go next
Reading time: 5 minutes
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When’s the last time you trekked down to T-town? Between home games this fall at The University of Alabama and the Kentuck Festival of the Arts in October, the road between Tuscaloosa and Birmingham has been busy. If that’s not been you, now’s the time to start planning a visit.
Football and folk art aren’t the only draws. From one of the state’s largest holiday season celebrations to concerts at Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater, the City of Tuscaloosa takes its hosting duties seriously so that residents and guests can have some serious fun.
Read on to learn all that goes into Tuscaloosa’s biggest events and what not to miss.
A lot of effort = experiences that feel effortless
The City of Tuscaloosa has a dedicated event operations team that coordinates across almost every department and public safety agency to produce and host a slate of its own events while permitting others.
Special Events Operations Manager Nicole Moreno-Lacalle says her team plans events a year in advance, coordinating closely with police, fire officials, environmental services, grounds crews, electricians and more. When the event days approach, an in-house crew hits the ground for set-up and other logistics.
“We make sure every single detail is covered and coordinated so everyone is on the same page in covering traffic flow, public safety, access to power, load in, load out and clean up. The end goal is for people not to even think about all of that behind the scenes, instead just coming and enjoying an event, so the work makes it all seem effortless.”
Nicole Moreno-Lacalla, City of Tuscaloosa
🎭 EVENT UPDATES: Catch the latest arts + entertainment news in Tuscaloosa + get a complete guide to the city’s events + venues.
Every event is a community calling card
One of Tuscaloosa’s “newest” event success stories is actually one that’s drawn visitors and locals to the area for over 50 years. Two years ago, the Kentuck Festival of the Arts relocated from Northport to Tuscaloosa’s Snow Hinton Park. The second iteration just happened in mid-October, welcoming its largest crowds ever with over 16,000 people, organizers say.
“Tuscaloosa stepped up and said, ‘We want this festival here, and we’re willing to share our resources to make sure that our citizens have this. The whole time, they have been just committed to making it the best event that it can be. When you work together to do the best for your community, it means each side is going to have to give and do a lot, but it also means that it’s going to make a really great event that people remember and are happy about.”
Exa Skinner, Kentuck Art Center and Festival
📆 WHAT’S THE NEXT BIG EVENT? Holidays on the Plaza ice skating + more opens Nov. 24. Get all the details + discover more fun on the City of Tuscaloosa’s events calendar.
Putting people + safety first
Moreno-Lacalle says the city’s public safety professionals are essential, which goes beyond their presence during events to how they bring deep expertise to anticipate and prevent issues.
And then there’s the personal purpose that first responders bring to work every day. One example is Homewood native Hannah Watters, an officer with the Tuscaloosa Police Department Criminal Investigations Division who serves on the bike patrol for special events.
Watters joined the department in 2020 and was named its officer of the year in 2023. She and her husband, a fellow officer, share two children—the oldest named after her best friend, the late Aniah Blanchard, whose story inspired her to join law enforcement.
Raising a young family brings an extra special perspective to serving the community’s kids, Watters says, listing her favorite family events as Holidays on the Plaza and Tech or Treat. She adds that being part of TPD’s annual Christmas toy delivery to local kids is a highlight of her job, as is welcoming out-of-town guests during big events.
“Helping [visitors] to have the best time is really cool. While this is a larger city, there’s something about it that just really does feel like it’s a smaller town.”
Hannah Watters, Tuscaloosa Police Department
Watters is just one of many committed officers working to keep events in Tuscaloosa safe, fun and enjoyable for all—including all of us on our next visit. Who’s in?
🚓 COOL COMMUNITY CAREER: Learn more about the Tuscaloosa Police Department + opportunities to join the team.
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