Editing Tuscaloosa, Alabama (section)

==Arts and culture==
===Libraries and museums===
[[File:BrownBranchLibrary,Tuscaloosa, AL.jpg|thumb|left|Tuscaloosa Public Library – Brown branch]]
The [[Tuscaloosa Public Library]] is a joint city-county agency with nearly 200,000 items and approximately 47,000 registered patrons (28% of the county's population).{{citation needed|date=May 2021}} There are currently three branches: the Main branch, on Jack Warner Parkway; the Weaver-Bolden branch, in western Tuscaloosa; and the Brown branch in suburban Taylorville.

The University of Alabama, Stillman College and Shelton State Community College also have libraries open to the public for non-circulation use.

[[File:TPL-front.jpg|thumb|right|Tuscaloosa Public Library – Jack Warner Parkway branch]] Museums in Tuscaloosa are located all over town, but are primarily concentrated in the downtown area or on the campus of UA. Museums that are downtown include CHOM: the Children's Hands-On Museum of Tuscaloosa and the Murphy African-American Museum. The [[Alabama Museum of Natural History]] and the [[Paul W. Bryant Museum]] are located on the UA campus. Additional museums and galleries are found across the river in [[Northport, Alabama|Northport]]. The Jones Archaeological Museum is located {{convert|15|mi|km}} south of Tuscaloosa at the [[Moundville Archaeological Park]] in [[Moundville, Alabama|Moundville]].

===Performing arts===
[[File:Bama Theatre Tuscaloosa Alabama 2009.jpg|thumb|[[Bama Theatre]]]]
[[File:Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center.jpg|thumb|Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center]]

Tuscaloosa is home to several performing arts organizations. Though some are affiliated with UA or Shelton State, several are independent organizations, including the Tuscaloosa Community Theater and Shakespeare troupe The Rude Mechanicals. These various organizations cooperate and coordinate their operations through the ''Arts and Humanities Council of Tuscaloosa County''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tuscarts.org/home.html |title=The Arts & Humanities Council of Tuscaloosa, Alabama |access-date=May 27, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501064651/http://tuscarts.org/home.html |archive-date=May 1, 2011}}</ref> The Arts Council also operates the Bama Theatre.

The [[Bama Theatre]] is a 1,094-seat proscenium theatre located in downtown Tuscaloosa and is operated by The Arts and Humanities Council.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tuscarts.org |title=The Arts & Humanities Council of Tuscaloosa, Alabama |website=Tuscarts.org |access-date=May 13, 2016}}</ref> The Bama Theatre was built between 1937 and 1938 under the [[New Deal]]-era [[Public Works Administration]] as a [[movie palace]]. At the time of its construction in 1938, it was the only air-conditioned building in Tuscaloosa. The theatre was renovated as a performing arts center in 1976 and housed the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra and Theatre Tuscaloosa troupe until those groups moved into their own facilities.

Today, the Bama Theatre is the residence of the Tuscaloosa Children's Theatre Company and the Tuscaloosa Community Dancers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tuscaloosachildrenstheatre.com/aboutus.phtml |title=Tuscaloosa Children's Theatre - About Us |access-date=July 5, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090927093619/http://www.tuscaloosachildrenstheatre.com/aboutus.phtml |archive-date=September 27, 2009}}</ref>  Additionally, it hosts the Arts Council's Bama Art House movie series.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bamatheatre.org/bamaarthouse.php |title=Bama Art House |publisher=The Bama Theatre |access-date=May 13, 2016}}</ref> The Bama Theatre hosts a Jewish Film Festival in the spring, as well as several traveling film festivals. Additionally, the Bama Theatre has recently been serving as a concert venue, hosting recent performances by [[Joan Baez]], [[Aimee Mann]], the [[Drive-By Truckers]], [[Umphrey's Mcgee]], [[Ryan Adams]], [[Chuck Leavell]] and many other performing artists.

The Frank Moody Music Building on the UA campus holds a 1000-seat Concert Hall and a 140-seat Recital Hall. The Concert Hall features a three-story-tall, 5,000-pipe [[Holtkamp]] organ and frequently hosts concerts and other musical events. The Recital Hall features a Schlicker [[Organ (music)|organ]] that was crafted in Buffalo, New York. The [[Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra]], in its 35th year, is based at the Moody Music Building and is conducted by Adam Flatt.

Also on the UA campus, Rowand-Johnson Hall holds the Marian Gallaway Theatre, a 305-seat [[proscenium|proscenium theater]], the Allen Bales 170-seat [[thrust theatre]], and the 600-seat Morgan Auditorium. These facilities primarily host university-sponsored performing arts shows, such as Dance Alabama and the university's theater productions.

The Sandra Hall-Ray Fine Arts Centre on the Shelton State campus holds the Bean-Brown Theatre, a 450-seat proscenium theater, and the 100-seat Alabama Power Foundation Recital Hall.

Tuscaloosa is also home to the Alabama Choir School.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alachoirschool.org/ |title=Alabama Choir School |website=Alachoirschool.org |access-date=May 13, 2016}}</ref>

[[File:Coleman Coliseum.JPG|thumb|right|[[Coleman Coliseum]]]]Coleman Coliseum is a 15,383-seat multipurpose arena that serves as the city of Tuscaloosa's municipal civic center. Because the City of Tuscaloosa does not have a civic center, the demand for events grew rapidly and the coliseum doubled its capacity in the 1970s. In the 1990s, marquee concerts and events that the arena had seen in the previous two decades grew scarce as the facility became more outdated and mostly devoted to Crimson Tide athletic events. In the hope that the university could pull more events at the facility, the coliseum underwent a significant renovation in 2005, costing over $24 million.

The coliseum has hosted a diversity of events including [[commencement exercises]], a visit by President [[Ronald Reagan]], alumni gatherings, student convocations, concerts, operas, ballets, appearances by political figures, [[WCW Saturday Night]], etc. [[Travis Tritt]] filmed his "[[Bible Belt (song)|Bible Belt]]" country music video there. Some of the stars who have performed on its stages include [[The Rolling Stones]], [[Elvis Presley]], [[Elton John]], [[Grateful Dead]], [[Tom Petty]], [[Led Zeppelin]], [[Ray Charles]], [[Jimi Hendrix]], [[Bob Dylan]], [[Alan Jackson]], [[Reba McEntire]], [[Jay Leno]], [[Hank Williams, Jr.]], [[Daughtry (band)|Daughtry]], and [[B.o.B]].

[[File:Tuscaloosa Amphitheater.jpg|thumb|[[Tuscaloosa Amphitheater]]]]

In December 2010, construction on the [[Tuscaloosa Amphitheater]] officially wrapped up with the dedication ceremony taking place days after. The 7,470 capacity Tuscaloosa Amphitheater is blocks away from the downtown district and sits at the end of the Riverwalk on the banks of the Black Warrior River. Since its dedication ceremony in March 2011, a variety of performers have played there including [[John Legend]], [[The Lumineers]], [[Flo Rida]], [[Nelly]], [[TLC (group)|TLC]], [[ZZ Top]], [[Odesza|ODESZA]], [[Mary J. Blige]], [[Kenny Chesney]], [[Widespread Panic]], [[Steely Dan]], [[Jeff Dunham]], [[Jill Scott (singer)|Jill Scott]], and [[Fun.|Fun]]. The amphitheater has held events such as the Blues and Brews Music Festival and a pro boxing match.

On November 7, 2023 during a Foreigner concert at the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater, the City of Tuscaloosa announced that the venue would be renamed the Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater in recognition of the company's long-standing sponsorship, support and impact on the region.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dethrage |first=Stephen|date=2023-11-08 |title=Tuscaloosa Renames Amphitheater to Recognize Transformative Impact of Mercedes-Benz |url=https://tuscaloosathread.com/tuscaloosa-renames-amphitheater-to-recognize-transformative-impact-of-mercedes-benz/ |access-date=2024-07-16 |website=Tuscaloosa Thread |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Tuscaloosa News Subscription Offers, Specials, and Discounts |url=https://subscribe.tuscaloosanews.com/restricted |access-date=2024-07-16 |website=subscribe.tuscaloosanews.com}}</ref>

The Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater is home to the City of Tuscaloosa's annual Fourth of July Celebration on the River event. This free, family-friendly event features games and activities, a live performance by the [[Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra]], and fireworks over the Black Warrior River.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Celebration on the River |url=https://liveplaytuscaloosa.com/city-events/celebration-on-the-river |access-date=2024-07-16 |website=City of Tuscaloosa Arts and Entertainment |language=en}}</ref>

===Festivals and events===
Before each football game is a massive gathering at the UA Quad, where people gather starting on Friday for [[tailgating]] and the University of Alabama holds pep rallies on the Gorgas library steps. The Quad has hosted ESPN's ''[[College Gameday (football)|College Gameday]]'' several times and also is a place to meet Alabama football legends on game day and perform the "Elephant Stomp" (a pre-game parade) to Bryant–Denny Stadium with the Alabama mascot "[[Big Al (mascot)|Big Al]]" and the [[Million Dollar Band (marching band)|Million Dollar Band]].

Other annual city events worth noting are:
* Live at the Plaza – The City of Tuscaloosa's Live at the Plaza concert series is held annually on summer Friday nights at Government Plaza in downtown Tuscaloosa. This family-friendly event includes a wide variety of live, local music; a kids' zone; food trucks and vendors; and more.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Live at the Plaza |url=https://liveplaytuscaloosa.com/city-events/live-at-the-plaza |access-date=2024-07-16 |website=City of Tuscaloosa Arts and Entertainment |language=en}}</ref> 
* [[Sakura]] Festival – The Sakura festival celebrates the symbolic moment when a cherry blossom petal detaches itself to float earthward, which reminds one of the paradoxically fleeting, yet enduring, nature of life. Every March Tuscaloosa celebrates its ties with Japan and its Sister City of Narashino City. This festival features a Haiku Contest.
* Kentuck Festival of Arts – This annual event takes place during the third week in October near the banks of the [[Black Warrior River]] in Historic Downtown Northport. This nationally recognized event brings in visitors and artists from all over the United States. As several hundred talented artists bring their creations, several thousand visitors come to pay tribute to their skills. Those crowds come not only for the art, but also for the artistry of the days of old. Several artisans provide live demonstrations of blacksmithing, furniture making, quilting, and potting. There are music acts performing on stages and many varied foods available. In February, 2024, Kentuck and the City of Tuscaloosa announced the relocation of the 2024 Kentuck Festival of the Arts to Snow Hinton Park in Tuscaloosa.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Colurso |first=Mary |date=2024-02-22 |title=One of Alabama's largest art festivals announces new location, dates for 2024 |url=https://www.al.com/life/2024/02/one-of-alabamas-largest-art-festivals-announces-new-location-dates-for-2024.html |access-date=2024-07-16 |website=al |language=en}}</ref>
* Moundville Native American Festival – This annual festival takes place at the Moundville Archaeological Park. Native American performing artists, craftspeople, and musicians entertain and educate visitors about the rich culture and heritage that makes Southeastern Indians unique. Visitors can look forward to learning about the society and culture that existed there 800 years ago.
* Dickens Downtown – An annual Victorian holiday celebration known as Dickens Downtown takes place on the first Tuesday night in December in Downtown Northport. 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. As the area comes alive with characters and props straight from 'A Christmas Carol', local shops offer hot cocoa and cookies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tuscaloosabusiness.com/Tuscaloosa_Pages/Tuscaloosa+Festivals~83.html|title=Tuscaloosa Festivals|website=Tuscaloosabusiness.com|access-date=May 13, 2016 |archive-date=May 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160514023742/http://www.tuscaloosabusiness.com/Tuscaloosa_Pages/Tuscaloosa+Festivals~83.html |url-status=dead}}</ref>
*Druid City Arts Festival - Since 2010, the DCAF has been held at Government Plaza downtown in the first week of April every year. The annual open-air festival is free for anyone to attend and hosts vendors from around the state of Alabama and the country that display art, amateur and professional alike, that is available for purchase in tents scattered throughout the plaza. Attendees can travel from tent to tent admiring and buying available pieces, food, and other trinkets from vendors. There's a dedicated Kids Zone where sidewalk chalking takes place, and there's usually free musical performances held under the pavilion in the center of the plaza. The festival celebrated its 10th anniversary on April 5 and 6, 2019; it was also the festival's first two-day event, which is usually held for just one day a year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.druidcityartsfestival.com/|title=Druid City Arts Festival}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Druid City Arts Festival attracts students, community|work=The Crimson White|date=April 8, 2019|url=https://cw.ua.edu/52127/top-stories/dcaf-brings-community-to-tuscaloosa/|access-date=April 10, 2019}}</ref>

===Points of interest===
Notable points of interest in the city of Tuscaloosa include:
[[File:BamaBelleRiverboattusc.png|thumb|right|''Bama Belle'' riverboat]]
[[File:AlabamaNatMuseum.jpg|thumb|upright|The [[Alabama Museum of Natural History]]]]

* [[Alabama Museum of Natural History]]
* [[Alabama Stage and Screen Hall of Fame]]
* [[Bama Theatre]]
* [[Battle-Friedman House]]
* [[Bryant–Denny Stadium]]
* [[Bryce Hospital]]
* [[Christ Episcopal Church (Tuscaloosa, Alabama)|Christ Episcopal Church]]
* [[Denny Chimes]]
* [[Downtown Tuscaloosa Historic District]]
* [[Dr. John R. Drish House]]
* [[Dreamland Bar-B-Que]]
* [[Gorgas House]]
* [[Hugh R. Thomas Bridge]]
* [[Jemison-Van de Graaff Mansion]]
* [[Moundville Archaeological Park]]
* [[Ol' Colony Golf Complex]]
* [[Paul Bryant Bridge]]
* [[Paul W. Bryant Museum]]
* [[Queen City Pool and Pool House]]
* [[Tuscaloosa Amphitheater]]
* [[University of Alabama Arboretum]]
* [[Woolsey Finnell Bridge]]