Editing Northport, Alabama (section)

==Culture==
{{stack|[[File:Kentuck Fine Art Gallery dog located in Northport area of Tuscaloosa, Alabama LCCN2010640121.tif|thumb|The Kentuck Fine Art Gallery, downtown Northport]]}}
One of Northport's cultural activities is the Kentuck Festival of the Arts. Each October, artists gather at Kentuck Park to showcase their work in front of visitors. The festival celebrates folk and contemporary art as well as traditional crafts. Potters, quilters, and basketmakers offer educational craft demonstrations throughout the weekend.  “According to the [Kentuck Art] center, the annual two-day festival draws up to 20,000 visitors to the city each year and generates an estimated $5 million economic impact [https://www.al.com/life/2023/12/after-52-years-one-of-alabamas-largest-art-festivals-is-searching-for-a-new-home.html?outputType=amp]  .”

Controversially, Kentuck Festival of the Arts’ board of directors announced that its 2024 festival will be held across the Black Warrior River and hosted by the city of Tuscaloosa. This comes after 52 years of the festival being held in Kentuck Park which is now being developed into a sports complex by the city of Northport.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kentuck Festival of the Arts will move to Tuscaloosa for 2024 |url=https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/story/news/2023/12/20/tuscaloosa-lands-kentuck-festival-of-the-arts-for-2024/71978188007/ |access-date=January 13, 2024 |website=The Tuscaloosa News |language=en-US |archive-date=December 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231220184433/http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/story/news/2023/12/20/tuscaloosa-lands-kentuck-festival-of-the-arts-for-2024/71978188007/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The contention between the Northport city council and the art festival’s board of directors grew to a breaking point after the city of Northport’s decision to decrease funding for Kentuck Festival of the Arts in 2023 and contract adjustments that would allow the city to change the location of the festival with as little as 30 days' notice.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stuart |first=Shauna |date=December 1, 2023 |title=After 52 years, one of Alabama's largest art festivals is searching for a new home |url=https://al.com/life/2023/12/after-52-years-one-of-alabamas-largest-art-festivals-is-searching-for-a-new-home.html |access-date=January 13, 2024 |website=al |language=en |archive-date=January 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240113013328/https://www.al.com/life/2023/12/after-52-years-one-of-alabamas-largest-art-festivals-is-searching-for-a-new-home.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

A 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 art or craft demonstrations are offered.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Summer 2023 includes concerts, theater, movies, book events, an interactive murder mystery |url=https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/story/news/2023/05/28/things-to-do-see-and-experience-in-tuscaloosa-for-summer-2023/70236155007/ |access-date=January 14, 2024 |website=The Tuscaloosa News |language=en-US |archive-date=January 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114213714/https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/story/news/2023/05/28/things-to-do-see-and-experience-in-tuscaloosa-for-summer-2023/70236155007/ |url-status=live }}</ref> A bus system runs between downtown Northport and downtown [[Tuscaloosa, Alabama|Tuscaloosa]] as a collaboration with Tuscaloosa's Art and Soul event.

Dickens Downtown is held the first Tuesday in December. This annual holiday event attracts participants to come and see the period setting of 19th-century England.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Baron |first=Jaylen |date=December 4, 2023 |title=Celebrate the holidays in Northport Tuesday with Dickens Downtown |url=https://www.wvua23.com/celebrate-the-holidays-in-northport-tuesday-with-dickens-downtown/ |access-date=January 14, 2024 |website=WVUA 23 |language=en-US |archive-date=January 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114213714/https://www.wvua23.com/celebrate-the-holidays-in-northport-tuesday-with-dickens-downtown/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Northport Heritage Museum houses a collection of artifacts and photographs that documents the history and evolution of the city.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alabama's Official Travel Guide |url=https://alabama.travel/places-to-go/northport-heritage-museum |access-date=January 14, 2024 |website=alabama.travel |language=en |archive-date=January 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114213714/https://alabama.travel/places-to-go/northport-heritage-museum |url-status=live }}</ref>

Northport has high hopes of being added to the growing list of cities in Alabama to be in possession of a water park. Construction for the 22-million-dollar project is expected to be completed by the year 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Henry |first=Bryan |date=December 22, 2023 |title=UPDATE: New Northport water park expected to open in 2025 |url=https://www.wbrc.com/2023/12/22/update-new-northport-water-park-expected-open-2025/ |access-date=January 13, 2024 |website=www.wbrc.com |language=en |archive-date=January 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240113010633/https://www.wbrc.com/2023/12/22/update-new-northport-water-park-expected-open-2025/ |url-status=live }}</ref>  Increasing amounts of local residents have contested the newly identified water park location as it will likely cause noise disturbances, increase traffic congestion, and diminish home values. The long-established farming community is also at risk of being pushed out of the area due to encroachment of the city of Northport’s urbanization projects.<ref>{{Cite web |last=News |first=WVUA 23 |date=October 11, 2023 |title=Northport residents address zoning concerns surrounding potential new water park |url=https://www.wvua23.com/northport-residents-address-zoning-concerns-surrounding-potential-new-water-park/ |access-date=January 13, 2024 |website=WVUA 23 |language=en-US}}</ref>