What To Know Before Attending The 54th Annual Kentuck Festival Of The Arts

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The Kentuck Festival of the Arts is gearing up to return Oct. 11-12 at Snow Hinton Park, with more than 270 artists, live music, spoken word, craft demos, kids’ activities, food trucks and local craft brews.

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Organizers say the two-day event, now in its 54th year, runs 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days and will be held rain or shine at the park’s 21st Street East entrance.

“Each year, the Kentuck Festival of the Arts reaffirms its place as one of the premier art festivals in the nation,” said Exa Skinner, executive director of the Kentuck Art Center and Festival. “We’re honored to continue a tradition that brings people together from across the country to experience the transformative power of the arts.”

Tickets

Admission is $15 for a single day or $25 for the weekend. Children 12 and younger are admitted free. Tickets can be purchased online through noon Thursday, Oct. 9, or at the gate.

Getting there and parking

General parking is on the north side of Snow Hinton Park between the park and University Mall. Accessible parking is closest to the front gate; a hangtag or license plate permit is required.

Volunteers will direct traffic and help visitors find spaces. From most lots it’s a short walk to the gate, and free shuttles will run from designated locations.

A free shuttle will operate from the Intermodal Facility, 2230 Seventh St., from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

What you’ll see

The artist field features established and emerging makers from across the country, with work ranging from pottery and jewelry to metal sculpture and mixed media.

Demonstrations include iron pours with Sloss Metal Arts along with painting, pottery, basket making, printmaking and quilting.

The festival has been recognized by the Alabama Department of Tourism as a top-10 event, named “Best of Bama 2022” by Alabama Magazine and designated a “Local Legacy” by the Library of Congress, with coverage in Smithsonian, Southern Living, American Style and National Geographic Traveler.

For kids

“Kentuck for Kids” offers free activities including tie-dye bandanas (courtesy of the American Chemistry Association), paper marbling, Chinese calligraphy, clay, face painting and book arts.

Additional options include birdhouse building with the Woodworkers Association of West Alabama and a “musical petting zoo” with UA’s School of Music and Community Music School. (Tie-dye T-shirts are $5.)

Rules & accessibility

Only service animals are permitted on festival grounds, and they must be checked in at the front gate.

By the numbers

Festival organizers estimate 15,000–20,000 visitors each year, generating roughly $5 million in economic impact over two days.

It is the largest non-sporting event in Tuscaloosa County. Proceeds support next year’s festival and year-round programs at the nonprofit Kentuck Art Center’s locations in Northport and Tuscaloosa, including studios, exhibitions, a community clay studio, workshops and the Kentuck at Queen City space housing the permanent collection.

Music & spoken word schedules

Brother Ben Music Stage — Saturday, Oct. 11

• 9:30–10:30 a.m. — McKenzie Lockhart
• 11 a.m.–noon — Kierston White
• 12:30–1:45 p.m. — John Calvin Abney
• 2:15–3:30 p.m. — Local Brand
• 3:45–5 p.m. — Walter Parks and The Unlawful Assembly

Brother Ben Music Stage — Sunday, Oct. 12

• 10–11 a.m. — Jacob Kynard
• 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. — Lee Bains
• 1–2:15 p.m. — Abe Partridge
• 2:45–4 p.m. — Lonnie Holley

Kathryn Tucker Windham Spoken Word Stage — Saturday, Oct. 11

• 10 a.m. — University of Alabama Undergraduate Creative Writing Students
• 11:30 a.m. — Pure Products
• 1 p.m. — Charlie “Tin Man” Lucas
• 2:30 p.m. — Tom Franklin
• 3:30 p.m. — Ace Atkins

Kathryn Tucker Windham Spoken Word Stage — Sunday, Oct. 12

• 10 a.m. — University of Alabama Undergraduate Creative Writing Students
• 11:30 a.m. — Black Warrior Review
• 1 p.m. — Trudier Harris
• 2 p.m. — Sandy Knisely Barnidge
• 3 p.m. — Ashley M. Jones

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