Kentuck Festival Will Return to Tuscaloosa After Attendance Soars in New Location

The Kentuck Festival of the Arts will return to Tuscaloosa in 2025 after a hugely successful first year in the Druid City, organizers announced on Thursday.

Exa Skinner, the executive director of the Kentuck Art Center, said the move from Northport's Kentuck Park to Tuscaloosa's recently upgraded Snow Hinton Park drew the Festival's largest crowd in the COVID-19 era.

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More than 16,000 unique visitors came to Kentuck this year, Skinner said, which is more than they've seen in the past three years.

“We’re blown away by the community’s response and attendance this year,” Skinner said. “The support from the City of Tuscaloosa, our dedicated volunteers, artists, and corporate partners has been invaluable in creating a weekend filled with art, culture, and community spirit.”

With their first Festival outside of Northport a major success, the event's organizers announced dates for its 54th iteration on Thursday - it will be the second week of October 2025, and back in Snow Hinton Park.

“We are deeply grateful to everyone who played a part in making the 53rd Kentuck Festival a success,” said Skinner. “We’re looking forward to building on this momentum as we plan the 54th Festival.”

Applications to exhibit work at the Festival will open in March 2025 - stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread for more news from the organization and from across west Alabama.