Community Culture Fest, Hosted by UA, to be Held in Downtown Northport

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama Office of Community Affairs will host Community Culture Fest 2009 in downtown Northport on Sunday, Oct. 4, from 2-6 p.m. The community festival will feature live entertainment, food and events honoring the West Alabama area’s rich cultural and artistic history.

Alabama Music Hall of Fame member Rick Carter will perform at the festival. “We are so excited to be a part of this dynamic community event,” said Carter, guitarist, singer and former front man of Telluride. With him will be the League of Legendary Artists featuring Erin Mitchell, members of the Taylor Hicks band and the horn players that perform with the Temptations, Four Tops and Spinners.

Culture Fest entertainment also will include the Alabama Blues Project, Homemade Jamz, Mariachi Mexicana, Caroline Shines, the UA Gospel Choir, Eric Essix, and others.

The festival will be staged on Main Avenue in Northport near the Kentuck Museum.

The event will be free of charge, and CrimsonRide will provide pick up and drop off at the UA Ferguson Center.

“Culture Fest is an opportunity to show the wealth and diversity of West Alabama culture,” said Dr. Samory T. Pruitt, vice president for community affairs at UA. “We are pleased that so many groups have come together with the University to make this event possible.”

The event is also sponsored by the city of Northport, Kentuck Museum, Northport Housing Authority, Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Buffalo Rock/Pepsi and University Programs.

“The city appreciates the opportunity to work with the University of Alabama, which has always been a willing partner in helping promote our community. Northport has a very diverse population, and we welcome the chance to bring our different cultures together in one family entertainment venue,” said Bobby Herndon, mayor of Northport.

Dozens of student volunteers from UA will assist in the festival and on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 2-3, students from the UA Community Service Center will paint and do landscaping at the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America office in Northport and join the Northport Neighborhood Association for a community-wide clean up on Saturday.

“Culture Fest showcases our community’s cultural wealth while strengthening ties between the University and its neighbors,” said Brice Miller, assistant director of UA Crossroads Community Center, a campus agency that promotes the event.

The Northport Housing Authority, McAlister’s Deli and Buffalo Rock will provide food and beverages free of charge. “Culture Fest has a solid vision of developing proven strategies that attract local citizens from diverse backgrounds and providing activities to strengthen the community – ideals that Buffalo Rock also shares,” said Fitzgerald Washington, general sales manager of Buffalo Rock.

The UA Student Health Center, United Cerebral Palsy, Red Cross, and other agencies will be on hand and free health screenings will be available. Children’s activities will include face painting, storytelling and others provided by the Boy and Girl Scouts, West Alabama Chapter of 100 Black Men and the Alabama Natural Museum of History.

“Culture Fest speaks directly to and reflects the very essence of the ‘Culture Builds’ initiatives here and around the country that emphasize the arts’ contributions to our diversity and heritage and allow our imaginations, talents and economic vitality to intersect, resulting in more livable communities,” said Johnnie Aycock, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama.

Kentuck Museum spokesperson Emily Leigh said the arts center was “pleased that the University chose downtown Northport” for the festival location. “Kentuck’s mission is to perpetuate the arts, engage the community and to empower the artist. What better way to fulfill our mission than to assist with an event that incorporates musical artists, diverse groups from the surrounding community, health education and children’s musical and art activities,” she said.