Summer is in full swing, so don’t miss out on all campus and Tuscaloosa have to offer this month. From searching for fossils to rocking out to live music to celebrating Independence Day, there are several ways to make the most of it.
Live at the Plaza Summer Concert Series
Fridays in July, 6 p.m., Government Plaza
Head to Government Plaza every Friday in July for free, live, local music. Live at the Plaza is family and pet friendly. Grab your crew, a picnic blanket and some folding chairs.
Movies in the Park
July 1 and 8, Dusk, Government Plaza
Come out just after dusk for a movie and local eats from area food trucks. This month enjoy “Clifford the Big Red Dog” July 1 and “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” July 8.
Celebration on the River
July 4, 6 p.m., Tuscaloosa Amphitheater
Salute the USA with the city of Tuscaloosa’s annual Celebration on the River, featuring fireworks, kids’ activities, live music by the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra and more. Festivities start at 6 p.m. with games and fun and cap off with the fireworks display at about 9 p.m.
Paleontology Show and Tell
July 6, 13, 20, 27, 10-11 a.m., Alabama Museum of Natural History
Bring kids in grades 1-3 to discover the wonders of paleontology as they dress up like a paleontologist and get a show-and-tell experience with real fossils and equipment. The program is free with museum admission.
Bama Art House Film Series Presents: “Back to the Future”
July 11, 7 p.m., Bama Theatre
“Nostalgic Blockbusters” summer series wraps up with the 1985 classic time-travel hit. Screening begins at 7 p.m. with the doors, box office and Bama Bar opening at 6 p.m. Admission is $10 general, $9 students and seniors, and $8 Arts Council members.
Fossil Excursion Day Trips
July 11, 13, 17, 22, 25, 29, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Alabama Museum of Natural History
Travel to the Black Belt of Alabama with experts searching for vertebrate and invertebrate fossils from the Cretaceous period. Participants of all ages should be prepared to get wet and muddy as they wade through shallow streams to collect shark teeth and other marine fossils from streambed gravel deposits. Register and pay online through the Alabama Museum of Natural History store.
Kudzu Lampshades Workshop
July 22, 1-4 p.m., Kentuck Art Center
Create your own kudzu lampshade using a wire frame lampshade and local, wild-harvested kudzu vines. Assorted lampshade frames will be provided, or you can bring your own. All materials are provided with the registration and materials fee.
Hot Hundred
July 29, 7 a.m., Bryce Lawn
Hosted by the Tuscaloosa Mental Health Alliance and the Druid City Bicycle Club, this bike ride ranging from 30 to 116 miles raises funds to ensure the highest quality programs and services are made available to those facing the challenges of mental illness.
Tony Sturgis – Pulse & Color
Through July 28, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., The University of Alabama Gallery
Tony Sturgis paints intensely hued layered, textured abstract paintings imbued with cathartic, healing qualities. He holds a BFA in studio art from the University of Montevallo and works full time as a lieutenant firefighter-paramedic with Tuscaloosa Fire Rescue.