NEWS

Celebrate Local event showcases businesses in West Alabama

Staff report

Dozens of retailers and vendors from across West Alabama will showcase their products during the annual Celebrate Local event at the Tuscaloosa River Market.

“We’re fortunate to have a wide variety of retailers and boutiques in our community, and we’d like to invite everyone to come by and see what West Alabama has to offer,” said  Alicia Gregory, special events coordinator for  the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, which will host Celebrate Local.

The event, which will be held from noon to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the River Market, 1900 Jack Warner Parkway, is free and open to the public. 

Celebrate Local will give people the opportunity to shop for a variety of items including clothing, jewelry, home décor, art, gifts and more. Several restaurants will also be on hand to offer samples of their most popular entrees.

People who attend will receive a Celebrate Local tote at the door, which they can then use to visit vendor booths. Some vendors will have giveaway items attendees.

Don Staley, president and CEO of Tuscaloosa Tourism and Sports, said Celebrate Local is a great way to learn more about what local businesses offer and encourages shoppers to think local first.

 “We are happy to see Celebrate Local return this year and to continue the partnership with this incredible event,” Staley said. “The event offers a unique opportunity to educate the community about our mission, while also spotlighting things to see and do. Our organization is especially excited to showcase the Tuscaloosa Civil Rights Trail through this event this year.”

The 18-stop trail features markers designating important moments that happened in Tuscaloosa, from the city's first black legislator to significant protests that occurred across Tuscaloosa  as part of the civil rights movement.

Celebrate Local's participating vendors will include AAA Alabama, ABZ Rental All, Alabama ONE, Bailey’s Tiger Rock Martial Arts, Bloom Flower Truck, Bryant Bank, City of Tuscaloosa, Embassy Suites Downtown Tuscaloosa, Ernest and Hadley Booksellers, Fave Hot Sauce, Hampton Inn University, Hien Atkins, Hotel Indigo Downtown Tuscaloosa, Jalapenos Mexican Grill, Jolly Hearth and Patio, Juice Bar of Tuscaloosa, Left Hand Soap Co., Lighting Plus, Lou and Co. , Marks Mart Tuscaloosa, Mathnasium of Tuscaloosa, Metro Animal Shelter, Mountain High Outfitters, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Papori, Premier Service Co., Sanford Restaurant Equipment, SouthMark Design, Spiller Furniture and  Mattress, the District Room, the Lance Hocutt Financial Group, the Laser Skin Center, Tuscaloosa Blueprinting and  Reprographics, Tuscaloosa Hyundai, Tuscaloosa Tourism and Sports, Worldwide Travel and Tours and Your CBD Store.