West Alabama Food & Wine Festival to Return to Downtown Northport

The annual West Alabama Food & Wine Festival will return to its new home in downtown Northport next weekend and offer guests an outstanding culinary adventure that benefits two critically important local nonprofits.

The Festival is next Sunday, April 21st, with gates opening at 3:30 for VIP ticketholders and at 4 p.m. for all others. There will be live music and food to sample from more than 30 local vendors, including a first look at what's on offer at the hotly anticipated Sugo Italian restaurant soon to open in downtown Tuscaloosa.

The event also features wines, drinks and spirits from more than a dozen providers.

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The Festival for five years was held at the Tuscaloosa Rivermarket on this side of the Black Warrior River, but in 2023, the WAFWF moved to downtown Northport where it was a smashing success - tickets to attend last year sold out a month before the event.

"Last year's event was a huge success in Downtown Northport because it allowed us to cater to a much larger crowd and get great exposure for the West Alabama Food Bank,” said Brandon Tribble, co-chair of the West Alabama Food and Wine Festival and owner of Central Mesa. “We expect to have a great crowd again this year and raise even more money for our beneficiaries. Our team is grateful to the city of Northport for their hospitality and support, and we can't wait for another successful event."

Next weekend, the Festival will return to once again raise funds for the West Alabama Food Bank, which fights hunger in a nine-county area, and for the first time will also benefit Turning Point, a domestic violence shelter in Tuscaloosa that serves and supports survivors. Organizers hope this iteration will be even bigger and better and break the records they set last year.

“These remarkable organizations tirelessly champion invaluable causes that enrich and nourish the lives of our fellow community members,” said Debbie Puckett, co-chair of the West Alabama Food and Wine Festival and realtor for Keller Williams-Tuscaloosa. “Turning Point, a beacon of hope for survivors of domestic violence, empowers individuals to break free from the cycle of abuse, nurturing healing, and fostering long-lasting change.  Meanwhile, West Alabama Food Bank serves as a lifeline, providing sustenance to families facing food insecurity, ensuring that no one in our community goes to bed hungry.  The West Alabama Food & Wine Festival is honored to lend our support to these two beneficiaries so we can help further their transformative work.”

Guests must be over the age of 21 and bring a valid ID to attend the festival. To learn more or purchase VIP or General Admission tickets, visit their website here.