Center for the Study of the Black Belt

04/15/2026

The Sucarnochee Folklife Festival is right around the corner!
Our 2026 Stage Line-Up is filled with incredible music, talented performers, and something for everyone to enjoy.

📅 Saturday, April 18
Bring your family, invite your friends, and come experience a day full of culture, community, and fun—we can’t wait to celebrate with you! 🎉

📍Courthouse Square Stage
7:00 – 7:45 a.m. - Registration & Check-in for the 5K River Run
8:00 a.m. - Sucarnochee 5K River Run Begins
9:00 a.m. - Live Stage & Vendor Booths Open
9:15 a.m. - UWA Bands
9:50 a.m. - Concrete Waterslide
10:30 a.m. - Hudson Jones
11:00 a.m. - UWA Choir
11:45 a.m. - Native American Stomp Dancing Presentation
12:15 p.m. - Concrete Waterslide
1:00 p.m. - Tyler Sellers and The Wreckers
2:30 p.m. - Daniel Houze
3:30 p.m. - Stage Wrap-Up

04/13/2026

🎧 Tune in to Sumter Social and listen to Dr. Tina Jones share the rich history of the Sucarnochee Folklife Festival in Sumter County.

Learn about the talented artisans, musicians, and local vendors who bring this beloved tradition to life each year—creating a vibrant celebration of music, handmade crafts, great food, and more.

Whether it’s your first visit or a longtime tradition, get an inside look at what makes this festival so special.

✨ Join us Saturday, April 18, and experience it for yourself!

Podcast Episode · Sumter Social · April 10 · 19m

03/31/2026

Calling all vendors!

The Sucarnochee Folklife Festival is just around the corner, and we are looking for vendors to be part of this exciting celebration of culture, music, art, and community!

If you’re interested in showcasing your crafts, food, or unique products, we invite you to complete our vendor application form and join us for a day full of tradition and fun.

Spots are limited, so be sure to apply soon!
👉 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc5E8kRoTuRLRH3qwsKQQPHlEWhgOohulO7Tn_rWdQYojeBcg/viewform?fbclid=IwY2xjawQ47kNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeOYmPnoihAGGt4zu0Q8nHExia8hOvM1fIGl1YGFMIgSBm-NxzW1MUpjAN1Nc_aem_IGljbNtnIlyYvm3Oho3hsg

Thank you for applying to join us at the Sucarnochee Festival this year! Must be handcrafted products! Location: Downtown Livingston on the Courthouse Square Date: April 18, 2026 Time: 9am-3pm Application Deadline: Friday, April 10, 2026 All new vendors MUST submit photos of their work to the Festiv...

03/12/2026

Traditions Live Here!

Join us in downtown Livingston for the Sucarnochee Folklife Festival on Saturday, April 18, 2026, from 9 AM – 3 PM at Courthouse Square!

Celebrate the rich traditions of our region with a day full of hands-on arts, local culture, and family-friendly fun. Enjoy:

🎵 Live music
🏃‍♂️ 5K Run
🎨 Pottery, painting & woodworking
🧺 Basket weaving & quilting
📚 Storytelling & poetry readings
🛍️ Local artisans, food vendors, plants & more

Bring your friends, bring your family, and experience the creativity and heritage that make our community special.

👉 Interested in being a vendor? Use the link below to sign up and reserve your spot!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc5E8kRoTuRLRH3qwsKQQPHlEWhgOohulO7Tn_rWdQYojeBcg/viewform

We can’t wait to see you there!

02/23/2026

Discover the rich geography, history & culture of the Black Belt Region and explore the lasting impact it has on our communities! 🌍✨

🗓 February 27, 2026
⏰ 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
📍 Training Room 205, Black Belt Regional Development Center (126 Franklin Street)

Join facilitators James Lamb, Dr. Ashley Dumas, and Monica Moore for an engaging and insightful session you won’t want to miss.

09/24/2025

Pam Swanner’s career is a testament to perseverance, innovation, and a deep love for connecting people to place. For more than four decades, she has worked at the crossroads of tourism, economic development, and cultural preservation.

Pam Swanner’s career is a testament to perseverance, innovation, and a deep love for connecting people to place. For more than four decades, she has worked at the crossroads of tourism, economic development, and cultural preservation. Today, as president of the Alabama Black Belt Adventures Associ...

09/10/2025

VOTE online or by text TODAY to bring LIVE MUSIC 🎶🎸🎹 and Entertainment 🎤🔊🤣 to the The University of West Alabama Amphitheater in Livingston, Alabama! We've already researched how to book Taylor Swift and Benson Boone.

If you vote, screenshot it, share on your story, tag us, and get entered for a chance to receive a $100 Amazon Gift Card!

How to vote to invite amazing artists to The University of West Alabama Amphitheater:

Text LIVINGSTON to 877-409-5525
OR
Access https://vote.levitt.org/locations/the-university-of-west-alabama-foundation/?location-id=502 -form

08/04/2025

08/04/2025

For this week's Health Matters, WVUA 23 News Anchor Carlie Horn sat down with University of Alabama College of Community Health Sciences Community Medicine and Population Health Assistant Professor Dr.

08/01/2025

“What is Extension and what do you offer?”

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System www.aces.edu, the primary outreach organization for the land grant mission of Alabama A&M University and Auburn University, delivers research-based educational programs that enable people to improve their quality of life and economic well-being.

Extension offers educational service in the program areas of:
🍏Human Nutrition, Diet & Health
🚜Farm & Agribusiness Management
🫛Agronomic Crops
🫕Food Safety & Quality
🦌Forestry, Wildlife & Natural Resources
🍅Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education
💵Financial Resource Management & Workforce Development
🪴Home Grounds, Gardens & Home Pests
🍀4-H Youth Development

Please reach out to us at 205-652-9501 for any of your Extension needs, follow us on Facebook, and look for Extension information in the local newspaper.

07/30/2025

07/30/2025

🧭🚘 HIGH ADVENTURE CLOSE TO HOME: 3 reasons to plan easy getaways in the Alabama Black Belt just south and west of Birmingham. NowPartner