The big dates are confirmed: Orange Beach's Mardi Gras parades on February 6, 8 and 9, 2027, the free Festival of Art in March, the Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival from April 29, Sand in My Boots in Gulf Shores May 21 to 23, and the free National Shrimp Festival October 7 to 10.
See the datesThe Wharf, Orange Beach, Alabama · Photo: divemasterking2000 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 · Credits
The Festival of Art, the Hot Air Balloon Festival and the Shrimp Festival are free to enter. Book your room early for Sand in My Boots and the Shrimp Festival weekend.
November 5–15
EventFrank Brown International Songwriters' FestivalWhereFlora-BamaDetailsMore than 200 songwriters; the finale is ticketedNovember 8
EventFido FestWhereOrange BeachDetailsSecond annual dog festivalNovember 13 to January 18
EventIce skating at The WharfWhereThe Wharf, Orange BeachDetailsReal ice under a tent; $16 with skatesNovember 20 to January 9, 5–9 pm
EventMagic Christmas in LightsWhereBellingrath Gardens, TheodoreDetailsEvening ticket, separate from the daytime ticketNovember 21, 2–8 pm
EventOWA tree lightingWhereDowntown OWA, FoleyDetailsSanta lights the tree; live music and train ridesNovember 22
EventBattle of the BandsWhereThe Hangout, Gulf ShoresDetailsTen local bands competeNovember 26, Thanksgiving
EventAll You Can Eat ThanksgivingWhereThe Hangout, Gulf ShoresDetailsAdults $33 cash, ages 6–11 $15; reservationsNovember 28, 8–10 am
EventBreakfast with Billy ClausWhereLuLu's, Gulf ShoresDetails$12 adults, $8 kidsDecember 1, 5:30 pm
EventChristmas tree lighting and drone showWhereThe Wharf, Orange BeachDetailsHosted by the City of Orange BeachDecember 1–31, 6 and 7 pm
EventHoliday SPECTRA showWhereThe Wharf, Orange BeachDetailsThe laser show with Christmas songsDecember 3
EventGulf Shores Community ChristmasWhereGulf ShoresDetailsFreeDecember 3–6
EventVisions of ChristmasWhereOrange BeachDetailsAt the Orange Beach Performing Arts CenterDecember 12, around dusk
EventLighted Boat ParadeWhereFrom The Wharf to LuLu's on the Intracoastal WaterwayDetailsWatch from Canal RoadDecember 18–23
EventCrafts and photos with SantaWhereDowntown OWA, FoleyDetailsStockings, reindeer food and snow globesDecember 26
EventMake It To The Line RunWhereFlora-BamaDetailsFamily run and walk for the Secret Santa FundDecember 31, 10 am–3 pm
EventNoon Year's EveWhereLuLu's, Gulf ShoresDetailsThe annual Noon Year's Eve celebrationDecember 31, 5 pm–midnight
EventReelin' in the New YearWhereThe Wharf, Orange BeachDetailsLive band, the marlin drop and fireworksDecember 31
EventNew Year's Eve bashWhereFlora-BamaDetailsTicketed, live music on three stagesJanuary 1, noon
EventPolar Bear DipWhereFlora-BamaDetailsFreeJanuary 30–31
EventBig Beach MarathonWhereStarts and finishes at The Hangout, Gulf ShoresDetails5K and family fun run on Saturday; marathon and half marathon on SundayFebruary 6, 6 pm
EventMystics of Pleasure Mardi Gras paradeWhereOrange BeachDetailsAlong Perdido Beach BoulevardFebruary 8
EventMoon Pies on MainWhereOrange BeachDetailsKids and pets parade 4 pm, floats 6 pmFebruary 9, 2 pm
EventOrange Beach Mardi Gras paradeWhereOrange BeachDetailsRuns west to eastFebruary 13
EventSuper Chili Bowl Cook-OffWhereFlora-BamaDetailsFor the American Cancer SocietyMarch 13–14
Event53rd Orange Beach Festival of ArtWhereOrange BeachDetailsFree, music on two stages; Sat 10 am–5 pm, Sun 10 am–4 pmApril 22 to June 27, Thu–Sun 5–9 pm
EventGulf Coast Chinese Lantern FestivalWhereBellingrath Gardens, TheodoreDetailsMemorial Day includedApril 23–25
EventInterstate Mullet TossWhereFlora-BamaDetailsMullet throwing from Florida into Alabama, Friday to SundayApril 29 to May 1
EventGulf Coast Hot Air Balloon FestivalWhereOWA, FoleyDetailsFree entryMay 21–23
EventSand in My BootsWhereGulf ShoresDetails: Three-day festival with Morgan Wallen, Kings of Leon, Ella Langley and Kygo; three-day passes from $676.87 including taxes and fees, no single-day tickets
June 4–5, awards June 6
EventFlora-Bama Fishing RodeoWhereFlora-BamaDetailsOpen to everyoneJune 5 and 6
EventRiley Green in concertWhereWharf Amphitheater, Orange BeachDetailsTickets on Ticketmaster and at the box officeJuly 3 and 4
EventFreedom Run and July 4th partyWhereFlora-BamaDetailsRun, live music and fireworksAugust 6
EventMatchbox Twenty in concertWhereWharf Amphitheater, Orange BeachDetailsTickets on Ticketmaster and at the box officeSeptember 9–11
EventBulls on the BeachWhereFlora-BamaDetailsThree nights of live rodeoOctober 7–10
EventNational Shrimp FestivalWhereGulf ShoresDetailsFree; Thu–Sat 10 am–10 pm, Sun 10 am–5 pmDates follow as soon as the organizers set them.
Close to the Shrimp Festival and Sand in My Boots in Gulf Shores, and to The Wharf in Orange Beach.
Gulf Shores beach
Beachfront suites right by Gulf Place, five minutes away on foot, each with a kitchen and Gulf balcony. Check-in is 25+.
Gulf Shores beach
Directly on the beach, eight minutes from Gulf Place on foot, with free parking and a heated indoor pool.
Orange Beach West
Directly on the beach in western Orange Beach, with a lazy river and a pool heated in winter.
Back Bay and The Wharf
At The Wharf on the bay side, twelve minutes on foot from the shops, the ferris wheel and the amphitheater. Breakfast and parking are free; Gulf Place public beach is a 6-mile drive.
Gulf Shores vacation rentals on Vrbo Orange Beach vacation rentals on Vrbo
