Discover Alabama's Gulf Coast Events: 2026–2027

Aug 18

6 min read

Updated: Sep 15

There is a rhythm to life along Alabama’s Gulf Coast. Some of the best weekends of the year revolve around the traditions, festivals, food, music, and sporting events that bring the coast to life. From Gulf Shores and Orange Beach to Foley, Mobile, and the waterways in between, the calendar is filled with reasons to linger a little longer. Think fresh Gulf seafood, songwriter nights, boats lining the marina, art beneath the oaks, and Mardi Gras traditions that have been celebrated for generations.

If planning a coastal getaway, these are some of the Alabama Gulf Coast events worth building a trip around in 2026 and 2027.

Late Summer + Fall 2026

Coastal Tailgate Cook-Off Challenge

When: August 22, 2026

Where: The Wharf, Orange Beach

Come hungry! The Coastal Tailgate Cook-Off Challenge brings culinary teams and chefs together at The Wharf for a game-day-inspired cooking competition, tastings, live music, and family activities. Competitors also have the opportunity to earn a spot in the World Food Championships.

Why We Love It:

Food tastings from competing teams
Live entertainment
Family-friendly activities
A lively late-summer afternoon at The Wharf

Flora-Bama Bulls on the Beach

When: September 10–12, 2026

Where: Flora-Bama, Perdido Key

One of the more unexpected traditions on the Alabama-Florida line, Bulls on the Beach transforms the legendary Flora-Bama into a beachfront rodeo weekend. It has become one of the venue's most anticipated annual events.

Expect:

Professional bull riding
High-energy nighttime events
Live entertainment
The unmistakable Flora-Bama atmosphere

Brett/Robinson Alabama Coastal Triathlon

When: September 12, 2026

Where: Gulf Shores Public Beach

For athletes—or anyone who enjoys cheering them on—the Alabama Coastal Triathlon combines Gulf swimming, coastal cycling, and running through Gulf Shores. It is one of the area's best examples of just how beautifully outdoor recreation and the coast fit together.

Orange Beach Freedom Fest + Bama Coast Cruisin'

When: September 19–20, 2026

Where: The Wharf, Orange Beach

Freedom Fest returns to The Wharf alongside the fall edition of Bama Coast Cruisin'. The weekend includes arts and crafts, outdoor exhibits, patriotic displays, and an impressive collection of classic, custom, and vintage automobiles.

What to Expect:

Classic and custom cars
Arts and crafts vendors
Food and entertainment
Activities throughout The Wharf

The Annual National Shrimp Festival

October 8–11, 2026 | Gulf Shores

If there is one fall weekend synonymous with Gulf Shores, this is it. The 53rd Annual National Shrimp Festival returns to Gulf Shores Main Public Beach from October 8 through October 11, 2026. More than 50 food vendors are expected alongside arts and crafts, entertainment, and over 100 hours of music across the festival.

What We're Going For:

Fresh Gulf shrimp prepared just about every way imaginable
Regional seafood and festival favorites
Live music
Fine art and handmade goods
A full weekend spent steps from the Gulf

This is one of those events where Gulf Shores feels completely alive—and reservations around town tend to reflect it.

Music on the Coast

Frank Brown International Songwriters' Festival

When: November 5–15, 2026

Where: Venues throughout the Alabama-Florida Gulf Coast

One of the most special music events in the region is also one of the most intimate. The 42nd annual Frank Brown International Songwriters' Festival will feature more than 200 songwriters and hundreds of performances at venues throughout the Alabama and Florida Gulf Coast. Rather than simply hearing a song performed, audiences often get to hear the stories behind it directly from the people who wrote it. Expect performances throughout areas including Orange Beach and Perdido Key, ranging from established award-winning writers to emerging talent.

Why It Belongs on Your Calendar: This is coastal music culture at its best—personal, relaxed, and often surprisingly memorable.

Food + Coastal Flavor

Coastal Alabama Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival

When: November 7–8, 2026

Where: Gulf Shores Main Public Beach

The Coastal Alabama Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival returns to Gulf Shores for a weekend centered around food trucks, craft beverages, and the easygoing atmosphere of Gulf Place. It's an easy addition to a November beach weekend, particularly because it overlaps with the Frank Brown International Songwriters' Festival.

Winter on the Coast

Mobile Mardi Gras

When: January 22–February 9, 2027

Where: Mobile, Alabama

For anyone exploring the wider Alabama Gulf Coast, Mobile Mardi Gras deserves a place on the calendar. Mobile's Carnival tradition dates to 1703, and the 2027 Mardi Gras season runs from January 22 through Fat Tuesday on February 9, 2027. More than 40 parades are expected throughout the season, along with mystic society traditions, elaborate floats, marching bands, MoonPies, and the unmistakable energy of downtown Mobile during Carnival.

Don't Miss:

Downtown Mardi Gras parades
Joe Cain Day
Elaborate floats and marching bands
King cake and classic Gulf Coast Carnival food
Fat Tuesday on February 9

If one has never experienced Mardi Gras in Mobile, it is worth knowing that this isn't simply a party—it is deeply woven into the city's history and culture.

Orange Beach Seafood Festival & Car Show

When: February 27, 2027

Where: The Wharf, Orange Beach

Seafood and beautiful cars are a surprisingly good combination. The Orange Beach Seafood Festival & Car Show returns to The Wharf on February 27, bringing together Gulf Coast food, classic vehicles, arts and crafts, and family entertainment. It's one of the best ways to enjoy the coast before the spring season fully arrives.

Spring 2027

Gulf Coast Classic Baseball Tournaments

When: Classic I: March 8–11, 2027

Classic II: March 15–18, 2027

Classic III: March 22–25, 2027

Where: Gulf Shores Sportsplex + Orange Beach Sportsplex

The Gulf Coast Classic isn't a single youth baseball tournament as it is sometimes described. It is a series of high-school baseball tournaments hosted by Gulf Shores High School, attracting teams from across the Southeast. Games take place primarily at the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach sportsplexes, making March one of the busiest months for sports travel along Alabama's beaches.

Orange Beach Festival of Art

When: March 13–14, 2027

Where: Orange Beach Waterfront Park

For art lovers, this is the coastal event one would choose over the originally listed “Art in the Park.” The Orange Beach Festival of Art returns to Waterfront Park March 13–14, 2027. The waterfront setting makes this one particularly fitting for The Coastal Current: art, local culture, and spring weather wrapped into one relaxed weekend.

The Wharf Boat & Yacht Show

When: March 19–21, 2027

Where: The Wharf, Orange Beach

Boating is part of the fabric of Orange Beach, and this annual show puts it front and center. The Wharf Boat & Yacht Show is scheduled for March 19–21, 2027, bringing boats, marine brands, and boating enthusiasts together around The Wharf Marina. For anyone interested in offshore fishing, boating, or the coastal lifestyle, this belongs on the spring calendar.

John L. Borom Alabama Coastal BirdFest

When: April 22–25, 2027

Where: Alabama Gulf Coast + Mobile Bay region

The Alabama Coastal Birding Trail itself is a year-round destination rather than an annual event. For the calendar, the event to feature is the John L. Borom Alabama Coastal BirdFest. Alabama Audubon has announced the 2027 festival for April 22–25, with programming designed around spring migration and the extraordinary birdlife of coastal Alabama. Previous BirdFest programming has included guided trips to places such as Fort Morgan, Dauphin Island, and other important coastal habitats. This is one of the best weekends of the year to experience the quieter, wilder side of the coast.

Orange Beach Billfish Classic

When: May 11–15, 2027

Where: The Wharf Marina, Orange Beach

The Orange Beach Billfish Classic is scheduled to return to The Wharf Marina May 11–15, 2027. Orange Beach has a serious offshore fishing culture, and tournament weekends offer a chance to see some extraordinary boats, crews, and catches move through the marina. Even if one is not competing, weigh-in days can be an experience of their own.

What About Hangout Music Festival?

Expected May 2027 | Exact Dates TBA

This is one important correction from older Gulf Shores event guides: There is no Hangout Music Festival or Sand in My Boots festival taking place in Gulf Shores in 2026. Organizers elected not to proceed with a 2026 festival. Gulf Shores tourism currently says Hangout Music Festival is expected to return in May 2027, although exact dates, lineup, and format have not yet been announced. Until official 2027 details are released, speculative dates will not be published.

A Local Stop Worth Making Year-Round

Coastal Alabama Farmers & Fishermen's Market

When: Saturdays, 9 a.m.–2 p.m., year-round

Where: Foley, Alabama

The Coastal Alabama Farmers & Fishermen's Market is another listing that is frequently placed in the wrong town. The market is located in Foley and currently operates every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. year-round. Here, visitors will find a rotating selection of:

Local and seasonal produce
Gulf seafood
Baked goods
Locally produced foods
Regional makers and vendors

For travelers who enjoy discovering a destination through its food, it's worth the short drive inland.

Follow the Current

The best time to visit Alabama's beaches depends on what one wants the coast to feel like. Come in fall for shrimp, songwriter nights, and festival weekends. Visit in winter for quieter beaches and Mardi Gras season. Spring brings art, baseball, fishing tournaments, and some of the most beautiful weather of the year. And in between the big weekends, there is still the version of the Gulf Coast that many love most: early walks on the beach, boats heading through the pass, fresh seafood at the end of the day, and nowhere one particularly needs to be.

Save this guide and check back throughout the year. The Coastal Current will continue updating dates, adding newly announced events, and sharing picks for what is actually worth putting on the calendar.