Ballyhoo Festival
in Gulf State Park
Join us for a celebration of art and culture at the Annual Ballyhoo Festival in Gulf Shores. This unique two-day event is Saturday, March 1 and Sunday, March 2, at the beautiful Lake Shelby picnic area in Gulf State Park. On Saturday, the festival begins at 9 am and ends at 5 pm; on Sunday, it starts at 10 am and finishes at 4 pm.
Check out everything Ballyhoo Festival has to offer.
Art
Ballyhoo showcases fine art from talented local artists across the Gulf Coast, with over 100 juried art booths scattered throughout the festival. During the event, $5,000 in awards are given to winning artists in various categories.
Dancing
One of the highlights of the weekend is the Poarch Creek Indian’s performance of original tribal dances. The tribe’s cultural director gives a historical narrative of each dance and explains the importance of regalia pieces worn by members. These mesmerizing performances and eye-catching garments are a must-see.
Music
As part of the cultural exchange of Ballyhoo, the event showcases Americana music with some of the best musicians in the region with a fiddle and banjo competition. Anyone is allowed to enter, and prizes are awarded to the best players in each age category. Bring your dancing shoes and tap your feet along to the tunes.
Performance Schedule
Coming soon
Free Admission
You’ll find food vendors serving up delicious Gulf cuisine, live music on the stage, and art demonstrations all weekend long. Bring a lawn chair, so you can enjoy the performances and comfortable coastal weather.
Admission to the festival is free, and all ages are welcome. Limited parking is available at Lake Shelby, so shuttles will be running throughout the festival weekend from The Pavilion and Gulf State Park Pier. The shuttle is free, but a fee is required to park at these locations.
Let's Ballyhoo!
