Mardi Gras, mullet, music and more making waves in coastal Alabama this spring

Media Contact:

Ally Dorrough • Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism
[email protected] • GulfShores.com/Media-Room
1-800-745-SAND • 251-968-9327 (direct) • 251-752-7745 (cell)

Mardi Gras parades, NCAA beach volleyball and Hangout Music Festival headline spring lineup along Alabama’s beaches

GULF SHORES AND ORANGE BEACH, ALA. – Let the beads and MoonPies fly during family-friendly Mardi Gras and shake off the winter chill with spring events along Alabama’s beaches. The following major events take place in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach from February through May 2018:

Winter Edition of Small Town, Big Beach Productions
Time: 7 p.m. 
Location: Erie Meyer Civic Center (1930 W. 2nd St., Gulf Shores)
Admission: $35
Website: GulfShoresAL.gov

• Jan. 29-30: Moscow Meets Manhattan Dueling Pianos Plus!
• Feb. 5-6: Jukebox Broadway starring The Diamonds
• Feb. 19-20: It’s Magic!
• Feb. 26-27: The 3 Redneck Tenors

South Baldwin Community Theatre presents: Nana’s Naughty Knickers
Date: Feb. 7-10; 14-17
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: South Baldwin Community Theatre (2022 W. 2nd St., Gulf Shores)
Website: SBCT.biz
Phone: 251-968-6721
Admission: $18 for adults; $15 for students
Details: Bridget jet sets to New York to live with her grandmother and quickly learns seemingly innocent “Nana” is running an illegal boutique from her apartment selling “naughty knickers” to the five boroughs’ senior citizens

Mystical Order of Mirams Mardi Gras Parade
Date: Feb. 9
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Orange Beach; begins on Perdido Beach Boulevard at the former Wintzell’s Oyster House (24131 Perdido Beach Blvd.) and ends at Highway 161

Mystics of Pleasure Mardi Gras Parade
Date: Feb. 10
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Orange Beach; begins at the former Wintzell’s Oyster House (24131 Perdido Beach Blvd.) and ends at Highway 161

The Wharf Kid & Pet Mardi Gras Parade
Date: Feb. 12
Time: 4 p.m.
Location: The Wharf at Palm Plaza (23101 Canal Road, Orange Beach)

The Wharf Main Street Mardi Gras Float Parade
Date: Feb. 12
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: The Wharf (23101 Canal Road, Orange Beach)

Gulf Shores Mardi Gras Parade
Date: Feb. 13
Time: 10 a.m.
Location: Begins on Highway 59 at 16th Avenue and ends at the Gulf Shores Public Beach

Orange Beach Mardi Gras Parade
Date: Feb. 13
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: Begins on Perdido Beach Boulevard at the former Wintzell’s Oyster House (24131 Perdido Beach Blvd.) and ends at Highway 161

LuLu’s Mardi Gras Anniversary Celebration & Boat Parade
Date: Feb. 13
Time: 3 p.m.
Location: Begins on the Intracoastal Waterway at The Wharf (23101 Canal Road, Orange Beach) and ends at LuLu’s (200 E. 25th Ave., Gulf Shores)

Sweetheart 5K, Sea Turtle Half-Marathon and Sweetheart 1-Mile Fun Run
Date: Feb. 17
Location: The Hangout (101 E. Beach Blvd., Gulf Shores)
Website: GulfShores.com/RunTheBeach
Phone: 251-747-7232
Registration: http://gsob.co/2AxpdrR
Details: Run/walk by the lagoon in Gulf Shores and return to the Gulf of Mexico with mile splits and water stops along the way, plus a post-race party at The Hangout with food and live music; 5K and half-marathon are USA Track & Field-certified

LuLu’s 10th Annual Tropical Re-Union Wedding Vow Renewal Ceremony
Date: Feb. 17
Time: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: Lucy Buffett’s LuLu’s (200 E. 25th Ave., Gulf Shores)
Website: LuLuBuffett.com
Phone: 251-967-5858
Admission: Free
Details: This quirky annual mass vow renewal features live music, wedding cake and a champagne toast

26th Annual Orange Beach Seafood Festival and Car Show
Date: Feb. 24
Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: The Wharf (4830 Main St., Orange Beach)
Website: http://gsob.co/2AxEau8
Phone: 251-981-1524
Admission: Free
Details: Benefiting the Orange Beach Sports Association’s youth initiatives, this festival features 95 arts and craft vendors, food booths, car show and live entertainment

Ballyhoo
Date: March 3
Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: Waterway Village (225 East 24th Ave., Gulf Shores)
Website: GulfCoastArtsAlliance.com
Phone: 251-948-2627
Admission: Free
Details: Featuring fine art, live music, performing arts, petting zoo, local cuisine and more in Gulf Shores’ entertainment district

South Baldwin Community Theatre presents: Picasso at the Lapin Agile
Date: March 8-11; 16-18
Time: 2 p.m. (March 11 and 18); 7 p.m. (March 8-10 and 16-17)
Location: South Baldwin Community Theatre (2022 W. 2nd St., Gulf Shores)
Website: SBCT.biz
Phone: 251-968-6721
Admission: $18 for adults; $15 for students
Details: Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso go to a Parisian café in 1904 to discuss the achievements and prospects of the century in a comedic way

44th Annual Festival of Art
Date: March 10-11
Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: Coastal Arts Center (26389 Canal Road, Orange Beach)
Website: OrangeBeachArtsFestival.com
Phone: 251-981-2787
Admission: Free
Details: More than 100 artists will present a variety of mediums during this juried art festival; event will also feature musical entertainment, live art demonstrations, kids’ art alley, food trucks and more; public parking will be located at The Wharf (23101 Canal Road, Orange Beach) with a shuttle running for $5 per person for all day service

Wharf Boat and Yacht Show
Date: March 22-25
Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: The Wharf (23101 Canal Road, Orange Beach)
Website: WharfBoatShow.com
Phone: 850-348-1498
Admission: TBA
Details: Largest in-water boat show display along the upper Gulf Coast showcasing the latest offerings from Southeast boat manufacturers and dealers, including approximately 135 in-water vessels, more than 450 trailered boats on land as well as popular marine electronics, fishing tackle, engines and outdoor equipment

The Original German Sausage Festival
Date: March 31
Time: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: Elberta Town Park (13052 Main St., Elberta)
Website: ElbertaFire.com/Sausage-Festival
Phone: 251-986-5805
Admission: Free
Details: German music, traditional German food (including 7,000 pounds of secret recipe sausage) and approximately 250 arts and crafts vendors; benefiting the Town of Elberta Fire Department

Discovery Day at Dauphin Island Sea Lab
Date: April 7
Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Location: Dauphin Island Sea Lab 
Website: DISL.org
Phone: 251-861-2141
Admission: Free for exhibits outside Estuarium; Estuarium to offer reduced admission for adults and free entry for children Details: Hands-on open house for the public to explore the sea lab’s research facilities and learn more about the coastal environment

South Baldwin Community Theatre presents: The Snow White Variety Show
Date: April 13-15; 20-22
Time: 2 p.m. (April 13-14 and 20-21); 7 p.m. (April 15 and 22)
Location: South Baldwin Community Theatre (2022 W. 2nd St., Gulf Shores)
Website: SBCT.biz
Phone: 251-968-6721
Admission: $15 for adults; $9.95 for students
Details: Fast-paced comedy where the audience becomes the “live studio audience” of a “talk show” – “Real Talk with Fairytale Legends” – in which the seven dwarves tell the story of “Snow White” and it comes to life on stage

Waterway Village Zydeco & Crawfish Festival
Date: April 14
Time: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Location: Waterway Village (225 E. 24th Ave., Gulf Shores)
Website: GulfCoastArtsAlliance.com/Zydeco-and-Crawfish-Festival
Phone: 251-968-1172
Admission: Free for festival
Details: Devour lip-smacking crawfish while dancing along with some of the South’s best zydeco bands and exploring arts and crafts vendors, children’s activities, crawfish races, 80-foot shrimp boat, 5K and 1-mile fun run and more

C Spire Concert Series presents: Styx with REO Speedwagon and Don Felder
Date: April 14
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: The Amphitheater at The Wharf (23325 Amphitheater Drive, Orange Beach)
Website: ALWharf.com/Amphitheater.php
Phone: 800-745-3000
Admission: $20-92
Details: “Come Sail Away” and kick off the 2018 C Spire Concert Series at The Wharf with Styx, REO Speedwagon and Don Felder

Coastal Alabama Bird Banding Project
Date: April 17-21
Location: Fort Morgan State Historic Site (110 State Highway 180 W., Gulf Shores)
Website: BirminghamAudubon.org
Admission: Free
Details: Learn about coastal Alabama’s crucial flyover point for migratory birds from researchers and get a “bird’s eye” view of these majestic creatures

C Spire Concert Series presents: Chris Young with Kane Brown, Morgan Evans and Dee Jay Silver
Date: April 20
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: The Amphitheater at The Wharf (23325 Amphitheater Drive, Orange Beach)
Website: ALWharf.com/Amphitheater.php
Phone: 800-745-3000
Admission: $22-57
Details: Country star Chris Young will rock The Wharf with hits like “Aw Naw” and “I’m Coming Over” during his Losing Sleep Tour

Bama Coast Cruise
Date: April 27-28
Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: The Wharf (23101 Canal Road, Orange Beach)
Website: BamaCoastCruise.com
Phone: 251-224-1000
Admission: Free
Details: Car lovers’ paradise with classic cars lining Main Street at The Wharf with vendors, music, door prizes, cash drawings and more

Interstate Mullet Toss and Gulf Coast’s Greatest Beach Party
Date: April 27-29
Location: Flora-Bama (17401 Perdido Key Drive, Pensacola)
Website: FloraBama.com
Phone: 850-492-0611
Admission: $15 to toss mullet (includes t-shirt); cover is $10 for adults 21 and up, $15 for ages 15-20 and free for 14 and under; $10 on-site parking; $5 per person for shuttle from Publix and Winn-Dixie in Orange Beach
Details: Mullet Toss competition entails tossing a mullet (fish) from Florida into Alabama; multiple age categories for children and adults; celebrities tossing at noon each day; live music, food and other fun activities; benefiting local youth charities, including the local school education and prevention program from the Community Drug & Alcohol Council, Inc.

14th Annual Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival
Date: May 4-5
Time: 2-10 p.m. (May 4); 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. (May 5)
Location: 18507 U.S. 98, Foley
Website: GulfCoastBalloonFestival.com
Phone: 251-943-5590
Admission: Free 
Details: More than 30 hot air balloonists from across the country will color the sky; activities include balloon glows each night, entertainment, food vendors, arts and crafts vendors, and the Disc Connected K-9 Frisbee Dog Show at various times

NCAA National Collegiate Beach Volleyball Championship
Date: May 4-6
Location: Gulf Shores Public Beach (101 Gulf Shores Parkway)
Website: NCAA.com/Championships/Beach-Volleyball/NC
Admission: TBA
Details: Cheer on the best women’s collegiate beach volleyball teams in the country during this NCAA-sanctioned championship; youth and adult tournaments and clinics will also be taking place throughout the weekend; coverage will be televised on ESPN networks

Orange Beach Billfish Classic
Date: May 16-20
Location: The Wharf Marina (4673 Wharf Parkway, Orange Beach)
Website: OrangeBeachBillfishClassic.com 
Phone: 251-402-8190
Registration: OrangeBeachBillfishClassic.com; weigh-in viewing free to the public
Details: Part of the Gulf Coast Triple Crown Series, which consists of five high-profile tournaments in the Gulf of Mexico

Hangout Music Festival
Date: May 18-20
Location: Gulf Shores Public Beach at The Hangout (101 E. Beach Blvd.)
Website: HangoutMusicFest.com
Admission: $259 for general admission; $1,099 for VIP; $1,699 for Super VIP; $50 for shuttle passes
Details: Headliners Kendrick Lamar, The Killers and The Chainsmokers paired with quirky amenities like a comedian-officiated wedding chapel and a puppy kissing booth make Hangout Fest much more than a music event; VIP pass holders enjoy additional perks with hot tubs and pool-side views of the main stage, hammocks, misting stations, and food and drinks from James Beard award-winning chefs

Visit GulfShores.com/Events for a full calendar of events or check out this updated list of summer 2018 events in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach. For more information on this family beach destination, visit GulfShores.com and OrangeBeach.com.

Photos:

Download: https://gsob.co/2ErZ407
Caption: Let the good times roll for the annual LuLu’s Mardi Gras Anniversary Celebration & Boat Parade takes place on Fat Tuesday – Feb. 13 – at LuLu’s at Homeport Marina in Gulf Shores, Alabama.
Credit:Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism 

Download: https://gsob.co/2lpw6Hs
Caption: The 2018 NCAA National Collegiate Beach Volleyball Championship takes place on the Gulf Shores (Alabama) Public Beach May 4-6 and will be televised by ESPN.
Credit: Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism 

Download: https://gsob.co/2ErcQju 
Caption: Jam along with acts like Kendrick Lamar, The Killers and The Chainsmokers on the beach and enjoy quirky amenities like a comedian-officiated wedding chapel and a puppy kissing booth at Hangout Music Festival May 18-20 in Gulf Shores, Alabama.
Credit: Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism

Click here for more spring events in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach! Or, check out these fall events in Alabama's Beaches! 

About Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism:

Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism serves as the official destination marketing organization for the cities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach in addition to the unincorporated area of Fort Morgan. To learn more about the whole different state of discovery on Alabama’s 32 miles of white-sand beaches, visit either GulfShores.com or OrangeBeach.com. This convention and visitors bureau is an accredited Destination Marketing Organization (2012-2016).