Orange Beach Area Events

With warm, sunny days most of the year, any time’s a good time for a celebration in Orange Beach and neighboring Gulf Shores. One of the area’s best-known festivals, celebrating the local shrimping industry, is held every fall. Two others, one in late fall and the other in the spring, showcase local, national, and international musical talent.

More than 300 vendors offering food, arts and crafts, clothing, jewelry, and other retail goods make the National Shrimp Festival one of the nation's most exciting outdoor events. The four-day festival, held on the beach in Gulf Shores, attracts some 250,000 visitors annually and is one of the Southeast Tourism Society’s top-rated events.

The Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival, held each November at various spots in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and other nearby communities, offers nearly two weeks’ worth of live musical entertainment. It's named for the late Frank Brown, a music fan who worked as night watchman at the legendary Flora-Bama Lounge for 28 years. The festival was founded as a venue for aspiring writers and musicians to showcase their work.

Since it was first held in 2010, the Hangout Music Fest has grown into a nationally recognized event featuring both established performers and talented new faces. Set up on the beach in Gulf Shores, Hangout Fest stages have hosted such music greats as Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder, the Dave Matthews Band, Jack White, the Zac Brown Band, and the Foo Fighters.

in addition to these star attractions, there are plenty of other special events scheduled year-round in the Gulf Shores/Orange Beach area – concerts, theater and dance performances, wine tastings, food festivals, and arts and crafts shows. Check out our calendar of events for an up-to-date list of what's going on while you're in town.