Around here, time has a way of sneaking up on you. One minute you’re talking about “someday,” and the next, that weekend you meant to plan is already booked. So we’re doing BEACHBALLERS a favor and putting a few 2026 dates on your radar early. No pressure, just a friendly nudge to start dreaming.

From can’t-miss festivals to low-key traditions locals quietly plan around, the Gulf Coast of Alabama keeps the calendar interesting. Whether it’s a quick getaway or a trip built around an event, these are the moments worth circling.

Grab your planner (or your Notes app… we won’t judge) and let’s dive in.

Mardi Gras Sets the Tone

Winter on the coast doesn’t tiptoe in quietly. Mardi Gras kicks things off, and everything after builds from that energy.

Celebrations roll through Orange Beach and Gulf Shores from January into February with parades that feel more like neighborhood parties than big productions. Think colorful floats, kids chasing beads, and neighbors waving like old friends. It’s festive without being overwhelming and never takes itself too seriously.

Winter Wakes the Coast

By late winter, the coast is already stirring. The weather softens, events start popping up again, and there’s a buzz as locals shake off the quiet months.

Food, art, and community take center stage with favorites like the Orange Beach Seafood Festival & Car Show, Fort Morgan Oyster Fest, and the Ballyhoo Festival, each adding to that unmistakable feeling that spring is right around the corner. The coast isn’t rushed, just ready.

March hits a sweet spot, with days warm enough to linger outside, cool evenings, and a refreshingly unhurried pace. It’s the window savvy travelers love, before spring break crowds and well ahead of the summer rush. Locals prep for the season ahead while visitors enjoy the coast at its most relaxed, like catching a dress rehearsal before the big show.

When the Coast Turns It Up

As spring fades into summer, the coast hits its stride. Days stretch longer, weekends fill up, and there’s a buzz that feels effortless.

Late spring brings that high-season energy, with lively restaurants, busy waterfronts, and weekends built around shared experiences. Mullet Toss Weekend at the Flora-Bama is a coast-classic, equal parts tradition and spectacle, and a reminder not to take things too seriously.

On the right summer day, you might also catch the Blue Angels practicing overhead from the beach, a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment that stops conversations and turns eyes to the sky.

Fall for the Coast

Ask any local, and they’ll tell you fall is the coast’s best-kept secret. The humidity eases up, sunsets show off a little more, and the event calendar hits another sweet spot.

October brings one of the most beloved traditions of the year, the National Shrimp Festival. It’s part food fest, part art show, part excuse to wander around with a paper tray of something delicious. Live music floats through the air, crafts line the walkways, and the whole weekend feels like a celebration of coastal culture at its finest.

There’s something about fall on the coast that feels especially satisfying. Bright days, breezy evenings, and a calendar full of reasons to gather without the chaos of summer. It’s not flashy, it’s not rushed, and that’s exactly the point.

Plan It Like a Local

These events are more than dates on a calendar. They shape the rhythm of the coast and show it at its most alive.

Planning around them doesn’t mean overplanning. It just adds a little personality to your stay, whether that’s a slow morning on the balcony or a spontaneous festival stop you didn’t see coming.

Want to see everything happening along the coast? Check out all the events here on the Gulf Shores & Orange Beach events calendar: https://www.gulfshores.com/events-calendar/annual-festivals/

And when you’re ready to turn those circled dates into a real stay, make yourself at home at a BEACHBALL PROPERTY in Fort Morgan, Orange Beach, or Gulf Shores. Here’s to a year worth planning for, BEACHBALLERS. We’ll save you a spot.

Come Have A Ball At The Beach!

– Ginger & Hunter Harrelson