The promise of spring is one that Gulf Shores, Alabama answers very beautifully, making it the perfect place to spend your spring vacation. Offering warmer temperatures that make those white sand beaches and turquoise waters irresistible, you may find yourself reluctant to leave the beach, or you may discover that all the events and festivals we have listed below will entice you to get out and explore. Either way, no matter how you spend your days in Gulf Shores, spending your nights in our Poole & Associates comfy and beachy retreats will make this Alabama vacation one you will wish never had to end, especially when you participate in the top spring events in Gulf Shores we want to tell you about today!
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March
Spring starts a little early in Gulf Shores, or at least the temperature will make it seem as if it has started, so we will begin our spring events early in the month, instead of just listing the ones that take place after the official first day of spring. March temperatures may reach the low 70s in the daytime, and although in most places spring is the rainy season, in Gulf Shores, the summer months are the ones with the most rain.
Pack light, bring a jacket because nights will get cool, and prepare to enjoy the events in Gulf Shores that March brings as listed below. But remember, although this guide is to Gulf Shores events, the towns of Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Fort Morgan Beach are tightly intertwined, so we will talk about events in all the towns, making note of which one the festival or event will take place in.
Ballyhoo Festival, First Full Weekend in March, Lake Shelby at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores
The most beautiful places on earth attract the most talented artists on earth, and the Ballyhoo Festival, a juried fine art show with over 100 artists competing, will prove to you how right we are. Offering live entertainment, the 2026 festival will include a cultural exchange focusing on the history of the Poarch Creek Indians, plus historical narration and a tribal dance performed by dancers in authentic Native costumes.
Every year has its own theme and perspective, so if you are visiting in 2027 or you have visited in the past, you may experience something totally different. In any case, the festival will also provide food, art demonstrations, musical competitions, and of course, the juried art show.
Orange Beach Festival of Art, Saturday and Sunday in Mid-March, Orange Beach Waterfront Park in Orange Beach
This fantastic spring festival celebrates all genres of art, including acting, music, culinary, and visual arts, and is veritable feast for all your senses. Offering more than 100 vendors, the culinary portion of the art festival is where you will find the best food in the state. Also celebrating the written word and providing a kids’ art alley, there is nothing more enjoyable than walking the aisles, exploring the beautiful works of art, sampling the delicious foods, and noticing that your children are also having a fine old time as they explore all that is offered to the different age groups.
Spring Break, Mid-March Through Mid-April
Spring Break is a very popular time in Gulf Shores, but whether you are here to join in the fun with the college students or are enjoying a family Spring Break with your kiddos, we can assure you that this will be the vacation you will never forget! For our younger travelers, you can expect that local hot spots like the Hangout (101 E Beach Boulevard in Gulf Shores) or Flora-Bama (29603 Perdido Beach Boulevard in Orange Beach) will offer all the parties.
For our guests with families, however, you can explore the events in Gulf Shores going on during your visit, spend the day at the beaches of Gulf Shores, and enjoy family pool parties, barbecues, and more at home in our Poole & Associates seasonal sanctuaries. There really is something for everyone, and even though it may be a little more crowded than normal, the happy vibe, smiling faces, and sunny days will make you glad you chose our coastal town for your family spring vacation!
The Wharf Boat & Yacht Show, End of March in Orange Beach
If you have ever wanted your own boat or simply have wished to see how the rich people live on yachts with every luxury amenity possible, the Wharf Boat & Yacht Show is where you need to be when spring officially begins. Offering three days of unbelievable luxury and freedom, there will be over $100 million in boats and marine products to peruse, nearly 1000 boats of varying types, and more than 120 exhibitors. The numbers spell it out quite clearly, this boat show should not be missed! Also offering food and live entertainment, the weekend kicks off with the traditional Wharf Dock Walk and doesn’t end until every last person has found the yacht of their dreams, whether they have the funds to buy one or not!
The Original German Sausage Festival, Last Saturday in March, Elberta Town Park in Elberta
We’re going to take you on a little bit of a road trip for this last festival in March, but don’t worry, it’s only about a 15 minute drive to Elberta, Alabama, and the sausages awaiting you at the Original German Sausage Festival will be worth the drive! Elberta, in addition to being a good neighbor to Gulf Shores, is known for its eclectic Lady in the Lake, a fiberglass sculpture of a very large lady sitting in the lake, so be sure and drive by Barber Marina after you have had your fill of sausage. This event is sponsored by the Elberta Fire Department as a fundraiser, so be sure to purchase and eat your fill, because you are doing a good deed supporting the fire department and the community activities of this small town.
April
The temperatures begin to rise even more in April, with highs generally staying in the mid-70s and nights staying cool and breezy. April may be our favorite month of the year, and as we mentioned earlier, although there will be rain, we still haven’t reached rainy season, which hits in the middle of the summer months.
Spring Break will keep its hold on the Gulf Shores area until about the middle of the month, but from mid-April through Memorial Day Weekend, the beaches will be quiet, the wait times at restaurants will be shorter, and there won’t be as much competition for our beachfront retreats, perhaps making April your favorite month as well!
Mudbugs & Margaritas, First Weekend in April, Heritage Park in Foley
Located just 12 miles outside of Gulf Shores, the town of Foley is known for its railroad and medical museums and for being home to the spring Mudbugs & Margaritas event, a yummy festival that rivals the German Sausage Festival in Elberta. (Fortunately, they are held on different weekends, so there is no competition!) Mudbugs are another name for crawfish, and all food vendors will be offering their own crawfish dishes.
Because there will be multiple margarita lines, no crawfish will have to be eaten unaccompanied by the frosty beverage that makes every day a little brighter! You’ll also find craft beer vendors, wine vendors, and a super-sized selection of arts, crafts, décor, and other types of merchandise. Live music will be playing all day, and a huge kids’ area with petting zoo, bounce houses, and more will ensure that all participants will think the Mudbug & Margaritas Festival is the best festival of the year!
The L.O.L. Festival, Mid-April, Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores
We head back to our hometown of Gulf Shores for this next spring event, and contrary to what you may think, L.O.L. does not mean laugh out loud (although you may do lots of laughing out loud during your Gulf Shores vacation). For the purpose of this festival, LOL stands for love our locals, making it a celebration of everything local! Local food, local music, local vendors, and local small vendors pull out all the stops to make this event one that everyone in your family will want to attend, and when you feel the love expressed, you may even wish that you were a local, too!
Alabama Coastal Birding Festival, Late April, Various Locations
This part of Alabama is home to over 300 species of birds, and it is also an important stop on the “migration trail” for billions of birds either heading home or heading to warmer climates, depending on the season, making the Alabama Coastal Birding Festival one of the most popular ones for bird lovers from all over the country. Offering four days of field trips, special events, and keynote speakers, this festival focuses on a passion for the winged creatures as well as awakening those who don’t know how important it is to protect each and every one, no matter how much of a pest the woodpecker pecking holes in our garages may be!
May
May is when summer begins its approach, offering daylight temps that are summer warm without being too hot and days that haven’t reached the levels of humidity you will find closer to rainy season. As Memorial Day approaches, the beaches grow a little more crowded, but if you are here in the early days, while schools are still in session, this really can be a dream vacation!
Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival, April/May, 100 N OWA Boulevard in Foley
This festival hits at an awkward spot in the season, being held on April 30 and May 1st, 2026, but its colorful beauty and the opportunity to fly makes it a beloved one. Offering two days of balloon flights and tethered balloon rides, live entertainment, food, and arts and crafts displays, the balloons glow and bring joy to the coast.
Orange Beach Billfish Classic, Mid-May, The Wharf Marina in Orange Beach
The Orange Beach Billfish Classic is a fishing tournament of serious proportions, offering big money prizes and the opportunity to fish for a good cause, as the proceeds go towards organizations that advocate for recreational fishermen. Attracting competitive sport-fishing teams from all over, this tournament is the only one on the Gulf Coast that is owned and operated by tournament fishermen, and even if you don’t participate in the tournament itself, watching the weigh-ins each day is always a good time!
Memorial Day Weekend, Last Monday in May, Various Locations
Even though spring continues for almost another month according to the calendar, in Gulf Shores, Memorial Day serves as the kick-off to summer, and as the temperatures continue to rise, outdoor events start to occur less often. But as expected, there will be parties at the party spots, children and their parents will build sandcastles at water’s edge, and good times will be had by all.
Fort Morgan offers a Memorial Day Commemoration that includes historical reenactments, weapons demos, and tours of the Fort. Memorial Day in Gulf Shores isn’t just a celebration of a three-day weekend; it is a remembrance of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms and a celebrations of families.
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Events at Home with Poole & Associates
Your Spring Break in Gulf Shores will be a memorable one, especially when you come home to our Poole & Associates spring rentals in Gulf Shores every evening. Offering private and community amenities such as pools (indoors and out), hot tubs, barbecue areas, and sports courts in our Gulf Shores beachfront condo communities, guests can plan on having pool parties in heated pools, family barbecues where the catch of the day is the food item being charred, and board game nights accompanied by laughter, chatter, and for the adults, wine, beer, margaritas or any beverage that you love. Reserve your favorite Gulf Shores vacation rental with us today!
When winter weather gets too wintry and you begin to feel that you can’t take another day of snow, sleet, and gray skies, it may be time to plan a vacation to somewhere summery. You want to visit an area where the sun shines often, and cold is merely a slight inconvenience, especially as cold could be nothing lower than 60 degrees! If that area also happens to offer sandy beaches and Gulf waters that stretch out to the horizon and beyond, beachfront bars serving frothy tropical drinks, and vacation escapes draped in comfort and luxury, all the better! Everything mentioned above can be enjoyed in the coastal town of Gulf Shores, Alabama, a town filled with the eternal vibe of summer, and also offering all the festivity of a holiday celebration. And because less is never more at the shore, our Poole & Associates holiday hideaways will add an extra layer of wonderful to your winter getaway, keeping you warm on chilly nights, providing cheer as you celebrate your favorite winter holidays, and offering all the comforts of home even as you may be miles and miles away from your own backyard. This Gulf Shores guide to a perfectly beachy getaway in our Gulf Coast hometown will have you wishing that the black X’s on the days leading up to travel time would move a little faster!
Find Your Joy
Every day is a new adventure in Gulf Shores, and although nights will get chilly in the winter months, moderate daytime temps may encourage you to bury your toes in the sand every day at sunset, watching the sky come alive in kaleidoscope of fiery color. Our sunrises are also spectacular, and if you are a morning person, you will definitely want to toss on a jacket over your pajamas, and head to the beach watching with open mouth as the skies cycle from midnight black, to dusky gray, then pink, and then, just as at sunset, explodes into fire! Even those who are not morning people should experience an Alabama sunrise at least once during their stay; you can always go back to bed and sleep for a couple of more hours at the conclusion of the show—just remember to draw your curtains closed so the sun doesn’t interrupt your snooze!)
Take a Tour of the Town
Your first day in town could end up being confusing if you don’t really have an idea on what interests you (besides the beach—the beach always interests everyone!) and we suggest signing up for a tour of the area, checking everything out at the beginning and taking note of the activities or sites you want to explore later on your own. From the sky, Gulf Shores is simply amazing and Lost Bay Helicopters provides a thrilling birds eye view of the region. Located at 3190 Airport Drive, their tours range from a quick fly by of the beach to a 30+ minute Gulf Coast Experience Tour exploring all that makes this region unique while also revealing a few “secrets” that they only share with their closest friends. For those who prefer to keep their sightseeing closer to the earth, Coastal Segway Adventures offers a two-hour Back Country Tour through Gulf State Park, exploring its natural beauty and providing the opportunity to catch glimpses of the creatures that make the park their home, including alligators, tortoises, and delicate butterflies with wings that may be all the colors of the rainbow! This tour is perhaps the best way to experience nature at its most serene, and if you really love the park, you can return to it as often as you like! Located at 20115 State Park Road in Gulf Shores, this beautiful stretch of land and sea offers serenity and fun to every person who visits, and its trails and picnic spots are open from sunrise to sunset every day of the year.
A Foodie’s Tour of Gulf Shores
This unofficial tour is the tastiest one in town and is one you will salivate over participating in, plus, all it will cost is the price of the meal. There aren’t any “guided foodie tours” in Gulf Shores, but with a few suggestions from your Poole & Associates friends, we can promise that this tour will be the most satisfying.
Start your mornings out with breakfast at Kitty’s Café, 3800 Gulf Shores Parkway #100, a spot that we have heard on good authority offers the best biscuits in town! Ok, we were the ones deeming it so; those biscuits are so good, they have become our newest obsession, but that’s not the only item on the menu that will have you salivating! The menu is a tribute to all the good old-fashioned cooking our Alabama mamas are known for, and if you leave hungry, well, we will have to put that on you, because their servings are generous and their food is the stick to the ribs type that you will dream about long after you have returned to your own comfy bed at home. Their “kitten’s” menu will delight your pickiest little traveling partners and because they are open for lunch too, it may be in your best interest to return for a midday break. Kitty’s Café is closed on Sundays, so be aware and maybe choose to make your own Sunday brunch in your Poole & Associates holiday haven!
Of course, once you have had your first “taste” of the beach, chances are you won’t want to have it out of your sight and if this is the case, a lunch at The Hangout Gulf Shores will be the best way to soothe your pangs of hunger! Open every day of the week starting at 10:30 and located on the beaches of Gulf Shores, this will be your first opportunity to enjoy the fresh seafood found in town. We are particular to Ultimate Seafood Boil, offering a massive portion of snow crab, mussels, Gulf Shrimp, potatoes, sausage, and sweet corn, but if that’s a little too much food for you, we definitely recommend their Shrimp & Grits! Devouring the sweet seafood as the ocean plays accompaniment to live music on the weekends is one of life’s greatest pleasures and yep, The Hangout offers that activity as well! Make a day out of it, starting for lunch and staying through the final encore and as a sweet treat that will make you smile, try a Bushwacker, a cocktail that doubles as a dessert, created with Malibu Coconut Rum, coffee liqueur, and ice cream.
Festive and Bright
Now, after your tours of sky, land, and food, you may think we have forgotten that you are exploring the delights of Gulf Shores over the winter holidays, but proving that we have considered all the things that will make your trip one you will never forget is an easy thing to do! The Gulf Shores holidays in your own hometown have probably started feeling stressful and chaotic as you shop, clean, shop some more, and cook until your back is breaking and you can’t even enjoy the food you have prepared. In Gulf Shores, however, the holiday celebrations take on a beachier and more relaxed vibe, something our guests deserve on every level!
The early days of December are for preparing for the big day, starting with the Annual Christmas Lighted Boat Parade, generally held the second Saturday in December. We all love a parade, that’s for sure, but if you have never witnessed a parade of boats decked out in their holiday finest, you are about to experience a treat that will spoil you for all other parades! Starting at dusk, the cavalcade of boats leaves Lulu’s Gulf Shores, (another waterfront restaurant you simply must try!) skimming over the dark waters to their ending destination in nearby Orange Beach. The magic can be witnessed anywhere along the canals from both towns offering a Christmas celebration that is uniquely Gulf Shores.
The business of Christmas is very important indeed, especially to your tiniest travelers, and the most special of traditions can be followed with the opportunity to take Photos with Santa at the Wharf! Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from Thanksgiving until Christmas Eve, the Wharf in Orange Beach becomes our tropical version of the North Pole and rumor has it that Santa will even pose with pooches, so if you are missing your sweet fur child, be sure to stop by and check out everyone else’s whispering secrets in Santa’s ear! The Wharf is destined to be your one stop holiday spot, offering stores that make your holiday shopping easy, as well as delicious restaurants and from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Eve, an ice skating rink! Live out your Hallmark Christmas movie fantasies, doing circles on the ice with your favorite human and warm up with a cup of hot cocoa from the Southern Grind Coffee House after your turn on the ice.
A Clean Slate
There’s something about the new year that creates an optimism in even the most pessimistic of people. We feel like once we have crossed from 11:59 to 12:00, all our failures, disappointments, and worries from the previous year will be erased, leaving a clean slate of days spread out before us, waiting to be filled with the most wonderful of activities! If your winter journey has you camped out in our holiday hideaways over New Year’s Eve, your celebrations are destined to be special ones!
Not everyone is able to stay up to midnight, especially if you are one of those early risers who has awakened with the sun every day of your stay, and that is perfectly ok. Lulu’s comes into the spotlight again, offering a Noon Year’s Eve at Lulu’s, a daytime party that counts down to noon! Offering sandcastle building, zoo animals, face painting, live music, and an excitement that is palpable, your kiddos will want to get there when the fun begins and stay until the final countdown to noon.
Not ready for the fun to end at the crack of noon? That is perfectly ok because the Wharf offers its own Street Party that continues until that big crystal ball drops down over Times Square at midnight! Offering more of what you experienced at Lulu’s Noon Year’s Eve, plus a massive fireworks display at the beginning of the new year, be sure to make reservations at the restaurants found at the Wharf, so you don’t have to leave when hunger pangs strike!
For those seeking a more adult celebration, Flora-Bama Lounge, Package & Oyster Bar, located in Orange Beach, Alabama and Perdido Key, Florida is known for its legendary celebrations, and its Flora-Bama New Year’s Eve Bash will show you the correct way to say goodbye to the old year and hello to the new year. And finally, showing that good things come to those who wait, when the clock strikes 12, (noon, that is, on New Year’s Day) Flora-Bama celebrates the blank slate with their annual Polar Bear Plunge! The water is cold, for sure, but nowhere near as frosty as it can be in northern states, and if you submerge yourself completely, be prepared to enjoy a free beer and a free lunch of ham, black eyed peas, greens, and cornbread!
Relax with Poole & Associates
No matter how you spend the precious minutes of your days and evenings in Gulf Shores, coming home to our holiday hideaways at the end of every day will be a reward in itself! Watch all the new Hallmark Christmas Movies on state-of-the-art televisions, take a nap on Christmas day on the softest of sofas, and celebrate the end of the old year sitting on balconies that overlook the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Every minute will be your favorite one when you choose any of our Poole & Associates escapes to make your own over the winter Gulf Shores holidays. Reserve your favorite today!