Photo Credit: Alabama Bureau of Tourism & Travel
The National Shrimp Festival comes to Gulf Shores each year during the second full weekend in October with more than 300 vendors converging on the Gulf Shores beaches to showcase their crafts, fine art, retail marketplace, and of course the best shrimp on the coast. You'll find these succulent pralines served up every way imaginable and so delicious to eat!
Celebrating its 38th anniversary this year, the National Shrimp Festival usually attracts more than 300,000 visitors from the surrounding Gulf Coast region and will take place on October 8 through October 11 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thurs.-Sat., and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. You'll find plenty of fun, music, and shrimp for the entire family. Here are some of the exciting things going on:
- Live music performing on not one, but two stages – the EAST and WEST from festival opening to closing. You'll hear the sounds of LeeAnn Womack, Foghat, Category IV, Sugarcane Jane, Alabama Blues Machine, and many others.
- There will be a "Children's Activity Village" with all kinds of arts and crafts.
- Shrimp! Bring your appetites – it goes without saying that fresh shrimp is the main course served up around these parts of the Gulf – scrumptious and delicious! In addition, you'll find frozen drinks, ice cream, funnel cakes, and other fun foods.
The National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores is one festival you should not miss if you're visiting Gulf Shores in October. It's located on the beaches nearest to the intersection of Routes 59 and 182, a convenient location for shore- and inland-dwelling guests. Bon Appetit!
