Category: Attractions
Gulf Shores Seafood Festival 2024!
Hey Friends! Shrimp Fest is back and celebrating their 50th anniversary on October 12-15th, 2023! They have such a good list of things for you to try and experience. Come down and celebrate with 250,000 of people from all over the country. They will have everything from gourmet burgers to (of course) shrimp! Make sure to look for the “Best of the Fest” for the booths that have won awards from previous festivals.
The festival has a wonderful selection of handmade goods and jewelry vendors! They have over 200 arts & crafts and fine arts booths registered that will line the beach. It’s always nice to give back to the locals and support them when you can. Live Music from the Alabama Music Hall of Famer Wet Wille on October 12th to start off the weekend. To see the full lineup click here. There will be plenty for the kids to do as well. Things like a rock wall, bungee jumping, and a rock wall! Miss Shrimp Festival is open to all Baldwin County students and will be located at Erie Meyer Civic Center on September 24th.
Ike’s Beach Service will be sponsoring a Sand Sculpture Contest with the grand prize being $100 for both Family and Adult Categories and $50 Cash prize for the 5-10 yrs old and 11-15 yrs old categories! You can have up to 4 members per team and you will fall into a year category or you can just join the family category. Registration begins Saturday at 11:00 am and judging begins at 3:00 pm.
Need a place to stay? Sunset Properties has you covered! Check us out online at www.SunsetProperties.com or give us a call/text at 251-543-1370 and let us do the hard work. Come check out our Ocean House I 1301 property that sleeps 8. This property has a beautiful view of the gulf! Do you need pet friendly? Campbell Cottage is a pet friendly 3 bedroom house that would be perfect for you! Give us a call and let us get you booked today!
September at the Beach!
Hey Friends! OWA is throwing a Labor Day Weekend party September 1st-3rd. They have quite the lineup with live music, their 6th annual car show, and even a hot dog eating contest! Make sure you bring the kids out to see the fun. They have live music from Stormfolk, Ryan Dyer, and Ben Loftin lined up for the weekend. To register for the hot dog eating contest, click here!
Bulls on The Beach is back September 7-9th, 2023! This year they will be having 3 action packed nights of professional cowboys and cowgirls from all over the country come out and compete. Thursday night is for the junior riders on miniature bulls, a coloring contest with two winners, and ending the night with the Professional Riders in the adult competition! Tickets are available for purchase online and are $30 for adults, 15 for children 7-17 years old, and children 6 and under are free! Gates will be opening at 6 PM every night and the rodeo begins at 8 PM. Parking is extremely limited, so they strongly suggest you arrive early. The Flora Bama will be donating a portion of proceeds from Bulls on the Beach to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Need a place to stay? Sunset Properties has you covered from houses for the whole family to condos for two. Come spend the weekend in a fabulous unit at Phoenix West II! This is a 3-bedroom unit that sleeps 12 comfortably. This unit has tons of amenities for the kiddos to enjoy while you are here as well. Make sure they check out the game room! Don’t need as much room? Check out our unit at Grand Caribbean! This unit is a 2 bedroom that sleeps 6 and is located directly across from the public beach access. Visit us online at www.sunsetproperties.com or give us a call at 251-543-1370 and let us get you booked! We’ll See Ya at Sunset!
Fun Events coming to Gulf Shores
Hi Friends! With school about to be back in session here are a few fun events you can try to sneak in before… or maybe even on a quick weekend trip!
This 2.5 hour excursion gives you the opportunity to not only learn how to kayak, but also gives you the chance to practice your watercolor techniques as you float down Wolf Bay! Starting from Wind & Water Learning Center this activity needs at least 2 participants and is capped at 6. This unique experience is $45 per person and runs from July 7- August 30th each Wednesday.
- Make your own Glass or Clay Pottery lessons
The Hot Shop and The Clay Studio have classes at The Coastal Arts Center most weekdays. They are both by appointment only, so make sure you give them a call before heading over. On most Fridays, they have a flame-working class for beginners. The class uses most of the same tecniques from the hot shop, but really fine tunes it. People that enjoy things that have a high level of detail will enjoy this class. Plus, if a class isn’t your thing, you can hang out in their gallery and browse the makings!
- Pickle ball
The Rec Center will be hosting Pickleball for Novice- Advanced players beginning on August 7th and running through December 19th. The schedule will be Monday- Friday 8:00 am to 1:00 with 6 courts available. This would be a fun place for anyone looking to meet new people and get in their exercise for the day! Come check it out for the day or get a membership to play for the whole fall season.
Need a place to stay? Sunset Properties has you covered! Whether it’s a gorgeous beachfront condo or a house for the whole family we can make it work. Phoenix I 1108 is a 3 bedroom 2 bath that sleeps 8 corner unit that has an unobstructed view of the Gulf! This unit is perfect for the family that wants to sit on the balcony and sip their coffee while listening to the waves crashing. Need a little more room? Shellchase is a 5-bedroom 3.5 bath home that sleeps 12. One of the best things about this house is that its pet friendly! Be sure to give us a call at 251-543-1370 or visit us online at www.sunsetProperties.com.
Non-Beach Day Activities
Some days you just wake up and the thought of lugging the family down to the beach is too much. We have compiled a list of things to do for when that happens!
The track has many fun things to do for the kids. They have an inside arcade filled with every game you can imagine. Let the kids choose between the 6 go kart tracks they have to offer. Including a 3 and a half story track! If Go Karts and arcade games don’t sound fun to you check out the Skycoaster or the spinning coaster and blaster boats. The mini golf course has 18 holes and golfers can enjoy tunnels, waterfalls, and even jungle animals!
Load the kids up and get that before school shopping over with! Aerie, Coach, Columbia, and even a Hey Dude store are just a few of the places you will find here. For a full list of stores click here. Plus, they have a promotions list on their website!
If you decided to stop by the outlets and go shopping the best place to go for lunch is Lamberts Café! Which is an experience all on its own… Lambert’s is Home of the Throwed Rolls!
- Breakout Games
Breakout has 6 rooms to choose from! Whether you want to escape from a volcano, break into a saloon, or free passengers from a runaway train they have the rooms for you. You are given 60 minutes to get out of the room! This is the perfect activity for families or just team bonding! For a full list of the rooms available click here.
The Axe hole is an axe throwing bar located at The Wharf! Come hang out and enjoy axe throwing, corn hole, and they have a blade store you can check out.
Need a place to stay? Sunset Properties has you covered! Check us out at www.sunsetproperties.com or give us a call at 251-543-1370 and let us do the hard work! We’ll See Ya at Sunset!
Fourth of July on the Alabama Gulf Coast
Hi Friends! Summer is in full swing around here with perfect beach days and beautiful weather. Now is the perfect time to bring the littles down and enjoy everything this beach town has to offer!
If you like the sand between your toes and the sound of waves crashing as you watch the fireworks, then you have the right spot. The City of Gulf Shores will be setting off their firework show at 9 pm from the Gulf State Park Fishing Pier. Let the kids see a show they won’t ever forget! They begin setting up at 7 am and the fireworks will be shot from the middle of the pier this year. This means either The Gulf State Park or the eastern area of the Gulf Shores Public Beach will be the best viewing areas!
Ready to Run on vacation? The Wharf is hosting their 8th annual SHARK 5k Run/ Competitive Walk and 1 Mile Fun Run on July 4 beginning at 7 am. Register before June 18 and get a early bird discount. The first 350 people to register will receive a custom shark run shirt!
Have kids you need to keep entertained during the day? The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo will be having a hands on habitat hosted at Tacky Jacks Gulf Shores! While the event itself is free they are asking that everyone has reservations to attend. It begins at 11 am and they are asking you arrive 15 minutes early. Follow the link here to RSVP!
Need a place to stay? Sunset Properties has you covered! We have a 4 bedroom 3 bath house called Julia’s by the Sea at Martinique. This property is located in a gated community and comes with a golf cart to use! Our new property Believe is available. Believe is a 5 bedroom 4 bathroom house located in Fort Morgan. This property is perfect if you have family you want to bring with you. Andrews Cottage is located in Gulf Shores and is 2 bedroom 2 bathroom. This house has access to its own private pier on the lagoon! Give us a call at 251-543-1370 or visit us online at www.sunsetproperties.com.
Summer Concert Series at the Wharf Amphitheater
Hey Friends! Happy Summer from your Sunset Properties team. We are so excited for summer to be rolling in and the weather to be warming up. Which also means we are ready for summer concerts to make their comeback. The Wharf is the perfect place to see big names close to home. The amphitheater seats 10,000 and is an open-air venue that truly does not have a bad seat in the house. This year they already have an amazing line up of big music names. For an updated list of shows, click here!
May 26th and 27th– Kenny Chesney with Kelsey Ballerini
June 2nd– Koe Wetzel
June 15th– James Taylor
July 21st– Sam Hunt
July 26th– Dave Matthews Band
July 30th– Jelly Roll
August 16th– 3 Doors Down
August 17-19th– Eric Church
August 26th– Jason Aldean
October 8th– Outlaw Music Festival featuring Willie Nelson, The Avett Brothers, Gov’t Mule, Elizabeth Cook, + Particle Kid
October 14th– HARDY with special guest Lainey Wilson and Dylan Marlowe
If you are not too big on the concert scene, The Flora Bama is hosting their 10th Annual Fishing Rodeo June 9-11th. They have a children’s division and they have teams for the King Mackerel tournament! Even if you don’t enjoy fishing come out and enjoy the music, activities, and as always great food. Plus, check out what everyone will be bringing in! You can register online here.
Sunset Properties has you covered for places to stay! Close to the wharf we have 2 Caribe Penthouses that both have gorgeous views. They are both 3 bedroom 3 bathroom and sleep 6! To check out the rest of the properties we have available, click here! Let us do the hard work for you give us a call or send us a text to 251-543-1370 and we will find you the perfect place. Or you can check us out online at www.sunsetproperties.com!
2023 Hot Air Balloon Festival
Hey Friends! We have a super cool event coming back to Foley this year. Hot air balloons will be taking over the grassy area beside OWA on May 4th-6th! The festival kicks off at 5 pm on Thursday with live music and lawn games for the kids and ending the night with Balloon Glow. May 5th begins at 11 am with a meet and greet from the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo and a balloon artist on OWA island. From 2:00-4:00 pm they will be having an interactive hot air balloon display! If you enjoy live music, make sure you stick around for sounds from Grits and Greens, Ryan Dyer Band, and D Play. As long as the weather allows, they will be having tethered Hot Air Balloon rides and Balloon Glow night. How fun would it be to go up in a hot air balloon ride? Saturday is going to be filled with so many fun events for kids and adults alike! The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo will be out again on Saturday as well as a kids Balloon Building contest and balloon races on OWA island. Starting at 2:30 pm they will be hosting a Hot Air Balloon Pilots Meet and Greet! Following that there will be live music from Bangarang Peter, Ben Loftin & The Family, and The Red Clay Strays. Admission for the festival is free, but you can purchase tickets to ride in the Hot Air Balloons online here.
Needing a place to stay? Sunset Properties has you covered! Maybe you want somewhere you can fish from every evening. Stars Align is a 3 bedroom that sleeps 10 with a private pier. Does your family prefer the Phoenix condos? Phoenix West 701 is a 4 bedroom that sleeps 10 and overlooks the Gulf with breathtaking views. Need something a little smaller? Check out Boardwalk 584. This is a one bedroom unit that sleeps 4 located right near Sea n’ Suds! Check us out online at www.sunsetproperties.com or give us a call at 251-543-1370 to plan your perfect vacation!
The Best time to come to the beach!
Hey Friends! Did you know that right about now is the BEST time to visit the Alabama Gulf Coast? After the kids get done with Spring Break and in between Memorial Day you are going to not only find the best prices. You also find beautiful weather and shorter lines/not as many crowds! The average temperature for April in Gulf Shores is 74º with a low of 63º. Perfect for spending the day on the beach and then going to dinner that night. We have a few fun events going on in the next few months as well.
The Waterway Village Zydeco & Crawfish Festival takes place on April 21-22! They are kicking off the event with a ticketed concert for Rebirth Brass Band from New Orleans. They take the stage from 7 to 9 pm and have an opening act starting at 6 pm! While they will not have crawfish on this day, they will have food trucks for those wanting to purchase food and beverages. To purchase tickets click here. Before the festival opens on Saturday there will be a 5K/ Walk that begins at 8 am and will begin in front of Acme Oyster House. Saturday it is free to enter the festival and they will be having live music and art vendors along with crawfish galore!
Bama Coast Cruisin’ is coming back to The Wharf in Orange Beach April 28-29th. Have a car worth showing off? Fill out the registration form and bring it out! Just like to admire nice cars? Bring the family out and make a day out of it! There is something for everyone at The Wharf! They will have a DJ all weekend with music and announcing door prize winners.
Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival is coming to town May 4th-6th! This was named the event of the year in 2021 by the Alabama Tourism Department. More than 50 hot air balloons from all over the country will cover the lawn at OWA. On Thursday, they are having a Balloon Glow Kick Off Event with food, arts and crafts, and retail vendors. For the kids, they will have lawn games, balloon artist and a face painter on OWA Island.
Looking for a place to stay? Sunset Properties has you covered whether it’s a house for the whole family or just a condo for two! Check out our Phoenix 7 1217 condo that sleeps 10 with a gorgeous view of the Gulf of Mexico. This unit has been newly renovated! Caribe C Penthouse 14 is a 3-bedroom condo that sleeps 6. The Caribe is a wonderful family friendly spot to take the kids! With water slides, a lazy river, and an indoor pool there is tons to choose from. Plus, you are just a few feet from Cobalt when you need dinner! Looking for an efficiency unit for a quiet weekend? Sugar Beach 138 would be perfect and gives you a side view of the Gulf from your balcony! This unit puts you within 10 minutes of The Hangout and so many other great restaurants. Give us a call at 251-543-1370 or visit out website www.sunsetproperties.com to check out our properties. Hopefully, we’ll see ya at Sunset!
Easter on the Beach
Hey Friends! We have a few fun events coming up in the next few weeks. Easter, the Mullet Toss, and Bama Coast Cruisin’ are just the tip of the iceberg of fun coming to Gulf Shores in the next few months. Summer is just around the corner.
This year The Wharf is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt put on by The Island Church with more than 5,000 eggs on April 2nd! There will be bounce houses, balloon artist, and so much more for the kids to do. Activities will start at 11 a.m and the Egg Hunt starts promptly at 11:30 a.m. What a fun way to take the kids to celebrate while also finding something for the adults to do as well.
Lulu’s also puts on one of the best Easter celebrations! The Easter egg hunt begins at 2 pm and they will have a photo op for the kids from 1 to 3 p.m at all Lulu’s locations. Eat some great food and let the kids play while you enjoy yourself!
Mark your calendars because one of the biggest beach parties hosted on the Alabama Gulf Coast, The Mullet Toss comes to town April 28th– 30th! The mullet toss is a weekend full of fun for all ages, so come visit the Flora- Bama and toss a mullet over the Alabama- Florida state line.
Mullet are tossed from a 10’ circle down a 200 foot long course. It cost $20.00 to throw a mullet and that includes a T-shirt to remember the weekend! All of the proceeds will go to helping local communities with drug and alcohol addiction. The festival runs from Friday to Sunday with kids activities starting at 10 am and ending with Adult Awards at 4:30 pm. Once the festival is over the mullet are donated to Alligator Alley or the Gulf Coast Zoo for the alligators to feast on!
Looking for a place to stay? Call/Text us at 251-543-1370 or visit our website www.sunsetproperties.com to book! Here is a link to units we have in Orange Beach. Just a few we have available are Caribe C Penthouse 14, Sugar Beach 138, and Phoenix 7 1217! Check us out before these units book up!
Hangout 2023
Hey Friends! Jack Frost is here for a little winter vacation, but it won’t last long. Summer is just around the corner and that means Hangout Fest 2023 is on its way May 19-21, 2023! The festival is located on East Beach in Gulf Shores, AL and is a three day festival filled with artists big and small. They have a great lineup this year with headliners Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sza, Calvin Harris, Paramore, and so many more. Hangout Fest is a great way to kick off the summer. With friends, great music, and the beach, what more could you want? This is a great way to come and listen to your favorite artists and find some more favorites on the way. If the music isn’t your thing there are so many other fun activities. In previous years, theres been puppy booths, temporary tattoos, beach bars, a Ferris Wheel, and even roller skating! Find the love of your life? Well, they have a wedding chapel where you can get married for real or just for fun! It is just a great time to spend with your friends and experience new things. Tickets are on sale now (and a little cheaper) and normally sell out so you better hurry!
In need of a place to stay? Sunset Properties has you covered whether you want to be in the hustle and bustle or further down the beach! Properties like Ocean House I and II, Phoenix West, Boardwalk, and luxury properties in Fort Morgan. We have a little bit of everything, so make sure you give us a call/text at 251-543-1370 or visit our website at www.sunsetproperties.com. Make sure to look out for the Sunset Properties crew and say hi!
