Shrimp Festival – Sunset Properties Blog

September 14, 2022September 14, 2022

Late Summer Fun on the Alabama Gulf Coast!

Hey Friends! Summer may be ending for the kids but for the locals it is still in full swing! Beach days, long nights, and summer fun can all be found happening on the gulf coast for at least another month. Plus, one of the best things about coming to visit now is the crowds are almost gone. If you find one you shouldn’t be waiting long! Here is a few events coming up that are family friendly. Come on down and bring the kids for the weekend! Or, leave them home and have a parents getaway. We won’t tell them!

We have a few events coming up in the weeks to come. One of them being the 2022 Sunset Series that meets on most Thursdays beginning at 6 p.m throughout September on the Town Green! Bring the family out and enjoy a live band while watching the white sand beaches and waves break in the background. Make sure you bring your lawn chairs or a blanket to sit on!

Orange Beach Freedom Fest is coming up at the end of the month September 30th- October 2nd! They have a lot of events planned for the weekend including a car show, stuff for the kids, food, special speakers, and even a concert! The weekend is sure to be filled with patriotic spirit as they have a US Navy Blue Angel and a US Navy Seal who served with “American Sniper” Chris Kyle. There will also be a musical performance by Bruce Smelley and they will close the day with a concert with John Rich from Big & Rich! The majority of the weekend is free but if you would like to see the concert and special speakers you do have to purchase a ticket through Ticketmaster. Tickets start at $20 and proceeds benefit Folds of Honor. They provide educational scholarships to families of fallen and disabled service members.

The National Shrimp Festival is coming to town October 6th- 9th! This event annually has over 300,000 people coming from all over the United States. They have lined up over 100 hours of musical entertainment, 200 booths of fine arts and crafts, and of course food from 50 local and regional vendors! Locals and Snowbirds alike all look forward to this even year after year. Come down and enjoy good food, good music, and good company here on the Alabama Gulf Coast!

Looking to come down for to the Alabama Gulf Coast? Look no further than Sunset Properties for your perfect Vacation Rental. We have properties of all kinds. Some Properties we have available for the National Shrimp Festival include a beautiful beach front condo in Gulf Shores Townhome 22. Wake up to the sounds of the gulf and the picture perfect white sands for the weekend. If you are looking to be near enough to walk to the festival we have a 3 Bedroom house called Happy Clam located just over half a mile away! We have a new pet friendly option called Beach Time that is around 2.1 miles away from the festival location. The house is a 3 bedroom 2 bathroom house that now accepts small pets! Give us a call or send us a text at 251-543-1370. Or visit our website at www.sunsetproperties.com.

August 28, 2020

It’s Fall along the Alabama Gulf Coast! It’s Shrimp Feastival Time!

Like y’all, we at Sunset Properties were all pretty bummed when we heard the 2020 Annual National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores was cancelled due to the pandemic and amidst COVID-19 concerns. We love supporting our Coastal Alabama Business Chamber and gathering with our besties and hanging out for hours at the Shrimp Festival and it hit us pretty hard when we found out this year’s event was cancelled. But, here on the Alabama Gulf Coast, we always try to make the best of any situation and we started thinking about finding other ways to celebrate our favorite local crustacean and still manage to stay within the CDC guidelines for social distancing.

We decided to have our own Shrimp Feast-ival! And we think you might like our idea…so here goes: You were planning on coming to Gulf Shores, Orange Beach or Fort Morgan anyway with your family or closest friends, right? So, go ahead and come on down and spend a weekend with us Feasting on our favorite local seafood Alabama Gulf Shrimp! But, where should we go? Well, that’s easy thanks to Sunny 105.7 FM, our local radio station. Each year, they hold a People’s Choice Awards allowing locals to choose their faves, and this year’s winners were just announced. Here are some great places to have your own 2020 Shrimp Feast-ival by visiting our 2020 Sunny 105 People’s Choice Award Winners:

Duck’s Diner

This year’s winner of the People’s Choice Award for breakfast and lunch is one of our faves, too. We have to give a big ole shout out to the fine folks at Duck’s Diner in Orange Beach. Start your Shrimp Feastival at Duck’s for breakfast. This fun restaurant is located at 4560 Easy Street, right off Canal Road in Orange Beach. We love their shrimp and cheese omelet and we think you will, too. Pair it with a side of French toast and a slice of tomato and you’re talking about a plate full of island goodness! If coffee is your breakfast drink of choice, you can have it with or without Bailey’s Irish Cream. And if a Bloody Mary rounds out your perfect morning meal, make sure to order one while you’re dining at Duck’s. Congratulations to Duck’s Diner for being named a Sunny 105 People’s Choice Award Winner!

DeSoto’s Seafood Kitchen

If you haven’t been to DeSoto’s Seafood Kitchen, before now, you have really been missing out! DeSoto’s was voted this year’s People’s Choice Winner for the Dinner Restaurant category, but this isn’t their first win. DeSoto’s has been consistently providing great food and a wonderful atmosphere for more years than we can count. They are located a block off Gulf Shores Parkway at 138 West 1st Avenue. They offer inside and outside dining. But what will you eat while your Feastival-ing? That’s easy! Steamed Royal Reds! (Royal Red Shrimp 1 lb). You may not know it, but you do want this! (thank us later!) What are Royal Reds, you ask? Royal Reds are beautiful crimson shrimp. They are larger than other shrimp, much sweeter and have a texture like a lobster. They can be harvested all year long, but their actual “season” is from mid summer to late fall, making October a great month to enjoy them. How perfect is that? You’re planning on coming to your own Shrimp Feastival and we believe you’re coming at the exact perfect time to enjoy the best our island has to offer! Congratulations to the whole crew at DeSoto’s, 2020 Sunny 105 People’s Choice Winner, for yet another thumbs up from your island neighbors and friends!

Papa Rocco’s

This year’s winner for best place to eat pizza should surprise no one. Papa Rocco’s (home of warm beer, lousy pizza–not really!) since 1985, is one of our favorites, too. How will you celebrate your Shrimp Feastival with these guys? We don’t even have to ponder that a second…order Papa Rocco’s Seafood Primavera Pizza. Don’t even think about it, just do it. Then pair it with a seriously cold beer and enjoy! Your pizza will be slam full of perfectly cooked seafood, including your little celebratory crustacean, and overflowing with melty-gooey-cheese. If that doesn’t make your mouth water just thinking about it, your tongue must be sleeping! Wake it up and don’t miss an opportunity to stop by Papa Rocco’s located at 101 West 6th Avenue, right off Gulf Shores Parkway, while you’re in Gulf Shores. Congratulations to our buddies at Papa Rocco’s Pizza for being named a 2020 Sunny 105 People’s Choice Award Winner!

Tacky Jack’s

You cannot really have the complete Shrimp Feastival experience without enjoying the best atmosphere along the Alabama Gulf Coast, so you definitely need to stop by Tacky Jack’s and you’ll quickly see why they were voted this year’s Sunny 105 People’s Choice Award Winner for Island Atmosphere. And while you’re at Tacky Jacks, you can have your choice of “feastible” shrimp. We love the Firecracker Shrimp. But it comes with a bit of a bang! So, if you’d rather enjoy something a little less explosive, go with everyone’s favorite Peel & Eat Shrimp. No matter which you choose, if you’re in the mood for an adult beverage, we suggest having a bushwacker while you’re there. Tacky Jacks has three locations on our island, so no matter if you’re staying with Sunset Properties at the Caribe in Orange Beach, or at Lighthouse 607 in Gulf Shores or at Dream in Fort Morgan, there is a Tacky Jacks, complete with the best Island Atmosphere around, near you! Congratulations to all our friends at Tacky Jacks for being one of this year’s Sunny 105 People’s Choice Award Winners! We are definitely fans, too!

Flora-Bama

What kind of festival or Feastival would be complete without a trip to the World Famous Flora-Bama Lounge, Package and Oyster Bar? It just so happens that our friends at our favorite local beach bar/honky tonk won the People’s Choice Awards for Best Live Music. We were so not surprised to hear this. After all, The Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival starts and ends with the Flora-Bama. You can hear some of the best music anywhere when it’s Songwriters Season! But for your Shrimp Feastival, what do we recommend? Visit the Ole River Grill and order Key Lime Shrimp and enjoy this unique appetizer outside on their open air deck. The food and service are fantastic and the view is phenomenal! The Old River Grill is located at 17400 Perdido Key Drive in Perdido Key, Florida, which is (as we say) just on the other side of Orange Beach right across the Florida State Line. No Shrimp Feastival weekend would be complete without at least one stop at the Flora-Bama! Congratulations to the whole team at the Flora-Bama for being chosen this year’s Sunny 105 People’s Choice Award Winner for Best Live Music!

We know 2020 has been a year of uncomfortable changes resulting from the pandemic. Having a year without the Annual National Shrimp Festival is unlike one we’ve seen in over 45 years. We, at Sunset Properties, want you to know that even though we are saddened by all the cancellations that have happened this year, that we take your health and the health of our team seriously. The Alabama Gulf Coast is open. Our beaches are open. Fun places to play are open. Great places to eat are open. Sunset Properties is open. We are open and operating under the guidelines set forth by health officials. And you are welcome to come hang out with us. If your kids are attending school virtually this year, why not come on down? Use the Wi-Fi in our vacation homes and enjoy the view of the pristine Alabama Beaches as the kiddos learn. If you’re working remotely, go ahead and pack up your laptop and head south. Why not set up your office right on a balcony facing the Gulf? And if you had planned time off to attend the Shrimp Festival, why not come anyway and have your own Shrimp Feastival?! Give us a call, and we’ll get your reservation ready. See you this fall in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach or Fort Morgan!

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Helpful links:

For more information on this year’s Sunny 105 People’s Choice Award Winners, check out Sunny 105’s website and Facebook page.

For more information on The Annual National Shrimp Festival or to shop their online store,

check out their website and

to virtually visit our Coastal Alabama Business Chamber click here.

www.sunsetproperties.com

251.543.1370

February 1, 2013

Fun Things Going On In Gulf Shores

We are so proud of Gulf Shores and hope it is your favorite place just like it is ours! Gulf Shores is fortunate to have nabbed one of fifteen finalist slots in Budget Travel’s America’s Coolest Small Town Contest! We’d love to win, of course, and that means we’ll need people to vote so the whole country knows about our cool destination. Your role couldn’t be more simple – vote daily and include this link (https://bit.ly/VxUcfd) in your communications via social media channels, and help push us to #1. Contest ends Feb. 15.

Part of why Gulf Shores is our favorite place is because our environment is important to everyone who lives and works here. One of our newest adventures in this area is An Artificial Reef! As you may have seen or heard via The Weather Channel’s video clips and promotions, the sinking of the Lulu by our local Reef Wranglers is set to air Feb 12th at 8 pm. Lulu’s is planning a viewing party that evening – please call them if you would like more details. I know we are planning to watch and can’t wait to see our new reef grow.

Other fun nature lover adventures this winter include Guided Nature Walks at the Bon Secour Refuge. Come join us and learn about the plants, wildlife, ecology, and history found on the refuge.Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge will be offering free guided Nature Walk tours on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of each week starting on January 15th 2013 and continuing until February 28th 2013. The tours are free to the public however a reservation is required. The tours are limited to 12 people per tour and will consist of a 1-2 hour walk. The tours will start at 9:00am on Tuesday and Wednesday and 8:00am on Thursday.We request at least 24 hours notice for cancellations. We encourage you to bring binoculars but they are not necessary to enjoy the tours. Restroom facilities are available at the refuge office and on the Pine Beach Trail.
Admission: Free to the Public

Of course there are these and so many more adventures to have in Gulf Shores this time of year. You just have to look for something that fits your interests. Weather its painting , hiking or enjoying a parade there is something for you to enjoy in Gulf Shores.
See you soon!!!

October 16, 2012

LA Adventures: A Guide To Lower Alabama

A walk on the beach, glass blowing, animal adventures an shrimping intrepid journalist, Jordan Rayne, was intent on discovering all that south Alabama had to offer. I believe Rayne accomplished this feat in just a few days! The trip started with a promise to keep everything about Lower Alabama a secret, the recent article highlighting Rayne’s trip appeared in the American Airlines in flight magazine American Way. This beautiful article highlights hidden treasures and local hot spots. One of the hidden treasures highlighted is Sunset Properties!

We certainly loved the article as it mentioned so many of our favorite places and things to do. We were completely surprised that we were mentioned in this article and humbled by the recommendation. Take a look at Rayne’s adventure for yourself.

We hope to share our secret with you soon!

October 11, 2012

Bird Banding in Fort Morgan

I have said it so many time but I’ll say it again. The fall is the absolutely the best time to be at the beach. Warm day cool evenings and so much to see and hear. At the Sunset Properties office we leave the doors open most days. This of course invites all sorts of flying friends in. We are regularly shewing out dragon flies and bugs of all sorts sometimes even a bird on occasion. The birds are loving the weather as well. You can hear them singing constantly.

This great weather and the plentiful food and shelter makes the Ft. Morgan area the perfect place for a lay over for our feathered friends. They are heading south but they are enjoying the beauty of the Fort Morgan area before they keep going south. Our tiny piece of land is a major landing strip for migrating birds twice a year. When they land a dedicated group of volunteers take time to weigh measure and count each of these creatures. This valuable information is shared with researchers all of the world studying birds. We feel truly blessed to play host to the birds traveling through the area.

If you are here right now you can witness all the excitement in Ft. Morgan. Just head toward Fort Morgan, and head off to the right when you start seeing vehicles. The friendly volunteers will give information about what they are doing and information about each bird you see. If you are very lucky you may even have a chance to let this gorgeous creature fly again, right out of your palm. Try to come down in the next couple of weeks and join the bird banding team.

September 27, 2012

41st Annual National Shrimp Festival

There are so many awesome things to love about fall in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach. The days are still warm but not hot. The evenings are just right for a light jacket when you take that walk on the beach. The summer crowds are gone, and you can cruise right in to your favorite restaurant for fresh, local seafood.
Speaking of seafood, October also means it is time for the 41st Annual National Shrimp Festival. The shrimp festival starts Thursday, October 11th and will continue on until Monday the 14th. For four glorious days, the fun will be at the main public beach in Gulf Shores with mouth-watering shrimp and other seafood treats as well as traditional festival favorites, fine art, crafts, live music on two stages, children’s activities and so much more.

There is also a 5 k you can participate in! The history of the Annual National Shrimp Festival Run dates back to 1977. Having its start as a 5 mile race that started and ended at Bayou Village in Gulf Shores, AL. Over the years the race has made many transitions, even taking a temporary leave of absence in 2010.

The race is an officially sanctioned event of the Annual National Shrimp Festival, produced by the Alabama Gulf Coast Area Chamber of Commerce. Working with a strong group of dedicated volunteers, the 2012 Annual National Shrimp Festival 10K Run is planning the best event to date!

All net proceeds of the Run will be donated to Coastal Baldwin Education Enrichment, benefiting the local Gulf Shores & Orange Beach public schools.

There is so much to do and see! Be sure to book your condo soon. See ya there!