Top 2026 Orange Beach Spring Events

With its warming weather and soothing breeze, spring is better at the beach. It’s at its best In Orange Beach, where a variety of spring events can help you shed the winter blues and welcome the season in Gulf Coast style. If you’re visiting our beaches this spring, check out one of these great 2026 events to make your trip as beautiful as a spring bloom.

Ballyhoo Festival

March 7-8, 2026
Gulf State Park

Kick off the spring festival season at Ballyhoo. This weekend event combines everything we love about spring: warm outdoor weather, fun cultural events, and delicious local seafood. This year, the local Poarch Indians will perform a tribal dance and a unique banjo and fiddle competition will bring you the traditional songs of the south. It’s one of the most anticipated spring events in Gulf Shores.

Orange Beach Festival of Art

March 14-15, 2026
Orange Beach Waterfront Park

The island’s first rite of spring is a weekend-long celebration of artistic beauty. More than 100 area artists showcase a variety of media in visual, performing, musical, and culinary arts, offering every attendee something new to see, hear, taste, and enjoy. The festival is FREE and open to the public, so don’t miss your chance to welcome spring in stunning style.

BBQ & Blues Cookoff

March 14, 2026
Heritage Park, nearby Foley, AL

Spring brings you cheer – and we’re bringing you the blues! The annual BBQ & Blues Cookoff spices up your early spring with a delicious BBQ cookoff and then cools it down with the sounds of cool blues musicians. If you’re a fan of warm spring weather, delicious southern BBQ, and good music, you’ll feel right at home at this mouth-watering event.

The Wharf Yacht and Boat Show

March 20-22, 2026
The Wharf in Orange Beach

Get ready to spring into summer boat season at the top buying boat show in the northern Gulf area. Explore over $100 million in boats and marine products, view exhibitor displays and educational seminars, listen to live music and enjoy all The Wharf has to offer. Tickets can be bought online for $15 per day or at the gate for $20. Kids 12 and under are FREE!

German Sausage Festival

March 28, 2026
Elberta Town Park, nearby Elberta, AL

If you need a break from the beach, the semi-annual German Sausage Festival is a popular spring event for locals and visitors alike. Besides all the German sausage and sauerkraut you can eat, you’ll also find traditional festival fare, fun family games, live music, and more than 200 arts and crafts vendors. All proceeds benefit the town of Elberta and local non-profit organizations. It’s a great way to soak up the spring weather and help support our Gulf Coast community at the same time.

Bama Coast Cruisin’

April 23-25, 2026
The Wharf in Orange Beach

Calling all car enthusiasts! Bama Coast Cruisin’ is back this spring with another lineup of cool cars and coastal fun. Main Street at The Wharf will be lined with classic and antique cars for your viewing pleasure, plus live music, local food and drink vendors, artisanal crafts and more. Explore the boutique shops of The Wharf as you soak in the spring season and enjoy the exhibits. Entrance is free for all ages.

Mullet Toss

April 24-26, 2026
Flora-Bama Lounge & Oyster Bar

If there’s one event that you can’t miss during a Gulf Coast spring, it’s Mullet Toss. Each year, thousands of beachgoers crowd onto the shores of the FloraBama for a weekend of fishy fun. Participants line up to toss a mullet over the Florida-Alabama state line – mostly for fun, but also for bragging rights. This legendary event is mostly just an excuse to party, as the majority of attendees spend the weekend boozing and bronzing on the beach. Rentals go fast, so be sure to book your Turquoise Place condo early to guarantee your spot.

Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival

April 30 – May 2, 2026
Downtown OWA
*Image Courtesy of Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival Facebook.

Soar into spring at this unique festival of flight. For three full days, enjoy a host of aviation activities like tethered balloon rides, twilight balloon glows, and daily balloon ascensions (weather and wind permitting). If you prefer to keep your feet firmly on the ground, you can also wander the shops at OWA, enjoy live music, sample dozens of local food vendors, and more.

If you’re spending spring on our shores, treat yourself to the break you deserve at Turquoise Place. From luxurious rentals with private balcony hot tubs to poolside cabanas and on-site dining, our Orange Beach resort brings fun to every family member. Browse our available rentals and book your spring stay today!