It is time to celebrate. This year marks the 50th year of the Annual National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores. Get ready for a weekend full of food, music and fun Oct. 12-15.

The Annual National Shrimp Festival, known as Alabama's original beach party, has marked the start of fall on the Alabama Gulf Coast for 50 years. Each year since 1971, a dedicated group of volunteers has kept the tradition alive.

STAY IN THE KNOW

Annual Shrimp Festival organizers have updated how they convey festival information this year with the use of Eventeny.com. Download the Eventeny app before you make your way to the festival. The app gives users access to the festival schedule, purchase shuttle wristbands and maps. If you do not want to add another app to your phone, QR Codes will be posted around the festival site that can be scanned to easily access the event schedule, maps and more.

BIKE VALET

Bike Valet was a new festival feature in 2022 and it returns allowing folks to ride their bikes to the festival grounds and park and store them for free. Sponsored by Crye-Leike Gulf Coast Real Estate & Vacation Rentals and Lower Alabama Young Professionals, bike valet volunteers will be on hand to watch the parked bikes and issue and take tickets for those utilizing the service. Junior Leadership Coastal Alabama students and the Lower Alabama Young Professionals will be staffing the bike valet. Tips are appreciated and will go toward the Junior Leadership program. The valet area is located by the main entrance near the information tent.

FREE ENTRY

Entry into the festival is free and no tickets are necessary.

TAKE THE SHUTTLE

Parking near the festival is limited and pricing varies by parking lot. A shuttle service is available to ease the parking issue. Gulf Shores City Schools operates a festival shuttle service for $5 per day. The service makes getting to and from the festival site much easier and faster and the funds benefit Gulf Shores City Schools' Dolphin Athletics Club and Band Boosters Club. Please note, due to state law, no children under 5 are allowed on the shuttle. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit eventeny.com and search Shrimp Festival.

Shuttle Schedule:
Thursday, Oct. 12 – 1:30-10:15 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 13 & Saturday, Oct. 14 – 9:45 a.m.-10:15 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 15 – 9:45 a.m.-5:15 p.m.

Shuttle Pick Up Locations:
Gulf Shores:

• Pelican Place Center – 3800 Gulf Shores Pkwy – ADA Pickup
• Erie Meyer Civic Center – 1930 W. 2nd St.
• Waves Grocery – 1154 W. Beach Blvd.
• Lake Shelby Picnic Area – 20115 Highway 135

Orange Beach:

• Rouses Parking Lot – 25405 Perdido Beach Blvd. – Behind Cactus Cantina – ADA Pickup

DON'T MISS EVENTS

Singing for Scholarships
What: Talented Baldwin County students will be taking the stage to compete for scholarship money for themselves and their schools. These teens usually steal the show each year.

Live Sand Castle Demonstration/Training

What: In preparation for Saturday's sand castle contest (open to all), Janel Hawkins of Sand Castle University will be doing a live demonstration and training. She will be sharing all her sand sculpture expertise.
Where: Public Beach south of children's activity village
When: Friday from noon to 2 p.m.

Headliner concert
What: American Music Hall of Famers Wet Willie is a '70s Southern rock group, featuring lead singer and Alabama native Jimmy Hall. Wet Willie's origins go back even farther than the Shrimp Festival's. The group formed just 50 miles northwest of Gulf Shores in Mobile during the summer of 1969.

Where: East Stage
When: Saturday, 8:15 p.m.

ROAD CLOSURES/DETOURS

• West Gulf Place parking lot will be closed to the public beginning Monday, Oct. 9
• Highway 182 West (Gulf Beach Boulevard) will be closed to the public between East 1st Street and West 3rd Street in front of Gulf Place Public Beach, beginning Tuesday, Oct. 10.
• Highway 59 will be closed at 1st Avenue beginning Tuesday, Oct. 10.
• East Gulf Place (Resident Parking Lot) will be closed to the public beginning Thursday, Oct. 12, and will be utilized as vendor parking and shuttle location.
• Eastbound traffic toward Orange Beach should consider using Highway 180 East or State Park Road Highway 135 as an alternate route.