GULF SHORES, Ala. — Gulf Shores students will show off their talents Friday night in the 12th Annual Night of the Arts at the Gulf Shores United Methodist Auditorium.

“This began in the gym 12 years ago,” parent volunteer Krista Alexander said, “and this is what it has grown into.”

Friday there will displays of artwork, creative writing, photography, a culinary contest and 14 musical acts are scheduled to perform. Tickets are $5 and available at the door.

“We will be serving hors d’oeuvres at 5:30 p.m. in the coffee shop,” parent Ashley Wilson said. “And from 5:30 to 6:45 you can walk around, have hors d’oeuvres and look at the art work, our creative writing that we have and the photography.”

Performers will take the stage at 7 p.m. Eight soloists are signed up and six bands or duets will present singing as well as instrumental numbers.

The food contest has been expanded this year.

“We have our culinary section which this year our culinary academy is doing a lot of that so we’ve got several entries this year,” Wilson said. “We may have two different types of food we do this year where last year it was basically desserts. They have so many entries this year they have to split it up. The categories are going to be like sweet and savory, but I’m not sure how they are going to word it.”

Wilson said the show offers the students another creative outlet.

“I think it’s a great outlet for the kids to get out here and express themselves where otherwise they might not have a lot of opportunities to do that,” she said. “It’s very surprising. Last year was my first year helping and I was surprised at how many talented young people we have here. They were amazing. I would hate to have been a judge last year. A lot of that you just don’t see in the everyday world at school with them. It’s a different side you see when you see them here.”

Wilson said the staff of Gulf Shores United Methodist Church plays an important role in putting on the show.

“They do a great job,” she said. “The guys that we have that work with them and do the sound are really great.

“Cody Johnson, the director of music here at the church, he’s really been helping with the kids. Whatever needs to be tweaked, he takes care of it doing that. If they need to change something up, he lets them know what they need to do. He’s really, really good with that.”

(For a gallery of photos from the practice, go here: http://www.gulfcoastnewstoday.com/gallery/collection_a0d18f66-7c64-11e2-b6e3-001a4bcf887a.html)