When storms hit on the Gulf Coast, neighbors turn out to help neighbors.
Usually, the big players come to mind like the Salvation Army, Red Cross or the ubiquitous Cajun Navy puttering around in …
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When storms hit on the Gulf Coast, neighbors turn out to help neighbors.
Usually, the big players come to mind like the Salvation Army, Red Cross or the ubiquitous Cajun Navy puttering around in flat-bottom boats bringing people out or supplies in.
With Hurricane Isaias’ track originally putting a bullseye on the Alabama Gulf Coast, cancellation of the National Shrimp Festival meant a hit to many local artists, vendors, restaurants and other businesses whose annual income is bolstered by the four-day festival.
“I’m sure the other restaurants and businesses have had the same thing to deal with,” an emotional Stephanie Rhodes of Agape Juices said in a Facebook video on Oct. 8 when the cancellation notice came. “I’ve got like 2,000 juices frozen, ready to go down and sell.”
Rhodes announced a sale of the overstocked product she’d hoped to sell at Shrimp Fest, slashing prices and offering deals for bulk buys.
“It would be a tremendous help during this time if y’all could come in and load up your freezer,” Rhodes said. “It’s been an emotional day. We love you guys, and we appreciate anything y’all can do.”
The public response prompted more emotion from Rhodes as people responded. Agape has shops in Foley and Gulf Shores.
“As hard as it was for that to be canceled, I have to say I’m grateful for it because I would not have experienced what y’all have done for us today and yesterday,” Rhodes said in a subsequent Facebook video. “I just want to share how I feel about the incredible love and support all of you have shown us in the last 36 hours. I know it’s hard for so many of us small businesses, and I hope and pray that they receive the same amount of support that we have. It’s been incredible.”
The love was shared on the island as several prominent local artists banded together to produce pop-up shows at Big Beach Brewing and shops around town.
Big Beach hosted clay artist Maya Blume-Cantrell and Tara Gifford of Blue Girl Beading, and clay artist Steven Dark opened his pottery shop half a block away. Artists Nick Cantrell in Orange Beach and J.D. Swiger in Gulf Shores, who created an entirely new series for the festival, manned their studios to greet customers.
“Thursday, we did a ‘hood’ sale,” Dark said. “We all pushed each other’s message/post, and a lot of folks came over to shop. Nothing like the festival itself but was some help recouping expenses.”
Gifford said the love from the pop-up show at the brewery was overwhelming.
“Maya and I had a great day,” Gifford said. “Sad we couldn’t have had Shrimp Festival, but the people showed up for us at the brewery and it was awesome. Lots of people who came for shrimp Festival that had not evacuated yet, and tons of locals showed up.”
Additionally, the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber has posted a list of vendors from the canceled 2026 event and is encouraging support for those businesses.
“The cancellation of this year's festival due to Tropical Storm Isaias is heartbreaking because our vendors have spent months preparing for this weekend,” the chamber said in a Facebook post. “You can still support those vendors by visiting the directory on the bottom of our Eventeny page. Many of the listings include photos, contact information, websites and in some cases products that are available to purchase.”
GET YOUR FESTIVAL T-SHIRTS
The Coastal Alabama Business Chamber has merchandise from the canceled festival for sale at its office at 3130 Gulf Shores Parkway.
“We’re working on a plan to offer merchandise through an online store, with shipping available for those who can’t make it in person,” the chamber posted on Facebook. “More details regarding online sales will be shared as they become available.”
To search vendors and find their websites and inventories, go to the event page.
2 DYE 4
2Seasters Seamoss & Wellness Co
6j threads LLC
American Legacy CO
angelsandantlers
Annas Cafe
Arnie's Beercap Art
Art @ Studio 7108 by Kevin Cobb
Bamagrl & Co
Batik Watercolors
BB’S Beach Boutique
Beachin' Eats
Beachin' Vibes Jewelry
Beat The Bar
Big Beach Brewing
BJ’s concessions
Blade and Grain WoodWorks
Blind Dog Biscuit
Blue Girl Beading Co.
Bocksteens
BOPBE
Brass Button
Britt's Leather
Brushstrokes & Brilliance
Bsquared Blocks
CAJUN GIRL TRIBUTES
Cashmere & Champagne
Chill-N-Reel
Chompers Freeze Dried Candy
Chris J Hinton Fine Art Photography
Christopher Mize Art LLC
Coastal Orange Beach
coconut critters
CocoRoo Natural Skin Care
Connie Bennett Collection
Copper Studio Art LLC
Creative Designs
Creative Designs by Jenn
Crumbl Cookies-Gulf Shores
Crushable Hats Inc
Curlinator Designs
Cutco Kitchen
Dawn's Kettle Corn
Debi Parnell Photography
Decorative Additions
Di's Custom Tied Bows
Diamond Jewelers
Dica dolls
Dinett Hok Artist
Dippin' Dots
DK the Clown
Doogan & Co
Down By The Lake
Down by the Sea Designs FL
E.M.S. Concessions
East Hill Honey
Evermore Permanent Jewelry, LLC
Fairymoon Glass
Fence Peepers and Yard Decor
FischTale
Fish Skinz
FishBone Design
FJ Sweet Fine Art
Flippin’ Sweet by 4B concessions
Flora-Bama Lounge and Package
Floral Fantasy Candles
Florida's Fine Food Corp
FnP Accessories
For The SHELL Of It
Get Bent and Hammered
Get Reel Fishing Apparel
Grace Girl Beads
Grandma Mimi‘s airbrush, tattoos and faces
Great Lakes Outback
Gulf Life
Gulf Shores Jerky Store
Guys' Fries
Gypsy Lane 225
Happy Campers Crafts and Creations
happyfeet
Hearts Of Glass
Henna by Sabah
Hog Wild Beach & BBQ
Hometown Inspiration, LLC
Hook Loop n Blossoms
Hummingbird 143
Hurricane Hoagy
I’m Hooked
Impressions by Maureen
In The Potters Hand
Indian Roots
Integrity Pictures
Isaac Brooks
Island 3D Printing
Island Dream Waves
J&M Products
Jasinski Brothers Photography, Inc.
JCM Candles
JD's Salsa in Seconds
Jensa Jo's Jewels
jessica achorn concession LLC
Joe Diaco Art
Joe Natural Leather
John Halliday-Artist
Jubilee Clay of Bon Secour
Just Beachin
Kalisee LLC
KAT's Decor and More
Key West Island Wear LLC
Key West Spice Company, LLC
King of Pops
Kona Ice of Coastal Alabama
Kristin Pierre Fine Art
Lamari Boutique
Landry Arts
Lil J's Southern Cooking & Catering
Lite Hearted
Live Free
Lobsta rolls
LOL & More /Ruben’s Concessions
Lone Star Antler Chews
Made From Coins
Magical Marionettes And Hand Puppets With 3 D Printing
Mama B's Nuts & Delicious Needs formerly Popi n Mimis
ManOwar Fishing Co.
Marine Corps Detachment 1370
Maya Earth Ceramics
Mellonea's Mobile Boutique
Metal Art Design
Milton Cross Woodworking
MisC Creations
Mixin' Chicks
MOJO JERKY
Monica’s Concession
Mother-Daughter Market
Mountain High Outfitters
Nana Bakes
Naturalcy Picks & Modernish Jewelry
NaturesTech, Inc. AKA, AloemoistOrganics.com
Nectar of the Vine
Nicole Goodbar
Novels by Tonya Sharp Hyche
Origami Owl
Oswalts
Painted Pixel Studio
Parrotland Carvings
Patrick Reynolds art
Pawls K-9ery
PEARLS NEST
Petal Bay Boutique
Peterson GlassWear
Pink Cloud Art
Pottery Central World Headquarters
Primordial Persuasions
Princess and Papa
PubsOf
Puppy Presents Designs
Queen Beach Art
Quilla Native crafts
Raw Amor Jewelry
Red Root Sisters
Reggaenthings
Richard Franklin Fine Arts
Robin Renee Hix
Rocket City Popperz, LLC
Rusticfish Brand
Ryp Tyd Outfitters LLC
Sadhana Beads
Salt Water Mafia Apparel
Saltwater heALs
Salty Claw
Salvaged Threads
Samantha Rae's Art
Sand Castle Uviversity
Sand Ornaments by K*Star Krafts
Sandy Beach Inspirations
Sara Mason Pottery
Savannah Sam Photography & Coastal Art
Scentsy Fragrance
Sea Oat Studio
SeaCat Threads
SeaForest Artworks
Selah Sourdough Co.
Shark Teeth Mega Store
Sharon Seawright Home Decor
Shop Kamawe
Siesta Seaglass
Silk du jour
Silver Mine
Silverhill Mill
Soco Swings
Sophie Odom
Soule Cafe
Southern Home and Art
Southern Roots Designs
Southern Sweet Pea
Space Air Airbrushing
Studio McMillin
Stuff 4U
SugarLove LLC
Sun Drenched Studio
Surf Style
Surfing Coconut
Suzies Pearls
Sweet Dreams Treats
Sweet Foam Alabama
Sweet Love
Swiger Studio
Tammy's Stone Store Outfitters
The “Cup” Cake Lady
The Blowout Bar
The Boxtruck Boutiique
The Gulf Shores Store
The Happy Butterfly
the happy pearl
The Larimar Girls
the lazy scroll
The Licorice Guy
The Nuthouse
The Nuttery
The Oak Shed
The Orange Beach Store
The Twisted Mare
The Unbroken Circle
The Vinyl Image, Inc
The Woodturner
Thomas Sanders Photography
Tico Grounds Coffee Company
Timber BBQ Co.
Timeless Charm
Toe Wranglers
Tommy's Sports Apparel
Trauma Hogs
Tropicalbreezeinc
Two Southern Belles
Vivo Enterprise Inc
Walden Farmacy
Whitlee Lynae Jewelry & More
Wild Kokoro
Willow Farms / Dip'n Good Dips
Wolf Leathers
WoodLand Thistle
If there is an incorrect or missing listing, please email kayla@gulfcoastmedia.com.
