10 Best 2023 Fall Events in Gulf Shores

Each fall, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach deliver some of the best festivals and events you’ll find anywhere on the Alabama Gulf Coast. From food to music, art and other fun, there’s something for everyone. The season is a favorite for many beach visitors. Fall events in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach draw visitors from near and far, while mild temperatures, warm water and dazzling sunsets keep bringing them back year after year.

2023 Fall Events in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach

2023 Blue Angels Practice Schedule

Aug. 1, 16, 22, 23, 29
Sept. 6, 12, 19
Oct. 8, 24, 25
All practices start at 10:30 a.m.
National Museum of Naval Aviation
1750 Radford Blvd., Pensacola, FL 32508

A Blue Angels practice is a must-see when you’re spending time on the Alabama Gulf Coast. These famous aircraft perform unbelievable tricks that will leave you astonished. For more information on what you should bring and what you shouldn’t, see their website.

OWA’s Labor Day Weekend Party

Sept. 1-3, 2023
1501 S. OWA Blvd., Foley, AL 36535

If you haven’t celebrated a holiday on the Gulf Coast, you’re missing out! Join OWA Sept. 1-3 for a full weekend of less work and more play with daily activities for all ages. Start the fun on Friday with a family scavenger hunt and hot dog eating contest. Saturday is stacked with a classic car show, a live outdoor concert, and a fireworks show at the end of the night. Head back on Sunday to enjoy kids activities, more live music shows, and browse the boutique shops of downtown OWA. For more information on daily schedules, visit the event website.

2023 Bulls on the Beach

Sept. 7-9, 2023
Flora-Bama Lounge & Oyster Bar
17401 Perdido Key Dr., Perdido Key, FL 32507

Dust off your cowboy hat and head to the beach Sept. 7-9 for an unforgettable bull riding show. This event hosts bull riders from across the country and is a fun experience for the whole family. Up to a challenge? Ride the mechanical bull in the Flora-Bama tent to test your skills. Rides are $5 each.

Orange Beach Freedom Fest

Oct. 6-7, 2023
The Wharf in Orange Beach
4830 Main St., Orange Beach, AL 36561

If you love fast cars and freedom, don’t miss the 3rd annual Orange Beach Freedom Fest and Bama Coast Cruisin’ Car Show. Head to the Wharf Oct. 6-7 to view cool and classic automobiles, enjoy live music, browse vendor booths and more. This event is family-friendly (check out the on-site Kids Zone!) and free to the public.

Flora-Bama Oktoberfest

Oct. 9, 2023
Flora-Bama Lounge & Oyster Bar
17401 Perdido Key Dr., Pensacola, FL 32507

Break out your lederhosen for the Flora-Bama’s Oktoberfest. Receive a free drink upon entry for those 21 and up, free stein to the early arrivers until depleted, 25% off in the gift shop, and complimentary German food from the buffet while supplies last. Food is served at 4 p.m. and the menu includes beer brats, sauerkraut, and German potato salad. The stein-hoisting competition sponsored by Samuel Adams will begin at 5 p.m., followed by live music by The Brats in the Bama Dome. This New Orleans based polka band will have you laughing and dancing all evening at one of the best fall events in Orange Beach!

50th Annual National Shrimp Festival

Oct. 12-15, 2023
Gulf Shores Main Public Beach (Gulf Place)
101 Gulf Shores Pkwy, Gulf Shores
(251) 968-7200

Packed with thousands of pounds of fresh Gulf shrimp cooked every way imaginable, this four-day festival is scheduled Oct. 12-15. The National Shrimp Festival attracts more than 300,000 visitors annually and offers lots of vendors, a 5k and 10k race, a Kids Activity Village and so much more! Admission is free so plan to enjoy food; live music from national, regional, and local artists; art and more. It’s one of the most popular fall events in Gulf Shores.

Original German Sausage Festival

Oct. 28, 2023
Elberta Town Park
13052 Main Street, Elberta, AL 36530

Hot Dog! Get your fill of authentic German sausage and sauerkraut at this tasty food festival. Thousands of foodies fill the town each year to sample yummy German cuisine, browse over 200 arts and crafts booths, enjoy live music and take part in family fun. Be sure to try Elberta’s famous sausage dog (ask for One With and Two Without) and take home a local trinket; event proceeds benefit the town fire department!

Experience the Oyster

Nov. 3-4, 2023
The Hangout
101 E Beach Blvd., Gulf Shores, AL

You just can’t miss this seafood shell-ebration. Back for its 2nd year, Experience the Oyster is a culinary showcase of delicious Gulf Coast seafood made by renowned chefs from across the country. Feast on raw and cooked oysters fresh from local farms (be sure to try the butter babies from Murder Point Oysters), listen to live music, attend cooking demos and catch the game on the big screen. Not a fan of oysters? Shrimp, gumbo, jambalaya and more are also on the menu.

2023 Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show

Nov. 3-4, 2023
National Museum of Naval Aviation
1750 Radford Blvd., Pensacola, FL

If you’ve never witnessed the Navy’s precision flight team in action, don’t let another year go by without watching the Blue Angels Homecoming Show, Nov. 3-4. This event is held at the National Museum of Naval Aviation. Note: the museum is currently open to Department of Defense (DoD) ID cardholders and their guests only.

39th Annual Frank Brown International Songwriters’ Festival

A favorite festival for locals and visitors alike, the annual Frank Brown International Songwriters’ Festival offers listening events across various venues between Nov. 9 and 19. Venue sites stretch from Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama to Pensacola and Perdido Key, Florida showcasing almost 200 songwriters from across the country and around the world. It’s a fun time to hear some of your favorite tunes in a listening-room setting. The best way to research venues and times is on the event website. With so many dates to choose from, it’s easily one of the top fall events in Gulf Shores.

Choose from your favorite fall events in Gulf Shores and book your weekend (or weeklong) vacation at The Beach Club Resort & Spa.