Shrimp Festival
Oct. 7-10 in Gulf Shores
The 2021 Annual National Shrimp Festival will return to the Gulf Shores Main Public Beach Oct. 7-10. While we anticipate this event to remain as scheduled, be aware that is subject to change as we continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. As Shrimp Festival gets closer, please revisit this page for updates as well as information regarding the festival’s COVID-19 safety protocols.
Is your mouth watering yet? Food is a highlight of the festival with 50 local and regional vendors lining the boardwalk serving crab cakes, conch fritters, lobster, Cajun pistols and many other types of delicious food. Due to the generous National Shrimp Festival sponsors, 10,000 pounds of shrimp per day will be prepared by some of the area's best chefs. Try them boiled, fried, steamed and just about any other way you can imagine.
Get ready to dance in the sand to more than 100 hours of musical entertainment featuring a lineup of national, regional and local acts. There will be musical acts to please all ears including blues, Motown, Southern rock, jazz, zydeco and country. Catch your favorite bands and hear new ones Thursday through Sunday.
Art lovers can peruse arts and crafts at more than 200 booths. It’s a great place to score a gift for that hard-to-buy-for person in your life or treat yourself to something special. Kids can take part in a myriad of activities in the newly relocated Children's Activity Village, including face-painting, karaoke and much more. And don’t forget to enter the annual sand sculpture contest with your family.
Lace up your running shoes and plan on joining runners and walkers at the starting line of the 10K and 5K races. It will help you work off some of the calories consumed at the festival.
While enjoying the sights, smells and tastes of the National Shrimp Festival, don’t miss these other activities and events. If you’re a fishing, or boating enthusiast, check out some rentals or charters while here. Or watch young and talented artists from seven local high schools compete in Singing for Scholarships.
This is guaranteed to be a not-to-be-missed entertaining event for the entire family.
National Annual Shrimp Festival, Gulf Shores
Gulf Seafood, Music, Arts & More
Savor fresh from the Gulf seafood at the Annual National Shrimp Festival during this four-day event in October that attracts over 300,000 people. The festival plays host to musical entertainment featuring a lineup of national, regional and local acts.
Food is another highlight of the festival with local and regional vendors lining the boardwalk at the public beach with mouth-watering delights.
Families can enter the Annual Sand Sculpture Contest on Saturday. Kids can take part in a myriad of activities in the newly relocated Children's Activity Village, including face-painting, karaoke and much more.
Runners and walkers can enter the 10K and 5K races to help work off some of the great food at the festival. All net proceeds of the Run will be donated to Coastal Baldwin Education Enrichment, benefiting the local Gulf Shores and Orange Beach public schools.
Art lovers will have booths of fine art and arts and crafts vendors from which to choose.
