Waterway Village Zydeco & Crawfish Festival Expands to Two-Day Event in Gulf Shores

The City of Gulf Shores is excited to announce the Waterway Village will be filled with the sounds of Zydeco music for two days this year during the Waterway Village Zydeco & Crawfish Festival. The fun will take place on Friday, April 21, and Saturday, April 22, along East 24th. Avenue.

FRIDAY, APRIL 21

Friday will feature a ticketed concert by the iconic, Grammy-winning Rebirth Brass Band out of New Orleans, LA. Rebirth will take the stage from 7-9 p.m., with the opening act beginning at 6 p.m. Tickets are $29 each and can be purchased online here.

Crawfish will not be served at Friday's concert, but food trucks will be on site for those wanting to purchase food, and the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber will be present selling beer and wine.

SATURDAY, APRIL 22

The good times will continue to roll on Saturday, April 22, with our traditional Zydeco & Crawfish Festival activities. Locals and visitors are invited to join us for this free family-friendly event and sink their teeth into hot, juicy crawfish throughout the day while dancing to the infectious rhythms of some of the best Zydeco bands from around the South. There will also be arts and crafts vendors and children's activities on site.

Saturday's festivities will kick off at 8 a.m., with the Zydeco Crawfish Festival 5K benefitting the Waterway Village Merchants Association. The fun will continue as art vendors open their tents at 9 a.m., crawfish pots begin boiling at 10 a.m., and Zydeco sounds continue grooving until 6 p.m.

Saturday's Music Lineup:

•  Excelsior
•  Amanda Shaw
•  Chubby Carrier
•  Wayne Singleton
•  Corey Ledet
•  Sean Ardoin

This seventh annual event is a result of a unique collaboration between the City of Gulf Shores, the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Sports & Events, and Waterway Village merchants, including Acme Oyster House, Tacky Jacks, The Sloop, Beach Big Brewing Company, Gulf Coast Arts Alliance, Lulu’s, The Diner, and Wheeles Karate Academy.

For more information, call 251-968-1171 or visit www.gulfshoresAL.gov/CrawfishFestival.

City of Gulf Shores 36th Annual Arbor Day Celebration set for February 25

The City of Gulf Shores celebrates 36 years of being named a Tree City with its 36th Annual Arbor Day Celebration, presented by the Gulf Shores Beautification Board. This event will take place on Saturday, February 25, from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Erie H. Meyer Civic Center.

Residents of each household that reside within the Gulf Shores corporate limits may select four different trees from six different varieties:

• Shumard Oak
• Hazel Alder
• Ashe Magnolia
• Red Maple
• Eastern Mayhaw
• American Snowbell

To receive the trees, residents must show proof of residency. The trees are potted in one-gallon containers and are ready for planting. A brochure giving specifics on each tree is available to residents. The Gulf Shores Landscape Division will be onsite to answer questions about the trees.

As an additional incentive, 12 lucky attendees will receive a complimentary specialty fruit tree.

Click here to learn more.

Spring Break Alcohol Ban Begins March 3

The City of Gulf Shores 2023 Spring Break Alcohol Ban will begin March 3 and last through April 24. During this time, it will be unlawful to possess or consume alcoholic beverages on the beaches of Gulf Shores. The ban first went into effect in 2016 and has been renewed yearly. Violators of the Alcohol Ban will be subject to a fine of up to $500.00 and up to 6 months in jail.

For more information about the City of Gulf Shores Spring Break Alcohol Ban, please contact the Gulf Shores Police Department at 251-968-2431.

Public Beach Parking Fees go into Effect on March 1

Starting March 1, parking fees will go into effect at several public beach parking areas in Gulf Shores.

Paid parking locations include the following: 

• Gulf Place (main public beach area)
• $5 for 4 hours
• $15 all-day
• West Gulf Place
• $15 all-day
• West 5th Street
• $5 for 4 hours
• $15 all-day
• West 6th Street
• $15 all-day
• West 10th Street
• $15 all-day
• West 13th Street
• $15 all-day
• Lagoon Pass
• $15 all-day

Pay stations at each site accept cash and credit cards, though they do not issue change. Unpaid parking spaces will be subject to fines and towing. Overnight parking is prohibited at all parking locations. 

Click here to see an interactive map of all public beach parking areas. 

Residents Park for Free

Gulf Shores residents and property owners with a valid Hurricane Re-Entry/ Beach Parking Pass for 2023-2024 can park at all paid public parking locations without payment and have access to the East Gulf Place Resident Only Parking Area. Passes must be permanently affixed and displayed on the driver's side of the vehicle's front windshield at the time of parking. Click here for more information about obtaining a current Hurricane Re-Entry/Beach Parking Pass.

For more information about beach parking, please contact the Gulf Shores Police Department at 251-968-2431.

Severe Weather Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday

Alabama will hold its 12th annual Severe Weather Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday, beginning Friday, February 24, 2023, at 12:01 a.m. and ending Sunday, February 26, 2023, at 12 midnight.

This holiday gives shoppers the opportunity to purchase certain severe weather preparedness items free of state and local sales tax in Gulf Shores.

Covered items ($60 or less per item) include the following:

• AAA-cell batteries

• AA-cell batteries

• C-cell batteries

• D-cell batteries

• 6-volt batteries

• 9-volt batteries

• Cellular phone battery

• Cellular phone charger

• Portable self-powered or battery-powered radio, two-way radio, weatherband radio or NOAA weather radio

• Portable self-powered light source, including battery-powered flashlights, lanterns, or emergency glow sticks

• Tarpaulin

• Plastic sheeting

• Plastic drop cloths

• Other flexible, waterproof sheeting

• Ground anchor system, such as bungee cords or rope, or tie-down kit

• Duct tape

• Plywood, window film or other materials specifically designed to protect window coverings

• Non-electric food storage cooler or water storage container

• Non-electric can opener

• Artificial ice

• Blue ice

• Ice packs

• Reusable ice

• Self-contained first aid kit

• Fire extinguisher

• Smoke detector

• Carbon monoxide detector

• Gas or Diesel fuel tank or container

A single purchase with a sales price of $1000 or Less is covered for the following items:

• Any portable generator and power cords – used to provide light or communications or preserve food during a power outage.

Click here for more information.

Update on Regency Road and Clubhouse Drive Traffic Circle Construction

Construction is wrapping up on the Regency Road and Clubhouse Drive traffic circle. Next week the final layer of asphalt will be applied, with final striping to follow three weeks later. 

Regency Road and Clubhouse Drive have experienced a significant increase in traffic in recent years as more motorists use the roadway to bypass Hwy 59 and Hwy 180. After hearing concerns from residents in this area about speeding and safety, the City took traffic calming measures such as installing radar signs, adding a stop sign at the intersection of the two roads, increasing police presence, and lowering the speed limit to 25 MPH. 

After completing a traffic survey last year, the decision was made to add a traffic circle at Regency Road and Clubhouse Drive intersection to further calm traffic, reduce speeding, and make the area safer for both motorists and pedestrians.

For more information about this project, please contact the City Engineering Department at 251-968-6583.

Family Camping - Ball Park Edition

Join the Gulf Shores Recreation Department on March 4 at Sims Park for Family Camping!

There will be music, movies, & marshmallows by the camp fire and plenty of outdoor activities to keep the kids entertained all evening long. Everybody must be registered to attend. Registration includes food/drink voucher. Recommend bringing additional snacks and beverages. No grills allowed. No pets allowed.

REGISTRATION OPTIONS:

A) Bring your own tent- registration fee allows admittance and food vouchers for up to four people.

Register here if you are bringing your own tent: https://bit.ly/3RZZ1zj

B) Rent one of our tents. Registration includes one assembled tent and admittance & food vouchers for up to four people.

Register here if you are renting a tent: https://bit.ly/3YQyPcG

SPACE IS LIMITED. Please register online by clicking the links above, or call us at 251-968-9818.