Coastal Alabama is home to pristine Gulf beaches and big-draw events.
Although it does not share as much coastline with the Gulf of Mexico as some of its neighboring states, Alabama packs a lot of activities into its coastal region. Each year the Gulf Coast of Alabama hosts a number of annual events that people travel from all over to experience first hand. From Mobile Bay to Gulf Shores and beyond, there is always something going on in what many Southerners call LA---Lower Alabama.
National Shrimp Festival
The white sand beaches of Gulf Shores, Alabama attract many tourists each year for a taste of fun in the sun along the Gulf of Mexico, but nothing rivals the crowd that the annual National Shrimp Festival brings to this area. Each year during the second weekend of October, the festival attracts more then 300,000 visitors and 300 vendors offering fine art, crafts and seafood---particularly shrimp.
The four-day event has been running annually since 1971, according to the Alabama Gulf Coast Area Chamber of Commerce. The recent festivals include a children's activity village, sand sculpture contests, two stages of various musical acts and more shrimp than you can shake a stick at.
Frank Brown International Songwriters' Festival
For 10 days each November, the Frank Brown International Songwriters' Festival attracts singers and songwriters from across the globe who wish to have their work heard by the public. This event takes place at up to 25 venues in Florida and Alabama, including stages in Gulf Shores.
According to the Flora-Bama website, the festival represents the largest gathering of songwriters at one time anywhere in the world. Most concerts are free to attend, with the exception of some club venues that impose a nominal cover charge. This event is a rare place where fans of music have the chance to see Grammy-winning artists perform as well see them share the stage with up-and-coming singer/songwriters that are often the stars of tomorrow.
Bowl Games
It may be called something different every few years, but a college football bowl game is always part of the January lineup of events in Mobile, Alabama. This bowl game began in 1999 as the Mobile Alabama Bowl, which featured TCU and East Carolina. From 2000 until 2010 the bowl changed its name to the GMAC Bowl, which has pitted teams from Conference USA against the Mid-American Conference and Western Athletic Conference. As of January 6, 2011 the game will be called the GoDaddy.com Bowl and currently features teams from the Mid-American and Sun Belt Conferences. The first GoDaddy.com Bowl selected Middle Tennessee State University and Miami University of Ohio.
The game is played each year at Ladd Peebles Stadium. It is usually the last bowl game played prior to the BCS National Championship Game.
Mardi Gras
When people hear the term Mardi Gras, they generally think of New Orleans, but the first Mardi Gras celebration in America took place in coastal Alabama in the city of Mobile.
Every year since 1703 the city of Mobile has celebrated Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, for nearly three weeks leading up to Lent. The celebration fills the streets of Mobile with parades, live music, marching bands and revelers. Masked participants toss beads, Moon Pies, coins and candy from floats throughout the carnival parade season. According to the Mobile Bay Convention and Visitor's Bureau website, mobile is proud to be home to America's "family" Mardi Gras celebration, and invites both young and old to take part in the fun.
Tags: Mardi Gras, bowl game, Gulf Coast, Gulf Shores, Alabama Gulf