The Gulf Coast is gearing up for a vibrant week of events celebrating the fall season. From parasailing over the emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico to local arts festivals and Halloween celebrations, the region offers a variety of activities for both locals and visitors. Whether soaring high above the water, solving a mystery, or enjoying live music at the Meeting of the Minds, there’s something for everyone this week along the Alabama Gulf Coast.

Monday, October 21st -  One of the best times to parasail is in the cooler, not cold months of the season where the breeze on your face and just enough sunshade make way for a glorious view of the shores and what lies beneath. It’s the time of year when fewer boats are barreling past and briskness prepares you for the beautiful space between fall and winter. Orange Beach Parasail is a Veteran and female owned business that operates safely from the dock of the back bays boarding guests and going over guidelines before entering through ‘The Pass’ out to the salty waters of the Gulf of Mexico for the sail. Once lifted to the air, you, and either one or two friends will together swing over the emerald waters for approximately eight minutes. The only thing fast is the boat ride though, as these eight minutes of bliss will expand into a peaceful slow of time. The Gulf of Mexico is home to many beautiful creatures including the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, sting ray’s, manta rays, manatees, sea turtles and a variety of sharks, all that can be spotted along the coast. Be sure to look down and not just out; you never know what might peek up through the waves to show itself while you float in the sky. 

Orange Beach Parasail 

27844 Canal Rd

Orange Beach, AL 36561

https://obparasail.com

Tuesday, October 22nd - Drop by the Orange Beach Public Library from 6-7:30PM where music and mystery combine for one killer night. The OBPL is hosting a “Killer Beats: 80s Murder Mystery Party” for ages 10-18. The night is being promoted with the theme of “a totally tubular album release party in Beverly Hills,” full of “glitz, glam, and gossip with all the 80s most radical celeb icons.” The real mystery will begin as soon as the guests arrive where both the victim and the killer will be named on the guests list, to add to the thrill, neither will know what role they’ll lead before the game is afoot. There are 18 parts available and plenty of room for party guests opting to play detective for the evening. Sign up at the Library to receive your character keeping in mind you could be the victim or the guilty. For more on this event and any questions, please contact the OBPL.

Orange Beach Public Library - Killer Beats: Murder Mystery Party

26267 Canal Rd

Orange Beach, AL 

https://www.orangebeachlibrary.org

Wednesday, October 23rd - Meeting of the Minds is back at its new host home, in Gulf Shores, AL for a full week of ‘Parrot Head’ happenings. There will be a celebrity drink and putt with all proceeds going to the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, a few optional meetings and seminars in between the fun, and a schedule of events taking places all across town. The focus is friendship, food and great music, the true PH way. Join in with like-minded friends of old and new at the Hangout at 11AM to chat, dance, eat and drink with ‘Parrot Heads’ from all across the US right down to the white sandy beaches of the 32-mile Island. Immediately following, stroll or drive down the street to Picnic Beach bar and grill for live music from 12-3:30PM, or travel over the bridge to join the Lulu’s group from 1-4pm with Brent Burns and the Floating collective on the Crazy Sisita Stage. Registration is now closed to be a member for 2024’s celebration, so if you missed out on that part this year be sure to check the schedule out still and pop by where the MOTPs will be meeting and plan ahead next year to be a part of the members only exclusive parts of this exciting week-long event, phins up. For more info, please visit the link below. 

Click here for more information in our recent article.

Thursday, October 24th -  Prepare to be dazzled all evening long for a spectacular celebration of art, family and autumn. Top features of the night will include the sizzling glass and cool clay demos, not forgetting the enthralling fire dancers of “Entertainment Ignited”, and raffle giveaways. The beautiful spacious courtyard will be transformed into a family-friendly hub of creativity, with face paintings, pottery for sale, and raku firings happening onsite. The artists will step right out from their usual studios to the public to showcase their incredible talents out in the open for this free to attend event. Thanks to the studio and the City of Orange Beach, artsy treats will be handed out during games as well as s’more stations to really get the crowd into the seasonal spirit. Don’t forget to come dressed in your best for the ‘Costume Contest’ beginning at 6pm. 

Orange Beach Art Center - Arts Afire, Fall Festival

4698 Nancy Ln

Orange Beach, AL 36561

https://www.orangebeachal.gov/Calendar.aspx?EID=5541 

Friday, October 25th - The Orange Beach Event Center will open the doors this Friday for the 13th Annual Halloween ‘Costumes and Cocktails Party.’ Come dressed to impress with the rest of the guests list, although costumes are not required, they sure do doll things up a bit and come with a cash prize incentive for winning. There are several category options to win in such as the best male, female, couple, group costumes and best table decorations. The BYOB evening soirée will offer a light buffet and live music with The Groovinators. Tickets are on sale now for $35 and selling out fast. Come enjoy a night of classic Halloween eerie delight. Don’t forget to bring your favorite drinks and mixers, ensuring you get the best of the best by bringing your desired cocktail menu with you, the host will provide cups and ice. For more details and to purchase tickets, please visit the link below. 

Orange Beach Event Center - Halloween Costume and Cocktail Party 

4671 Wharf Pkwy W

Orange Beach, AL 36561

Click here to purchase tickets.

Saturday, October 26th - Some of the best of fall here on the Gulf Coast centers around the anticipated familiar festivals like the German Sausage Festival in Elberta. Each year over 150 vendors join in bringing selective arts and craft items, delicious food including traditional sausage dogs, and non, flavored corn on the cob, and so much more. Admission to the festival is free with all purchase stations accepting cash and debit/credit. All proceeds collected for the day go to the Elberta Volunteer Fire Department and other local nonprofits in the Elberta area. Come early and stay late for this family-friendly event you don't want to miss out on and mark yet another fun fall festival off this season's list. 

German Sausage Festival 

24945 State St

Elberta, AL 36530

Click here for more information, Facebook Event.

Sunday, October 27th - Grab your boards and paddles the crew rides out an hour before noon for a coastal Halloween experience differing from any others. Who needs wheels and a broom when you can put on your witchy best and howl like a werewolf in costume right down the intracoastal waterway. This is a community fundraising event where guests are asked to bring their own crafts or select ‘NEED ONE’ while supplies last when adding your participation fee of $20 to sign up for the spirited event. The amount includes a chance to enter into the costume contest for a chance to win a gift card from one of the event's local sponsors, a planned paddle route to do with a group or solo, live music, games plus an added ‘WATCH PARTY’ at Sunset grille with the official after party at Hub Stacey's. The first stop will be at Sunset to enjoy the music and drinks, poker, raffles and more, the costume contest, then a paddle back for the after-party jams. For more on this event and to register, please visit the link below. 

Galvez Boat Ramp - Perdido Key Witches and Werewolves Halloween Paddle Ride

Innerarity Point

Click here for more information.