Get ready for a week filled with activities and events along the Gulf Coast! From live music performances and family-friendly story times to bull riding competitions, there's something for everyone. Whether you're looking to relax with a cold drink and live tunes, explore imaginative worlds with your little ones at ‘Storytime By the Bay,’ or cheer on bull riders, this week promises to be packed with fun and memorable experiences. 

Don't miss out on the delicious local cuisine and vibrant community gatherings happening throughout the area this week.

Monday, September 2nd - Prepare for a memorable Labor Day into the night of music, great stories, and fun with The Band Wanted’s, Joshua and Candy Carpenter at Big Beach Brewery. Expect a performance that showcases their unique mix of current country, classic rock and a bit of original music, stories, and the promise of one bluegrass song. Celebrate the long holiday weekend with the breeze of the open airy venue just steps away from tasty beverages and brews. Spend the night with The Band Wanted, drink in hand as they make their way to the 2024 ISSA Music Awards Red event in Atlanta.

Big Beach Brewery

300 E 24th Ave

Gulf Shores, AL 36542

https://www.bigbeachbrewing.com/about

Tuesday, September 3rd - Orange Beach Public Library takes story time down the shoreline to the Wind and Water Learning Center this week. The morning will begin with ‘Storytime By the Bay,’ The reader will captivate all the listeners with their animated flow as they read along in a chosen book for the day. Immediately following the read aloud, all ages welcomed are invited to a meet -and-greet with a Mermaid and Pirate. Participants are encouraged to dress up in their favorite mermaid and pirate gear for this special meet-and-greet and to stay after for a themed craft and venture back to the library to find their next treasure to read and enjoy. 

City of Orange Beach Wind and Water Learning Center

26233 Canal Road

Orange Beach, AL 36561

https://www.orangebeachal.gov/386/Wind-Water-Learning-Center

Wednesday, September 4th - Bird Dog Chicken is more than a chicken joint. This family-owned business is open six days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They offer the expected chicken yums such as wings and tenders. However, their take has quite the kick with a little bit of saucy-ness. Choose from a variety of homemade sauces for tossing and dipping that have something even for the plain tasters in the bunch to call a favorite. Shrimp and other fried familiars are served up bird dog style, such as Mozzarella Cheese Wedges, Oversized Onion rings or the Fried Green Tomato tasty teasers. Even the sweets are fried here, select from fruit pies like apple, peach and blackberry for a treat suggested with a scoop of ice cream on the dessert menu. Don’t worry, there is something for the lighter eater as well with a salad option you pick the meat fried or grilled. Stop in Bird Dog Chicken for order to go or sit back and eat inside at one of the dining booths or tables, don’t forget to check out the company shirts and other Bird Dog merch while contributing to a local family-run business that serves you back. 

Bird Dog Chicken Co.

4575 Orange Beach Blvd suite 106

Orange Beach, AL 36561

(251) 303-8555

https://www.birddogchickencompany.com

Thursday, September 5th - Known as one of Flora-Bama’s most anticipated events of the year, ‘Bulls on the Beach’ is back this week to kick up some heels and hoofs. The first night is all about the kids. Participants aged 12 and under in the Coloring Contest Bike Giveaway, color to win for one top choice boy and girl to take home a brand-new bike. Follow the link below for instructions on this contest and more, plus the official ‘Bulls on the Beach’ coloring sheet to print and download. That’s not all the younguns gitty up immediately following this event to the Professional Bull Riding to see who will take the lead to the finish off the night. Bulls on the Beach is a three-night full of excitement event for the whole family that gives back a portion of proceeds to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. 

Flora-Bama- Bulls On The Beach

17401 Perdido Key Dr. 

Pensacola, FL 32507

https://www.florabama.com/botb-color-page

Friday, September 6th - Bleus Burgers in Gulf Shores is Baldwin Country’s only locally owned and operated burger bar. Bleus offers scrumptious juicy award-winning burgers like the ‘Easy Rider,’ and the ‘Southern Drawl’ plus over 15 regional beers on tap to please any palate, including vegan and veggie. Known as the greatest happiness place on a bun, this gourmet craft burger bar can swing by with their food truck, or burger lovers can stop by the dine-in locations to enjoy. Though burgers are the specialty with over 22 chef-inspired creations, patties aren't the only thing that keeps folks coming back time and time again. Chicken favorites the likes of the ‘Mississippi Taildragger,’ ‘The Hobo,’ and ‘Oyster Shroom,’ draw a curiouser crowd to the bar. If you like to push your taste buds to the limit and leap off cliffs of flavor, Bleus Burger has just the right menu heights for you to reach your dinner goals. We can’t forget the salad and sides sporting things like ‘VooDoo Shrimp Salad,’ and the ‘Hot Crab Dip Fries.’ Across the CMX Cinema, guests can get filled up before catching a Friday night movie on the big screen, making this a great evening hotspot. 

Bleus Burger

3800 Gulf Shores Pkwy

Gulf Shores, AL 36542

(251)948-2538

https://www.bleusburger.com/ 

Saturday, September 7th - Get reeled in this weekend for the 2nd annual Charter Boat Billfish Tournament at home base Zeke’s Landing. The weigh-in platform will be open from 5PM-11PM at Mo Fishing-Bar. The night will showcase the two-day tournament finals, and share with onlookers an award ceremony immediately after the tally. Starting at 7PM, catch southern sweetheart, singer and songwriter from Mobile, AL, Mrs. Jenna McClelland, performing some of her most requested hits and covers through to the very drop of the Billfish tournament at 11PM. Whilst basking in the marina aura, be sure to take a stroll to the bar and enjoy an island beverage and check out the dine-in menu fresh and between the bun options for a sit down. For more information, including how to enter into the tournament, please visit the link below. 

Zeke’s Landing Marina and Zeke’s Restaurant

26619 Perdido Beach Blvd

Orange Beach, AL 365161

https://www.zekeslanding.com/charter-boat-billfish-tournament/

Sunday, September 8th - Looking to rev up your engines and give the ole boat a make-over or in the market as a first-time buyer or trade in. Make Wake Marine has all hands on deck to cover any of your custom needs, being one of the few boat shops on the Gulf Coast to have an engineer on staff ready to serve you. The motto at Make Wake is ‘if you can dream it, we can bring it to reality.” This more than a Marine Repair or boat showroom shop offers all manner of boat flex. Stop by to check out the boat inventory or work with a team to design the boat you only thought was in your dreams. Make Wake offers fiberglass, gelcoat, paint and special order electronics under their custom specialty umbrella. Together with the experts, bring your vision to life with Make Wake Marine and be the talk of the water for knots to come. 

Make Wake Marine 

8470 US Highway 98

Fairhope, AL 36532

https://www.makewake.org/