Are you looking for Holiday festivities along the Alabama Gulf Coast? Your Girls on the Gulf have you covered! Here’s our list of 15 Holiday Events happening in Orange Beach, Gulf Shores, and Foley that will be sure to put you in the holiday spirt!

1. Christmas Tree Lighting at the Wharf on November 30, 2022, hosted by the City of Orange Beach is the perfect ceremony to inspire the Yuletide spirit. Enjoy special festive musical performances, an appearance from Santa, cups of toasty hot chocolate, a holiday SPECTRA Laser Light Experience show and much more. More info here.
2. Rent a bike, or take a hike, and see the Snowman Trail in the Alabama Gulf State Park! From December 1 through the 31^st, explore the state park and find the 10 snowmen. Find all 10, and take a selfie with each, to win a special holiday reward at the Gulf State Park Visitor Center at the Lake Shelby picnic area. More info here.
3. Glide into the holiday season by Ice Skating at the Wharf! From November 11 – January 16, grab your friends and skates to enjoy a festive time. More info here.
4. Go see Santa parachuting through the sky at the Flora-Bama’s Annual Santa Drop on Saturday, December 10, 2022, from 11am until 2pm. This is a free event with kid’s crafts, games. Live music, kid’s face painting, juice, and sweat treats. More info here.
5. Enjoy a Very Merry Coastal Grinchmas! The “Mean One” will be there for photos with the little ones, enjoy dancing at the Whoville Disco, send the Grinch a letter, make crafts, visit the Whoville Beauty Parlor and Whoville Library, and enjoy Gingerbread Cookies and Hot Chocolate at the Gingerbread House. This is a free event happening for 3 days only, December 4, 11, & 18^th from 5pm until 8pm. More info here.
6. Saddle up to experience Holiday Horse and Carriage Ride at the Wharf. Pick-up is at the ice-skating rink under the white tent near the Main Street entrance. Cost is $25 per carriage ride, up to 6 adults, lap children welcome. November 29 – January 1 | 5-8 pm on select dates. More info here.
7. Visit Christmas Card Lane and Holiday Market at the Alabama Gulf State Park. Local businesses, churches, families, and civic organizations have been hard at work decorating giant Christmas cards for your enjoyment. Christmas Card Lane will be displayed from December 1-31 from 6 to 9 pm at Lake Shelby Park.  The Holiday Market with artists and food vendors will be happening December 3^rd, 10^th, and 17^th.
8. Visit the 3^rd Annual Holly Days on Main happening December 10^th and 11^th at Main Street at the Wharf. Guests can enjoy arts and crafts vendors, special performances, a lighted boat parade and more. This is sure to be two days of jam-packed holiday fun thanks to the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber. More info here.
9. ALL ABOARD! The Wharf Express is on a holiday mission. Put on your festive jammies and ride The Wharf North Pole Express each Saturday beginning November 12 through Christmas Eve, where every child will receive a candy cane, a coloring book and a golden ticket sticker. $6 per person, per ride. Ages 3 and under ride for free. November 12 – December 24, times vary. More info here.
10. Selfies with Santa at the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo. Grab your cameras and come see Santa and Mrs. Claus, along with all the precious animals, at the Zoo. Included with regular zoo admission. December 3, 4, 10, 11 from 11 am -2pm. More Info here.
11. Enjoy a truly coastal experience, Lulu’s Lighted Boat Parade is taking place on Saturday, December 10, 2022 from 4:30 pm until 6 pm. The boats will leave LuLu’s Gulf Shores and Homeport Marina at dusk and head to the Wharf in Orange Beach, boats will be visible along the canal from Gulf Shores or Orange Beach. More info here.
12. The City of Orange Beach will present the Nutcracker on Dec. 2-3 at the Orange Beach Performing Arts Center and presented by the Coastal Ballet Company. The classical Christmas ballet will be performed at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2 and at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3. General admission tickets are $25 per adult, $10 for children ages 4-17, and free for children 3 and younger. Purchase tickets here.
13. Holiday Express – A Christmas Spectacular – get into the holiday spirit and watch it come to life on stage at the OWA Theater for this original Christmas spectacular! It’s the holiday season and Bastian is getting into the Christmas spirit at home when he breaks a “not-so-magical” family heirloom. Once asleep, he finds himself aboard the Holiday Express where he will travel far and beyond to meet friends and a familiar foe revealing that the “not-so-magical” heirloom holds more wonders than he could ever imagine. More info and ticket purchase here.
14. Santa Paws! Don’t leave your furry family out of this years holiday card! Bring your pup out December 11 to OWA from 1-4pm & 5-7pm to get their special picture with Santa. More info here.
15. OWA’s Christmas Tree & Fountain Shows happening from Dec. 3 until the 25^th. Christmas Tree show nightly at 5pm and fountain show nightly at 6:15 pm, 7:15 pm, and 8:15 pm. More info here.

If you try one of our recommendations, we’d love to see and hear about your experiences. Email us at girlsonthegulf@gmail.com or find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, & Pinterest. Make sure to tell them the Girls on the Gulf sent you!

Xoxo,

Ginger & Crawford 

Your go-to girls for food, fun, & sun on the Alabama Gulf Coast

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