Shrimp Festival, Freedom Fest Coming Up

The Coastal Alabama Business Chamber has announced the 50th Annual National Shrimp Festival for October 12-15 at the intersection of Highway 59 and East Beach Boulevard. There will be food, music, art and more for an estimated nearly 250,000 attendees. The performing headliner for the evening of October 14 will be 70s Southern rock group Wet Willie, featuring lead singer and Alabama native Jimmy Hall. All concerts may be attended for free. Additionally, the Orange Beach Freedom Fest is taking place on October 6-7 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day at The Wharf. It will feature the Bama Coast Cruisin’ Car Show on Main Street, along with a Kids’ Zone with drinks, snacks, bouncy houses and activities. Branches of the U.S. Armed Forces and nonprofit military and veterans’ groups will be represented. October 7 will feature arts and crafts booths, food vendors, a music stage, a motorcycle rally by the Marshals Mardi Gras group and more.