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Halloween on Alabama’s Gulf Coast

Wednesday, October 24th, 2012

Spooky. Cute. Fictional characters. No matter your costume style, Halloween is a chance to let your imagination soar. Choose from a variety of opportunities for all ages to celebrate this fall holiday along the Alabama Gulf Coast.

Halloween, haunted house, gulf shores, alabama, orange beach, foley

For spooky or not-so-scary Halloween fun for any age, the Alabama Gulf Coast is the place to be!

Nightly between 6 and 9 p.m. through October 31, LuLu’s in Gulf Shores becomes BooLu’s, including the Manor of Doom haunted house and maze plus age-appropriate games. The $5 donation goes to local school arts programs—and for another $5 donation, test your climbing and balancing skills on the Mountain of Youth Ropes Course.

Boo at the Zoo speaks to the softer side of the season. With furry, feathery and scaly friends all around, your little ones will squeal with extra delight Thursday, October 25 at the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo in Gulf Shores. The costume contest for kids of all ages begins at 5 p.m., but games, prizes and snacks will round out the fun from 4 until 6 p.m. Admission is $2 for kids, $1 for adults.

Bring the whole family to the Uptown Foley Halloween Party on Thursday, October 25. This free event, 5:30–8:30 p.m., is a block party-style celebration. Local businesses will line the streets, where you’ll enjoy a food court, cake walks, spook house, obstacle course, face painting, free games and treats, an inflatable jump house, and a costume contest for all ages.

Combine trick-or-treating with a shopping excursion at SanRoc Cay in Orange Beach. This Friday, October 26, from 3 until 9 p.m., bring your own bag and pick up treats at the SanRoc Cay merchants. While you are there, enjoy dinner at one of the restaurants, shop to your heart’s content, and even paint a special Halloween mask at Life’s a Canvas.

Get spooked at the Terror on the Gulf haunted house at The Hangout in Gulf Shores. For just $5 (or $25 for a season pass), find your way through the maze—but watch out for creatures! Open 7–10 p.m. for all ages that can handle the fright, then the adults-only version will run from 11 p.m. until 1 a.m. for those 18 and over. Dates are Friday and Saturday, October 26 and 27, then again October 29–31.

Let your pet in on the holiday fun! Bring your costumed pet, children and self to Magnolia By the Gulf Animal Clinic at Hwy. 59 and Co. Rd. 6 at 10 a.m. Saturday, October 27. Judging begins at 11 a.m. and prizes will be awarded for various categories for pets and people.

skeleton, halloween, gulf shores, alabama, orange beach, foley

Tiptoeing past a scary sight is just one of the many ways to celebrate Halloween in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama.

Halloween Family Fun Night at the Bodenhamer Recreation Center in Gulf Shores includes fireside stories, carnival games, dunking booth, a cake walk, and costume contests. This event begins at 6 p.m. Saturday, October 27. Admission and popcorn are free, and game tickets may be purchased for 50 cents.

Bring your lawn chairs and blankets Saturday, October 27 for movie night on the marina lawn at The Wharf in Orange Beach. The full evening begins at 6:30 with Bugs Bunny’s Howl-oween Special, followed by Monsters, Inc. at 7 p.m. As the younger children head home, the screen will light up with the scary Poltergeist at 9 and Amityville Horror at 11. Admission and popcorn are free for all movies.

On Saturday, October 27, 7–11 p.m., join the Treasures of the Isle krewe for their Halloween Fundraiser at the Orange Beach Community Center. Your $20 donation includes a dinner of barbecue, chips and slaw. Ice, cups and set-ups will be provided, and you can dance to the music of Knee Deep. Be sure to dress up—you could win prizes in the costume contest!

Of course, you’ll need a place to relax after all the spooky fright of Halloween. Plan now to stay with Meyer Vacation Rentals any time of year for pure peacefulness at the beach.

Stay informed of local activities, vacation rental specials and more by subscribing to this Discover Alabama Beaches blog and Meyer Muse, and by following Meyer Vacation Rentals on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

Posted in Activities, Alabama, Children, Events, Holidays, Nightlife | No Responses »
Tags: Alabama, band, children, exhibit, family, festival, Foley, free, fundraiser, Gulf Coast, Gulf Shores, Halloween, holiday, island, LuLu's, music, Nightlife, Orange Beach, Perdido Key, SanRoc Cay, The Hangout, The Wharf

Oktoberfest in Perdido Key

Wednesday, September 26th, 2012

October is just around the corner. That means it’s time for Oktoberfest!

Oktoberfest, Perdido Key, FL, German, accordion, music, folk, tradition

Dress in German folk attire (you could win a prize!) or come as you are. Perdido Key Oktoberfest is filled with music, games, brats and beer. Join the festivities October 5 & 6, 2012!

The 3^rd Annual Oktoberfest in Perdido Key, Florida, is proof of the success of their first two events. It has already outgrown the one-day schedule, so this year you have two days—October 5 and 6, 2012—to raise a toast to the folk traditions of Germany.

You’ll be treated to a musical performance schedule that features Buttons and Bows (accordionist Julie Council with her 9-year-old grandson Christopher Conger), Josef Mit Dehr OomPa, and the German band Bayrisch Blau that plays everything from polkas to American contemporary pop/rock.

Of course, the food is a huge favorite at the festival. Brats, schnitzel, pretzels and more will be savored by all ages. Children will enjoy the setting of the root beer garden that includes a bounce house. And the adults have the opportunity to sample a number of German beers by purchasing a $20 set of 10 tickets; single tickets can be traded for sample sizes of ale, or two tickets will return a full-size serving of your favorite variety.

Start warming up now to win one or more of the festival games described below. One game will be played every 15 minutes between 2:30 and 4 p.m. on Friday, and between each music set the remainder of the event.
› Hammerschlagen—Be the first to pound the nail into the wood.
› Stein Race—Run the course the fastest without spilling the beer.
› Masskrugstemmen—Hold a beer-filled, liter-size stein at a 90-degree angle as long as you can. (This is harder than it sounds!)
› Keg Roll—Push the keg through an obstacle course.
› Brat Toss—Toss brats with a partner, using buckets.

Don’t forget to wear your traditional German clothing—at 5:45 each day, prizes will be awarded for the best-dressed male and female!

This free family-friendly event begins Friday, October 5 at 2 p.m. and Saturday, October 6 at noon; closing time is 8:00 both evenings.

You’ll find the fun at 13200 Gulf Beach Highway, on the former Sacred Heart Soccer Fields next to the Winn-Dixie Shopping Center.

Come for the weekend—or better yet, stay a few extra days! Make it a cozy getaway in one of Perdido Key’s 1-bedroom condos or bring the family and stay in a 3-bedroom Perdido Key condo. No matter how many in your party, you’ll have a wonderful time at Perdido Key Oktoberfest and the beach!

Posted in Activities, Children, Educational, Events, Florida, Food | No Responses »
Tags: accordion, art, band, beer, brats, children, concert, destination, exhibit, family, festival, Florida, free, German, Gulf Coast, island, music, Octoberfest, Oktoberfest, Perdido Key, polka, Shopping

Back-to-School Beach Bash

Wednesday, August 8th, 2012

You may not know it by the weather, but summer is coming to an end. At least it is for students and their families. Rather than bidding the season a sad farewell, come celebrate it with free live music and s’mores at the beach!

smores, s'mores, beach bash, back to school, gulf shores, alabama

Free s’mores and live music on the beach! Bring your family to celebrate the end of summer at Gulf Shores Public Beach on Friday, August 10, 2012.

This Saturday, August 18, the City of Gulf Shores will host the second annual Beach Bash. Starting at 5 p.m., it won’t be hard to find the activity at the west end of the public beach. You’ll see campfires surrounded by folks of all ages creating and savoring (or gobbling) toasty, melty, oh-so-good s’mores. And others will be enjoying shaved ice.

With all that extra energy from the treats, you and the kids will have a blast dancing to the music played by DJ Shawn Weaver.

Send the season out with a simply yummy event. Round up your beach blankets and chairs, a cooler of cold beverages, and your family and friends, then relish the final evenings of relaxation before school activities kick into gear.

How about celebrating even bigger with a last-minute back-to-school beach getaway? When you stay by August 25 and pay for 4 nights, you’ll get two more nights FREE! Check out the details, then start packing for some fabulous end-of-season bonding with your family.

Posted in Activities, Alabama, Beaches, Children, Events | No Responses »
Tags: Alabama, band, beach, Beaches, children, concert, condo, destination, family, festival, free, Gulf Coast, Gulf Shores, house, island, Katawompus, music, rental, sale, sand, shoreline

Summer Beach Games

Monday, July 2nd, 2012

“Ready . . . set . . . go!”

beach games gulf shores coast 360 summer 2012

Kids compete in beach games Thursdays at Gulf Shores Public Beach.

Each Thursday through the end of July, ten children between the ages of 7 and 11 will have the opportunity to participate in old-fashioned beach fun.

From 11 a.m. until approximately noon at the Gulf Shores Public Beach, these kids will race, throw, bend and twist their way through games as they compete for the winning position.

Register at 10:45 to play Hula-Hoop, Fish in a Barrel, Bucket Ruckus, Low-Tide Slide and Seafood Scramble. But be there early, as there is only room for ten children, so it’s first come, first served. The top three will receive special awards, but all participants walk away with a souvenir for their efforts.

You’ll find the fun—whether participating or watching—at Lifeguard Station #4. For further information, call the game sponsor, Coast360, 251-967-7572.

Still looking for the perfect vacation place for your family? Look no further! Perhaps a 3-bedroom condo or house in Orange Beach will fit your needs, or maybe a 2-bedroom Perdido Key property is just right. With more than 1500 vacation rental properties on or near the beach, all sizes and budgets, it’s easy to find what you are looking for.

Posted in Activities, Alabama, Beaches, Children, Events, Other Sports | No Responses »
Tags: Alabama, Beaches, children, family, free, Gulf Coast, Gulf of Mexico, Gulf Shores, island, sand, shoreline

Army Band in Gulf Shores and Foley

Monday, June 18th, 2012

Patriotic music moves us. Marches inspire us. And the sound of a military band excites us.

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Two opportunities to enjoy the 151st Army Band patriotic concert: Tuesday in Gulf Shores and Friday in Foley.

This week, you have two opportunities to experience all of the above!

The 151^st Army Band’s Concert Ensemble will be performing Tuesday, June 19, at 6 p.m. in Gulf Shores. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets and snacks, and choose your spot in the lawn behind the Erie Meyer Civic Center, 1930 W. 2^nd St. This is a free event, so bring your family and friends—the more the merrier!

Can’t make it Tuesday? You’ll also find the military musicians playing Friday, June 22 at 7 p.m. at Heritage Park in Foley (corner of Hwy. 59 and 98). Their appearance, preceded at 6 p.m. by the Alabama Baton Corps, is part of the free weekly Music and a Movie event that also includes a farmer’s market (3–6 p.m.), so be prepared to shop and then stay for the evening to view Forever Young on the large inflatable screen.

It’s not too late to join us at the beach for this weekend! Take a look at what is still available for your arrival this Friday, June 22, then start packing for a fun-filled, sunny getaway on the beautiful white sands of Gulf Shores, Fort Morgan or Orange Beach (Alabama) or Perdido Key (Florida)!

Posted in Activities, Alabama, Arts, Arts Performing, Children, Concerts, Events, Presentations | No Responses »
Tags: Alabama, band, concert, country, family, festival, Foley, Fort Morgan, free, Gulf Coast, Gulf Shores, island, music, Orange Beach

Book Signings in Gulf Shores

Wednesday, June 13th, 2012

If you haven’t visited Just Books and Coastal Video in Gulf Shores during your beach trips, be sure to put it on your list—especially if you are in town this Saturday, June 16.

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Visit with nine authors Saturday, June 16, at Just Books and Coastal Video in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

Between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., you will have the opportunity to meet, chat with, and get autographs from nine authors! Their stories or their lives (and sometimes both) involve our Southeastern locale. Some of the material is true to life and some is fiction, and it’s always entertaining.

Stop by to enjoy an afternoon with the following authors:

Gilbert Morris—Christy Award-winning author of more than 200 books, Mr. Morris created the series The House of Winslow among many others, and has just published his most recent book, The River Rose from the Water Wheel series.

Chris Warner and Joe Gilchrist—Bushwhacked at the Flora-Bama was released earlier this year, detailing the history of the Flora-Bama Lounge at the Alabama/Florida state line and sharing some philosophies of the future of our country’s entrepreneurial opportunities.

Roger Reid—Among his acclaimed young-adult novels is his newest, Time, which follows teenaged Jason Caldwell through another exciting mystery-solving adventure.

Margaret Childress Long—From a native’s perspective, The Best Place to Be: The Story Of Orange Beach, Alabama describes the history and the people of Ms. Long’s beloved home.

flora-bama lounge, alabama florida state line, bar, joe gilchrist, chris warner

Read about the tough times and the great times behind the scenes at the famous Flora-Bama Lounge in this 2012 publication.

Harvey H. Jackson III—Covering the 1930s to present day development of the Alabama Gulf Coast, Rise and Decline of the Redneck Riviera begins with the worries of World War II’s effect on the area and includes the recovery from economic and natural disasters.

Ryan Anderson—Ms. Anderson weaves a mighty story in each of her thriller/murder mystery books, the most recent of which is Undelivered.

Paris Love—Coach, speaker, consultant . . . and now author. Debut novel Growing Pains proves the importance of true friendship as her central characters work their way through the ups and downs of the quest for true love.

Mark J. Hainds—Year of the Pig chronicles a hunter’s year-long pursuit of wild pigs in America to celebrate the Chinese Year of the Pig (2007).

While at Just Books and Coastal Video in the Bruno’s shopping center on Hwy. 59, don’t forget to pick out a couple of additional books for your beach reading, and also purchase or rent your favorite DVDs or games (system rentals available) to share with your family or friends. Need more details? Give them a call at 251-968-6828.

If you can’t make it here this weekend, join us when you can! How about staying in a 2-bedroom Gulf Shores house? Or, with more than 1500 properties to choose from—small to large and budget to luxury—we’re sure to have something that fits your needs.

Posted in Activities, Alabama, Arts, Businesses, Events, Gifts, Presentations, Shopping, Workshops | No Responses »
Tags: Alabama, author, book signing, books, condo, destination, exhibit, family, Foley, Fort Morgan, free, gift, Gulf Coast, Gulf Shores, History, house, island, just books coastal video, Orange Beach, Perdido Key, sale, Shopping

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Discover Alabama Beaches

Information on vacation rentals in Gulf Shores, Fort Morgan and Orange Beach, AL, and Perdido Key, FL