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Friday, December 30th, 2011
There is no shortage of opportunities on our island to celebrate the turnover of the calendar year. Some are catering to children and their families, some to the not-so-late-night partiers, some to the energetic adult crowd. But The Wharf in Orange Beach is offering something for all, and admission is free.
Party with the kids all day and your friends all night. Free New Year's Eve celebrations at The Wharf in Orange Beach, Alabama.
From 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. December 31, families can enjoy discounted Ferris wheel rides, face painting, clowns, kids games and contests, special movie presentations, giant sand piles, a bounce house and more. The active day will ensure the kids an early, solid night’s sleep that your trusted babysitter will appreciate.
But your celebration is far from over. Beginning at 6 p.m., six bands on two stages will be cranking out the tunes and keeping your energy revved. As street dancers and firebreathers stroll the grounds, you will enjoy plenty of food and beverages to keep you active into the night. Count down with Lady Gaga as the New York celebration is shown on the JumboTron, then count down with the local crowd as the 14-foot jeweled marlin drops. Toast the new year as large, colorful fireworks marks the occasion.
The night doesn’t have to end at midnight. Head to the Las Vegas Club at the Orange Beach Event Center next to the Main Street area. Or hop a free shuttle to Flora-Bama or Live Bait to extend your festivities into the wee hours.
It’s not too late to gather your family or a group of friends and head to the beach. We’ll even give you TWO FREE NIGHTS! Perhaps a 2-bedroom condo in Orange Beach would be the perfect size, or maybe a 3-bedroom Perdido Key property would be ideal.
Stay informed of Gulf Shores/Orange Beach area activities, vacation rental specials and more by subscribing to this Discover Alabama Beaches blog and Meyer Muse, and by following Meyer Vacation Rentals on Facebook and Twitter.
Posted in Activities, Alabama, Children, Concerts, Events, Holidays, Nightlife | No Responses »
Tags: Alabama, celebration, children, concert, destination, family, festival, fireworks, Fort Morgan, free, Gulf Coast, Gulf Shores, holiday, island, JumboTron, music, New Year's Eve, Nightlife, Orange Beach, party, Perdido Key, The Wharf
Thursday, December 29th, 2011
The staff and patrons of the world-famous Flora-Bama Lounge, Package and Oyster Bar know how to party. (If you’ve been there, no doubt you can attest to that fact.) So it’s no surprise that the biggest party night of the year will have the state-line roadhouse jumpin’.
From a dinner buffet to breakfast, with 4 bands on 2 stages, Flora-Bama has it covered for New Year's Eve.
Beginning at 7 p.m., two stages of entertainment will keep things lively—and you’ll enjoy two bands on each stage. The Deck Stage will host Big Muddy and Troy Brannon, while J. Hawkins and Lucky Doggs will appear on the Tent Stage.
A sumptuous dinner buffet will be served throughout the evening, and there will be party favors for everyone. The champagne toast at midnight will kick off 2012, followed by a delicious breakfast.
Get your New Year’s Party tickets in advance to ensure your place at the party. Those 21 and older will pay just $35 for a night of festivities, while the 18–20 set will pay $45. You can also purchase tickets at the T-shirt trailer at Flora-Bama.
Last-minute beach trips are always welcome, so come celebrate the arrival of 2012 in our backyard. We’ll even give you TWO FREE NIGHTS! Make it a romantic getaway in a 1-bedroom property in Orange Beach or gather a large group and share a roomy 5-bedroom Perdido Key condo.
Stay informed of Gulf Shores/Orange Beach area activities, vacation rental specials and more by subscribing to this Discover Alabama Beaches blog and Meyer Muse, and by following Meyer Vacation Rentals on Facebook and Twitter.
Posted in Activities, Alabama, Beaches, Businesses, Concerts, Dining, Events, Florida, Food, Holidays, Nightlife | No Responses »
Tags: Alabama, band, Beaches, Big Muddy, concert, destination, Flora-Bama, Florida, Gulf Coast, Gulf Shores, holiday, island, J. Hawkins, Lucky Doggs, music, New Year's Eve, Nightlife, Orange Beach, Perdido Key, shoreline, Troy Brannon
Tuesday, December 27th, 2011
Let’s face it: Even those who enjoy a good party don’t necessarily want to stay out until midnight or beyond. That can create a bit of a challenge on New Year’s Eve when midnight is the focal point of the celebration.
Enjoy a New Year's Eve party in Gulf Shores, Alabama that won't keep you up past midnight.
But if you are in the Gulf Shores area, consider the issue solved. Come to the Early Bird New Year’s Eve Bash created for people just like you! Listen or dance to top-notch live music, compete in the table decoration contest if you wish, celebrate the close of 2011 and the birth of 2012, and let your presence there be your final good deed of this year.
To get the most out of the evening, plan to be at the Erie Meyer Civic Center when the doors open at 6 p.m. this Saturday, December 31. Bring festive decorations for your table, but please leave the confetti, glitter and open flames at home. The table with the most outrageous decor gets bragging rights and a little something from the musical star of the evening.
Beginning at 7:00, the 2011 Trop Rock Singer/Songwriter of the Year, Brent Burns, will be sharing his popular blend of covers and original music, including a number of humorous musical commentaries for which he is well known.
The food will be perfect, as you will be supplying your own snacks and drinks. (Alcohol is allowed; please drink responsibly.) Bring enough goodies for just you, or plenty to share—whatever makes you happy. After all, it’s your party!
The $15 advance tickets are available at the Christian Service Center, 317 Dolphin Avenue in Gulf Shores, open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to noon; cash or checks are accepted. You may also purchase admission through the Brent Burns website or by calling 251- 948-8863; or pay $20 at the door (space permitting). Book an entire table of 8 for $120 and you will have reserved seating. All proceeds benefit the Christian Service Center, a 100% volunteer organization that gives a hand up, not a hand out, to those in need.
Come join us at the beach to ring in the new year. We’ll even give you TWO FREE NIGHTS! Grab a buddy or your significant other and relax in a cozy 1-bedroom property in Gulf Shores or bring another couple or a few friends to share a 2-bedroom Fort Morgan condo.
Stay informed of Gulf Shores/Orange Beach area activities, vacation rental specials and more by subscribing to this Discover Alabama Beaches blog and Meyer Muse, and by following Meyer Vacation Rentals on Facebook and Twitter.
Posted in Activities, Alabama, Charity, Events, Food, Fundraisers, Holidays, Nightlife | No Responses »
Tags: Alabama, band, Brent Burns, charity, Christian Service Center, concert, Fort Morgan, fundraiser, Gulf Shores, holiday, island, music, New Year's Eve, Nightlife, Orange Beach, rock, trop rock
Tuesday, December 13th, 2011
The environmentalist. The volunteer. The nature lover. The person who has everything. The proud local. The appreciative visitor. The ecotourist. The science teacher or student.
Your gift to a friend or family member also supports Weeks Bay Foundation programs.
Many of us fit into at least one of those categories. And we know of one particular gift item that will satisfy any or all of these folks.
When you give someone a 2011 Weeks Bay ornament that commemorates the 25th anniversary of the designation of the Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, you give much more than a simple gift to a friend or family member. You also support the natural environments of our area and beyond.
Current programs of the Weeks Bay Foundation include submerged equipment, weather stations and sampling projects to monitor water quality. And their ongoing objective is to purchase land in the Weeks Bay watershed that may be added to the National Wildlife Reserve, or be set aside with a conservation easement such as to preserve a wildlife habitat, or create a buffer to conservation lands.
You have four options for securing this decorative item that depicts a fisherman in a kayak. The best value is a combination ornament and one-year membership in the Weeks Bay Foundation for just $50. Send an ornament with a holiday card that includes your personal greeting for just $20, shipping included. Ornaments alone are $15 online, or you may purchase them in person for $12 at Fairhope Pharmacy’s Christmas ’Round the Corner or the Weeks Bay Reserve at 11401 U.S. Hwy. 98 in Fairhope (251-990-5004).
Stay informed of Gulf Shores/Orange Beach area activities, vacation rental specials and more by subscribing to this Discover Alabama Beaches blog and Meyer Muse, and by following Meyer Vacation Rentals on Facebook and Twitter.
Posted in Alabama, Birding, Boating, Businesses, Charity, Educational, Fishing, Fundraisers, Gifts, Holidays, Nature and Wildlife | 1 Response »
Tags: Alabama, Beaches, charity, destination, exhibit, family, Fishing, Fort Morgan, fundraiser, gift, Gulf Coast, Gulf of Mexico, Gulf Shores, History, holiday, island, Orange Beach, saltwater, sand, shoreline
Wednesday, December 7th, 2011
Creating a sleigh ride without snow can be a bit of a challenge. But with a little imagination from both organizers and riders in Orange Beach, trucks and trailers become magical sleighs, taking you through brightly decorated paths along the Backcountry Trail to view live Nativity scenes, hear carolers and small instrumental groups, and of course, meet Santa.
Ride the Backcountry Trail, transformed into a holiday wonderland, Friday, December 9, 2011, in Orange Beach, Alabama.
Hot chocolate and cookies will be supplied for the tour. Musical entertainment at City Hall, the departure point, will help pass the time while waiting to join the next available ride. Raggedy Ann and Andy, as well as other children’s characters, will be sharing the merriment.
Sleigh rides are scheduled to depart every 5 minutes, beginning at 6:00 this Friday, December 9, and the ride lasts approximately one hour. The event ends at 9:00, so you’ll have plenty of time before and after the ride to enjoy the decorated booths of area businesses, including restaurants, retail shops, salons, churches and more. (You can even pick up some coupons to make your holiday shopping a little easier on the budget.)
Grab your coats, hats and mittens and enjoy the warmth of a free, old-fashioned community holiday event in Orange Beach this weekend. For more information, please call 251-981-1063.
Create more bonding time and a break from the holiday rush by surprising your family with a weekend beach getaway. Take a look at the 3-bedroom condos available in Orange Beach, then apply promo code 1112W1 to get a free night when you pay for 2. Clothing, games and electronics make wonderful holiday gifts, but experiences and memories as a family are priceless.
Stay informed of Gulf Shores/Orange Beach area activities, vacation rental specials and more by subscribing to this Discover Alabama Beaches blog and Meyer Muse, and by following Meyer Vacation Rentals on Facebook and Twitter.
Posted in Activities, Arts, Arts Performing, Arts Visual, Children, Events, Holidays, Nature and Wildlife, Nightlife | No Responses »
Tags: Alabama, band, children, Christmas, exhibit, family, festival, Foley, Fort Morgan, free, Gulf Shores, holiday, island, music, Nightlife, Orange Beach, Perdido Key, sleigh ride
Tuesday, December 6th, 2011
“Oh, no! Not the Herdman kids! They’ll ruin everything!”
In spite of chaos, it really does turn out to be "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" at South Baldwin Community Theatre.
The six Herdman siblings, known to run wild while their single mom works double shifts to support the family, only showed up at church because they heard there were snacks. When the notoriously unruly bunch is allowed to take part in the Sunday school’s annual Christmas pageant, the current members’ objections are ignored. The show does go on, in spite of the chaos caused by the newest participants and a few unconventional twists. But the church will never be the same again—and neither will the Herdman family, as they finally learn the true meaning of Christmas.
If this story sounds familiar, it may be for good reason. Barbara Robinson’s rollicking, family-friendly, short story was first published in McCall’s magazine before she adapted it as a book in 1972. Ms. Robinson later scripted it as a play that was premiered in 1982 by the Seattle Children’s Theatre. In 1983, it became a TV movie that starred Loretta Swit as the frazzled, last-minute replacement for the injured director of the pageant.
This version of the play is directed, produced and performed by talented folks from our area. They will ensure that you leave the performance filled with laughter and warmth.
Tickets are going fast, so reserve yours today: Friday & Saturday, December 9 & 10 or 16 & 17, at 7:30 p.m., or Sunday, December 11 or 18, at 2:00 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for students. Box office hours for the South Baldwin Community Theatre (2022 W. 2nd St. in Gulf Shores, 251-968-6721), are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Stay informed of Gulf Shores/Orange Beach area activities, vacation rental specials and more by subscribing to this Discover Alabama Beaches blog and Meyer Muse, and by following Meyer Vacation Rentals on Facebook and Twitter.
Posted in Activities, Alabama, Arts, Arts Performing, Businesses, Children, Educational, Gifts, Holidays, Presentations | No Responses »
Tags: Alabama, children, family, Fort Morgan, gift, Gulf Coast, Gulf Shores, holiday, island, Nightlife, Orange Beach, play
