There is nothing quite like the experience of watching a hot air balloon inflate using an open flame and then slowly lift from the ground. As a child, my family attended an annual hot air balloon race as spectators and ever since, I have dreamed of floating through the sky in a hot air balloon. Give your family the experience of seeing hot air balloons up close at the Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival. The annual event attracts over 50 balloons from across the country. The event offers live music, activities, food and vendors.
Get out and enjoy all that the Gulf Coast has to offer this weekend. If our list of weekend happenings does appeal to you, visit our Event Calendar at GulfCoastMedia.com for more events happening around the area.
Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival
- What: Being full of hot air is not an insult this weekend as the Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival takes over the grounds around OWA. The family-friendly annual event has activities for everyone. The weekend will be packed with live music, hot air balloons, zoo animal meet and greets and more. For more information, visitgulfcoastballoonfestival.com or visitowa.com.
- When: Thursday, May 4, from 5 to 10 p.m., Friday, May 5 and Saturday, May 6, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Where: OWA, 100 N. OWA Blvd., Foley
- Price: Free to attend
Gulf Coast Classic Fly-Fishing Festival
- What: The Gulf Coast Council of Fly Fishers International is set to host its inaugural Gulf Coast Classic, a fly-fishing festival. The event will include seminars on fishing locations, tactics and multiple species; exhibitors and vendors; fly fishing demonstrations and workshops. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.ffigulfcoastclassic.com.
- When: Friday, May 5 through Saturday, May 6, times vary
- Where: Learning Campus at Gulf State Park, 20249A State Park Road, Gulf Shores
- Price: Single-day adult admission is $15 and children ages 16 and under are free
Crawfish Cook-Off 2023
- What: The annual Crawfish Cook-Off is back. Enjoy a day of food, fun, music and cold beer in Bay Minette. Entrance into the event includes all-you-can-eat crawfish samples from the teams competing, one Pepsi product of your choice and hot dogs for the non-crawfish eaters. The event is cash-only.
- When: Saturday, May 6, 5 p.m.
- Where: George B. Halliday Park, 506 Clark Ave., Bay Minette
- Price: Admission is $20 for adults, $10 for children ages 10 and under
Explore Mobile Day
- What: Spend a day exploring our neighbors to the west. Enjoy live music, activities and free admission to the city’s tourist attractions. Explore 300 years of Mobile history inside the History Museum of Mobile, experience colonial life inside the walls of the Colonial Fort of Mobile, walk through period rooms of the Conde-Charlotte Museum House and navigate the Dora Franklin Finley African American Heritage Trail and more. For more information, visit www.mobile.org.
- When: Sunday, May 7, from 1 to 5 p.m.
- Where: Mardi Gras Park, 104-148 South Royal Street, Mobile
- Price: Free to attend
