Ballyhoo Festival of Fine Art & Culture

Breathe in salt air and pine as Gulf State Park’s Lake Shelby becomes an open-air gallery. The festival is produced by Ballyhoo Festival Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit run by an all-volunteer team, closely associated with the Gulf Coast Arts Alliance. It receives grant funding from the Alabama State Council on the Arts and logistical support from Gulf Shores–Orange Beach Sports and Events. Major 2026 sponsors include Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism, Coca-Cola United, OWA Parks, Flora-Bama, and the Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival (the latter two co-present the fiddle/banjo competition).

Juried art and prize money

Over 100 juried artists from across the United States set up in 12′×12′ booth spaces. Media include painting (acrylic, oil), sculpture, pottery, folk art, fine crafts (such as handmade cowboy hats), and photography. Artists apply through ZAPP (zapplication.org) with a $25 application fee and four required images. Live art demonstrations feature painting, wood carving, and basket weaving, and an emerging artist program supports newer creators. For 2026, art prize money has been increased to $6,000 (up from $5,000 in earlier years), and a separate $4,000 purse funds the Fiddle/Banjo Competition — both notable increases.

Musical acts

Two stages anchor the entertainment: the Ballyhoo Main Stage and the Ballyhoo East Stage. Past performers include Sugarcane Jane, The Destinations, Clubhouse Pirate Band, Krickets, and the Skyline Kings, spanning Americana, bluegrass, country, and variety genres. As of mid-February 2026, the official website lists both stages as “not yet scheduled” — lineup announcements are still pending. A new “Porch Band Performance” section has appeared on the 2026 website, hinting at an added acoustic format.

Poarch Creek cultural programming

Saturday’s programming features the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, Alabama’s only federally recognized Native American tribe. The Event Director of the Pow Wow Club (or the PCI Cultural Director) delivers a historical narrative about the tribe’s heritage, followed by two performances of original tribal dance in full ceremonial regalia — scheduled at 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM based on 2025 timing. Dancers explain the meaning of each dance and the significance of individual regalia pieces. This cultural exchange component is consistently cited as the festival’s most distinctive feature.

History and logistics

The festival launched around 2015 and originally operated at Waterway Village before relocating to Gulf State Park’s Lake Shelby area around 2022–2023, a move that reportedly improved both organization and attendance. No specific past winners or judges have been publicly named. Saturday hours run 9:00 AM–5:00 PM; Sunday 10:00 AM–4:00 PM. Parking is $10/car at Gulf Shores Pavilion and the State Park Pier, with free parking and shuttle service (operated by Coast Cab) from Gulf Shores High School. Food vendors offer Cajun/Creole fare, local seafood, tacos, gumbolaya, gourmet waffles, soft serve, and kettle corn; the Kiwanis Club serves burgers and hot dogs, and OWA provides funnel cakes. Beverages (beer, wine, soft drinks) are sold by the Coastal Alabama Chamber of Commerce.