Well folks, here we are in the midst of another holiday season. That means it’s time once again for Christmas lights, Mariah Carey only wanting you for Christmas, and pirates on parade.

“Wait a minute,” you’re probably saying to yourself now, “Did they just say ‘pirates on parade’?”

Yes. Yes we did.

That’s because it’s that time once again for the annual Pirates of Fish River Christmas Parade in Baldwin County, Alabama.

Here Comes Santa Claus

Though pirates parading down the river may seem a bit unusual, Christmas boat parades are all over the Gulf Coast and have been around for years. In fact, the first Santa Claus parade in America was held in 1887 on the Illinois River in Peoria, Illinois. Assorted boats, floats and barges floated down the Illinois in celebration of the completion of a new bridge. At the end of the parade was the main attraction – Santa Claus!

The next year Peoria held a land parade through the center of the city. The guest of honor, Jolly Old St. Nicholas, has ended the parade ever since. In fact, Peoria’s parade is the oldest running Christmas parade in the world and celebrated its 137th year on November 25.

A Christmas Miracle

Along with parades and lights, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas nowadays without a Lifetime or Hallmark Channel Christmas miracle story. And if any story is a worthy Christmas miracle story, it’s the story of the Pirates of Fish River.

On September 16, 2020, Hurricane Sally, a Category 2 hurricane with 105 mph winds, made landfall in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Sally’s winds brought with them storm surges, freshwater flooding, and widespread destruction. Making matters worse, Sally was a slow-moving hurricane traveling inland at only 5 mph and causing even more sustained destruction. 

One of the Gulf’s hardest hit areas was the Fish River community where Hurricane Sally caused massive flooding along the river. Many homes and vehicles that sat near the river’s banks were submerged. Power was out and local roads were impassable for many days after.

There’s an old, overused adage that says: “Every cloud has a silver lining.” For four Fish River neighbors, that silver lining was the new friendship they formed in the storm’s aftermath.
As the community came together, Charli Linn, Leah Wilkins, Mitzi Rollins, and Sayle Roberts became quick friends. Soon after, they would come to be known as “The Pirates of the Fish River.”

When COVID necessitated the cancellation of the traditional Fish River Christmas Parade, the group took action. They decided to hold their own parade – a Christmas Boat Parade. On December 5, 2020, about a dozen boats all lit up in their Christmas best set sail down the Fish River. Even a little Alabama rain wouldn’t dampen their Christmas spirit as locals stood out on their docks cheering them on. The parade was a success – a Christmas miracle in the time when COVID was playing the Grinch to everybody’s Christmas.

A Christmas Tradition

When COVID-19 cancelled the country’s 2021 Mardi Gras parades, the Pirates stepped up again with their own boat parade. By the summer of 2021, the Pirates of Fish River became an official community organization. Along with their annual boat parades, they also hold annual poker runs, river cleanups, and other get-togethers throughout the year.

This year marks the fifth year of their annual Pirates of the Fish River Christmas Parade. And they just keep getting better every year.

Previous parades have sailed 30+ boats featuring dancing dolphins, Santa’s workshop, a 12′ Christmas Pirate, and much more!

The parade will set sail at 5:30pm on December 14, 2024, from Weeks Bay at the 98 Boat Launch. The parade sails north on the Fish River for about 6.5 miles. Once it reaches the basin just past the County Rd 32 Bridge, the parade will then turn around. The journey from Weeks Bay to the turnaround takes about an hour and a half.

For more boat parades, light trails, festivities, and other holiday events, check the regularly updated Events section at Go! Gulf States to see what’s lit along America’s third coast.   🌊

No matter where you go in the Gulf States, don’t forget to check in with our friends at Go! Gulf States for lots of fun on the coast. And as you search for the special Christmas gift for that special someone, head over to Stuckeys.com. There you’ll find great Christmas gift ideas like our Stuckey’s “Merry Christmas, Y’all” holiday T-shirt. You’ll also find a variety of Stuckey’s hoodies to help keep you comfy cozy throughout the year.

What’s more, Stuckey’s has brought back the Stuckey’s Mystery Box for the holidays.  Each all-new Mystery Box includes an EXCLUSIVE Stuckey’s Santa hat. Every box is different and packed full of retro fun, but one thing’s for sure. They’ll all contain a 2 oz pecan log roll and a Santa hat. Ho Ho Ho! Enjoy!

Stuckey’s: We’re Making Road Trips (and Holidays) Fun Again!

The post 🎅🏽 Parading Pirates Light Up Alabama’s Fish River for Christmas appeared first on Go Gulf States.

The Gulf State Park Pier has officially reopened! The newly repaired pier “soft” opened on Monday, Aug. 19 to rave reviews from locals and tourists.

A proper ribbon-cutting ceremony brought together civic, business, and community leaders to officially celebrate the re-opening of iconic pier on Friday, Sep. 13, 2024. This more formal event allowed community leaders to show their appreciation for the Gulf Coast landmark. The commemoration occurred just three days shy of the fourth anniversary of Hurricane Sally, which destroyed significant portions of the pier on September 16, 2020.

The pier underwent an extensive $13.6 million renovation project that began in November, 2023. These repairs were paid with funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Deepwater Horizon Natural Resources Damage Assessment (NRDA) funds, and Alabama State Park revenues. The pier’s restaurant, gift shop, and beach access are fully operational. However, the observation deck, located above the octagon on the pier’s south end, will reopen later this season.

The post Renovations Revealed at Reopening of Gulf State Park Pier appeared first on Go Gulf States.

This past week, the county superstar opened his hotly anticipated store in the coastal Alabama town. The second Shore Thing cigar store will have a very similar feel and vibe to its flagship, located on scenic highway 30A, in Watersound, Florida.

Bryan, the five-time Entertainer of the Year and American Idol celebrity judge owns the store along with business partner and co-owner, Tobacconist of the Year and three-time Davidoff Golden Band Award-winner Paul Copeland. Luke and Paul chose The Wharf in Orange Beach because of its deeply rooted ties to live music and championship sport fishing. The Wharf also has a 10,000 seat, open air amphitheater that hosts some of the biggest names in music, including Luke himself.

In fact, guests who attended the store’s grand opening on June 15 had the opportunity to be regaled at that evening’s concert by none other than Thomas Luther Bryan, himself.

The post Huntin’, Fishin’, Lovin’… and Smokin’ at Luke Bryan’s New ‘Shore Thing’ Cigar Store appeared first on Go Gulf States.

The sale is expected to close in May, with the collection of tolls to cease at noon on the date of the closing. A date for the closing will be announced as soon as it is scheduled.

“Alabama’s Gulf Coast continues to experience record growth and success,” said Governor Kay Ivey. “Needed infrastructure improvements in the area will help alleviate traffic congestion for Alabamians and those visiting our beaches.”

When the transaction is finalized, the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) will operate the Beach Express Bridge toll free, initially carrying southbound and northbound traffic. ALDOT’s construction of the Intracoastal Waterway Bridge will continue into 2026. Upon completion, the Beach Express Bridge will be converted to carry northbound traffic and the new ALDOT bridge will carry southbound traffic – creating “one-way pairs,” parallel paired bridges to move traffic more efficiently to and from Alabama’s beaches.

The entire route from Interstate 10 will become a state highway to be named State Route 161.

The post Foley Beach Express Bridge Becomes Toll Free, Courtesy of State of Alabama appeared first on Go Gulf States.

When you hear the name Sarah Jessica Parker, movies and TV shows probably come to mind. Parker is a household name thanks to pop-culture standards like Sex and the City, Hocus Pocus, and Footloose. The popular actress’s newest project, however, is a different kind of venture – an imprint of Molly Stern’s publishing house Zando.

In 2022, Parker launched SJP Lit, which will publish between four and six books over three years. An avid reader since childhood, Parker has stated that some of her earliest memories were of reading and that her go-to activity between takes on film and TV sets is to pick up a book.

This September, SJP Lit published Kim Coleman Foote‘s Coleman Hill. The novel is a poignant reflection across several generations of the intertwined Coleman and Grimes families during the Northern Migration from Alabama and Florida to New Jersey, detailing grief, love and cultural shifts over decades. By using the narration of characters across decades, Foote perfectly illustrates the unraveling of abuse and connection between parents, children, and siblings, while providing a history lesson on the contrast between the remnants of Southern slavery and the price of starting over in the North.

In 1916, during the early days of the Great Migration, Celia Coleman and Lucy Grimes flee the racism and poverty of their homes in the post–Civil War South for the “Promised Land” of Vauxhall, New Jersey. But the North possesses its own challenges and bigotries that will shape the fates of the women and their families over the next 70 years.

Told through the voices of nine family members, Coleman Hill is a multigenerational debut that draws from Foote’s own family legend. As Foote told The Provincetown Independent, “When you forget parts of history, patterns repeat themselves. This goes for the great human tragedies as much as for intergenerational trauma within families.”

The book is, “At once intimate and panoramic,” according to SJP.

The post Panoramic, Intimate ‘Coleman Hill’ Captivates Readers and SJP appeared first on Go Gulf States.

The event featured a traditional ceremony where the final steel beam painted gold was signed by guests. The beam is to be placed atop the new building, symbolizing progress and a bright future.

In addition to celebrating the topping off event, Legendary Marina & Yacht Club is pleased to announce the addition of Margaritaville restaurant. The Jimmy Buffett-themed dining destination will be part of the Town Center of Gulf Shores marketplace and entertainment center.

The post Legendary Marina Reveals Margaritaville Plans at Topping Off Event appeared first on Go Gulf States.

It’s the 50th annual National Shrimp Festival presented by the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber, and the show must go on! Just a few hours later than slated.

According to the press release:

“The Annual National Shrimp Festival is announcing a delay of the Festival’s opening to 2pm on Thursday, Oct. 12 due to threats of severe weather on Wednesday afternoon.

“The forecasted high winds and rain will be delaying the time typically slated for vendor setup. The decision was made to ensure everyone working on-site remains safe throughout the setup process.

“From Thursday afternoon on, forecasts are favorable and organizers are looking forward to celebrating what will be a milestone weekend for the Gulf Coast.”

The Shrimp Festival is a free, non-ticketed, and non-gated event, attracting anywhere from 100,000-250,000 attendees. Live music will run throughout the four days of the festival on two stages.

Happy 50th Shrimp Fest!

The post Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop the 50th National Shrimp Fest appeared first on Go Gulf States.

Looking for some “spur of the moment” excitement? A number of high profile rodeo events are happening on the Gulf Coast! Each has a unique story which we hope to follow and cover more deeply in the future: The Liz Cook Texas Super Ryde & Rodeo is an annual Creole trail ride. It rolls from all points, through East Texas, and culminates in a rodeo in Wharton, Texas, southwest of Houston. The exhilarating Mississippi Coast Annual Black Rodeo has earned its title as the “Baddest Show on Dirt!” And the JCMF Pro Rodeo in Robertsdale, Alabama (read below) is an awareness-raiser and fundraiser for a very important cause. – Editor

The Jennifer Claire Moore Foundation is celebrating 25 years of its primary fundraising event, the annual Professional Rodeo.

Proceeds from the JCMF Pro Rodeo event will aid the nonprofit organization‘s continued efforts. The group provides resources within local communities and schools to foster social and emotional well-being of the area’s youth.

For its commemorative year, this award-winning Professional Cowboy Association event will relocate to the Robertsdale Arena. The move will accommodate the anticipated larger crowds while continuing to provide attendees with a memorable rodeo experience. It will feature eight nightly events: bareback and saddle bronc riding, bull riding, and calf roping, barrel racing, and more.

Gates will open nightly at 5:30pm with the main rodeo action commencing at 8pm. Pre-rodeo festivities for children include face painting, play tattoos, a bounce house, inflatable obstacle course, and more.

About JCMF

The Jennifer Claire Moore Foundation is a non-profit organization established in memory of Jennifer Claire Moore, a 16-year-old high school student who tragically lost her life to suicide in 1997. It is dedicated to providing programs, services, and resources across Baldwin County communities. These offerings that support the social and emotional well-being of area youth when they need it most.

The post Not Their First Rodeo: JCMF Pro Event Celebrates 25 Years at the Roundup appeared first on Go Gulf States.

Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail photo by Laura Grier / @LauraGrierTravel

It began with one section less than two miles long. It now boasts a trail system of 28+ miles of coastal wilderness just minutes from the beach. And it spans nine Alabama ecosystems through Gulf Shores, Gulf State Park, and Orange Beach. The Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail  beat out a lengthy list of national competitors, including the Great Allegheny Passage across Maryland to Pennsylvania and Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes in Idaho, to win the nationwide competition and earn the coveted title.

“We are excited that USA Today’s readers have chosen the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail inside Gulf State Park as the number one recreational trail in the U.S.,” said Chris Blankenship, Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources.

The post Congrats, Gulf State Backcountry Trail: Number 1 According to USA Today! appeared first on Go Gulf States.

It’s the culmination of Mardi Gras 2023, and Go! Gulf States collaborators at Coastal Alabama Chamber of Commerce will be rolling in both Fat Tuesday parades in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.

Their site has all the information about both parades.

Happy Mardi Gras, y’all!

The post ⚜️ All on a Mardi Gras Day: Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Parades Roll for Fat Tuesday appeared first on Go Gulf States.