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.

Imagine this: A weekend dedicated to you and your squad, starting with a powerhouse women’s conference and unfolding into a perfect blend of relaxation, adventure, and sisterhood bonding. As the back-to-school rush settles, Galveston Island beckons with open arms for the ultimate girlfriend getaway starting with the 17th annual Galveston Women’s Conference at the Moody Gardens Convention Center on Friday, Sept. 13.

The conference features none other than the celebrated actress, iconic star of 80s classic Dirty Dancing, and Golden Globe nominee, Jennifer Grey, as keynote speaker. Prepare for a day brimming with inspiration, empowerment, and retail therapy at the vibrant vendor market featuring more than 150 vendors.

The vendor expo showcases health and wellness products and services, jewelry, clothing, and other merchandise. The event also features inspiring speakers, personal development opportunities, and fitness breaks.

The Galveston Women’s Conference, a one-day conference aimed to empower women and ignite entrepreneurial spirit, attracts over 1,200 participants from across the region.

The post Need an Excuse for a Girls Getaway? Head to the Galveston Women’s Conference appeared first on Go Gulf States.

The results are in: The annual projections for the 2024 4th of July travel season blow all previous year predictions out of the water! Over 5.6 million anticipated travelers in Texas and over 4.5 million in Florida indicate that the Gulf states are definitely driving significant numbers in these US estimates. With this year’s July 4 happening mid-week, our own site’s Independence Day event listings span the entire week and then some, with related happenings as early as June 28 and as deep into the calendar as July 10.

Click through to the entire AAA article for informative charts and some great tips to make your summer holiday travel a breeze!  – Editor

The post Projections for July 4th Travel Are In: 2024 Will Be Another Record-Breaker 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.

Well, folks, the holidays have already come and gone and here we are, so close to spring. Of course, this can only mean two things. The first is that road trip season is just around the corner. The second thing is baseball, baseball, baseball.

So, if you’re a baseball fan itching to get back on the road again, it’s time to buckle up! Today we’re taking you on a trip around Florida’s Grapefruit League that’s sure to be a home run.

 

THE BOYS OF SPRING: FLORIDA’S GRAPEFRUIT LEAGUE

Baseball has been migrating to Florida for spring training since the Philadelphia Phillies first spent two weeks there in Jacksonville in 1889. By 1913 other baseball teams like the Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Indians joined them in the Sunshine State. The next year saw two more teams move to Florida for spring training, and suddenly, they had a league.

Every year since (except during WWII), nearly half of the teams in baseball descended on Florida for spring training until 2010. Today, it’s split even with 15 teams playing for the Grapefruit League and 15 playing for Arizona’s Cactus League.

Nevertheless, from Ruth to Ripken, spring training in Florida has witnessed some of the greatest names in baseball over the years.

 

HOW FLORIDA’S GRAPEFRUIT LEAGUE GOT ITS NAME

Aviator Ruth Law in 1915

The weather in Florida has always been great for spring training. However, it has also served as a great place to get some good PR in for the teams as well.

One day in 1915, Brooklyn Dodgers manager Wilbert Robinson and outfielder Casey Stengel noticed that aerobatic aviator Ruth Law had a pretty good publicity stunt. To advertise a local golf course, Ruth would drop golf balls from her airplane.

Robinson and Stengel got the idea to do the same thing at their baseball field in Daytona Beach except with a baseball. Robinson himself would even stand on the pitcher’s mound to catch it. They took the idea to Law, and she agreed.

The day of the PR stunt, however, Ruth found herself 525 ft. in the air, without a baseball. Accounts vary about what happened next. The popular version goes like this: Acting quickly and noticing the grapefruit she brought with her lunch, she dropped the citrus fruit below. However, Robinson missed the catch. The grapefruit hit him in the chest, exploding on impact. Robinson looked down and saw red. Because he was expecting a baseball, he thought he had been mortally wounded. Nevertheless, he soon realized he was fine.

And it’s through this little publicity stunt that the Grapefruit League got its name.

THE 2024 GRAPEFRUIT LEAGUE

Today, there are 15 major league teams scattered throughout the Sunshine State for spring training. Starting with Stuckey’s favorite – the Georgia-grown Atlanta Braves – here’s where to find some of your favorite teams:

Team	Ballpark	City
Atlanta Braves	CoolToday Park	North Port
Baltimore Orioles	Ed Smith Stadium	Sarasota
Boston Red Sox	JetBlue Park	Fort Myers
Detroit Tigers	Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium	Lakeland
Houston Astros	The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches	West Palm Beach
Miami Marlins	Roger Dean Stadium	Jupiter
Minnesota Twins	Hammond Stadium	Fort Myers
New York Mets	Clover Park	Port St. Lucie
New York Yankees	George M. Steinbrenner Field	Tampa
Philadelphia Phillies	BayCare Ballpark	Clearwater
Pittsburgh Pirates	LECOM Park	Bradenton
St. Louis Cardinals	Roger Dean Stadium	Jupiter
Tampa Bay Rays	Charlotte Sports Park	Port Charlotte
Toronto Blue Jays	TD Ballpark	Dunedin
Washington Nationals	The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches	West Palm Beach

The first two games of the spring training season happened Friday, February 23, 2024. The Northeastern University Huskies took on the Boston Red Sox at Jet Blue Park in the first game, 7-2 Boston won. And the Minnesota Twins beat the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers at the Hammond Stadium at Lee County Sports Complex.

For the complete spring training schedules of all 15 major league baseball teams, visit the Grapefruit League’s official website here.

Also, check out the inaugural edition of MLB’s Spring Breakout taking place March 14-17 at Grapefruit League ballparks across Florida. The event showcases the league’s up-and-coming talent through 16 exhibition games featuring each team’s top 20-25 prospects. This is definitely a series you don’t want to miss.

Finally, are you planning a road trip along America’s third coast this summer? Then why not catch nine innings with the Houston Astros, Tampa Bay Rays, or Miami Marlins while you’re there? Click on the team name for regular season schedules.

Take Stuckey’s out to the Ol’ ballgame

Sure, peanuts and Cracker Jacks have always been the go-to snacks of every American ballpark. However, why not step up your game this year with Stuckey’s Hunkey Dorey popcorn mix? Its perfect blend of premium popcorn, house-made caramel, crunchy almonds, and Georgia-grown pecans make it the grand slam of ballpark snacks. Order some now from stuckeys.com and have some on hand for the entire season.

Along the way, pick up some delicious Stuckey’s pecan snacks at select Bealls, Wawa and Stuckey’s stores throughout Florida. Click on the stores for locations and more info.

And whether it’s baseball, barbecue, or the bayou, start planning your road trip along America’s third coast today – only at Go! Gulf States!

Stuckey’s – We’re Making Road Trips Fun Again!

The post Catch a Grapefruit Game on Your Next Florida Road Trip appeared first on Go Gulf States.

Stuckey’s mission statement, “Making Road Trips Fun Again!” is right up our alley. Our childhood memories are chock full of visiting Stuckey’s on family car trips up and down the South. These days, we stop along I-10 in East Texas; road trips aren’t complete ’til we grab some Hunkey Dorey. Go! Gulf States appreciates Stephanie Stuckey and the entire Stuckey’s crew for their support as we “coast” through this holiday season.  – Editor

Well, folks, the most wonderful time of the year is now upon us. That means it’s time once again to make a Stuckey’s stop – whether online at Stuckeys.com or in-person at a shop – for everyone on your gift list.

At Stuckey’s, you’ll find gifts for all your family and friends – even those who seem to have everything.

For the roadtrippers on your list, why not get them a box of world-famous Stuckey’s Pecan Log Rolls? After all, what’s a road trip without ’em? (Vanilla 2oz. rolls and the 10oz. roll complete with cherry bits, make great stocking stuffers!) Stuckey’s Gift Shoppe bags in six different pecan flavors are also great for those who can’t wait to hit the road. And don’t forget a Stuckey’s travel mug so they can wash down those treats with their favorite beverage while on the go.

Teens will love the variety of hoodies and retro Ts to keep them “comfy cozy” and looking nostalgi-cool all year. And why not get yourself a “Merry Christmas, Y’all” T-shirt to keep you in holiday spirit all season long? Santa says you’ve been nice.

At work, your colleagues will love digging into the Stuckey’s Chockful Gift Tin at the annual party. And nothing will say you’re the best Secret Santa quite like the surprises they’ll find in the Stuckey’s Mystery Box.

Of course, there’s so much more to choose from, and you’re sure to find something for everyone. Make a Stuckey’s stop on the information superhighway today at stuckeys.com for all of your holiday needs.

Oh! And don’t forget to stock up on Stuckey’s snacks just in time for the Bowl games happening all across December and into the New Year!

Happy Holidays from Stuckey’s!

The post Hey, Santa! Please Bring a Ho-Ho-Whole Lot of Gifts from Stuckey’s This Year appeared first on Go Gulf States.

Five of Charles Dickens’ great-great-grandchildren and great-great-great grandchildren will celebrate the season with Galveston revelers at Rosenberg Library, It all happens just before the kick-of of the island’s annual Dickens on the Strand weekend. This is the 50th year of the Victorian holiday festival.

Enjoy a panel discussion with Polly Boyd, Mark Dickens, and Deborah Dickens. Hear about their role in keeping Dickens’ stories alive. After the discussion, the library’s Galveston & Texas History Center will provide a short talk and viewing of the first edition copies of Charles Dickens’ works in their collection. There will also be a Dickens-themed Treasure of the Month on the 2nd floor of the library.

Later that afternoon, children, kindergarten age and up may enjoy a practically perfect teatime with members of the Dickens family. Dress up  – costumes encouraged, but not required.

These events are an early celebration before Dickens on the Strand officially starts a few blocks down later that evening.

The post The Dickens Are Coming! Galveston Prepares for a Seasonal British Invasion 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.

We boned up on our French just enough to say that we are très jaloux that founding team member and intrepid correspondent Patti Lou is headed to Lafayette to take in Festivals Acadiens et Créoles 2023. The festival happens during the city’s bicentennial and just one year shy of the festival’s 50th. Here’s a lovely pre-trip preamble we’re posting just as Patti & crew head out for the festival opening: the cutting of the boudin. Look for Part 2 coming soon.  – Editor

While road trips to Louisiana became a semi-regular feature of my 20s, it was not about cultural awareness so much as it was about going to party in “flagrant vice capital of the civilized world,” as Ignatius P. Reilly would refer to his hometown. We were there to drink. And eat.

And I’m not gonna lie: I was unprepared for the food.

To be clear, I don’t have a true family connection to Cajun culture, unless you count that time in the 80s when my roots-music-loving father went through a serious Cajun phase that none of us really ever got over. It featured repeated listens of Harry Choates, Jolie Blonde, and big pots of gumbo simmering on the stove. Maybe we should count it, after all, having experienced this immersion in such tender formative childhood years – despite, or maybe as a complement to my deep Texas roots.

The gumbos of Louisiana were richer and had more seafood funkiness than what Dad made back home in Austin. My first fried oyster poboy at Acme Oyster House in New Orleans was a revelation – the funkiness of the Gulf with the crunch of homemade coleslaw, the zip of the horseradish only somewhat contained in a bread roll that resembled a small baguette. It was paired perfectly with a delicious Bloody Mary that I still think of often, and not just because it was garnished with a pickled green bean instead of celery.

(Side note: Years later, when I was a lunch cook at a small-town cafe in New Mexico, I attempted to recreate this sandwich as a lunch special. I had discovered a small tub of fresh oysters in the walk-in, and I sent someone to the store for horseradish. I wrote it up on the specials board, but apparently no one in NM knew what a poboy was, so I didn’t sell a one. Which was fine, because when the Italian-trained, Mexican national chef/owner arrived, she wanted to know just what the hell I was doing with her oysters!)

This common bond of Dad’s deep Cajun phase is what later inspired my brother to establish a tradition of taking his Central Texas-based family to New Orleans each spring for New Orleans Jazz Fest. Then in 2015, he began raving about this other, free music festival and insisted we book a vacation rental in Lafayette for a lovely fall weekend. The trek from Central Texas to Lafayette is a good bit shorter, but still has plenty to do and see along the way.

Anyway there’s a lot to be excited about, so let’s start with the road trip! Turns out, you don’t even have to wait until you get all the way to Louisiana for some good food. I really want to stop at  Big John’s Grill in Beaumont for some down-home Mom-&-Pop soul food, but if I do, I better not fill up, because down the road in Lake Charles, there’s Cajun seafood at Steamboat Bill’s!  When we get just outside Lafayette, there’s Best Stop Supermarket in Scott, Louisiana, a grocery store specializing in all manner of Cajunized meats, including award-winning boudin. Definitely a great place to stock up on Cajun goodness when we’re heading back to Texas, but hey, let’s stop by real quick  and get some provisions for the weekend rental.

Can’t wait to revisit the Old Tyme Grocery for one of their delicious meatball poboys. Or should I get a muffaletta? Oh yeah, also gotta check out the Blue Moon Saloon, cool homegrown honky-tonk that’s a short walk away from the rental, for some post-festival refreshment and local music.

I know, I’m not even at the festival yet!

Just what is it about Festivals Acadiens et Créoles that makes this Texas heart go all-aflutter? It could be the four or five stages burning up with should-be-more-famous talent all day Saturday and Sunday, or that when the music starts, the dance floor fills up with twirling, two-stepping couples that never seem to tire.

Could it be the food?  My husband has been talking about the crawfish etouffee in a bread bowl for the past eight years, and I totally get it. Some of Louisiana’s finest culinary offerings are available at this fête, from boudin to poboys, to seafood gumbos. Oh, and the festival features cooking demonstrations as well, so maybe you can take a little of that magic home!

Maybe it’s that Lafayette itself is another world, where French is spoken under ancient oak trees, and the past is kept alive not just in museums, but in the way people live everyday.

Check back for Part 2!

The post Allons a la Louisiane: Road Runners en Route to Festivals Acadiens et Créoles 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.