Whether you are looking for family-friendly entertainment or classic all-night bash, you can celebrate in style in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach. We have events going on during the day, on New Year’s eve itself and even on New Year’s day so that you start the new year off properly. Listed below are some of the scheduled events.

We would love for you to join us at these events and have a great time. We want you to come back and see us many times, so we ask that you indulge responsibly and take advantage of our area taxis if needed.

NOTE: For those of you new to the area, it is customary in the South to eat black-eyed peas, greens and cornbread on New Year’s day to ensure health, prosperity and good luck in the coming year. So don’t be surprised if you are offered these delicacies. It would be considered most ungracious to refuse this hospitality.

New Year’s Eve

10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Family Celebration Day at the Wharf

Discount Ferris wheel rides, corn hole tournament, largest sand pile contest, special movie presentations, face painting, kids games, jump houses, fishing pond. For more information contact Rob Lynch 941-780-0538, roblynch@revexpo.net.

The Wharf – 4985 Wharf Pkwy. Orange Beach, AL 36561

10:00 AM – 5:00 PM LuLu’s Noon New Years Eve Celebration

LuLu’s opens early every New Year’s Eve Day for a very special and family friendly way to bring in the New Year. Bring out the whole family and join Lucy Buffett for the big countdown to NOON! There will be lots of fun events including clowns, face painters, sand castle contests, bubble wrap and much, much more. Patti Hall with the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo will be on hand with some of her amazing animals. Musical entertainment provided by Amanda Shaw immediately after the countdown. Too much family fun to miss!

200 East 25th Avenue, Gulf Shores, AL 36542

7:00 PM – 10:00 PM Early Bird New Year’s Bash featuring Brent Burns

Join us on December 31st for the Early Bird New Year’s Eve Bash featuring 2010 Trop Rock Songwriter of the Year, Brent Burns. Admission is $15 in advance or $20 at the door. Payments are being accepted via Paypal (www.brentburns.com) or call 251.948.8863. Cash ticket sales are available at the CSC Office, 317 Dolphin Ave, Gulf Shores, 9am – noon, Monday – Friday. BYO Eats, Drinks and Table Decor. Spirits are permitted. Confetti, glitter and open flame are not. Prizes will be awarded for the most outrageous table decoration. Buy a table of 8 and get reserved seating!

Erie Meyer Civic Center, 1930 @. 2nd St., Gulf Shores, AL

7:00 PM – 2:00 AM The Wharf Rockin’ New Year’s Eve Bash

Main street party, two stages with live bands all night, giant Marlin drop at midnight. Spectacular firewarks display at midnight, $100 giveaway every hour until 2:00 am.

The Wharf – 4985 Wharf Pkwy. Orange Beach, AL 36561

8:00 PM – 2:00 AM New Years Eve Fire & Ice Unleashed with Kristy Lee at the Hangout

Tickets are $20. Champagne Toast at midnight along with Kristy Lee. Burlesque dancers, DJ and the Kristy Lee band to ring in the new year. 21 and up, doors at 8pm and the party goes until 2am. Don’t miss out on this Unleashed Event at the Hangout. For more information give us a call 251-948-3030 or send an email jimmy@thehangoutal.com

The Hangout – 101 East Beach Blvd – Gulf Shores, AL 36542

9:00 PM Papa’s New Year’s Eve Party

Party favors, free champagne at midnight and music by Smokey Otis & Mark Laborde.

Papa Rocco’s – 101 West 6th Avenue Gulf Shores, AL 36542

New Year’s Day

11:00 AM Flora-Bama New Years Day Polar Bear Dip

On Friday, New Year’s Day, at high noon, ‘Polar Bears’ will dip in the Gulf of Mexico at the Florida/Alabama line.
Deckstage Entertainment:
11:00 LeaAnne & Rick
3:30 Jezebel’s Chill’n
8:00 Adam Holt
Tentstage Entertainment:
10am Worship on the Water
11:30 Hung Jury

12:00 Noon 1st Annual Kiwanis Club of Gulf Shores Slip & Slide Polar Bear Dip

Slip and slide your way into the Gulf of Mexico for a non-traditional Polar Bear Dip with the Kiwanis Club of Gulf Shores on Sunday, January 1, 2012 at high noon at Gulf Shores Public Beach in front of The Hangout. The local Kiwanians, with the cooperation of the City of Gulf Shores, will set up a 33 ft. two lane slip & slide that will deposit sliders directly into the Gulf of Mexico. Of course, some participants may choose to take a more traditional route into the Gulf. But, regardless of how you get there, all participants will be treated to a free buffet at The Hangout afterwards.

Gulf Shores Public Beach – 101 East Beach Blvd – Gulf Shores, AL 36542