The annual Hangout Music Fest is slated May 18 to 20 and will boast three days of music right on the sugar-white sand beaches of Gulf Shores. More than 60 bands are set to hit multiple stages with headliners like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dave Matthews Band and Jack White. While general admission tickets are sold out, a few VIP and Super VIP festival passes remain. Festival lodging partners are also offering tickets with accommodations while supplies last. The festival opens at 11 a.m. and ends at 11 p.m., nightly.

If you’re in Gulf Shores Memorial Day weekend (May 26 and 27), don’t miss the annual LuluPalooza Weekend Music Fest. In its eighth year, the family-friendly, two-day event features free concerts by Eric Lindell, Honey Island Swamp Band, Dread Clampitt, Roddie Romero and the Hub City All-Stars and more. Held at Lulu’s at Homeport Marina, there will be plenty of music, activities and great food for the young and young at heart. Music starts at 4 p.m., but you’ll want to arrive early and treat yourself to some of Lulu’s famous LA Caviar or a Cheeseburger in Paradise.

Not in the area on these dates? Don’t fret. If there’s one thing you can count on during your vacation to the Gulf Coast, it’s a steady lineup of live music. Take a peek at the Calendar of Events to plan your itinerary.

Located on the Alabama/Florida state line, the star attraction consists of competitors throwing a mullet from Alabama across the state line into Florida. More than two decades of games have proven that tossing a slippery, wet fish more than just a few feet can be a difficult, yet entertaining task, and champions come back year after year to defend their title. The children’s toss will begin at 10 a.m. daily and the adults toss is at noon. Admission is $10 for ages 21 and older and $15 for those under 21.

The weekend of events doesn’t stop with the fish toss. Throughout the three days, there will be three stages of live music, beach games and great food.  The annual event is a fundraiser by the Flora-Bama for local youth charities, including an education and prevention program by the Community Drug and Alcohol Council. Each year, the event generates more than $20,000 in donations.

Crabbing on the beach at night is a fun activity for all ages. Grab a couple of flashlights, sand shovels and buckets and head out just after dark. Sand crabs are pretty fast, so you’ll have to move quickly. After a wave breaks, shine your light and you’ll see them scurry across the sand, burying themselves. Break out the shovel and start digging. Once your crab-hunting adventure is over, be sure to release them back to the water.

Head out to The Wharf and take a ride on the tallest Ferris wheel in the Southeast. Your teen doesn’t have to lose cool points with his or her friends by riding with you and the family. They can catch a ride on the cart before or after you. For $4 per person, the Ferris wheel is a great way to get a bird’s eye view of the Gulf Coast.

Everyone loves the excitement of spotting dolphins, so while you’re here be sure to take the family on one of the many dolphin cruises available. Your youngest traveler will laugh with delight at the sight of the friendly creatures, and your teen will enjoy the sunshine, boating experience and fun atmosphere.

You can never go wrong with the area’s selection of family-friendly restaurants. Lunch or dinner at these establishments is truly an event. At The Hangout, you’ll find live music and an interactive DJ experience that appeals to all ages in the family. Do the limbo and learn the Cupid Shuffle while you wait on your order. Get a table by the sand, and watch your younger traveler play on the giant sand hill. Take a trip to Lulu’s and listen to the tunes of local musicians while your teen shows their skills on the ‘Mountain of Youth’ ropes course. Your little ones will love the sand area, furnished with buckets and shovels.

There’s no shortage of things to do when you visit Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. Be sure to check out the area’s other attractions to help plan your trip.

To make sure you get the most out of your visit, take a look at our 10 steps to a perfect beach vacation.

1. Get out on the water. Regardless of your level of seaworthiness, find a charter boat or dolphin tour and enjoy some time at sea.
2. Get up early at least once. Or maybe that means staying up, but watch the sunrise. Few things will be as memorable for you as the serenity of the sun coming across the waves early in the morning. Since you’re up, you might even want to get in a round of golf at one of the many courses in the area.
3. Splurge on a really good meal. We have many excellent local restaurants with the freshest seafood you can imagine. It is well worth the indulgence to fully take advantage while you are here.
4. Go local. Get a good healthy dose of Southern hospitality by patronizing independent local businesses. We are glad to see you and want to let you know.
5. Use the Gulf Beaches app. GulfBeaches, available on iPhone or Android, provides all kinds of timely, helpful information including weather, events, meetups, activities and specials around town.
6. Post pictures online. We have no doubt that your remembered your camera or smartphone, but post at least some of your pictures online right away so that if anything should happen to your devices, you still have a record of your time here.
7. Wear sunscreen. Seriously folks, you have probably been mostly out of the sun for several winter months. Be kind to your skin and don’t try to get a deep dark tan all at once. Your travel enjoyment is substantially diminished when your entire body blisters – not to mention the health risks.
8. Drink water. It may feel balmy and delightful on the beach, but you are still depleting your system of water. Dehydration can cause all kinds of nasty problems ranging from headaches to hospitalization, so be prepared.
9. Use baby powder when you get off the beach. Do you hate that sandy feeling you get after being at the beach all day? Dust yourself off with baby powder to feel normal again.
10. Remember your shades. Protect your eyes at the beach and look good doing it. In fact, get yourself a pair of sunglasses your really like and rock them the whole time you’re here.

Sunrise Services, Sunday, April 8

Bellingrath Gardens

As the sun rises over Bellingrath Gardens and Home on Easter Sunday, April 8 please come and enjoy a special Sunrise Service with friends and family on Live Oak Plaza between the Bellingrath Home and the Boehm Gallery. The service will begin at 6:30 a.m. and is open to everyone in the community. During the service an offering will be collected to benefit The Interfaith Hospitality Network – The Family Promise Ministry. Chairs will be set up, but guests may bring their own.

The Hangout 

The Hangout offers a service followed by a family-style, all-you-can-eat breakfast from 7:30 – 11:00 AM, kids 10 and under eat free.

The Flora-Bama Lounge

Worship on the Water at the Flora-Bama Lounge.

Egg Hunts, Sunday, April 8

The Hangout

The Easter Bunny arrives at The Hangout at 11:00 AM. The free egg hunt starts at 12:00 PM. Games and costume contests start at 1:00 PM. The Hangout suggests you arrive early to ensure that your children don’t miss out on the fun.

LuLu’s 

Let your kids experience an Easter egg hunt in the sand at LuLu’s at 2:00. The Easter Bunny will oversee the events.

The Hangout Music Fest

Last week the festival announced the following additions to the line-up: Kaskade, Umphrey’s McGee, Delta Spirit, Heartless Bastards, Greyboy All Stars and Givers.

Additionally, if you have a boat and are interested in attending the festival, you might want to consider docking at Homeport Marina and catching a daily shuttle to the concerts. Homeport Marina is the first ever Official Marina of the 2012 Hangout Music Festival. It is located 3 miles from the festival site at Lulu’s at Homeport, on the Intracoastal Waterway Mile Marker 155 and the Highway 59 Bridge. Please CLICK HERE or call 251-968-4528 to make your reservation today for your Hangout experience.

Pepsi Concert Series

There are three upcoming concerts scheduled at the Wharf so far but additional acts are added throughout the summer.

Luke Bryan with Special Guest James Otto, Saturday April 14, 8:00 PM.

Luke Bryan is responsible for three country number one hit songs Rain Is a Good Thing and Someone Else Calling You Baby  and I Don’t Want This Night to End. His energetic show is sure to get your toes tapping. For ticket information click here.

Wiz Khalifa and Snoop Dogg, May 4, 8:00 PM
Rap icon Snoop Dogg joins rising start Wiz Khalifa to promote their soundtrack to the movie Mac and Devlin Go to Highschool. Both artists are hailed as innovators in rap and hip/hop. Together they form a compelling musical partnership. Be advised that the music is often explicit. For ticket information click here.

Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band, July 4, 8:00 PM

Celebrate Independence Day with a British invasion! Ringo Starr, legendary drummer of The Beatles, plays with a few of his friends for a great night of classic rock and roll. Steve Lukather of Toto; Gregg Rolie of Journey and Santana; Richard Page of Mr. Mister; Todd Rundgren, Mark Rivera, and Gregg Bissonette comprise the All Starr Band. For ticket information, click here.

March 16 – 18      60th Annual Arts & Crafts Festival of Fairhope
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Over 230 fine arts & crafts exhibitors.  Live local entertainment.  Unique festival food.  BRATS shuttle service from shopping centers at Greeno Rd. & Fairhope Ave. for $2 each way (3 minute ride).  This an Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce event.

March 17      4th Annual BBQ & Blues Cook Off, Foley
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Located in Heritage Park in downtown Foley from 10am – 6pm. Live music and BBQ tastings! This is a ticketed event. For more information please call 251-943-3291 or visit www.sbchamberfoundation.com.

March 31        The Original German Sausage Festival – Elberta, Georgia
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

The best German Sausage you have ever tasted! Made from a secret recipe developed by the founding fathers of Elberta, AL. This is the only place you can get the real thing! Arts & crafts, live music, carnival rides, baked goods & more. Don’t forget to visit the Bier Garten for a large selection of imported beers. Phone: 251-986-5805, Website: http://sausagefest.elbertafire.com

March 31      American Red Cross Gumbo Cook-Off in Bienville Square, Mobile, AL
11:00 am – 2:00pm

$10.00 each in advance, $12.00 at the gate, Kids 10 and under get in free. The competition includes seafood and chicken/sausage categories with amateur and professional divisions.  Call  251.544.6140 or visit facebook.com/redcrossalcoast. Proceeds benefit the Alabama Gulf Coast Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Appreciate Art

The Orange Beach Festival of Art takes place March 10 & 11 with more than 90 artists participating. The festival, located at the Orange Beach Art Center, offers a Kids Art Alley  where children have the opportunity to make their own works of art in a variety of media including pottery, forged iron, and origami. Festival admission is $1 for people 12 and older.

Witness History

If want your to kids like history, take a drive north of Mobile to Fort Mims, March 16 -18 to witness the re-enactment of the “Bashi Creek Ambush”.  Throughout the day you can hear cannons fired and tour living history encampments that demonstrate craftsman skill necessary to the frontier. The University of South Alabama has an active archeological site and guides discuss heirloom and medicinal plants.  For more information, click here.

Take a Walk

Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge offers free guided nature tours each week – Tuesdays and Wednesdays  at 9:00 a.m. and Thursdays at 8:00 a.m. Each tour will consist of a 1-2 hour walk. Come and learn about the plants, ecology, history, and wildlife found on the refuge. Reservations are required. Tours are limited to 12 people and 24 hour cancellation notice is requested.  To make a reservation click here.

Tap Your Toes

For a nostalgic but energetic look at American musical heritage, consider taking the kids to Bluegrass Tuesdays at Johnny’s Lakeside RV Resort in Foley. Every Tuesday evening the venue presents Bluegrass bands from 7:00 – 9:00 pm. Children 12 and under are free, adults pay $8 admission. For more information click here.

Eat Up

The Original German Sausage Festival in Elberta is a crowd-pleaser every year. The event takes place on March 31 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm offering continuous entertainment for adults and children, and 250 arts & crafts booths. Admission is free and come early because they usually sell out of the 7,000 pounds of sausage they have to sell by 3:00 pm. For details, click here.

Enjoy a Thrill

In March, the Blue Angels start their practice schedule at the Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola. They practice their program of daring stunts most Tuesdays, Wednesdays and sometimes Thursdays, but if you go on Wednesdays, your youngsters can meet the pilots and get autographs. They are currently scheduled to practice on the 21^st and 28^thbut it’s a good idea to call ahead to confirm as practices may be cancelled without notice. For more information, call (853) 452-3604 or visit the museum’s website.

Last week we addressed some of the remarkable artists visiting the area to share their craft. This week we want to highlight just a few more so you can see just how diverse and intriguing the roster of artists truly is.

Pottery – Larry Allen

Mr. Allen comes to the festival from Kentucky where he has been making magic with pottery since the 70s. His style brings together modern architectural symmetry with bold color and classic lines.  He says he has been inspired by a variety of events and cultures in his time. Mr. Allen’s specialty is a technique called Sgraffito. In Sgraffito (or sometimes spelled Scraffito) the Pottery Artist applies two layers of a contrasting colored slip (clay in a liquid form) to an unfired ceramic form. The artist then scratches or incises his design on the slip, which in turn exposes the lower layer slip color.

See his works on his Orange Beach Festival of Art Facebook page.

Music – Lisa Zanghi

Ms. Zanghi, a talented singer-songwriter, left this area in the early 90s to pursue a career in Nashville. Her influences include Bonnie Raitt, Carole King and Joni Mitchell. After honing her songwriting craft, she returned to the Gulf Coast area in 2005. Her performance at the festival promises to be emotionally powerful and a toe-tapping good time.

Learn more about her on her Orange Beach Festival of Art Facebook page.

Interactive Art – The Tannehill Forge School of Blacksmithing

The Tannehill Forge School of Blacksmithing will share its artisanship with festival-goers by allowing them to participate in creating rustic beauty during the festival. Children and adults get to join in the fun as molten metal is turned into sculptural design. This is a great opportunity for children especially to connect to the kinds of skills so essential to our forefathers.

Find out more about it on the Orange Beach Festival of Art Facebook page.