Alabama Festivals and Events

A calendar that runs from Carnival parades to college football and racing weekends.

Alabama's busiest event seasons are spring and fall. Mobile's Carnival season runs for weeks before Lent, spring brings arts festivals and the Mullet Toss on the state line, summer is for fishing rodeos and music on the coast, and fall is college football season, when much of the state plans its weekends around Auburn and Alabama games.

Big venues include Talladega Superspeedway, Legion Field and the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex, the Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery and The Wharf amphitheater in Orange Beach. For Montgomery events, see the Visit Montgomery calendar.

Annual Festivals and Events

Mobile Mardi Grasusually February or early March · Mobile

Weeks of parades and balls in the city that claims America's oldest Carnival, ending on Fat Tuesday.

Selma Bridge Crossing Jubileeusually early March · Selma

A commemoration of Bloody Sunday with a march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, talks and a festival.

Flora-Bama Mullet Tossusually late April · Orange Beach state line

A beach party where contestants throw a fish from Alabama into Florida, raising money for local charities.

Do Dah Dayusually May · Birmingham

A long-running pet parade and music festival that raises money for animal charities.

Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeousually July · Dauphin Island

One of the largest saltwater fishing tournaments in the country, with weigh-ins open to spectators.

W.C. Handy Music Festivalusually July · Florence and the Shoals

A week of blues, jazz and other music in honor of the Florence-born father of the blues.

Sidewalk Film Festivalusually late August · Birmingham

Independent films screened in theaters across downtown Birmingham.

National Shrimp Festivalusually October · Gulf Shores

Four days of seafood, arts and crafts and music on the Gulf Shores public beach.

Talladega NASCAR weekendsspring and fall · Talladega

NASCAR Cup Series races at the series' longest oval, with big infield camping crowds.

Magic City Classicusually late October · Birmingham

The football rivalry between Alabama A&M and Alabama State at Legion Field, with a parade and tailgates.

Frank Brown International Songwriters' Festivalusually November · Orange Beach and Gulf Coast

Songwriters perform their own songs at venues along the coast for about ten days.

Magic Christmas in Lightslate November through December · Bellingrath Gardens

Millions of lights and hundreds of displays along the garden paths south of Mobile.

Dates move from year to year — confirm on the organizer’s site before you plan around an event.

Official Event Calendars

Alabama Tourism Department eventsThe state tourism calendar of festivals, concerts and seasonal events. Gulf Shores and Orange Beach eventsBeach festivals, concerts and fishing tournaments on the coast. Visit Mobile eventsMardi Gras parades, concerts and events in Mobile. inBirmingham eventsThe Birmingham visitors bureau calendar.

Want help planning Alabama?

Tell us when you are coming and what you enjoy. A travel specialist will put together hotel, activity and travel options for you — free, with no obligation.

Get free trip quotes »

Alabama Events — FAQ

When is Mardi Gras in Mobile?

Fat Tuesday falls between early February and early March, depending on the date of Easter, and Mobile's parades run for about two weeks before it.

When is the National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores?

It is usually held over four days in October on the public beach. Check the festival site for the current year's dates.