51st Annual Orange Beach Festival of Art March 8-9

51st Annual Orange Beach Festival of Art March 8-9
The Orange Beach Festival of Art, recently named one of the top 20 art festivals in the country, will celebrate its 51st anniversary March 8-9 on the joint grounds of the Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach and Waterfront Park on Canal Road. Festival hours are Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
A relaxed, uncomplicated layout, easy to enjoy in just a few hours on beautiful waterfront grounds, the art selection is fine-art focused and free. Public parking located at both the Island Church and the Orange Beach City Hall complex. Shuttle service is provided with an all-day pass for $5.
Parking for guests approaching from east Orange Beach is at the Orange Beach Presbyterian Church.
There are two designated spaces for golf carts adjacent to the kids’ playground and west of the festival entrance on Canal Rd.
There is also a fenced-in area inside the fest for bicycles and limited handicap parking on the front grounds of the O.B. Community Church.
The festival will feature more than 100 booths of local and regional fine art, plus exciting acts on the performing arts and music stages. Live visual arts demonstrations include hot glass blowing and cool clay sculpting.
Savory gourmet offerings will be presented in the Culinary Arts area and food vendors include SugarLove, Tin Tin’s Rock n Roll Food Truck and Will Yums.
Children can dive into fun hands-on experiences in the Kids Art Alley will open with the festival on Saturday and at noon on Sunday. Kids’ Art Alley ticket price: $5 for 6 tickets. Orange Beach Wildlife Center staff will be there to give kids of all ages can get up close and personal with animal ambassadors of all types.
The show was selected as Best Art Show in Alabama for three of the past four years by Alabama magazine and is currently ranked nationally at #76 for the top 100 fine art and design shows.
This year’s fest will include a literary arts tent featuring discussions, readings and book signings from a diverse group of fiction, non-fiction, history and poetry writers.
“With our focus on presenting truly gifted and professional fine artists, the show has garnered a reputation among designers and decorators, said CAC Director Desiree Hodge. “But patrons of all types can find both fun and affordable original art.”
The 2024 show winners included Best of Show: Dustin Headrick, Folk Art; First place, 2D: Monica Iverson, Oil/Acrylic; Second place, 2D: Marie Rust, Graphic; Third place, 2D: Chris Knuckles, Mixed Media; First Place, 3D: Stephen Dark, Sculpture; Second place, 3D: Tim Gollette, Wood; Third place, 3D: Craig Riches, Sculpture; Artisan Award: Roger & Renae Poer; Judges Award: Nick Cantrell, Watercolor; Exhibitors Choice: David Jackson, Mixed Media; City of Orange Beach Choice Award: Fred Fisher, Mixed Media 2D.
More info: OrangeBeachArtsFestival.com, facebook or call 251-981-ARTS (2787).

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Music Stage
Saturday
10:15 am – Wylie Pete
11:45 am – Doug Drake & Tennessee Tim
1:15 pm – Groovinators
2:45 pm – T Holloway
Sunday
11:00 am – Ben Lake
12:30 pm – Roman Street
2:00 pm – Swamp Symphony
Literary Arts Stage
Saturday
11:30 am -Mike Bunn (non-fiction)
12:30 pm – Carolyn Haines (fiction)
1:30 pm – Joe Cuhaj (fiction/non-fiction)
Sunday
11:30am – Patricia Black Gould (fiction)
12:30 pm – Jessica Jones (poetry)
1:30 pm – Charlotte Pence (poetry)
Performing Arts Tent
Saturday
11:00am – Singing For Scholarships
12:00pm – Coastal Ballet & Tai Chi
1:00 pm – Gulf Coast Line Dancers
2:00pm – South Baldwin Dance Center
3:00pm – TBD
4:00pm – Expect Excellence Choir/Theatre Arts
Front Grass Stage
Saturday
12:00pm – Astero Arts – Aerialists
1:00pm – Gulf State Park – Radical Raptors
2:00pm – Riley’s Productions – Improv
3:00pm – Entertainment Ignited – Fire Dancers
Sunday
12:00pm – Saraab Belly Dancers
1:00pm – GSP Scutes, Scales & Tails
2:00pm – Riley’s Productions – Improv
3:00pm – Ssslackerz Slackline Performance