Listen up, beach lovers and festival fanatics: November just decided to become the main character this year. While everyone else is busy arguing about pumpkin spice, the Gulf Coast is quietly planning to steal the show with a lineup so good it should probably come with a warning label.
Nov 1: Gumbo Festival
Let's start strong, shall we? The Gumbo Festival at CoastAL Orange Beach is basically what happens when chefs from across the nation decide to duke it out in the most delicious way possible. For just $25, you get 8 tasting tickets and the power to crown the Fan Favorite. It's democracy in action, people, but with way better food.
Nov 6-16: Frank Brown International Songwriters' Festival
This isn't just any music festival. This is where Grammy winners and future stars collide in venues across Perdido Key, Pensacola, Orange Beach and Gulf Shores. Over 200 songwriters are about to spill their musical secrets, and most venues won't even charge you for the privilege.
Nov 7-8: Experience the Oyster
Murder Point Oysters is back at The Hangout for round four of what can only be described as oyster paradise. Friday kicks off with an exclusive VIP event at Zeke's Restaurant, and Saturday brings the full spectacle from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (VIP gets early access at 10 a.m.). Live cooking demos, hand-crafted cocktails and enough oysters to make a pearl jealous. Not into oysters? They've got gumbo too!
Nov 7-9: Great Gulf Coast Arts Festival
Downtown Pensacola's Historic Seville Square is about to become an artist's playground. This free festival brings over 200 of the nation's best artists together for three days of pure creative magic. Sunshine Artist magazine ranks it 18th in the nation, which is basically the artistic equivalent of being in the cool kids' club. Plus, there's a children's festival with free activities because someone finally figured out how to make art accessible to tiny humans with short attention spans.
Nov 8-9: Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival AND Tacos & Tequila Festival
Weekend warriors, this one's for you. Baldwin County is pulling double duty with not one but TWO food festivals happening simultaneously. The Food Truck Festival brings craft beer and lawn games to Town Green, while the Tacos & Tequila Festival serves up Hispanic flavors with tribute bands and contests in Foley. Saturday features 90s country tributes and jalapeno eating contests, while Sunday brings Almost Skynyrd and taco eating contests. Because apparently November decided subtlety was overrated.
Nov 9: Fido Fest
Your four-legged bestie finally gets their moment to shine at Waterfront Park from 2 to 5 p.m. Pet caricatures, dog-friendly activities and live music create the perfect afternoon for anyone who's ever wondered what their dog would look like at a festival. Spoiler alert: adorable.
Nov 11: Veterans Day Celebrations
USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park is pulling out all the stops to honor our veterans with a full day of tribute. The celebration kicks off with patriotic music, presentations by Veterans Day Essay Contest winners, a keynote address by the 2025-26 Distinguished Young Woman of the Year and the heartwarming Parade of Flags featuring 4th graders from Mobile and Baldwin counties. The day continues with the Mobile Pops presenting their annual Veterans Day concert in the Medal of Honor Aircraft Pavilion, featuring traditional patriotic music, military marches and the meaningful playing of service songs with veteran recognition. Both events are free because some things are just more important than ticket sales.
Nov 15: Fall Pensacola Food Truck Fest
Community Maritime Park hosts another round of food truck madness with a culinary competition that puts taste buds to the test. At $5 for adults (kids 12 and under get in free), it's basically the most affordable way to eat your way through Pensacola's food scene.
Nov 27: Thanksgiving Triple Threat
Thanksgiving just got three times better. Flora-Bama's Annual Thanksgiving Potluck invites you to bring a covered dish and skip the family drama (they provide the turkey and ham, starting service at 11 a.m.). The Hangout is setting the stage for an extraordinary family-friendly Thanksgiving meal from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Meanwhile, Perdido Beach Resort is hosting their own Thanksgiving Buffet in the Grand Ballroom with adults at $48 and kids 6-12 at $23 (little ones 5 and under eat free). Three different vibes, three ways to avoid cooking, and all of them beat arguing over politics at your uncle's house.
Nov 29: Coastal Half Marathon, 5K & 1-Mile Fun Run
End the month by working off all those festival calories with a post-Thanksgiving run through Alabama's coastal landscapes. It's the perfect way to justify everything you ate during the previous 28 days while creating new family traditions that don't involve arguing over the remote.
Want even more ways to fill your calendar? Check out our events calendar for the complete lineup of everything happening this month. And don't forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube for inspiration and insider tips on making the most of your Gulf Coast adventures.