Ballyhoo Festival

The Gulf Coast Arts Alliance will be presenting the 8th Annual Ballyhoo Festival, March 5-6, at the Gulf State Park, 2115 Gulf State Park, Gulf Shores.

This is a juried fine arts festival with emphasis on cultural exchange. If you are an artist interested in showing, the deadline for entering is December 31, 2021.

The Ballyhoo Festival will present $3,000 in artists’ cash awards.

Festival Dates & Times: 

Saturday, March 5 - 9am-5pm

Sunday, March 6 - 11am-5pm

In addition to the more than 80 fine artists, the Ballyhoo Festival will feature two performances on Saturday, March 5, by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, the only federally recognized tribe in Alabama. The Cultural Director provides a history of the tribe and how it maintained its presence in Alabama after the Trail of Tears. The tribe will then perform different dances in ceremonial regalia. The meaning of each dance is described by the Cultural Director. This cultural exchange has always been a part of the Ballyhoo Festival. 

On Sunday, March 6, the Ballyhoo Festival has partnered with Flora-Bama and the Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival to present Early Americana music in the form of a Fiddle/Banjo Competition. This is a juried competitive event with cash prizes of $1500.00 awarded to winners.

As a part of Sunday’s Early Americana genre, the Cotton Pickin’ Kids from Hanceville, Alabama, will perform. This is a popular group that is an internet sensation with over 5 million followers. They are a family of 3 brothers and 3 sisters, ages 7 to 19.  Each plays a different instrument and most can play a variety of instruments. They are a delightfully entertaining group of youngsters and will certainly draw a crowd at the festival.

In addition, the Ballyhoo Festival will have a Children’s Art Pavilion, a great variety of food and popular local bands. The Festival is a one-of-a-kind event featuring fine art, cultural exchange and demonstrating the fun loving spirit of the residents of Coastal Alabama.

Artists may enter the Ballyhoo Festival by visiting www.ballyhoofestival.org.

For additional information, call 251-223-3970.