Top 5 Ways to Spend New Year’s Eve on the Alabama Gulf Coast
Any day at the beach is a good day, but New Year’s Eve is a great day to be on the Alabama Gulf Coast! There are so many fun things to do as you say “so long” to 2017 and “hello!” to 2018. The hard part won’t be finding a place to go to take your family or meet some friends. The tough part will be deciding which place to choose! As you plan your annual countdown to midnight, consider these five options:
#5 Lucy Buffett’s LuLu’s
The fun starts at 10 AM at Lulu’s in Gulf Shores. For those of you who are not looking for a late New Year’s Eve Celebration, but an early one, this is for you! Grab your camera, throw on your shades and flip flops, and bring the kiddos to Lulu’s early on December 31. They will be getting ready for their massive Beach Ball Drop at noon. Expect kid friendly events and lots of entertainment for the whole family. Oh, and about the flip flops, you might want to bring along some warm shoes, too, just in case!
#4 Moon Pie Drop in Mobile
Yep! You read that right! There is a giant 600 pound Moon Pie that shines over downtown Mobile on New Year’s Eve and it drops at exactly midnight! If you’ve experienced an Alabama Mardi Gras, you know the significance of the Moon Pie in Mobile. However, if you’ve never seen the giant pie in the sky, you’re in for a treat that can only be rivaled by catching the real thing during carnival season. This is the 10th year for this fun event where you can expect to see fireworks, hear live music and get some great local food and drinks as you look forward to all that 2018 has to offer. This event is fun for families, friends and couples, alike.
#3 Marlin Drop at The Wharf
If seeing a Moon Pie lowering over the Port City isn’t your idea of an amazing way to ring in the New Year, how about seeing a giant Marlin lower at The Wharf? The Wharf in Orange Beach is known for its fabulous lights, amazing ferris wheel, superior retail shops, and superb resturaunts all year long. Seeing it all aglow with holiday lights while listening to the sounds of live music is a celebration no one should miss! Plan on attending kid friendly activities early in the evening and adult-centered fun as midnight draws near. Get ready to raise your glass and welcome 2018 as you watch The Wharf’s own Giant Marlin lower as the clock ticks down.
#2 The Flora-Bama
How about spending New Year’s Eve at the best bar on any state line? The World Famous Flora Bama Lounge located on the AL/FL state line will be hosting their annual New Year’s Eve bash. With live music on three stages, a buffet from 7-midnight and party favors, this is sure to be one for the record books! The Flora-Bama New Year’s Eve Bash is a ticketed event and it will most certainly sell out, so if you’re planning to attend this celebration, buy your tickets early! Sunset Properties rents two Penthouse Condos at the Caribe, which is only a half mile away from the Flora-Bama!
#1 The Hangout in Gulf Shores
We round out our countdown of the top 5 things to do for New Year’s Eve on the Alabama Gulf Coast with one of Gulf Shores’ own original beach destinations: The Hangout. Located at the intersection of Highways 59 and 181 in the heart of Gulf Shores, The Hangout will be hosting a New Year’s Eve celebration for both families and adults. Bring the wole family and come early for movies, face painting and a balloon drop. Or wait a little later for the 21 and up celebration to enjoy a delicious buffet, complimentary midnight toast and balloon drop with great prizes.
If you have a little too much fun and decide you don’t need to drive yourself back to your condo or beach house, remember to call one of our taxi services to take you home. Before your head out, check out www.gulfshores.com and search Taxi for a list of our fine transportation service companies. We want to have a great time celebrating, but we also want you to arrive safely back at your vacation home when the party’s over. We also rent a studio condo directly across the street from the restaurant and one just a couple of blocks down!
Wherever you choose to spend the last day of 2017, as long as you’re on the Alabama Gulf Coast, we’re sure you’re in for a day and night filled with great food, music, laughter and lots of happy beachgoers. Happy New Year from all of us locals on the Alabama Gulf Coast! We hope your 2018 is filled with sunny days, perfect waves and a little sugar white sand between your toes!
