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Freedom Fest
3rd Annual Orange Beach Freedom Fest
Friday-Saturday, Oct. 6-7, 2023 - Bama Coast Cruisin' Car Show
Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023 - Arts & Crafts and Food vendors and entertainment
The 3rd Annual Orange Beach Freedom Fest is set for early October at The Wharf. Friday, October 6 and Saturday, October 7, 2023 will include the Fall Bama Coast Cruisin' car show on Main Street, with a Kids' Zone by the Ferris wheel. Saturday only will feature arts and crafts and food vendors as well as entertainment. More details will be shared in the near future.
For more information on the Bama Coast Cruisin' Fall Car Show and how to register, visit the Bama Coast Cruisin' website.
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The 2nd Annual Orange Beach Freedom Fest was a patriotic three-day weekend held from Friday, September 30th to Sunday, October 2nd at The Wharf.
The City of Orange Beach hosted the inaugural Freedom Fest in 2021. The festival is now held annually on the first weekend in October. It is a true, down-home celebration of America with a Bama Coast Cruisin' car show, music, arts & crafts, kids activities, food... just an All-American red, white and blue weekend in Orange Beach, Alabama.
The 2022 festival included a Flora-Bama organized and managed benefit concert headlined by John Rich of Big & Rich at The Wharf Amphitheater, in addition to opening act local country rock artist Bruce Smelley and two patriotic speakers - Ben Walborn, former U.S. Navy Blue Angel and Kevin Lacz, retired U.S. Navy Seal who served with "American Sniper" Chris Kyle and is the author of "The Last Punisher." Proceeds from the concert and vendor fees from the festival benefitted Folds of Honor Alabama Chapter, a nonprofit that helps provide families of fallen and disabled service members educational scholarships.
Bama Coast Cruisin'
The 2nd Annual Festival was held in conjunction with the inaugural Fall Bama Coast Cruisin' event. Nearly 200 Bama Coast Cruisin' participants lined Main Street at The Wharf on Friday and Saturday.
Let Freedom Roar Run and Rally and Jeep Meet
The Marshals held the 2nd Annual Let Freedom Roar Run and Rally with a motorcycle and Jeep parade, benefitting Youth Reach Gulf Coast. Island Time Jeepers held a Jeep Meet and Parade during the festival, with proceeds benefitting Folds of Honor.
Live Music
The two-day entertainment lineup included the following free live music on the stage on the arts and crafts side of the festival: Tony Brook, Dew Pendleton, Christina Christian, The Krickets, David Chastang, Al and Cathy, Charlie Argo and Johnny Hayes.
WHAT TO EXPECT
The festival includes two days full of arts and crafts vendors selling a wide variety of wares, including metal artwork, nautical-themed décor, yard art, wooden signs, glass, pottery, jewelry, watercolor art, boutique-style clothing, and patriotic art. A variety of military groups and non-profit organizations are also in attendance.
In addition to the restaurants at The Wharf, festival-goers typically have their hands full with barbeque ribs, pulled pork sandwiches, burgers, Cajun pistols, gumbo, shrimp po-boys, grilled mahi, philly cheese steak, crawfish, oysters, and grouper tacos, among many other selections. Some of the specialty foods have included Hawaiian shaved ice, ice cream, kettle corn, smoothies, and boiled peanuts, among other things.
A Kids' Zone with bouncy houses and other fun activities are available by the Ferris wheel at The Grove on Main Street. The Orange Beach Police Department organizes the children's area.
ARTS & CRAFTS VENDORS
Arts and crafts vendors who would like to be considered for the 2023 festival, can fill out the form on this page.
PARKING
Parking is on-site at The Wharf with donations accepted for Orange Beach schools. A shuttle system will also runs from the Orange Beach Sportsplex and the Orange Beach Middle / High School parking lot, if necessary.