Reviewed by: Cindy Hatcher
Holidays on Alabama’s Beaches: Start a new family tradition
Reading time: 5 minutes
Sponsored
Have you ever skipped the Christmas season rush entirely by doing the holidays on Alabama’s Beaches instead? Surely you’ve thought about it, especially being so close to Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan.
Let us help you picture it: Imagine swapping the season’s sensory overload for sand beneath your feet, crowded store aisles for wide-open beaches and hectic holiday parties for relaxed, delicious dinners made by someone else.
Maybe a break from tradition can become a new one?
After all, Coastal Code Rule #131 tells us, the traditions you hold closest always start with how you felt.
Read on for details about how to plan a coastal Christmas holiday in Alabama for 2026.
Holidays on Alabama’s Beaches quick guide
What is there to do on winter mornings on Alabama’s Beaches?
Before the day’s events begin, take advantage of the slower pace of the coast in the wintertime. Daily high temperatures average in the 60s, so the beaches have far fewer crowds and even more beautiful, wide-open views.
Coastal Code Rule #132: Holiday mornings are better when you stay in your pajamas.
Instead of rushing out the door for anything, here’s what your mornings can look like on an Alabama beach holiday:
- 🌅 Watching the sunrise
- ☕️ Sipping coffee on a breezy balcony or porch
- 🌊 Walking the shoreline with loved ones
- 🐚 Collecting seashells
- 🏰 Building sandcastles
Plan your stay with this guide to winter getaways on Alabama’s Beaches.
What holiday events are there on Alabama’s Beaches?
Alabama’s Beaches have plenty of fun activities to fill your days and nights with outdoor adventures, unique shopping and special holiday experiences.
Here are just a few not-to-miss events that keep the spirit of the season:
- Magic Christmas in Lights at Bellingrath Gardens & Home is worth the one-hour trek from Gulf Shores to Theodore and is set for select dates Nov. 21, 2026–Jan. 9, 2027.
- Annual Coastal Christmas Market at The Wharf Nov. 21-22, 2026 features dozens of vendors with gifts you won’t find at home.
- The Annual Christmas Lighted Boat Parade at LuLu’s in Gulf Shores is set for Dec. 12, 2026, at dusk, when you can watch illuminated boats cruise the Intracoastal Waterway.
Visit Alabama’s Beaches’ complete events calendar for more great events throughout the season.
What restaurants are open during the holidays in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach + Fort Morgan?
One of the best things about beach trips is always the food, including Gulf-to-table seafood alongside Southern classics. Steamy, savory, rich gumbo is a go-to here when the temps drop a bit. Cooler mornings make the area’s many wonderful coffee shops even more inviting.
You don’t have to break the tradition of special holiday meals while spending Christmas on Alabama’s Beaches. Even better, imagine skipping the grocery shopping, prep and cleanup: Many coastal favorites stay open through the winter season, and several offer special menus or take-out family-style meals specifically for the holidays.
Plan by using Alabama’s Beaches Holiday Dining Guide, which has a search filter to find a restaurant you’ll love.
A few folks rave about: Christmas Day Buffet at The Lodge at Gulf State Park, Christmas Eve meals at Doc’s Seafood & Steak in Orange Beach and Sunliner Diner in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. Call any restaurant ahead to verify hours and make reservations, if needed.
Shop this trip early with Shoreline Supply
While souvenir shopping is all part of the fun of a beach trip, we have a hot tip on one spot you should shop ahead of time: Shoreline Supply by Alabama’s Beaches for official apparel and accessories. Here’s why:
- 🎁 Announce your Christmas trip: Give early gifts of shirts or hats to let your loved ones know where you’re headed this holiday season.
- 👕 Be beach-ready for group photos: How cute will everyone look in their matching gear?
- 📆 Give a future trip now: Wrap a keepsake with your booking confirmation for a later trip and tuck it under the tree.
- 👉 Shop Shoreline Supply now
Plan your Christmas on Alabama’s Beaches today
With these tips, you have what you need to begin the tradition. All that’s left to do is make it truly yours for years to come. Until then, sleep snug in your beds while visions of sugar-white sands dance in your heads.
Coastal Code Rule #96: You’ll always leave with more than you came with.
Sponsored by:
