Ballyhoo Festival

The Ballyhoo Festival of Fine Art and Culture was started in 2014. It is unique in its focus on fine art and the presentation of cultures from different regions of the United States. After judging, we present $6,000 in cash prizes to our artists.

The festival is held in the beautiful eco-friendly Gulf State Park, directly across from the Gulf and adjacent to Lake Shelby in Gulf Shores, Alabama. There are hiking and biking trails as well as overhead walking into the park.

100 artists are chosen from all juried applications received. The Ballyhoo Festival's cultural focus on the first day of the event is with the indigenous people of Alabama, the Poarch Creek Indians. They provide historical narrative about their tribe and how they were allowed to remain during the Trail of Tears. The Poarch Creek perform original tribal dance in ceremonial regalia with the Cultural Director explaining the meaning of each dance.

On the second day of the Ballyhoo Festival, our cultural focus is on Early Americana Appalachian music in the form of a fiddle and banjo competition. This competition is for all ages and comes with $4,000 in cash prizes.

In addition, the Ballyhoo Festival features top bands on two stages, art demonstrations, children's art activities and games, and various cultures of delicious food.

Handicapped parking is available inside the festival area. All visitor parking $10 and is handled by the Gulf State Park at the Gulf State Pavilion and the Gulf State Pier in Gulf Shores, AL.

The Ballyhoo Festival is enhanced by a grant from the Alabama State Council on the Arts and  Alabama Beaches Sports and Events Tourism.