There are a ton of great things to do in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach in April! Concerts, festivals, the Blue Angels, and so much more!
Things to do in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach in April
There are so many great events and things to do in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores in April! The weather is amazing, and it is the perfect time to be out and enjoy it.
TL;DR Don't have time to read the full article? Here are my top finds:
🏨Hotels and Vacation Rentals
📍Tours
✨What's New in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach
April Events in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach
April is filled with great concerts, tours, and so many fun events.
April 1 - 4, 2026 Events, Festivals and Things to Do
- Thursday April 2, 8:30am - 10am - Guided Bike Ride at the Gulf Oak Ridge Trailhead, Gulf State Park
- Friday April 3, 9am - Guided Pier walk on the Gulf State Park Pier
- Friday April 3 - Sea Salt Bath Products Class at The Learning Campus, Gulf State Park
- Saturday April 4 - Mudbugs and Margaritas Festival, Heritage Park, Foley
- Saturday April 4 - Tacky Jack's Orange Beach Brunch w. the Bunny
- Saturday April 4, 12 pm - 2 pm - LuLu's Gulf Shores Easter Egg Dash
- Saturday April 4, 1 pm - Junior Ranger Pier Explorers at Gulf State Park Pier
- Saturday April 4, 5-9 pm - OWA Glow-EGG-Venture
April 5 - 11, 2026 Events, Festivals and Things to Do
- Sunday April 5 - Easter
- Sunday April 5, 6am, 9am, 11 am - Flora Bama Worship on the Water Easter Service
- Sunday April 5, 8 am - Beachfront Easter Brunch, Coastal
- Thursday April 9 - Uptown, A Celebration of Motown & Soul, OWA Theater
- Friday April 10-12, L.O.L. Festival, Waterway Village, Gulf Shores
- Friday April 10 - Hannah Dasher, OWA Theater
- Saturday April 11 - SyknFolks: Authentic Lynyrd Skynyrd Experience, OWA Theater
- Saturday April 11, 9 am - Baldwin County Strawberry Festival, Loxley Municipal Park
- Saturday April 11, 9 am - Habitat Hustle 5k & Fun Run, Orange Beach Sportsplex
- Saturday April 11 - Oyster Shell Decopage Class, Gulf State Park Learning Campus
- Saturday April 11, 10am - 4pm - Gulf Coast Mustang & Mega Car Show, OWA
April 12 - 18, 2026 Events, Festivals, and Things to Do
- Sunday April 12 - Baldwin County Strawberry Festival, Loxley Municipal Park
- Sunday April 12 - Championship Sunday at Tee Off at The Wharf
- Tuesday April 14, 9 am - Guided Pier Walk, Gulf State Park Pier
- Thursday April 16, 8:30am - 10:30am - Guided Bike Ride at Gulf Oak Ridge Trailhead, Gulf State Park
- Thursday April 16 - Gulf Coast Chinese Lantern Festival Opens, Bellingrath Gardens
- Friday April 17, 11am - 3pm - Sneaker Recycling, Tanger Outlets, Foley
- Friday April 17 & Sat 18 - Aaron Halliday, The Alan Jackson Experience, OWA Theater
- Friday April 17 - Sunday April 19 - AVCA Small Collegge Beach Volleyball Tournament, Gulf Place Beach
- Saturday April 18, 8:30 - 930am - Namaste by the Bay, Waterfront Park Orange Beach
- Saturday April 18 - Mullet Man Triathalon, Flora Bama
- Saturday April 18 - Earth Day Shred & Tech Recycling, The Wharf
- Saturday April 18, 3 pm - Kenny Chesney, Flora Bama (Invite only)
- Saturday April 18 & 19th, Kites over Mobile, USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park
April 19 - 25, 2026 Events, Festivals and Things to Do
- Sunday April 19, 10 am - 2 pm, Orange Beach Pop-Up Farmers Market, Waterfront Park
- Monday April 20 - 25, Coastal Bird Banding, Alabama Audubon, Fort Morgan State Historic Site
- Wednesday April 22 - Mullet Swing Golf Classic
- Thursday April 23 - 25 - Bama Coast Cruisin, The Wharf
- Thursday April 23 - 26 - Alabama Coastal Birdfest
- Friday April 24 - Mary Ryan Brown, The Be Blessed Comedy Tour, OWA Theater
- Friday April 24 - 25, 11am - 3pm- Sneaker recycling, Tanger Outlets, Foley
- Friday April 24 - 26 - Mullet Toss, Flora Bama
- Saturday April 25, 12pm - Gulf Coast Pickle Fest, Mobile
- Saturday April 25, 6pm - Walk this Way: 80s themed block party, Foley Pedestrian Bridge
April 26 - 30, 2026 Events, Festivals and Things to Do
- Thursday April 30 - May 2, 22nd Annual Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival, OWA
Additional April Events along the Gulf Coast
Blue Angels Practice
Date - April 1*, 7, 8*, 14, 15*, 21, 22*, 28, 29*
Location - Pensacola Naval Air Station
Gates open at 9:30 am
The Blue Angels are scheduled to take off at 10:30 am
The dates with a * includes an autograph day in the museum following the Blue Angels Practice.
Practices last approximately 55 minutes. There are open bleacher seats for 500 people. You can also rent a chair for $6 (there are limited quantities of chairs).
Please note that backpacks, daypacks, luggage, or similar items are NOT allowed on the flight line during Blue Angel practice air shows.
You will need to have your ID to enter onto the Naval Air Station. Public access to NAS Pensacola is available only from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. through the West Gate on Blue Angel Parkway.
Make sure to plan time to visit the National Naval Aviation Museum after practice.
April Things to Do
April is a fantastic month to explore the Gulf Coast! The weather is lovely, attractions are open and ready for visitors, and there are so many great tours to enjoy.
Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Dolphin Cruises
We are blessed to live in an area with an amazing Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin population. One of our favorite day dates is to book a tour to see our local dolphins.
You can also book an amazing sunset cruise. Sail through the back bays, enjoy great music, a cocktail, and, hopefully, lots of dolphins.
Here are a few of the dolphin tours we have done so you can see photos and video of what to expect.
Cruise OB - We were amazed at how many dolphin we saw leaping from the water on this dolphin tour. Book HERE
Explorer Dolphin Boat - This is a great option for families. The boat is one level with easy bench seating. Book this dolphin cruise here
Southern Rose Dolphin Tour - They guarantee you will see dolphins on your tour. Book this dolphin cruise here
Hammock Time Tiki Tours - You can talk with Captain Glenn and set up a private dolphin tour for the family.
Sunny Lady Dolphin Cruise - Leaves from the Wharf making it a really easy cruise to hop on. They have a two story boat with indoor and outdoor seating. Book this dolphin cruise here
Sail Wild Hearts - Enjoy a gorgeous sailboat tour while looking for dolphins.
Check out additional dolphin cruises here.
There are also private charter boats available if you want to set up a family dolphin tour on a private boat.
Orange Beach and Gulf Shores Weather in April
The weather in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach continues to warm up in April.
Gulf Shores and Orange Beach enjoy amazing Spring weather in April with temperatures ranging from 62 degrees to 83 degrees.
Daylight hours increase in April with the shortest day of the month on April 1, with 12 hours, 31 minutes of daylight and the longest day is April 30, with 13 hours, 20 minutes of daylight.
The latest sunrise of the month in Gulf Shores is 6:39 AM on April 1 and the earliest sunrise is 31 minutes earlier at 6:07 AM on April 30
The earliest sunset is 7:10 PM on March 1 and the latest sunset is 18 minutes later at 7:22 PM on March 31.
Water temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico continue to rise by 6 degrees. Going from 67°F to 73°F, over the course of the month.
Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Lodging
If you are visiting and need to book accommodations, here are our recommendations. We have personally stayed at each of these lodging options (except Margaritaville, coming 2027!):
Use code GULFJOURNEY at checkout with Spectrum Resorts and Beachball Properties for an exclusive discount!
🏖️ Beachball Properties - Vacation houses and condos throughout Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. Use Code GULFJOURNEY for a discount. Book with Beachball Properties
🏖️ The Beach Club Resort and Spa (Fort Morgan) - Beachfront condos with amazing amenities, a spa, and the incredible Coast Restaurant on-site. Use Code GULFJOURNEY for a discount with Spectrum Resorts. Book The Beach Club
🏖️ Turquoise Place (Orange Beach) - Our favorite resort in the area! Luxury amenities, epic Gulf-front views, and stunning condos. Truly unforgettable. Use Code GULFJOURNEY for a discount with Spectrum Resorts. Book Turquoise Place
🏨 The Tides Hotel (Orange Beach) - Gorgeous beachfront hotel with a great breakfast buffet, outdoor pool, and top-notch customer service. Book The Tides
🏨 Island House Hotel (Orange Beach) - Right on the beach with epic views from every room. Book Island House
⛺ Timberline Glamping (Orange Beach) - Stay in an amazing glamping tent with a private bathroom, right next to Gulf State Park. Book Timberline
🏨 The Lodge at Gulf State Park - Beachfront Hilton hotel in Gulf State Park offering epic views, sustainable practices, and great on-site restaurants. Book The Lodge
🏨 Springhill Suites Orange Beach - Located next to The Wharf with a gorgeous pool. Perfect location for shopping and dining. Book Springhill Suites
🔜 Margaritaville Resort Orange Beach (Coming 2027) - The highly anticipated Margaritaville resort is coming to Orange Beach! The first phase opens in 2027 and will include beachfront cottages, bungalows, condos, pickleball courts, and an entertainment district.
The map below shows the current hotels and vacation rentals available in the area. You can select the dates you are visiting to see current availability.
Additional Gulf Coast Travel Guides
Things to do in Gulf Shores/Orange Beach when it Rains - Don't let a little rain ruin your trip to the Gulf Coast! These activities are perfect for rainy days.
Things to do in Foley, AL - Don't miss all of the fun to be had in nearby Foley including the amazing Homes Medical Museum and the Railroad Museum.
Things to do in Fairhope, AL - The top things to do in Fairhope, Alabama, include attractions, dining, sunset, wildlife, nature preserves, and so much more!
Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo - They offer amazing animal encounters (Lemurs, Kangaroos, Giraffe Feeding, and Sloths)! This little zoo is packed with fun. They have a great petting zoo area with goats, donkeys, and more.
Gulf Shores & Orange Beach restaurants with a view - Check out all of the great restaurants that have epic water views.
What's New in Foley, AL - Check out the new restaurants, attractions, things to do, events, and more in town
Looking ahead make sure to check out our January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December Guides to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach!
Don't miss our other Gulf Coast destinations, including Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Dauphin Island, Fairhope, Fort Morgan, Foley, Mobile, Bayou La Batre, Alabama, and so many more!
We also have articles on the Emerald Coast of Florida, including Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Pensacola Beach, Navarre Beach, Panama City Beach, Perdido Key, Pensacola, and more.
Keep an eye out for articles on the Gulf Coast of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, and Florida!
Check out our Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok pages for more great ideas for the Gulf Coast.
Cindy Hilgers
Hello,
I am looking for a place to go dancing in either OB or GS for a Bachelorette party.
I am having trouble finding location's listed. Can you suggest a place?
Thank you,
Cindy
Tammilee
Hi, We have a full post of Bachelorette Party Ideas - https://gulfcoastjourneys.com/orange-beach-gulf-shores-bachelorette-party-ideas/