The best things to do in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach in November! Thanksgiving and holiday events, Small Business Saturday and Black Friday, Sunrise, and boat tours.
Things to do in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach in November
November is a lovely time to be in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama! You can start early holiday shopping for fun gifts, enjoy great meals on the water, and savor the warmer weather compared to other parts of the country.
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🏨Hotels and Vacation Rentals
📍Tours
✨What's New in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach
November Events in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach
We will continually be updating this list as events are announced and updated.
Annual Gumbo Festival
Date - November 1, 2025
Location - CoastAL Orange Beach
Experience the Oyster
Dates - November 7 & 8, 2025
Location - The Hangout
Immerse yourself in Murder Point Oysters at the Hangout! This is the perfect opportunity to try local oysters prepared by local chefs.
You can buy tickets ahead of time so you know that you have access to this fun event.
Frank Brown's Songwriters Festival
Dates - November 6 - 16th, 2025
Location - Flora Bama and other locations along the Florida/Alabama Gulf Coast.
More than 200 nationally acclaimed songwriters and musicians will be in town for this great event.
Tacos & Tequila Festival
Date - November 8 & 9, 2025
Location - Foley Heritage Park
Fido Fest
Date - November 9th, 2025
Location - Orange Beach Waterfront Park
Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show
Date - November 14 - 15, 2025 (rescheduled from November 7-8)
Location - National Naval Aviation Museum
Photos with Santa at The Wharf
Dates - November 15
Location - The Wharf
The Wharf starts photos with Santa normally on weekends in November. This is a great time to plan ahead and get Santa photos early for holiday gifts.
The Wharf Ice Skating Rink
Dates - TBD
Location - The Wharf
The Wharf has an amazing Ice Skating Rink and hot chocolate stand that normally opens in November.
Coastal Christmas Market
Dates - November 23 & 24th
Location - Orange Beach Event Center
Annual Harvest Festival
Date - November 23rd, 9 am - 2 pm
Location - Coastal Alabama Farmers and Fishermens Market
Pick up great products and items for your Thanksgiving feast. The Little Miss Harvest pageant will be crowning the 2025 queen during the festival.
OWA Tree Lighting
Date - Saturday, November 22
Location - Downtown OWA
Celebrate the magic of the holidays at OWA's 8th annual Tree Lighting, hosted by American Idol winner Taylor Hicks at Downtown OWA.
J+J Christmas Trees
Date - November 27th, 10 am - 6 pm
Location - The Wharf, Gravel Parking lot behind Portside on Main
The Christmas Tree Farm will be opening at The Wharf. Fresh-cut Wisconsin trees -Balsam Firs, Fraser Firs, and Canaan Fir trees.
Flora-Bama's Thanksgiving Potluck
Date - Thursday, November 27, 2025
Location - Flora Bama
Join locals and visitors celebrating Thanksgiving at the Flora-Bama. Bring a covered dish to share. The Flora Bama provides the ham and turkey.
Black Friday Shopping
Date - November 28th, 2025
Locations - Local Businesses in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach.
Check out great local businesses offering fun Black Friday Deals. We will update this list as soon as we see Black Friday deals posted locally.
Small Business Saturday
Date - Saturday, November 29, 2025
Locations - Local Businesses in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach
Support local businesses in the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach area including Souvenir City, local dolphin tours, local restaurants and more.
Check out our Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Fall Bucket List
Additional November Events along the Gulf Coast
Blue Angels Homecoming Show
Date - November 15 & 16, 2025
Location - Naval Air Station Pensacola
Enjoy not only the Blue Angels but great airplanes on display with the National Naval Aviation Museum, a fun kids zone, sky diving teams, wing walking shows, and so much more.
We will keep this updated as the 2025 Blue Angels Homecoming Show Schedule is announced.
November Things to Do in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach
Putt Putt Golf
The weather in November is cooling off by summer standards but still lovely. This is a great time to head out and check out one of the Gulf Shores or Orange Beach Mini Golf Courses.
Birding
Head to Wade Ward Nature Park or Gulf State Park to enjoy epic Fall birding. Look for fun bird species along with year-round residents.
Orange Beach Waterfront Park
Enjoy an afternoon or sunset from Orange Beach Waterfront Park next to the Coastal Art Center. This is one of our favorite places to look for dolphins and relax on the water.
Coastal Art Center - Hot Shop and Clay Studio
Now that the weather is cooling down we love spending time at the Coastal Art Center. You can participate in a Glass Blowing class this is truly amazing.
This year we are talking about taking a few Glass Blowing classes to make holiday gifts for family and friends. The glass flowers and starfish you can create are so cool.
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 November
The weather in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach cools down in November.
Gulf Shores and Orange Beach enjoy Fall weather in November with temperatures ranging from 50 degrees to 68 degrees.
Daylight hours continue to decrease in November with the shortest day of the month is November 30, with 10 hours, 21 minutes of daylight and the longest day is November 1, with 10 hours, 57 minutes of daylight.
The latest sunrise of the month in Gulf Shores is 7:06 AM on November 2 and the earliest sunrise is 59 minutes earlier at 6:07 AM on November 3.
The latest sunset is 6:02 PM on November 1 and the earliest sunset is 1 hour, 13 minutes earlier at 4:50 PM on November 30.
Daylight saving time (DST) starts at 1:00 AM on November 3, 2024, shifting sunrise and sunset to be an hour later.
Water temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico starts to fall in November from 75°F to 69°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.
Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tours
These are some of our favorite tours available in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama.
Dolphin Tours - Book a dolphin cruise here
Check out our experiences on Hammock Time Tiki Tours, Explorer Dolphin Cruise, Southern Rose Dolphin cruise, Cruise OB (Orange Beach), Sail Wild Hearts, Sunset Sail and Dolphin Tour, and the Sunny Lady Dolphin Cruise.
Slingshot Rentals - Use code GULFJOURNEY To save 10% off a Slingshot Rental with Gulf Coast Rental Co in Orange Beach
Pontoon Boat Rentals - Enjoy cruising the waters of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach on a Pontoon. Check out the pontoon boats with slides for extra fun. Book your Boat Rental Here
Parasailing - Check out the epic views as you parasail in the Gulf of Mexico. Look for wildlife and you float high above the water. Book your Parasailing Trip Here
Jet Ski Rentals - Jet Ski Tours and rentals are a great way to explore the back bays of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. Book your Jet Ski Rental Here
Click here to see all of the top rated tours and activities available in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.
Additional Gulf Coast Travel Guides
Best free things to do in Gulf Shores - Check out the local playground, public beach access points, and so much more.
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 Fairhope, AL - The top things to do in Fairhope, Alabama, include attractions, dining, sunset, wildlife, nature preserves, and so much more!
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.
Dauphin Island Aquarium - Learn about the sea life that can be found in Mobile Bay and along the Gulf Coast while visiting the aquarium. Wait until you see the touch tank! It is so much fun!
Best Sunrise spots in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach - All of the best places to view sunrise.
Gulf Shores Restaurants with a Water View - Check out these great restaurants that offer a water or beach view.
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.
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