The event is alcohol-free and features 45 art and craft vendors, a silent auction, antique and classic car shows, and a children's area with a climbing wall, inflatables and games. There also are a number of family friendly bands that perform. In the past, the festival has attracted Vertigo Haze, Sweet Charlie Brown, Elaine Petty, and Island Voices, a performance troupe from the Coastal Arts Center. Occasionally, there are animals on loan from the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo.
The centerpiece of the event is the seafood, much of it caught in Gulf Coast waters by Orange Beach locals. A seafood plate comes with your choice of fried shrimp, fried fish, grilled fish or -- for those with a seafood allergy -- a grilled chicken breast served with grits, corn fritters and cole slaw. Serving begins in the morning when the festival opens and continues until 4 p.m. or until it runs out.
A central part of the festival is the antique and classic car show. Every year, scores of classic cars from all over the country show up for ogling. All classes of cars are acceptable, including hot rods, muscle cars and pickups. The show runs until the evening. There is a registration fee, but car owners receive a voucher for one free seafood plate. The top 20 cars are awarded prizes.
The festival is held at the the Orange Beach Sportsplex, which is located on William Silvers Parkway off Canal Road, approximately a half mile east of the Foley Beach Express. It is the primary fundraiser for the Orange Beach Sports Association, a nonprofit organization that supports sports-related activities in the community, with a focus on youth baseball, softball and T-ball. The money raised during the festival from the silent auction and from seafood sales are used to purchase uniforms, equipment, insurance, and pay for officials and training clinics.
