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Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Holiday Season 2026: Thanksgiving to New Year’s

Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are quiet in December, and the holiday events are spread between the two cities, Foley and Mobile Bay. This page covers the events we could confirm on Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism’s event pages, read on October 30, 2026. Where a 2026 detail is not published, we say so. Shortlist condos and beach houses on Gulf Shores rentals, then book on the property site. If you are choosing an area, see the Gulf Shores neighborhood guide.

Quick answer

The Coastal Christmas Market is Saturday and Sunday, November 21–22, 2026, from 10 a.m. at the Orange Beach Event Center at The Wharf. The Christmas Lighted Boat Parade is Saturday, December 12, from 4 p.m. (at dusk), and LuLu’s in Gulf Shores is a listed viewing spot. Bellingrath Gardens’ Magic Christmas in Lights runs daily from November 20 to January 9, 2027. We did not find a dated 2026 New Year’s Eve event on the bureau’s pages.

The 2026 holiday calendar

Many rentals set their own minimum stay for these nights, and it can differ from the rest of the season. Read the minimum for your exact dates on the booking site, not the general winter rule.

Coastal Christmas Market (November 21–22)

The visitor bureau’s market page lists Saturday, November 21, and Sunday, November 22, 2026, starting at 10 a.m. both days, at the Orange Beach Event Center at The Wharf, 4671 Wharf Parkway. It is a vendor market for holiday gifts.

Christmas Lighted Boat Parade (December 12)

The bureau’s boat parade page lists Saturday, December 12, 2026, from 4 p.m. (at dusk), with LuLu’s at 200 East 25th Avenue in Gulf Shores as the viewing spot. Decorated boats cruise the Intracoastal Waterway. The bureau’s Coastal Christmas page says LuLu’s and The Wharf are two public places to watch as the parade heads from Gulf Shores to Orange Beach.

Magic Christmas in Lights at Bellingrath (November 20 to January 9)

The bureau’s Bellingrath page lists the light display daily from Friday, November 20, 2026, to Saturday, January 9, 2027, at Bellingrath Gardens & Home in Theodore. The 65-acre gardens are lit, and the house is decorated. Prices vary, and the page sends you to Bellingrath’s site for details. The Coastal Christmas page puts the drive at about an hour and forty minutes from Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.

What to confirm before you pay

FAQ

When is the Gulf Shores Christmas boat parade in 2026?

Saturday, December 12, 2026, from 4 p.m. (at dusk), on the Intracoastal Waterway. LuLu’s and The Wharf are the viewing spots the visitor bureau names.

How long does Bellingrath’s Magic Christmas in Lights run?

Daily from November 20, 2026, to January 9, 2027, per the visitor bureau’s page.

Does BnB Search book the stay?

No. Compare on the hub, then finish on the site linked from the listing.

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Sources

Things to do · Winter packing · Rental tips · Neighborhood guide · New Year’s Eve beach rentals

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