Best Bets

Best Bets

Check your Best Bets before you make your weekend plans, so you don't miss out! We've got local events, concerts and more all along the Gulf Coast.Full Bio

 

Best Bets for the Weekend, May 2- May 4

BLACK JACKET SYMPHONY performs JIMMY BUFFETT’S “CHANGES IN LATITUDES, CHANGES IN ATTITUDES”- Fri 8pm, Mobile Saenger Theatre, Downtown Mobile

The Black Jacket Symphony recreates "Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes" live in its entirety—note-for-note, sound-for-sound! Then they’ll return to the stage to perform Jimmy Buffett’s greatest hits!  CLICK HERE  

ALISON KRAUSS and UNION STATION- Fri 7:30pm, The Wharf Amphitheater, Orange Beach,  CLICK HERE  

GULF COAST HOT AIR BALLOON FESTIVAL- Thurs 4pm-9pm; Fri 3pm-9pm; Sat 10am-9:30pm; Festival Field, OWA Parks & Resort, Foley

Immerse yourself in the excitement of the Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival, where hot air balloon activities, live musical performances, children’s activities, and a variety of food, arts, and crafts booths await!

Reminder: Balloon flights, glows, and interactive displays are weather-dependent! Flights & glows occur only at dawn and dusk when conditions allow. CLICK HERE  

ST MARY’S STEAKOUT WEEKEND- 3 events this weekend!

Mix & Mingle -Thurs 6:30pm, The Courtyard on Dauphin, Downtown Mobile

The Ultimate Girls’ Night Out! Grab your friends for a night of craft cocktails, live music and delicious food! Plus enjoy an art auction and wine pull!  

Kid’s Play DaySat 9am-12noon, McGill Field, corner of Catherine St. and Old Shell Road, Mobile

A field full of fun awaits at Kids Play Day! This completely free family event features bounce houses, interactive activity stations, face painting, a Nerf gun battlefield, Touch-A-Truck and more.  

8th Annual STEAK OUTSat 6pm-10pm, St Mary’s Catholic School, Mobile

Cooking teams go head-to-head, serving up the best steak you’ve ever tasted while you eat, drink, and vote for your favorite. After the steak tasting, the party moves to the pavilion with live music, an open bar, a high-energy auction and more!  CLICK HERE 

LOCAL GOODNESS- Sun 4pm, Magnolia Manor, 1624 SpringHill Ave, Mobile

Local Goodness, a farm-to-table experience, pays tribute to local cuisine and music while raising awareness and support for USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital, the region's only children's hospital. Proceeds will benefit pediatric interventional radiology. Join us under the big top for unforgettable entertainment, featuring a contortionist, stilt walkers, fire breathers and opportunities to win exceptional prizes.  CLICK HERE   

76th Annual BLESSING OF THE FLEET- Sat/Sun 10am-4pm, St Margaret Catholic Church, Bayou la Batre

The Archbishop of Mobile will bless the shrimping fleet “for a safe, productive season” along with a decorated boat parade on Sunday. Throughout the weekend, you can enjoy an arts and crafts festival, a working water front exhibit, gumbo cook-off, land parade, and children’s activities, as well as great seafood! CLICK HERE   

25th Annual PENSACOLA BEACH CRAWFISH FESTIVAL - Fri 1pm-12midnight; Sat 11am-12midnight; Sun 12noon-9pm; Bamboo Willie's Beachside Bar, Pensacola Beach

The Pensacola Beach Crawfish Festival is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. The festival highlights the vibrant flavors of Cajun cuisine, with a special focus on crawfish. Plus, the festival features local and regional bands, playing genres that range from rock and blues to Cajun and Zydeco.

Kids can enjoy games, face painting, and other interactive entertainment.  CLICK HERE    

COCKTAILS WITH THE CRITTERS- Thurs 6pm-9pm, Blue Gill Restaurant on the Causeway, Spanish Fort

Join the Dauphin Island Sea Lab Foundation for an exciting evening overlooking the Mobile River Delta, featuring delicious hors d’oeuvres from our Gulf, beer, wine, and live music with Johnny Hayes.  CLICK HERE  

LBD- LITTLE BLACK DRESS RUNWAY SHOW & GALA- Thurs 6pm, Fort Whiting Auditorium, Mobile

This spectacular gala and a wildly fun runway show features 40 local women and men modeling the latest in 2025 fashion, styled by Dillard’s.

Proceeds benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Mobile.  CLICK HERE  

CHARITY CHUKKERS POLO EVENT- Sat 12noon-4pm, February Farm, off County Rd 3, Fairhope

The Baldwin County Education Coalition is proud to present the inaugural Charity Chukkers Polo Event, a one-of-a-kind afternoon of polo, philanthropy, and community impact. Charity Chukkers will raise funds to support Palm Project, a powerful initiative focused on meeting the basic needs of students throughout Baldwin County. Polo matches at noon and 2pm, with hat contest and divot stomp between matches.  CLICK HERE  

GLITZ AND GALLOP GALA- Sat 4pm-7pm, Culinary Productions Event Venue, Pensacola

This unique fundraising event will be packed with exciting activities including a silent auction, horse races, a chance to win great prizes, and watch the Kentucky Derby while enjoying handcrafted cocktails and hors d'oeuvres! Proceeds from the event will help support the mission of United Way of West Florida.  CLICK HERE   

DERBY DAY AT THE BEACH- Sat 3pm-6pm, CoastAL Orange Beach

This isn’t your average watch party. CoastAL is blending the sophistication of Churchill Downs with the laid-back luxury of the beach. Bring your best Derby look - there’s more than just bragging rights on the line. The hat and style contest will reward the day’s most dapper and creative. CLICK HERE

  

GREASE - Wed/Thurs/Fri/Sat 7:30pm, Henry George Bluff Park                                    Fairhope

Step back in time to the rock 'n' roll era of the 1950s with Grease, the electrifying musical that has captured hearts for decades! Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre will bring Grease to the 12th Annual Theatre on the Bluff, with guest star Lucy Buffett.  CLICK HERE   

BANDS ON THE BLACKWATER: Smokey Jones and The 3 Dollar Pistols - Fri 7pm-9pm, Jernigan’s Landing, Downtown Milton

The City of Milton is putting on 11 concerts through June 13th, with a variety of music from local favorites to national touring bands. Blankets, chairs, and coolers are welcome. No glass containers are allowed.  CLICK HERE  

PENSACOLA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: SEASON FINALE- Sat 7:30pm, Pensacola Saenger Theatre

The Pensacola Symphony Orchestra’s season concludes with a thrilling finale, featuring Antonín Dvořák’s lyrical and fiery Sixth Symphony and Hector Berlioz’s Le Corsaire Overture, inspired by the thieving pirates of Lord Byron’s poetry. CLICK HERE  

MOBILE SYMPHONY YOUTH ORCHESTRA SEASON FINALE- Sun 2:30pm, Mobile Saenger Theatre

The Mobile Symphony Youth Orchestra is a training ground for the Gulf Coast’s very best student musicians. Attend one of their concerts, and you’ll see!  CLICK HERE

GULF COAST CHINESE LANTERN FESTIVAL- Thurs-Sun 5pm-10pm, Apr 17-Jun 15, Open Easter and Memorial Day, Bellingrath Gardens, Theodore

During this Spring night-time event, the Gardens will be transformed into a dazzling showcase of light, color, and culture. As evening falls, the estate will become a radiant dreamscape featuring 41 towering, handcrafted light sculptures, each glowing with vivid hues and artistic detail. Visitors will journey through the estate, where each glowing display tells a story through plants, animals, and fantastical creatures, blending ancient tradition with modern innovation. CLICK HERE   

MOBILE UNITED 10th Annual CREPE MYRTLE TRAIL RIDE *** Rescheduled for May 17th due to wx **** May 17th, 8am, McNally Park, Mobile

This event is perfect for nature lovers and cycling enthusiasts alike. Explore the scenic route adjacent to Mobile Bay. The group will leave McNally Park at 8:35 a.m., ride as a group across Brookley Field, break at Arlington Park for 30 minutes, then return to ride directly into the beginning of the Crepe Myrtle Trail Fest, which begins at 11 a.m.  CLICK HERE   

MARKET IN THE PARK- Sat 7:30am- 12noon (April 26- June 28), Cathedral Square, Downtown Mobile

Shop locally grown, locally produced and handmade items at Market in the Park! Explore a wide variety of fresh, locally-grown produce, artisanal goods, and handcrafted items from local vendors while enjoying live entertainment in Cathedral Square. The City of Mobile is proud to support the community with a selection of vendors who accept SNAP benefits, making fresh, healthy options accessible to all.  CLICK HERE   

It's Time to Rise

Photo: ColorPlayer / iStock / Getty Images


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