Alabama seafood festival selected as nation’s 5th best specialty food fest
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There are plenty of reasons to take a trip to the Alabama coast. The seafood is pretty close to the top of that list and the rest of the nation knows it.
The Annual National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores draws a big crowd every year and its success has been recognized on a national level several times in the past. Most recently, the festival made USA Today’s 10Best Specialty Food Festivals for 2025.
Find out more about why it was selected + what other food festivals beat it out for the top spot in the national outlet’s rankings.
Annual National Shrimp Festival
The National Shrimp Festival is held in Gulf Shores in October every year. While the seafood is certainly the biggest crowdpleaser, the event also features live music, art, vendors + a lot more.
That’s why USA Today readers voted it as the fifth best specialty food festival in the country.
“Festivalgoers can indulge in a wide array of shrimp dishes like shrimp po’boys and shrimp gumbo while enjoying the area’s laid-back ambience and refreshing ocean breezes. Attendees of all ages love the shrimp cooking demos, music, arts and crafts, and even a sandcastle contest on the beach.”
USA Today 10Best
Never been to the National Shrimp Festival? Don’t worry, they already have the 2025 fest scheduled. Here’s what you need to know:
- What: 52nd Annual National Shrimp Festival
- When: Oct. 9-12, 2025
- Where: Public beach access where Hwy. 59 intersects with Hwy. 182
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USA Today 10Best Specialty Food Festivals
Even if I’m a little unsure about the No. 1 festival on the list, USA Today’s 10Best list features plenty of festivals worth a trip across the county.
Here’s a look at the final rankings:
- Picklesburgh in Pittsburgh, PA
- Delta Hot Tamale Festival in Greenville, MS
- National Buffalo Wing Festival in Buffalo, NY
- Cheese Curd Festival in Ellsworth, WI
- National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores, AL
- Kennett Square Mushroom Festival in Kennett Square, PA
- Sebring Soda Festival in Sebring, FL
- Astoria Warrenton Crab, Seafood + Wine Festival in Astoria, OR
- Georgia Peach Festival in Fort Valley, GA
- Rhode Island Seafood Festival in Providence, RI
“These 10 festivals — nominated by an expert panel and voted by readers as the best across the United States — celebrate specific foods, often local specialties grown or produced in the region. Each event hones in on its theme in fun and creative ways, ensuring that attendees can enjoy good food, good times, and plenty of opportunities to indulge.”
USA Today 10Best
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