Your guide to COVID-19 safe outdoor art festivals this spring break in Mobile, AL
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Spring fever is a little different this year. With spring and summer 2020 being majorly eclipsed by COVID-19, it feels like we’ve been in some year-long winter. Now that vaccine roll-out is underway, many are beginning to venture outside more than before. An outdoor art festival is the perfect place to get back out there!
Need some fresh air with an artistic flair? We’ve rounded up five art festivals in the Mobile Bay area that are taking all COVID-19 masking, social distancing and hand-washing precautions for you to have a worry-free experience!
1. Bellingrath Beer and Blooms
Ready to help make a piece of Mobile history? Bellingrath announced earlier this year plans for its first-ever Beer and Blooms event. It’s coming up soon, as it’s being hosted this Saturday, March 6th, from noon until 6 p.m.
The event will be hosted on the lawn and feature booths from local breweries and restaurants. Tickets are $25 before the March 6th, and $30 at the gate.
Be sure to bring a blanket or chair, because there will be live musical performances all day long. All ages are welcome to join us out in Bellingrath for a day of good beer, better food, and just an all-around good time!
2. Festival of Flowers
If you have ever wanted to walk through the garden from Alice in Wonderland, Mobile’s Festival of Flowers in Cathedral Square is the place for you. This year it will be held March 12 & 13 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The yearly festival doubles as a philanthropic event–admission donations go directly to Providence Hospital’s Cardiac Care Unit.
Walk through gorgeous “living sculptures” of trimmed and shaped hedges. Don’t forget to vote your favorite for the People’s Choice award, given out yearly to the best living sculpture. Garden tours through downtown Mobile will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on both festival days.
Friday night, be sure to check out LoDa Artwalk from 6 to 9 p.m. This monthly event takes place in the LoDa (Lower Dauphin Street) district of downtown. A portion of the road will be closed down as galleries and shops open their doors for extended hours. There will also be food and live music.
Saturday night is the Beer and Buds event from 7 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $30 beforehand, $30 at the door. This acts as the unofficial closing games for the festival! The living sculpture People’s Choice Winner is announced here, while local restaurants and breweries provide food.
3. Orange Beach Festival of the Arts
This March 13 & 14 mark the 47th annual Orange Beach Festival of the Arts. Over 100 local artists will be displaying and selling their wares from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, closing at 4 p.m. on Sunday. Entrance is free to members of the public.
All food vendors are invite-only by festival organizers–guaranteeing you the best food experience possible! There are also two different musical stages with a myriad of live performances slated for the weekend.
4. Fairhope Arts & Crafts Festival
This year is the 69th annual Fairhope Arts & Crafts Festival. After having to cancel last year due to COVID-19, the festival is scheduled later than the others–April 30th through May 2nd.
The Fairhope Arts & Crafts Festival runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily on all festival days. Entry is free to all members of the public.
All artists participating in the Fairhope Arts & Crafts Festival this year are from Alabama. A variety of local restaurants and breweries are will be stationed around the fairgrounds. Take a bite out of this spring’s festival season!
Are you going to any of these festivals? Tag us @thebamabuzz and let us know!
