Holiday Activities at The Wharf
The Wharf in Orange Beach is the hotspot for the holiday season. Here you’ll find ice skating, horse-drawn carriage rides and lots of shopping during December. You can also enjoy the Ferris wheel that runs year-round and the nightly Spectra light show.
You can enjoy outdoor activities like biking, hiking and kayaking all year round here in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. However, the cool weather that winter brings to the coast makes December the ideal time to experience the natural beauties of the area, and with 6,150 acres, Gulf State Park is a great place to explore.
Shop ‘Til You Drop
Get all of your Christmas shopping done while you’re here on Alabama’s Beaches. You’ll find something for everyone on your list. Choose to shop from prominent spots like The Wharf and Tanger Outlets, local art galleries, gift shops, specialty food stores and more!
Hit the Courses
With 15 golf courses open year-round, Coastal Alabama is the premiere spot to get a few rounds in this winter! The cool, comfortable temperatures make a day of golfing the perfect way to spend a day in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach in December.
See Santa
Santa loves to visit the Coast before Christmas, and while you’re here, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to see him! At OWA in Foley, you can enjoy brunch with Santa starting December 4 all the way through the 22. Photos with Santa will also be available at OWA for those who just want to snag a picture with the big man in red. At Flora-Bama, Santa makes a special appearance by skydiving onto the beach and offering pictures with spectators after he lands. You can also hang out with Santa’s warm-weather-loving brother Billy Claus and his LuLubelles at LuLu’s and enjoy photos and a special reading of Billy Claus and the Spirit of Christmas Island.
Marvel at Christmas Lights
Checking out all of the beautiful Christmas lights is one of the best parts of the holiday season. You’ll find light displays throughout Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. The lighted Christmas Boat Parade is a bright and festive spectacle that features boats covered in lights riding on the water. You can also catch Christmas lights at OWA and The Wharf. They both feature impressive Christmas trees decorated with glistening lights.
