By Isabella Gomez/Rick McCann Blue RAM Media/Gulf Coast News
November 3, 2025
FAIRHOPE Ala. Two separate multi-vehicle collisions in Fairhope on Sunday afternoon at around 3:54 p.m., shut down a major intersection and injured multiple people.
An ALEA trooper driving on State Highway 181 and approaching State Highway 104 witnessed a collision involving a motor vehicle and a motorcycle. The Fairhope police and fire departments, along with EMS, were immediately dispatched to the scene.
Within a few minutes of the first collision, there was a second wreck that involved three more vehicles and several injuries. Additional manpower and resources were dispatched to the scene.
A medical helicopter was also dispatched and landed at the scene of the wrecks and airlifted a patient with serious injuries to an area trauma center.
Police said that a total of four motor vehicles and one motorcycle were involved and that one person suffered serious injuries, while several others had minor injuries.
Law enforcement is continuing to investigate both traffic collisions.
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ALABAMA Federal law enforcement and police in two states have arrested two men from Alabama after authorities say that they were involved in a plot to traffic firearms to Mexico.
Emilio Ramirez Cortes, 48, a Mexican citizen who legally resides in the United States, and his son, Edgar Emilio Ramirez Diaz, have been charged with trafficking more than 300 weapons, along with ammunition and magazines, announced Attorney General Pamela Bondi and U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei on Tuesday.
Both men have made their initial appearances in Laredo federal court and will remain in custody pending a detention hearing. The men face charges of smuggling firearms, ammunition, magazines and other firearms accessories as well as trafficking of firearms.
“Disrupting the illegal flow of weapons into Mexico is a key part of our whole-of-government approach to dismantling the cartels,” Bondi said. “This significant seizure represents our commitment to protecting Americans from brutal cartel violence.”
On October 23, 2025, federal officers noticed two vehicles that appeared to be driving in tandem as they approached the Juarez-Lincoln Port of Entry in Laredo Texas, according to the complaint.
Customs and Border Patrol said that Ramirez Diaz was driving a Chevrolet Tahoe with Alabama license plates, followed by his father in a Chevrolet Silverado with Mexican license plates. Both vehicles were allegedly hauling enclosed white box utility trailers. CBP officers stopped both vehicles for inspection and officers found false walls in both trailers, which resulted in the discovery of well over 300 rifles and pistols, as well as various caliber ammunition and magazines.
According to court records, Cortes and Diaz were smuggling these weapons and related items in exchange for payment and had done so on multiple occasions.
Court records didn’t specify which area of Alabama Cortes and Diaz are from.
Homeland Security Investigations, federal law enforcement, are continuing their investigation.
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BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. On Saturday afternoon, at around 2 p.m., the Baldwin County 911 Communications Center began receiving calls reporting explosions.
Callers in Baldwin County began dialing 911 reporting hearing loud explosions in Fairhope on County Road 32. Other callers reported hearing the same loud booms in Fort Morgan near the Rookery, and in Loxley near Highway 59.
Some callers reported that their house shook while a few reported feeling the ground shake.
At 2:07 p.m. another call to 911, this one from Elsanor near 23835 CR 87 reported another sound of an explosion in this neighborhood and minutes later at 2:11 p.m., yet another 911 call came in, this time from 18600 East Silverhill Avenue in Robertsdale.
At least six residents in South Alabama reported hearing loud booms across the county.
The reports originated primarily from Baldwin County, from Bay Minette to Gulf Shores.
“Pine Grove, Alabama, approximately three miles East of Bay Minette, Alabama in Baldwin County, we heard three large booms,” said Brandy Baggett. “I went outside and didn’t see anything, but it was loud like a dump truck bed slamming shut extremely hard. It rattled our windows in our trailer. First one was at 2:06, second one was at 2:14 and the last one was at 2:32.”
The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, along with several local police and fire departments responded to the areas of the reported explosions, but nothing was found.
The US Coast Guard reported that a person witnessed a sudden gush of water that shot into the air in Mobile Bay but there was no evidence of any type of explosion.
Baldwin County is not directly on a major fault line, but it is susceptible to earthquakes from the Southern Appalachian Seismic Zone and the Bahamas Fracture Seismic Zone. While major fault lines like the San Andreas are far away, the state of Alabama is part of a seismically active region that extends from northern Alabama down into the Gulf. This can lead to minor, localized seismic activity in the county, as evidenced by reports of tremors and quakes in the area.
Southern Appalachian Seismic Zone: This zone runs through Alabama and can cause minor to moderate earthquakes in the state.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) did not register an earthquake in Alabama.
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MOBILE, Ala. A Mobile County Corrections Officer has been stabbed by an inmate at the metro jail.
A sheriff’s office spokesperson stated that Corrections Officer Tyler Simms was stabbed in the chest by Jeremiah Jackson, 31, while serving breakfast trays on Friday. The weapon was a “shank” made by Jackson while he was in jail.
Officer Simms was taken to the hospital with non-threatening injuries and was released after treatment.
Jail records show Jackson is currently in jail on charges of disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and failure to obey.
A sheriff’s office spokesperson said that additional charges are forthcoming once the investigation is complete.
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MOBILE AL. The Mobile County Sheriff’s Office have made an arrest in a murder that occurred in early October 2025.
MCSO Major Crimes has arrested JT Williams (DOB 7/1/84) for Murder.
On Saturday, October 11, 2025, at approximately 5:53 am, Prichard Police was notified of one shot at Cato Ave and ONeil St. Prichard Police arrived at the scene and found Willie Cook (DOB 9/22/79) down at the scene with a gunshot wound to the left chest and left arm. It is believed that the shooting occurred at another location.
In cases such as this, it is very important that if you see something, then say something,” says Sheriff Paul Burch. We depend on the community to provide us with information so that we can arrest those who continue to take the law into their own hands”
Williams was booked into the Mobile Metro Jail on one count of murder and is being held without bond.
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BELFOREST COMMUNITY, Ala. A tragic situation unfolded Wednesday afternoon in the Belforest Community at around 4:30 p.m.
Law enforcement and emergency responders were called to a quiet subdivision where a person died by a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Authorities said that there had been some type of disturbance on Roanoke Loop, prior to a 911 call being made.
The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, Belforest Volunteer Fire Department, and an ambulance responded to the shooting.
We are not releasing the name of the deceased person.
On August 14, 2025, law enforcement responded to a home on Sable Court after receiving calls of a shooting. Deputies found four people deceased. A man shot and killed his two children and his wife before turning the gun on himself.
Another recent murder-suicide shocked the residents of Spanish Fort earlier this month when a man and woman driving on the Causeway were engaged in a verbal argument when the driver pulled over. Veromonique Ntseful-Dubose, 41, of Mobile, was shot and killed by her husband, Taurean Dubose, 36, of Mobile, who was also found deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said.
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GULF SHORES, Ala. When I was a little kid, I associated turning the clocks back with cooler weather, Thanksgiving and of course Christmas. And if cold air from the north made it to where I lived in Tennessee, I might even get to make a snowman or see a white Christmas. From my perspective at that time, that’s what the time change was all about.
And on the first Sunday of November, at 2 a.m., we’ll turn them back once more.
Now as an adult, I might get an extra hour of sleep, but probably not. I’ll probably be one of those people who’ll work an extra hour.
On the second Sunday of March, at 2 a.m., clocks in most of the United States and many other countries move forward one hour and stay there for nearly eight months in what is called Daylight Saving Time.
The current March to November system that the US follows began in 2007, but the concept of “saving daylight” is much older. Daylight Saving Time has its roots in train schedules, but it was put into practice in Europe and the United States to save fuel and power during World War I, according to the US Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
The US kept Daylight Saving Time permanent during most of World War II. The idea was put in place to conserve fuel and keep things standard. As the war came to a close in 1945, Gallup asked respondents how we should tell time. Only 17% wanted to keep what was then called “war time” all year.
During the energy crisis of the 1970s, we tried permanent Daylight-Saving Time again in the winter of 1973-1974. The idea again was to conserve fuel. It was a popular move at the time when President Richard Nixon signed the law in January 1974. But by the end of the month, Florida’s governor had called for the law’s repeal after eight schoolchildren were hit by cars in the dark. Schools across the country delayed start times until the sun came up.
Once again, during the past few years, there’s been much talk about putting our country under a new time zone. One that would make the entire country be always on the same time, never again turning our clocks forwards or backwards.
Many love the idea, others love our current system.
In the US, states are not required by law to “fall back” or “spring forward.” Hawaii, most of Arizona and some territories in the Pacific and Caribbean do not observe Daylight Saving Time.
The twice-yearly switcheroo is irritating enough to lawmakers of all political stripes that federal lawmakers have tried to make Daylight Saving Time permanent over the past few years. New versions of the bill were introduced in the House and Senate this year.
Some people, already set in their ways, are happy with how we pretend to control time twice a year. They don’t want any changes. Still others have no opinion and could care less. I suppose I’m one of those. I don’t see any benefits of changing keeping the old or trying the new.
Studies over the past 25 years have shown the one-hour change disrupts body rhythms tuned to Earth’s rotation, adding fuel to the debate over whether having Daylight Saving Time in any form is a good idea. One study showed more car accidents when people lose an extra hour of sleep. There are also studies that show robberies decline when there is an extra hour of sunlight at the end of the day. We also know that people suffer more heart attacks at the start of Daylight-Saving Time. But what about our mental health? People seem to be happier when there is an extra hour of daylight.
The issue is that for every argument there is a counterargument. Studies, opinions, or likes and dislikes, all have their own merits.
So far, studies and research have all found reasonable reasons for doing away with changing the clocks in the fall and keeping time all on one schedule.
The bottom line: It’s not clear whether having that extra hour of sunlight at the end of the day versus the beginning is helpful. It just depends on who you are and what you want.
Whether you’re for or against messing with the time zones, it doesn’t look like Daylight Saving Time in the US is going away anytime soon.
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MOBILE, Ala. A fired Mobile police officer and his wife have been arrested and charged with evidence tampering related to their son’s accident.
Former Sergeant Gary Rogers, who was terminated after removing items including a fleece pullover jacket following the December accident on Lott Road in Wilmer. The Mobile County Personnel Board upheld that firing last month. The wreck claimed the life of Nolan McDavid, a student at the University of South Alabama.
The Personnel Board found that Rogers, a decorated 21-year veteran of the force who rose to the rank of sergeant, acted improperly. City lawyers contended he was untruthful about his actions when questioned by investigators.
Rogers faces one count of tampering with physical evidence is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by a maximum of one year in jail, and his wife, Courtney Rogers, faces an identical charge and was previously charged with two counts of intimidating a witness.
Their son, Dawson Rogers, faces a reckless murder charge, although a judge granted his request to be treated as a “youthful offender,” which means his records are sealed and his maximum punishment would be capped at three years in prison, if convicted.
Prosecutors allege that Rogers was drunk and speeding when he crossed over the center line.
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MOBILE, Ala. Two men arrested for being in the US illegally, each have been caught and deported numerous times according to federal law enforcement.
On October 20, 2025, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, was apprehended during a traffic stop. Pedro Guerreo-Rocha was pulled over by Saraland Police for an obstructed windshield. He has already been deported six times in the last twelve years according to authorities.
During the arrest, federal agents were called and interviewed Rocha who only spoke Spanish and did not have a valid driver’s license. The Border Patrol agent later determined Guerreo-Rocha was deported in 2013, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2022 & 2023. He’s now charged with ‘Illegal Reentry’.
The Gulf Shores police responded to gun shots being fired call on October 18th and Hipolito Hernendez-Modesto was taken into custody after someone discharged a firearm multiple times in the vicinity of Franz Street. Police there also called federal law enforcement in to assist officers because they suspected that Hernendez-Modesto was in the country illegally. And an HSI agent later determined Hernendez-Modesto was arrested in Nogales, Arizona in 2020 and deported. He is also now charged with ‘Re-entry of Removed Alien’.
Another federal criminal complaint shows Nehemias Pelico-Cutz, an illegal immigrant from Guatemala, was arrested on Oct 16 during a traffic stop by Mobile County Sheriff’s deputies. Records show an ICE agent did a background check and determined Pelico-Cutz was deported in September 2005, October 2005, November 2017, March 2019 & August 2019. He is now charged with ‘Illegal Reentry after Deportation or Removal’.
Law enforcement in many areas have agreed to call ICE when they encounter a person that they have determined to be in the country illegally, and police are finding that often times the same person is returning to the US and to the same areas where they have previously been arrested.
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ROBERTSDALE, Ala. Police responded to the Dollar Tree store located at 18520 Media Dr Suite A, after receiving a complaint that a woman inside the store was striking a small child repeatedly.
When police arrived at the business, they were able to substantiate that the woman, later identified as 36-year-old Crystal Jackson, had struck the child more than 15 times.
Robertsdale Police Department officers arrested Jackson for abusing the child.
Jackson was transported to the Baldwin County Detention Center and charged with Torture/Willful Abuse of Child-Family and given a $25,000 bond.
As of this time, Jackson is still incarcerated at the detention center.
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ELBERTA, Ala. In the late hours of Sunday night, a small tornado swept through the town of Elberta leaving behind property damage, but no injuries have been reported.
The cleanup continues this morning after the 11 p.m. tornado has left the community with down trees, damaged rooftops and some debris scattered around. At least one storage shed was also damaged by the strong winds, and a fence was also damaged.
A large piece of sheet metal, presumably from a barn roof, sits in the middle of Woerner Road South. Sheet metal was also seen strewn about in the area.
Much of the damage is centered around County Road 87 and Woerner Road.
Elberta still has power, but it has been reported that at least a few homes were left without power and sounds of a generator could be heard.
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Chinese checkers is a classic board game, featuring several marbles that move along a series of holes grouped into a six-pointed star shape.
As in traditional checkers, the marbles can move to empty spaces or jump over adjacent pieces with the goal of getting all the pieces to one side of the board.
Contrary to its name, however, Chinese checkers has nothing to do with China — it’s a variation of a game called Halma (meaning “jump” in Greek). Halma features a square board, and a star-shaped version was invented in Germany around 1880. Originally called Stern-Halma, the star-shaped game was published by the German game and puzzle company Ravensburger in 1892.
The game arrived in America in the late 1920s under the name Hop Ching checkers, and, later, Chinese star checkers. It was advertised as “a game from the Orient for all ages,” but this backstory was invented entirely for marketing, to give the product an air of mysticism.
While six-pointed stars such as the one on the Chinese checkers game board have a long history in many cultures, including some Asian spiritual traditions, the board’s star shape originated in Germany, decades before the game’s fictional association with China.
Nevertheless, Chinese checkers is the name that stuck in the American lexicon.
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MOBILE, AL. On October 23, 2025, the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by Mobile Police Department about a stolen vehicle discovered in our jurisdiction.
The vehicle was discovered on Wheatcroft Road Henderson Camp Road area of Grand Bay.
Mobile County Sheriff’s Office responded and located the vehicle in the area of Padgett Switch Road and Hogue Road in Irvington. Deputies attempted to stop the vehicle but a pursuit ensued. The suspect was pursued to the area of Padgett Switch Road at the Bryant Vocational Center where the suspect bailed from the vehicle and fled into a wooded area.
MCSO and MPD set up a perimeter with drones and K9 units, however, the suspect was not located. The suspect has been identified as BOBBY WAYNE RODGERS (DOB 1/28/86) and is currently wanted by Federal Probation/US Marshals.
After further investigation, law enforcement was able to locate and arrest Rodgers who is currently in police custody.
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DAPHNE, Ala. Daphne’s Bayfront Park is set to close on Monday so that work on the new amphitheater can begin.
The multi-million-dollar project will create a larger park footprint, increase amenities, add restrooms, and best of all, add a large amphitheater for concerts and other events.
During the construction phase, the Bayfront Pier will still be accessible to foot traffic through Village Point Park Preserve but access to the park on Bayfront Drive, from Moe’s Original BBQ west to the waterfront, will be closed.
An estimate of the project’s completion and reopening of the park is going to be in the Spring 2027, “in time to celebrate Daphne’s Centennial,” a Daphne official stated.
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Through an investigation, Foley Police found that 62-year-old Ernest Milton Kinsey of Elberta was driving southbound on the Beach Express when he crossed into the northbound lane. He hit a Chevrolet Silverado head-on and continued to push the truck into the five other vehicles that were involved in the accident.
The driver of the Chevy Silverado was airlifted to an area hospital with minor injuries.
Kinsey was also sent to a local hospital, where he later died.
This is an ongoing investigation. Officers will continue to work to understand what happened in this accident.
FOLEY, Ala. As many as five vehicles were involved in a motor vehicle collision on Wednesday afternoon in Foley that left one man deceased.
911 callers reported that multiple vehicles were involved and that several people were injured in the wreck at Foley Beach Express and US Highway 98.
The first call that came into the Baldwin County 911 Communications Center was at around 2:30 p.m. The caller reported that a person was trapped inside their vehicle.
Police, Foley Firefighters, and several ambulances responded to the scene, and part of the road was shut down while people in the wreck were treated by medical personnel.
A medical helicopter landed nearby, and at least one of the injured was flown to an area trauma center.
The cause of the wreck is currently under investigation.
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Some local restaurants are still in violation of the Alabama Seafood Labeling Law, which went into effect in October of 2024.
A DNA firm which recently tested shrimp at local restaurants and at the National Shrimp Festival to see if businesses were falsely identifying where their products came from as once again gone out and retested restaurants that were tested earlier in the year. Surprisingly, restaurants and shrimp sellers have continued falsely identifying the origin of their shrimp.
SeaD Consulting, a Texas-based group, conducted its initial study March 23-27 on behalf of the Southern Shrimp Alliance.
The alliance is “an organization of shrimp fishermen, shrimp processors, and other members of the domestic industry in the eight warmwater shrimp producing states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas,” its website states.
During the DNA testing that was done earlier in the year, the company said that they had tested 44 restaurants in Gulf Shores to determine if they were serving American wild-caught shrimp or non-domestic shrimp, and of those 44 restaurants tested in March, 22 have been retested in October of 2025.
Of those that were tested, “10 out of 22 (sampled restaurants) were serving imports (46%) vs. 19 out of 44 (43%) previously tested in March 2025,” the group said.
SeaD staff used what the group called a Rapid ID Genetic High-Accuracy Test.
The group’s results also indicated that three restaurants that marketed American wild-caught shrimp now serve non-domestic.
Additionally, two restaurants reportedly now serve wild-caught domestic shrimp after initial testing in March showed the opposite.
However, some shrimp marketed as wild-caught and domestic allegedly did not match their labels.
Of the 10 restaurants in the recent testing, nine were “outright claiming to serve domestic shrimp,” when that wasn’t the case, the group said.
But restaurants’ actions may not directly result in mislabeling items.
That’s because “…mislabeling or substitution can occur at any point in the supply chain,” Blake Price, Deputy Director of the Southern Shrimp Alliance, said.
Still, he said, “it is ultimately the consumer who is misled — and that is unacceptable.”
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MOBILE, Ala. A woman has been shot to death, and Mobile police have arrested the shooter.
The Mobile police said that officers were dispatched to Wilmer Hall at 3811 Old Shell Road just after 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 21, 2025.
When officers arrived at the location, they found a woman who had been shot and was deceased.
During the officer’s investigation, it was learned that the victim, 28-year-old Amiayia White, was shot inside the location by a known male subject.
A 28-year-old woman was shot and killed in Mobile late Tuesday, and police have arrested a suspect.
According to detectives, they were able to identify David Smith, 21, as the shooter.
Smith was arrested and charged with murder and was transported to Mobile County Metro Jail, police said.
If anyone has any information that could assist in the investigation of this case, you are asked to contact the Mobile Police Department at 251-208-7211. Alternatively, you can submit an anonymous tip by texting 844-251-0644 or by visiting mobilepd.org/crimetip.
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BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. In the past five days, three people have been arrested for having guns that had been stolen. All three were driving when police stopped each of them for a traffic violation.
During the interactions between the law enforcement officers and the drivers, police either observed a firearm in plain view or asked the driver if there were any firearms in the vehicle, which is a standard question during most interactions with the police.
In most states, when a police officer asks a person if they are carrying a firearm or if one is in the vehicle and they lie, the person may be charged with a crime, including obstructing a law enforcement officer.
Since January 1, 2023, Alabama has been a “permitless carry” state, also known as a “Constitutional” Carry state. This law eliminated the need to apply to their county sheriff’s office for a concealed gun permit, and it requires no training. However, other requirements must be met, such as no felony convictions, no drug abuse, and you must be 19 years or older, who is not otherwise prohibited from possessing a firearm by state or federal law.
While Alabama law prohibits the state from creating a registry of firearms, police can still check a gun’s serial number, particularly if it’s in plain view. The ability to do so is based on general police powers and the plain view doctrine, and the new law doesn’t change this fundamental principle.
A police officer may also take and secure a person’s firearm for the officer’s safety during any interaction, especially if the armed person is being questioned about a violation of the law or is suspected of committing a crime. In doing this, law enforcement may, without the firearm owner’s permission, check the serial number in the National Crime Information Center database to ensure that the weapon is not stolen and has not been used in a crime.
Permitless carry does not grant the right to carry a weapon everywhere. Firearms are still prohibited in many sensitive locations, including:
A person may NOT carry a firearm without the express consent of the person or entity with the authority of the premises on the following properties:
Inside of a Police, Sheriff or highway patrol station
Inside or on the premises of a prison, jail, halfway house, community corrections facility, or other detention facility
Inside any facility that provides inpatient or custodial care of those with psychiatric, mental, or emotional disorders.
Inside a courthouse, courthouse annex, a building in which a district attorney’s office is located, or a building in which a county commission or city council is currently having a regularly scheduled or specially called meeting.
Inside any facility hosting an athletic event not related to or involving firearms, which is sponsored by a private or public elementary or secondary school or any private or public institution of postsecondary education, unless that person has a valid permit.
Inside any facility hosting a professional athletic event, not related to or involving firearms, unless that person has a valid permit.
Inside any building or facility where access of unauthorized persons and prohibited articles is limited during normal hours of operation by the continuous posting of guards or the use of other security features that prevent all persons entering the facility from bringing prohibited items into the facility.
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ELBERTA, Ala. The semi-annual Elberta German Sausage Festival is returning with a full day of food, fun, vendors, and community support.
The festival is scheduled for Saturday, October 25, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., weather permitting. It takes place in Elberta Town Park in central Elberta. The festival is a one-day event held twice a year on the last Saturdays of March and October.
The event serves as a key fundraiser for the volunteer fire department and supports improvements in the town. Local nonprofits benefit through booth sales, parking activities, and other event-linked efforts. The festival began in 1978 and has grown into a major community tradition.
The festival attracts thousands of people during each event who enjoy the fresh Elberta Sausage, live entertainment, and a broad lineup of vendor booths.
The food lineup centers on Elberta’s famous German sausage and sauerkraut, known for the “One with two without” order style. The proprietary recipe traces back to Alfred Stucki, and today the sausage is produced locally with premium cuts and old‑world spices. All‑natural casings are used, and no preservatives are added. Sausage is packed and bagged two days before each festival, kept fresh and never frozen.
Grilling operations handle thousands of pounds of links each festival on a roughly 30‑foot grill. Racks allow crews to flip and move large batches at once. Sausages move down the grill to an unloading area, then into the serving building, where they are placed into buns, wrapped, and carried to serving windows.
Food choices extend beyond sausage. Visitors can find roasted corn, barbecue, kettle corn, and classic carnival fare. Traditional German sides and festival staples are offered. A broad mix of vendors helps round out the daylong experience.
The vendor footprint approaches 200 arts and crafts booths with additional spaces for community groups. The layout is walkable and concentrated inside the park. Free admission encourages families to arrive early or visit during off‑peak times.
Entertainment runs throughout the day with regional bands, polka favorites, and family performances on multiple stages. A children’s area is planned inside the park. Activities are designed to keep families together and within easy reach of food and rest areas.
Parking is not centralized for this event. Attendees may park along public rights‑of‑way outside the festival area while observing local and state laws. Nearby pay‑to‑park options may be available through churches or private citizens.
Handicap parking is reserved around the Police Department and the Municipal Complex across from the park. Vehicles in those spaces must display proper placards. Improperly parked vehicles are subject to towing at the owner’s expense.
The festival profits spread benefits across the community while supporting emergency services. Proceeds help ensure continued operations and equipment upgrades. The event’s long history and free admission make it a consistent regional draw each spring and fall.
Visitors are encouraged to arrive early for easier parking and to respect neighborhood access and driveways. Posted signs and accessibility zones are strictly enforced. Families planning midday visits should expect the heaviest crowds and longer lines.
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ORANGE BEACH, AL. During the Christmas holidays here on the Gulf Coast, we see a lot of spectacular decorations, Christmas tree lightings, and beautiful holiday displays, but this year, something different will be featured during the annual Christmas tree lighting in Orange Beach.
For the first time, the city has partnered with The Wharf to bring in Sky Elements, a drone performance team that competed on America’s Got Talent.
City officials say they hope to create a memorable experience for the family attending the celebration.
The drone display and tree lighting ceremony will take place on Tuesday, December 2, beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Main Street at The Wharf. The event serves as the official kickoff to the Christmas season in Orange Beach.
Families attending the celebration can enjoy several free activities throughout the evening. Live performers will sing Christmas carols to set the festive mood. Children can decorate cookies and write letters to Santa Claus. Hot chocolate will be available to keep everyone warm. Santa himself will make an appearance at the event.
The highlight of the evening will be the tree lighting ceremony, followed by the drone show.
Sky Elements gained national attention after appearing as finalists on the popular television competition America’s Got Talent. The team specializes in creating choreographed light displays using drones.
City officials and The Wharf management worked together to bring the drone performance to Orange Beach. They hope the addition will make this year’s tree lighting more magical than ever before. The event is open to the public, and families are encouraged to arrive early.
The Christmas tree lighting has been an Orange Beach tradition for years, but his year’s event promises to combine beloved holiday activities with cutting-edge entertainment technology. Officials expect a large crowd to attend the celebration.
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