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Eastern Shore, AL

Culture

Given the rich heritage of the Eastern Shore, it’s not surprising that a rich cultural life thrives in our cities and communities. The Eastern Shore is well known as a magnet for sculptors, musicians, painters, writers and other artists, and there is abundant opportunity to enjoy theatre, festivals, exhibits, classes, musical performances and more.
Festivals

Mardi Gras on the Eastern Shore is a family-centered celebration. Parades in our cities and communities are perfect for children to enjoy with their friends and parents. The festive atmosphere on the Eastern Shore offers exciting activities for visitors as well as residents.

The Arts & Crafts Festival, started in Fairhope in 1952 and sponsored by the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce, began as a tour of exhibits by local artists inside store windows. Over the years, the festival changed, and exhibitors now come from across the United States. The number of visitors is in six-digit figures, and concurrent activities have expanded to make this event one of the highlights of the year in the Southeast. The Arts & Crafts Festival exhibits and sells the highest-quality artwork and craftsmanship available. The location for this spectacular event is one of the loveliest areas in the world. In 2004, the Arts & Crafts Festival was named Event of the Year in the State of Alabama by the Bureau of Tourism Travel, and it was named one of the top 10 Arts & Crafts Festivals in the United States by Sunshine Artists magazine in 2005. Artists who participate in the voting for this award come from all over the country. The Eastern Show Art Association’s juried Outdoor Art Show is held at the same time, adding another 150 artists to the weekend. Held on Saturday during the festival, the 10K Spring Fever Chase attracts hundreds of enthusiastic runners.

The Jubilee Festival takes place on the streets of downtown Daphne. Two exciting days are filled with arts, crafts, food, entertainment and fun in the “Jubilee City.” The Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce works with the City of Daphne and the downtown businesses to present the annual festival. It’s not surprising that the festival continues to grow and attract new exhibitors as well as many of the old favorites each year.

The Festa Italiana, sponsored by Christ the King Church Sodality, is held each spring the same weekend as the Arts & Crafts Festival (the third weekend of March). The Festa entices crowds with homemade pastas, sauces, and delicious foods and crafts prepared from family traditions. It truly emphasizes the wonderful Italian heritage in the community.

Each April, Earth Day celebrations are held at the Fairhope Pier Park. More than 60 exhibitors draw residents and visitors to one of the South’s longest-running Earth Day celebrations.

The Dauphin Island Race, one of the nation’s largest one-day races, with more than 200 sailboats competing, is held every April on Mobile Bay, just as it has been for the past 50 years.

Fairhope’s Music Festival, held each May, features local and nationally known country, blues, jazz and folk musicians, as well as jazz bands from Fairhope and Daphne public schools. This festival continues to expand as a result of its popularity in the community.

Each year, the City of Daphne sponsors several musical festivals. Jazz in the Plaza takes place the last Sunday in April at the Daphne Civic Center. It features a number of talented jazz bands, and the event is free. Daphne also sponsors Music Under the Stars in April, a festival featuring classic rock, Motown and jazz music. Six groups are showcased for the three-night event. The Zydeco Music & Crawfish Festival is the third weekend in May, beginning on Friday evening. High-energy Zydeco live bands play to enthusiasts, who dance away to the Cajun two-step. Creole and Cajun foods are served. The Bluegrass in the Plaza event is held in October, while Celtic Celebration takes place in November in the Plaza.

The City of Daphne’s Daphne Civic Center presents The Taste of the Eastern Shore the first Friday in August, a premier food and beverage event featuring 50 great restaurants and beverage companies from Baldwin and Mobile counties.

In October, Fairhope is host to several cultural events. The Alabama Coastal BirdFest attracts birdwatchers from around the country. Visitors and residents enjoy guided tours, guest speakers and a free, day-long Bird and Conservation Expo. On the same weekend, a Wine and Art Festival takes place downtown, and the two-day Grand Festival by the Bay brings over 100 fine artists to the Fairhope Beach Park.

Southern Writers Reading is a three-day event in November with readings and book signings by acclaimed Southern writers.

Christmas by the Bay is a fundraising event for the Baldwin County Humane Society, one of three counties in the state to have a grant from Maddie’s Fund, the pet rescue foundation. The event draws hundreds of residents each year to the Daphne Civic Center, which is packed with dozens of regional and national merchants.

Fairhope’s New Year’s Eve is a family-friendly outdoor party held downtown. It features music, dancing, children’s fun and fireworks.

Visual Arts
The Eastern Shore Art Center (ESAC) in Fairhope is home to four galleries with exhibits that change monthly. ESAC features a gallery with member artists’ work for sale. The galleries feature paintings, sculpture, photography and multimedia artwork. The Academy at the Art Center is well known for its variety of classes and workshops year-round. Both children and adults enjoy participating in classes in its five spacious studios. ESAC presents several special events each year, including sales of local artists’ works, outdoor art shows in March and October, and a classical music series with six concerts between October and March.

The Eastern Shore Art Center and galleries in Fairhope also host the Fairhope ArtWalk, a monthly tour of the galleries in the city. ArtWalk typically falls on the first Friday evening of the month and is a delightful way to experience the vibrant city.

Private Galleries
The area’s private galleries include Gulf Art Space in Fairhope and Bay Rivers Art Guild in Daphne. Bay Rivers Art Guild features regular exhibits and an annual juried show. It also offers adults’ and children’s classes.

Extraordinary inspirational artwork, murals and frescoes by Greek artists can be found at the Greek Orthodox Memorial Church in Malbis.

The American Sport Art Museum and Archives, located at the United States Sports Academy in Daphne, has the largest collection of sport art in the country and possibly in the world. The museum features more than 1,000 pieces of art, including the two-story-high mural A Tribute to the Human Spirit by Spanish artist Cristobal Gabarron. Along the perimeter of the campus, visitors will see The Walk of Fame, paved with bricks engraved with the names of athletes who deserve recognition for their achievements in sports.

Performing Arts
We are fortunate to have talented performing artists who call the Eastern Shore home. Residents and visitors enjoy their music at indoor and outdoor venues. We are home to the Baldwin Pops — a community-based symphonic band of local musicians who perform all types of music, including classical, pop, jazz and Broadway tunes. We are also proud of the Eastern Shore Choral Society and the Eastern Shore Center for Performing Arts. If you enjoy dance, Bayshore Ballet Academy ranks among the best dance troupes in the area.

Theater buffs can attend performances at Theatre 98 and Children’s Theatre 98, as well as at Centennial Hall on the Campus of Faulkner State Community College and at USABC’s Performance Center, which also hosts The Fairhope Film Series twice a year. The new Fairhope Center for the Arts is planned to open at Fairhope High School in the coming year.

Writing
Some people say that the Eastern Shore has more writers than readers. Just take a look at the shelves of local bookstores and check out the books written by area writers!

Are you an experienced author? An amateur writer? No matter, the Baldwin Writers Group will welcome you to its monthly meetings, held at Daphne Public Library. Hone your writing skills and enjoy guest speakers when you attend the group’s valuable workshops.

The Fairhope Center for the Writing Arts (FCWA) has a mission to carry on the literary legacy of the Eastern Shore. The group’s Writers-in-Residence come to Fairhope for a three-day seminar called Southern Writers Reading Program each November.

The Eastern Shore takes pride in its renowned authors, including Winston Groom (Forest Gump), Fannie Flagg (Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Café), W.E.B. Griffin (Badge of Honor series), and Sonny Brewer (Poet of Tolstoy Park and A Sound Like Thunder).