Seasonal & Holiday Trips
Christmas and New Year’s on the Gulf Coast with a Big Group: Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Holiday Guide (2026)
By Avara Stays · Updated October 29, 2026
Christmas and New Year’s week on Alabama’s beaches is quieter than summer, with holiday lights, an ice rink by the water and a New Year’s Day plunge into the Gulf. This guide lists the holiday events we could confirm for 2026, flags the ones whose dates are not announced yet, and shows how a family group of 20 to 27, or up to 37 across two homes, can host Christmas dinner at the beach.
The holiday week at a glance
These are the late-December events we could confirm on the organizers’ own pages or the official Gulf Shores & Orange Beach tourism calendar on October 29, 2026. Where a 2026 date has not been announced, we say so: check the official page before you plan a night around it.
| When | What and where | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 13, 2026 – Jan 18, 2027 | Ice skating rink at The Wharf, Orange Beach: real ice, skates provided, special holiday hours | Confirmed for 2026 |
| Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 9, 2027 | Magic Christmas in Lights at Bellingrath Gardens & Home, Theodore: 5 PM to 9 PM, closed Dec 25 and Jan 1 | Confirmed for 2026 |
| Through Dec 23, 2026 | The Very Merry Tree Walk in Downtown OWA, Foley | Confirmed for 2026 |
| December | Christmas Card Lane and Coastal Nights of Lights at Gulf State Park | Held every year; 2026 date not announced |
| Christmas Day | Flora-Bama Christmas Potluck, Perdido Key: bring a side dish, the meats are covered | Confirmed for 2026 |
| Sat, Dec 26, 2026 | Make It To The Line 4-mile fun run/walk at the Flora-Bama | Confirmed for 2026 |
| Thu, Dec 31, 2026 | Noon Year’s Eve at LuLu’s, Gulf Shores: 10 AM to 3 PM, free | Confirmed for 2026 |
| Thu, Dec 31, 2026 | Flora-Bama’s New Year’s Eve Bash: live music on three stages and a midnight champagne toast | Confirmed for 2026 |
| Dec 31 | Reelin’ in the New Year street party and midnight fireworks at The Wharf | Held every year; 2026 date not announced |
| New Year’s week | New Year’s fireworks at OWA, Foley | Held every year; 2026 date not announced |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | Flora-Bama Polar Bear Dip: everyone goes in at noon, free | Confirmed for 2026 |
Status as of October 29, 2026. Events, hours and prices change; confirm with each organizer before you go.
Christmas week
Ice skating by the marina at The Wharf
The Wharf in Orange Beach sets up its Ice Skating Rink presented by Pepsi from November 13, 2026, to January 18, 2027. The Wharf calls it “crisp real ice”, skates are provided, and it asks every skater to complete an e-waiver before arriving, which saves time when you are checking in a big group. Hours run longer over the holidays: The Wharf’s December 2026 calendar lists the rink open from 10 AM to 10 PM on most days of Christmas week, with shorter hours on Christmas Eve, no session on Christmas Day, and skating until midnight on New Year’s Eve. The Wharf’s October rink article gives shorter hours for December 21 to 24, so confirm the times before you go. Photos with Santa run on select days through Christmas Eve. The Wharf is 8.1 mi, about 16 min by car from the Beachfront Duplex and 7.7 mi, about 14 min by car from Oasis Unit 2201.
Magic Christmas in Lights at Bellingrath Gardens
For one evening away from the beach, Bellingrath Gardens & Home in Theodore holds its 31st annual Magic Christmas in Lights from November 20, 2026, to January 9, 2027, from 5 PM to 9 PM. It is closed on December 25 and January 1. The gardens say the 65-acre estate is decorated with thousands of lights, with live choral performances, and that tickets are non-refundable. The tourism board puts the drive at about an hour and forty minutes from Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, so plan it as a carpool night.
Christmas at OWA
Downtown OWA in Foley decorates for the season. Its Christmas at OWA page lists Christmas Tree Shows set to lights and music, a Christmas Projection Show on the downtown buildings, the North Pole Experience, Breakfast with Santa and Island Movie Nights, and the Very Merry Tree Walk of decorated trees runs through December 23, 2026. Check OWA’s calendar for this year’s show times. OWA is 12.6 mi, about 22 min by car from the duplex.
Holiday lights at Gulf State Park
Alabama State Parks says Gulf State Park celebrates through December with Coastal Nights of Lights, Christmas Card Lane, Breakfast with the Grinch and live music at the Beach Pavilion. The 2026 dates were not on the official holiday page when we checked, so check it again closer to your trip. Note that the park’s picnic pavilions cannot be booked on major holidays.
Christmas Day out: the Flora-Bama potluck
The Flora-Bama on Perdido Key, right on the Alabama–Florida line, holds an annual Christmas Potluck on Christmas Day: “Just bring a side dish and friend we have the meats covered.” The next day, Saturday, December 26, 2026, it hosts the Make It To The Line 4-mile fun run/walk, with proceeds going to its Secret Santa Fund for local families.
Arriving earlier in December?
The Wharf’s calendar lists a Christmas Tree Lighting on December 1, 2026, at 5:30 PM, and the Annual Christmas Lighted Boat Parade cruises the Intracoastal Waterway past LuLu’s in Gulf Shores at dusk on Saturday, December 12, 2026.
Hosting Christmas dinner at the beach
For most big families, the heart of the trip is one long dinner together. The Beachfront Duplex is a beachfront duplex of two side-by-side homes, Side A and Side B, each with its own entrance, kitchen and living room, so the cooking can be split between two kitchens and the group can still sit down together.
| Side A · sleeps 14 | Side B · sleeps 13 | |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen | Fully stocked: chef-quality cookware and knives, food processor, blender, rice cooker, mixer, bakeware, seafood pot, dishwasher | Open kitchen: refrigerator with ice maker, full-size stove, microwave, toaster, blender, coffee maker, dishwasher |
| After dinner | TV in every room | Four smart TVs and DVD players, movies, board games, dominoes and cards |
| Outdoors | Outdoor grills and picnic tables, Gulf-view decks on both sides, and the beachside pool, heated on request at no extra charge | |
| For a long stay | Two washer and dryer sets; porta-cribs, high chairs and safety gates | |
Home details are from the owner’s listing. See each home’s page for photos of the kitchens and bedrooms.
A plan that works well for a group this size: one side takes the main course and the other takes sides and desserts, then everyone carries their dishes over and eats together. Gift opening can happen in one living room while the other stays quiet for little ones who need a nap.
Joining with a second family group? Oasis Unit 2201 in Orange Beach sleeps 10 more in a Gulf-front corner condo with a gourmet kitchen with a large island, a wet bar with a sink, ice maker and wine cooler, and a large Gulf-front balcony with an outdoor living room. It is about 6 miles, or roughly 13 minutes, from the duplex by car with light traffic. Oasis allows no pets, and parking passes are bought through The Oasis HOA ($60 per vehicle, 2 vehicles maximum).
If you would rather not cook
The tourism board’s Holiday Dining page lets you filter Gulf Shores and Orange Beach restaurants that are open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. It notes that some holiday dinners need pre-purchased tickets or reservations, that several restaurants offer family-style takeout meals ordered in advance, and that many local seafood markets sell ready-made meals. Holiday hours vary, so call ahead.
For a group dinner out during the week, two restaurants publish winter group rules. LuLu’s in Gulf Shores says it hosts some large parties and events in its shoulder season, October through February, and asks you to email the restaurant and name the Gulf Shores location. The Original Oyster House Boardwalk takes reservations for parties of 10 or more through a manager, except on busy holiday weekends, and in non-peak seasons can reserve the Lighthouse Room for up to 45 people or Pelican’s Landing for up to 40. Ask early if your dates fall on a holiday weekend.
New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day
Noon Year’s Eve at LuLu’s (family-friendly)
Noon Year’s Eve at LuLu’s in Gulf Shores runs on Thursday, December 31, 2026, from 10 AM to 3 PM. When the clock strikes noon, hundreds of beach balls drop onto LuLu’s beach, and the day includes crafts, a sandcastle building contest, face painting and balloon animals. Admission is free. It is an easy way for the youngest guests to have their countdown before an evening at the homes.
Reelin’ in the New Year at The Wharf
The Wharf holds its Reelin’ in the New Year street party every December 31. Last year it ran from 5 PM to midnight on Main Street, with live bands, family activities, a marlin drop countdown and a free public fireworks show at midnight, with free admission and parking. The 2026 schedule was not on The Wharf’s December calendar when we checked on October 29, 2026, so check it before you plan your evening. The ice rink there is listed as open until midnight on New Year’s Eve.
Flora-Bama’s New Year’s Eve Bash
The Flora-Bama lists its New Year’s Eve Bash for December 31, 2026, with live music on all three stages, food, party favors and a midnight champagne toast. The tourism board suggests getting tickets early.
New Year’s at OWA
To ring in 2025, OWA held two days of celebrations on December 28 and 29, 2024, with a beach ball drop and fireworks. A City of Foley council resolution approved on October 19, 2026, covers a 2026 New Year’s Eve fireworks display at OWA, but OWA had not announced its 2026 schedule when we checked. Watch OWA’s site for the details.
The Polar Bear Dip on New Year’s Day
On Friday, January 1, 2027, the Flora-Bama Polar Bear Dip sends a crowd into the Gulf at exactly noon from the beach behind the Flora-Bama. It costs nothing, people start arriving around 9 AM, and anyone who fully submerges gets a free New Year’s lunch of ham, black-eyed peas, greens and cornbread. As the Flora-Bama puts it, “we know that the water can be cold,” so nobody has to swim. It makes a memorable group photo.
December weather, in plain terms
NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals for Pensacola Regional Airport, the nearest major weather station to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, give these averages:
| Month | Average high | Average low | Average rainfall |
|---|---|---|---|
| December | 65.1°F | 45.9°F | 5.40 in |
| January | 62.7°F | 43.7°F | 5.03 in |
That means jacket evenings and walking weather by day. Pack layers and rain gear, and ask us to heat the duplex’s beachside pool, which we do on request at no extra charge. What winter guests have said:
“Great spot for a family vacation. Sarah went the extra mile to make sure the pool was heated for the little ones during a cooler period in the weather.”
“The condo was beautiful. I loved how spacious it was. It truly felt like a home where you could just relax with your love ones on the couch after dinner. The balcony was so magnificent; being able to hear the waves crash over and over was beautiful. I can’t wait to stay again and make more memories.”
Quoted exactly from Airbnb. Dolphin View A is rated ★ 4.78 from 9 reviews and Oasis Unit 2201 ★ 4.81 from 16 reviews on Airbnb, as shown October 23, 2026.
A few holiday-week planning notes
- Book early. Holiday weeks fill early, and minimum stays can be longer in peak season and on holidays.
- Some sights close on the holidays. Fort Morgan State Historic Site and its museum are closed on Christmas and New Year’s Day (Alabama Historical Commission), and Bellingrath’s light show is closed December 25 and January 1.
- Carpool. The duplex has parking for up to 3 vehicles per side, 6 in all. Large trucks and SUVs may not fit under the carport.
- Bring the dog? The Beachfront Duplex allows up to 2 pets, 1 per side, with a $195 fee per pet. The City of Gulf Shores does not allow pets on its sand beaches; see our beach rules guide.
- Day trips. Our things to do with a big group guide covers group rates at the zoo and OWA, and the beachfront duplex guide for 20 to 27 guests shows how the two sides split.
Drive times from the duplex
| To | Distance | Drive |
|---|---|---|
| The Hangout (Gulf Shores public beach) | 2.2 mi | ~6 min |
| Gulf State Park Pier | 3.5 mi | ~9 min |
| Waterville USA | 2.9 mi | ~7 min |
| The Wharf (Orange Beach) | 8.1 mi | ~16 min |
| Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo | 7.3 mi | ~17 min |
| OWA Parks & Resort (Foley) | 12.6 mi | ~22 min |
| Fort Morgan State Historic Site | 23.8 mi | ~37 min |
| Pensacola International Airport (PNS) | 39.3 mi | ~72 min |
Approximate driving distance and time with free-flowing traffic, from OpenStreetMap routing (OSRM), checked October 23, 2026. Summer weekends, spring break and the Highway 59 corridor can add a lot of time.
Book your holiday week
How to book all 27 guests
- Pick your dates in the Beachfront Duplex calendar. It books both sides together.
- See your full total with nightly rates, fees and taxes before you pay.
- Pay 50% to book through our secure OwnerRez checkout. The balance is due 30 days before arrival.
- Questions first? Email host@avarastays.com and the owner will answer.
Our cancellation policy for direct bookings: a 100% refund more than 30 days before check-in, a 50% refund from 30 to 15 days before check-in, and no refund within 14 days.
Why book direct with the owner
- No Airbnb or Vrbo guest service fee. You check out with the owner's own booking system, OwnerRez, so no booking-site service fee is added. The calendar on each home's page shows nightly rates, fees and taxes before you pay.
- Talk to the owner. Questions about beds, pets, parking or your group go straight to us at host@avarastays.com.
- Clear cancellation. Cancel more than 30 days before check-in for a 100% refund. Cancel 30 to 15 days before check-in for a 50% refund. No refund within 14 days of check-in.
- Pay in two parts. 50% at booking, and the balance 30 days before arrival.
- Same homes, same owner. These are the same homes you may have seen on Airbnb or Vrbo, run by the same family.
Quick answers
What is there to do in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach between Christmas and New Year’s?
Confirmed for the 2026 season: the ice rink at The Wharf in Orange Beach (November 13, 2026 to January 18, 2027, with holiday hours), Magic Christmas in Lights at Bellingrath Gardens (November 20, 2026 to January 9, 2027, closed December 25 and January 1), the Flora-Bama Christmas Day potluck, LuLu’s Noon Year’s Eve on December 31 and the Flora-Bama Polar Bear Dip at noon on January 1, 2027. Gulf State Park’s Christmas Card Lane and The Wharf’s New Year’s Eve street party are held every year, but their 2026 schedules were not posted when we checked on October 29, 2026.
Where can we watch New Year’s Eve fireworks near Gulf Shores?
The Wharf in Orange Beach holds Reelin’ in the New Year every year, with a free public fireworks show at midnight. Last year’s party ran from 5 PM to midnight with free admission and parking. The 2026 schedule was not on The Wharf’s calendar when we checked on October 29, 2026, so check The Wharf’s events page before you plan around it.
Is there a New Year’s Eve event for families with young children?
Yes. LuLu’s in Gulf Shores hosts Noon Year’s Eve on Thursday, December 31, 2026, from 10 AM to 3 PM, with a beach ball drop at noon, crafts and a sandcastle contest. Admission is free.
How cold is it in Gulf Shores in late December?
Mild by day and cool at night. NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals for Pensacola Regional Airport, the nearest major weather station, give a December average high of 65.1°F and an average low of 45.9°F, with 5.40 inches of rain in a normal December. Pack layers.
Can we cook Christmas dinner for 27 at the Beachfront Duplex?
Yes. The Beachfront Duplex is a duplex of two side-by-side homes, and each side has its own fully stocked kitchen and living room, so two cooking crews can work at once. There are outdoor grills and picnic tables on the property, and two washer and dryer sets.
Is the pool heated in winter?
The beachside pool at Dolphin View can be heated on request at no extra charge. Let us know when you book.
Can a group of more than 27 stay together?
The Beachfront Duplex sleeps 27. For a larger family, Oasis Unit 2201 in Orange Beach sleeps 10 more, and the two homes are about 6 miles, or roughly 13 minutes, apart by car with light traffic. Each home is booked separately.
What is the cancellation policy for a holiday booking?
For direct bookings: a 100% refund more than 30 days before check-in, a 50% refund from 30 to 15 days before check-in, and no refund within 14 days. 50% is due at booking and the balance 30 days before arrival. Minimum stays can be longer on holidays.
Get notified of openings and group deals
Planning a group trip? Join our list and we'll email you when dates open up and when we have group deals. Occasional emails only.
Stay with us
Our homes are owner-managed by Avara Stays and booked directly with the host:
- Beachfront Duplex: sleeps 27, 8 bedrooms, Gulf Shores
- Dolphin View A: sleeps 14, 4 bedrooms, Gulf Shores
- Dolphin View B: sleeps 13, 4 bedrooms, Gulf Shores
- Oasis Unit 2201: sleeps 10, 4 bedrooms, Orange Beach
Sources
Checked October 29, 2026. Rules, prices and hours change, so confirm with the venue before you go.
- The Wharf: December 2026 events calendar (ice rink, Christmas Tree Lighting, Photos with Santa)
- The Wharf: Skate the Coast, ice rink season and holiday hours (Oct. 5, 2026)
- Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism: Reelin’ in the New Year (2025 listing)
- Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism: New Year’s celebrations (updated Sept. 25, 2026)
- Bellingrath Gardens & Home: Magic Christmas in Lights
- OWA Parks & Resort: Christmas at OWA
- Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism: The Very Merry Tree Walk 2026 (Downtown OWA)
- OWA Parks & Resort: Ring in the New Year at OWA (Dec. 2024 release)
- City of Foley council record 26-0562: 2026 New Year’s Eve fireworks display at OWA (via DocketCity)
- Flora-Bama: Annual events (Christmas Potluck, Make It To The Line, New Year’s Eve Bash)
- Flora-Bama: Polar Bear Dip, January 1, 2027
- Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism: Noon Year’s Eve at LuLu’s (Dec. 31, 2026)
- Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism: The Annual Christmas Lighted Boat Parade (Dec. 12, 2026)
- Alabama State Parks: Holiday Fun (Gulf State Park)
- Alabama State Parks: Gulf State Park picnic pavilions
- Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism: Holiday Dining
- LuLu’s: FAQs (large parties, October through February)
- Original Oyster House: Reservation policy
- Original Oyster House: Group events
- Alabama Historical Commission: Fort Morgan, plan your visit
- NOAA NCEI: 1991–2020 monthly climate normals, Pensacola Regional Airport (USW00013899)
- NOAA NCEI: About U.S. Climate Normals
- OpenStreetMap / OSRM routing (drive times)